Feel like I’m dying when falling asleep

hey everyone just wanted to say that i feel the same. mine started last night and it feels like i'm drifting to something or somewhere it's hard to describe. and i feel something like numbness in my whole body like i'm having a stroke or heart attack its happening just when i'm about to transition from being awake to being asleep. its hard to tell what causing this because i'm having something like tension headache a pressure at the back of my head for almost 3 weeks now and im having anxiety, and i feel weak. it's already 3:14 and i'm afraid to sleep cause when i tried to sleep earlier its much worst than it was yesterday.

Oooh boy. Yeah, about a month ago I started gasping awake with the feeling that I wasn't breathing, even though I was. I would take magnesium complex (Nature's Sunshine), and that seemed to help.

Flash forward to about a week ago, and I started having all their weird neuro symptoms. Tingling, muscle tightness/cramps, pounding heartbeat, worsened tremor, blurry vision, constipation, no appetite, high anxiety! Got a poke in my side, then a horrible coldness seeping into my chest. Seemed like it would last forever, but I waited it out--took more Mag and Gas X to cope. The next day, the numbness started. Went to urgent care for the numbness and prickling in my chest, where they did an EKG and confirmed that my heart was fine. Said to see an endocrinologist for low cortisol, but it'll be 2.5 months to see him... In the meantime, I'm freaking out. The feeling of 'if you fall asleep you'll never wake up' is crippling, eliciting panic attacks. Yesterday, my brain just wouldn't stop telling and showing me horrible, disturbing things, no matter how many times I 'course-corrected' it back to more pleasant things. Took Valerian root and Mag, but they didn't help this time. It feels like going crazy, especially since I'm only 26.

I'm not afraid to look crazy. I've been to 2 chiropractors, a cardiologist (wearing a halter as I type), and my GP recommended muscle relaxants. I see a second GP tomorrow for another opinion, but I know him and he will probably want to put me on anti-anxiety meds... In my mind, I am still worried that it is early MS or a brain tumor or something...

Has anyone tried anti-anxiety meds? Or CBD? Melatonin? GABA? 5-HTP? L-Theanine? B Vitamins? American Skullcap? Passionflower? I'm worried I'll just make myself MORE tired, and still unable to sleep...

I'm having a similar issue. my sleep study shown that I have a slight case of sleep apnea. however, I don't think that is the entire issue as it feels as if my brain is leading the way. I wake up terrified with headaches calling on Jesus.

This happens 2-3 times per night. Any help is appreciated.

Guys please read this.

Symptoms:

1.Elevated heart beat when lying down to sleep.

2.Feel like fainting when about to sleep.

3.Body pains.

4.feeling lightheadedness throughout the day

these things happened on the day when i had intense workout/moderate physical activity.

Solution:

1. Keep a glucose box nearby at all times.
2. Take two spoons when you feel these symptoms ..it worked for me.
3. Avoid all the physical activities for a week..

Started for me 6 months ago after a year of unexplained progressing muscle weakness. Feels like I've been drugged as I drift off and my body is trying to pull out of it with an upper body muscle jolt followed by an adrenaline rush.. Also having trouble with external temperatures, sweating one minute, goosebumps the next. It's not so scary now because it happens every time but it's unbelievably frustrating, which has led to anxiety (and anxiety after not sleeping a wink for days on end is really rough). I'm sorry you all are in the same boat. I tried medical cannabis and had about three days of relief but it was not sustained. No vitamin or supplement has made a dent. The typical sleep herbs are useless. Please, someone chime in if anything helps.

Let me preface by stating that I've had every test imaginable: MRI's, CT, and Blood Work just for starters. I've been sent to an ENT, Psychologist, GI and Sleep Doctors. I even had a nuclear stress test last year. Everything comes back normal with the exception of high iron, but not dangerously high. I now must give blood twice per year. Nonetheless, I am glad I found this thread.

When I am going to sleep (about 30 minutes in) I feel like I am dying as well. It starts with internal head tremors (that's the only way to explain it), followed by a vertigo type feeling. I start feeling nauseous, sick to my stomach and then the pain in some random joint happens. This could be my pinky, a toe, or some other body part; typically multiple joints though. I get extremely thirsty. Remember, this all happens simultaneously, and when I sit up and/or stand up, it all goes away in a few minutes. I've checked my BP during these episodes (always normal).

I would like to return to the internal tremors for a moment. These are what scare me the most. They start internally and radiate and are always in my neck and head area. I literally feel like I am about to die. I've had to teach myself to say "you're not dying" or here lately "so what if I do." I have learned to talk myself down from the panic attack that always ensues.

That's the short version on what goes on at night when lying down. With no answers from my Doctor, I've researched a few possible causes: Cervical Vertigo and I've recently discovered that some people can have these same symptoms as a result of pineal gland cysts. These are common and normally benign cysts, but the MRI indicated that I have one. I am going to follow up on this.

Aside from this, when all of this started last year, I noticed problems with my vision. My eye exam was almost perfect with the exception of a little near sightedness in one eye. The funny thing is that on the nights I have a bad episode, the next day I usually need my glasses. This isn't extreme, in that I can see fine with the exception of some things further away. The next day though, I can see perfectly clear lol.

This prompted my Doctor to send me to the ENT and ultimately an allergist. They want to blame everything on sinuses and allergies now.

Anyway, sorry for the long post, but when I read this thread, most of what everyone stated is exactly what I deal with most nights, but not every night.

It's frustrating when EVERY SINGLE TEST comes back normal and your doctor continuously states: "you are a fairly healthy middle aged man, stop worrying so much," as he then offered to put me on anti-anxiety medication. I turned it down. I will continue to look for answers. Good luck to you all!

Just found this thread. I have been experiencing this really bad this last week, though it's happened in isolated incidents in the past. I keep panicking that I am having a heart attack, although from what I can tell, it's actually what's called a hypnic or hypnogogic jerk, which is a poorly understood involuntary sort of spasm. It's different from sleep paralysis, which I have also experienced before, and it is apparently harmless. I would guess it's related to the nervous system, so probably has its roots in both physical and emotional stimulus. I'm interested in the comment referring to issues with potassium, and I think I will have my GP look into that. I've been experiencing a lot of muscle twitches/fasciculations, and other symptoms that suggest my electrolytes are wonky. A word of caution on potassium, though: try to source it from food and drink, as potassium overdose can be life threatening. Only go the route of supplementation/medication with close supervision from your doctor!

Glad to know I'm not alone in this, but I hope everyone who finds themselves experiencing this can find some relief! It's been awful being sleep deprived and worrying that I'm dying just about every night.

i know this post is 4 years old but i’ve been getting this same feeling either when I’m falling asleep or when i am completely sleeping i feel like my heart slows down an Actually stops for just a moment when i notice this mid sleep i struggle to open my eyes or Breathe but once i do open my eyes im either trying to catch my breath or my heart it beating really fast also making it hard to take in air i actually dont go back to sleep because of it afraid im not goin to wake up the next time around

yes, but unlike you when it happens i cant sleep at all i have to stay awake the thought of death terrifies me to the point of no sleep! its not something i can help or you can help.

i don't know why this happens to me or how its just something that life has to give and i myself have learnt to accept this

yes!!