Brain feels like it is shutting down and that I'm going to die.
Posted , 26 users are following.
No idea where to post this .. But recently, as I try to sleep I experience a strange feeling in my head. Like I'm fading away and losing power in my brain. Normally I either fall asleep normally and it's ok, but sometimes I won't be able to sleep and the feeling makes me panicked and therefore waking me up. After these episodes I tend to be very shaky and my heart is pounding. Does anyone know what this could be? It makes me very worried.
0 likes, 29 replies
susan49687 Guest
Posted
Hi again, was just reading all the reply posts!
Sounds like you have a few followers basically in the same boat!
I'm finding life particularly rough right now with either not sleeping or sleeping too long! Yesterday I slept from about 12:00 am to 11:30 am, went to the bathroom, took my pain pills then sat in my chair & fell right to sleep again until 4:30pm! Could all be due to stress, have had to take my anti anxiety pills more often lately (not enough to make me sleepy). This is particularly bad as I have Diabetes 2 and on Insulin injections 4 times a day!
The suggestions the others made were exactly what my Specialist had said, except listening to a talk show as they can unexpectedly get your mind going!
I'm extremely concerned as I go tomorrow for my next CPAP appt.! I'm going to have to tell them I can't use mine! I've really tried but my nights are a thousand times worse! I also have to wear a muzzle to keep my mouth shut! I want to see if the muzzle is enough on it's own!? Man I really hope the Specialist is actually in town tomorrow instead of a teleconference on the computer! The staff knew that I didn't really care for that kind of venue!
There are other options but either so expensive or means surgery (No Way)! I wish someone could investigate why all the accessories etc. are so down right expensive, almost highway robbery!
I'm so worried about my app't is because they can have my drivers license removed! I don't have narcolepsy but that may not matter!
Anyhow, I'm sorry that I've gone on & on, I guess it kinda shows how I'm doing!
I hope that you're getting help as it sounds like a little much for 1 person to cope with! Thinking of you! Susan
damien59585 Guest
Posted
Hi i have the same feeling, its like my brain wants to shut down. It mainly happens when i,m driving alone. some days its worse than others and it scars me. I normally start to yawn heaps when it happens and after i feel tied from it. Is there anything i can do? thankyou!
bruce01644 Guest
Edited
I recently experiences this out of nowhere mainly at night. I was thinking that maybe i had a brain tumor , or some kind of cancer. I was so paranoid I went to the hospital and got myself checked , giving every detail to the doctors and nurses.
Got a CAT scan and EKG test. I was suprised when they told me nothing at all was wrong with me.
I went home telling myself "I know something is wrong with me." Then I found this page , others experiencing it as well. I can't believe its just anxiety. Wow , what a relief , thank you guys.
Rockbharath Guest
Posted
Hey I just experienced the same feeling...like my brain is all shutting down and my soul is leaving the body through the back of my head...And I just found out it's all just anxiety....I just recently quit smoking cigarettes which I've been smoking for 3 years and I also used to smoke weed then and there...And after quitting i was constantly thinking about other health related problems like having a heart attack, breathing problems,Nerve damage like that and I was constantly getting into depression and anxiety for more than 4 days straight...I think I just experienced an anxiety attack
stephaniep1988 Guest
Edited
I cant believe I've found people who could describe exactly what's been happening to me! This has only happened twice but each time I have been terrified, last night I actually cried afterwards wondering what this could be and telling God that I have too much to live for.It happens right after I fall asleep and im just reaching the deep sleep phase. Then its like I can feel my body and brain powering down and my entire body feels slowed, my feet and legs feel extremely heavy so my reaction is to jump up immediately out of bed and walk around until I regain control. I drink water and just sit upright and focus on not drifting away until I feel normal again....never thinking it could be anxiety. It feels like I have some type of terminal disease and I the afterlife is really pulling me away, I instantly begin to plead inwardly because I have no breath to speak. Last night I scared my partner because of how I shot up from the bed, she asked me what was wrong but I couldn't speak because I had to use all of my energy to concentrate and walk around like a robot until I felt normal. I see a therapist next week and I will definitely mention this to her, I also snore so I will try and sign up for and sleep study as well. Thank you all for explaining your experiences, Its makes me feel better not to be alone.
byjg1989 stephaniep1988
Posted
Hi, I know this was posted 18 months ago but thank you so much for describing this so perfectly. I have really struggled to describe it when trying to tell people what I'm going through, including my partner and doctors. I've ended up going to emergency hospital twice in a row as a result of this as after some horrific attacks I really thought I was dying or something, but when I eventually was seen the moment had long passed and the doctors said nothing was wrong with me. I've had ECG tests, blood tests and a chest X ray and everything shows normal so its really frightening when it happens as I just can't believe its Anxiety or something like that. Did you ever figure out an official diagnosis or anything that helps prevent it? I hope you are not still going through it. I had about 10 attacks last night. I'm 33, in general good health so just don't understand where its coming from. Stay blessed. Thank you, John.
a.m.j19658 stephaniep1988
Edited
hello, i went through this too, to be short, ask your doctor for a blood test of vitamin D, B12, magnesium RBC, potassium, iron profile, omega-3 if possible and thyroid.. I've been diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency.. i feel 70% better now and panic attacks stopped & sleep better since i started vitamin D supplement and exposed to sun everyday.. but as docs says, i won't get totally good till i reach from 1 month to 3 months, for the supplement to actually do it's job and the vitamin d levels raise in the blood.. if you deficient to any of what i mentioned above then it's the problem.. also thyroid.. just go check to make sure, if all your results were fine, then your doctor might tell you it's a covid-19 brain fog.. it's a nightmare, but once you find the issue you'll feel better in general.
