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panic at night when I wake,why does the dark send me in a panic

Posted , 3 users are following.

emma86869
emma86869

Im not scared of the dark and sleep with the lights off but sometimes I wake in the night and start to panic because its dark all I want to do is turn the lights on and cant wait for the sun to rise, I have to get up and either read or play on my phone or I get consumed in panic it feels like im never going to see daylight I feel like the dark is consuming me

2 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • Rainboy
    Rainboy emma86869

    Posted

    Hello Emma

    None of us are aware of the actual moment we fall asleep. Our brain very cleverly bridges the gap with consciousness and sleep which means that we are unaware of our body entering the sleep state.

    If it didn't do that, we would have to experience a horrible sensation of temporary conscious paralysis, where we are fully conscious, but unable to move or speak. Some people, including myself, have experienced that as a symptom of illness.

    Sometimes when I am very anxious, I drift off to sleep sitting in my living room in broad daylight, then wake up in the pitch black not knowing where I am or what has happened.

    If I remembered falling asleep, I wouldn't panic, but because I don't, I initially panic until I realise what has happened. Gradually I have become used to it and now just accept it and carry on and it happens a lot less.

    Perhaps because you are waking up in the dark and not fully recalling the last thing you did, it trigers your anxiety.

    Theoretically anyway.

    Best wishes. x

    • emma86869
      emma86869 Rainboy

      Posted

      Thankyou for your reply I have also experienced that inbetween state of sleep I think thats what initially started the panic but its gone into waking seeing that its dark and then I get sheer panic that it will never be light again I suppose almost like suddenly going blind and that fear, it also makes me feel claustrophobic I have to get up and try everything to take my mind off it,in the end I sometimes put a torch poiting up the curtains so it gives the effect that its light outside

  • archemedes
    archemedes emma86869

    Posted

    Have you been diagnosed with anxiety condition, and if so are you being treated for this?

    If not, have you considered seeing your doctor about this?

    • emma86869
      emma86869 archemedes

      Posted

      I see my doctor two years ago and she said it was nocturnal panic attacks that was when it was at its worse, I learnt to control them, at first I thought I was going to die I would suddenly wake up and thought I couldn't breath which started my heart racing pins and needles and all sorts of strange symptoms but that stopped and now I sometimes wake in the night and cant stand the dark it completely freaks me out and I get that awful panicked feeling
    • archemedes
      archemedes emma86869

      Posted

      Do you feel that maybe now is the time to return to your doctor and  establish if anything can be done about the problem?

      In the meanwhile I have a simple suggestion for you that might help, and that is to buy and use a low wattage night light for your bedroom. When you go to sleep at night you will already know that there is a small light in the room which might help to ease the anxiety of waking up in a pitch black room.

      It may not relieve the panic of waking up unexpectedly, but it may go some way to you being able to orientate yourself quickly.

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