1RetdGI Guest
Edited
Hi, I feel your plight. I'm going through the same thing right now as I type this comment. I did get to sleep about 5 hrs. yesterday, but I've now been nearly 24 hrs awake. I tried to sleep tonight but these attacks wouldn't let me sleep. I sometimes can take about 2x10 mg of amitriptiline (antidepressant) to help me overcome this sleeplessness. The worse part of my attempt is that my mind drifts as I try to sleep but am startled and then comes a heart palpation or two and fully awake. A couple of deep breaths get me back to felling normal but not to sleep. Sometimes these attacks could continue for hours each time I nearly drift off. I'm 63 now and was diagnosed with sarcoidosis a few years ago and the VA put me on Hydroxyclorocline (the med Trump was pushing for covid treatment. )to help offset some of the effects. Sarcoid can attack any part of the body including all organs, brain, skin and eyes. I would mostly get bumps on my nose. I think my sleep issues started with the Hydroxyclorocline.
It seems that my brain is on guard duty to make sure I don't get to sleep, and it seems that I have to sneak past my brain in order to enter dreamland. I mostly drink alcohol at night to help me close down. It hasn't worked tonight. I don't drink during the day and my drinking acts as a medicine as well. Another thing that is "jacked" up is that I can't take naps at all and when I'm drifting, if my brain detects any attempt of a snore; it slaps the hell out of me a make me stay awake. My primary tried to switch me to Melatonin but it didn't seem to work. It is a horrible condition. I'm open for any suggestions or comments.
Fofa21 Guest
Edited
hi
I have the same feeling, started two years ago and still comes from time to time. It's so scary. I am trying with my doctor to find out the problem, but so far, I have found nothing. I am trying to read on web to find something about my case, till i found this page. I can't believe it's "anxiety". thanks for your help.
My husband kept telling me that this problem is mental issue, , not physical, but I didn't believe him. ☺.
nathan57692 Guest
Posted
did you find what was wrong? I know this is an old post but you describe close to what I am going through.
maureen08180 Guest
Posted
The same thing has been happening to me since early November. It only happens at night usually after waking up between tossing and turning. It's a sensation that I'm super aware of. It's like my entire body shuts off or dies for seconds at a time. It has only happened once or twice at a time but last night it happened over and over again. It literally feels like someone is turning me off like a light switch. And just as fast as it happens, it's gone. It is so scary and worries me. I don't know how to explain it - it just feels like I'm dead for a few seconds then everything starts functioning again as before. I've combed the internet trying to figure out what's going on. It's like a conscious feeling of being temporarily dead. I don't think it has to do with anxiety or depression even though I've experienced both since I was a teenager (I'm 38 now). There's no pain, it's just a super awareness of shutting down and it feels like nothingness.
a.m.j19658 maureen08180
Posted
hello, i went through this too, to be short, ask your doctor for a blood test of vitamin D, B12, magnesium RBC, potassium, iron profile, omega-3 if possible and thyroid.. I've been diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency.. i feel 70% better now and panic attacks stopped & sleep better since i started vitamin D supplement and exposed to sun everyday.. but as docs says, i won't get totally good till i reach from 1 month to 3 months, for the supplement to actually do it's job and the vitamin d levels raise in the blood.. if you deficient to any of what i mentioned above then it's the problem.. also thyroid.. just go check to make sure, if all your results were fine, then your doctor might tell you it's a covid-19 brain fog.. it's a nightmare, but once you find the issue you'll feel better in general.
josh17729 Guest
Edited
This started happening to me after I got Typhus & a particularly bad fever high 104(Jan). Continued for maybe 8 days felt like I didn't get any sleep. I had lingering problems for a few months but was mostly fine April-June. Now it's back off and on over the past week 1/2. I gave up and tried taking .25 xanax to knock me out, seem to help a bit but not much. I have tried every lifestyle change I could think for maximum sleep hygiene but nothing works. I think the xanax is limiting the panic portion but still doesn't feel like I'm sleeping much if at all.
When I had it before my heartrate was elevated from thyroid imbalance, might get a test for that, although my heart rate is reasonable now. I've been randomly shivering the past two days and went pale twice, might be low blood sugar. Haven't had much of an appetite.
a.m.j19658 josh17729
Posted
hello, i went through this too, to be short, ask your doctor for a blood test of vitamin D, B12, magnesium RBC, potassium, iron profile, omega-3 if possible and thyroid.. I've been diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency.. i feel 70% better now and panic attacks stopped & sleep better since i started vitamin D supplement and exposed to sun everyday.. but as docs says, i won't get totally good till i reach from 1 month to 3 months, for the supplement to actually do it's job and the vitamin d levels raise in the blood.. if you deficient to any of what i mentioned above then it's the problem.. also thyroid.. just go check to make sure, if all your results were fine, then your doctor might tell you it's a covid-19 brain fog.. it's a nightmare, but once you find the issue you'll feel better in general.