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Sleep disturbance,panic in sleep or unremembered dreams?

Posted , 3 users are following.

kayfabe
kayfabe

I have always had issues during sleep, however lately I have been waking up in a panic, my heart racing, I feel extremely cold all over my body, cold to where I shiver even.I awaken scared, as if I was having a nightmare, except the feelings do not subside within moments like usual, they keep on and I feel this dread for hours. I had an apnea test sleep study done and I do not have apnea.I did get some sleep paralysis upon waking normally in the morning. During the test, however, I had no episodes in the middle of it.At home, I get these crazy things happening. Sometimes I am laying there able to think that I know Im awake in my mind but unable to move my body, so I try to force it to move and I get crazy spasm like things until finally, Im able to move again. Other times I awaken scared to death for no reason.Often I wake up with thoughts immediately in my mind that are all things I am most bothored by- illnesses, parts of movies that disturbed me, peoples deaths etc. instantly. When I have nightmares I recall them vividly, so Im unsure whether these happened after yet more nightmares I do not remember having, or if these are different. Panic attacks during sleep? Is that possible? Sometimes I am awakened I do not know what by, and Im having all my usual panic symptoms right upon waking- racing heart, metallic taste,fear, thoughts that I am about to die, etc. Also, at the times when I DO have nightmares or bad dreams and wake out from the middle of one where I do recall the dream in detail- The feeling stays with me all day long. Others tell me the fear subsides within 15 min or less for them. My exact feeling upon waking stays there for the whole day sometimes. The dreams details do not start to fade much either, even after several hours. The panic thing feels more physical to me and does not happen out from a recalled dream.It differs in that with a dream I do not have fast heartbeat.This scares me badly. Any ideas? 

1 like, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • hadi67176
    hadi67176 kayfabe

    Posted

    Hi I experience the same thing. I am too convinced it's a physical problem and not a mental one. Or it's probably both. I've had three ECGs and  blood tests everything was fine, but I am not conviced still so I am going to the doctors again to get referred to a cardiologist to check my heart out completely and only then you can be sure it's not something physical. And I hope it's not. Because then you can start going to therapy sessions and get treated for for it. I have got a therapy appointment too. So my advice to you is go get a full physical check up first. If it's nothing physical get referred to a therapist. 

    I wish you wellness, happiness and a long life. 

    • kayfabe
      kayfabe hadi67176

      Posted

      thank you, as I do wish for you also. I have had numerous testing to rule out things such as heart issues, or a relation to my lung problem, etc. No one ever finds any physical causes however it sure feels physical, I suppose mental issues can cause heart racing but thats adrenaline too is it not? I have always had adrenaline issues as far back as I can remember. Yet every test for adrenal failure, thyroid tests etc come back ok. I have EVERY single stmptom of thyroid disorder however- cold limbs and cold in the warmth, hair loss, weight fluctuation without cause, nonexistant metabolism, not just slow but GONE I can eat one thing a day and not feel hungry at all and still gain pounds. Its crazy. Itchy dry skin, exhaustion,floaters,the list goes on but tests are so called normal.  However I still have rapid heartbeat upon waking, fear, etc. so I continue to fight for answers. What really scates me is, if the treatment and causes are never found, as I age, this could give me a stroke or heart failure in my sleep when Im, say 60. I need to fix this or as I get older Ill get afraid to sleep at all. 
  • kayfabe
    kayfabe

    Posted

    Another thing Ive noticed is at the same time I began having these issues, also have EXTREME anger ad frustration issues all the time- examples, even when signing up for this site I started getting too freaked out because of the password requirements, nickname etc. and nearly said forget it. I get really upset in public, standing in lines( queues) makes me want to scream, I cant handle even the slightest inconvenience anymore I do not know how to handle it anymore in life. I miss a bus, I get so upset, Im hating everyone with a car, everyone on the bus already, the city the weather the people, the world, life, and whatever god made this crap, all before the next bus arrives. I cant stop either. On the bus, if anyones loud enough to bothor me, I start to flip out inside and sometimes it spills out loud too. I talk to myself out of sheer panic and stress. Im not scizophrenic and I do not hear things or voices, I talk full well knowing Im doing it because to stay silent would make me lose my mind on someone. God help anyone who cut in front of me in a line or actually DID do anything rude to me, because I am already internally hating on everything around me even those who did absolutely nothing, really. The2 issues go together it seems, sleep panic and public hatered/ panic. I stay home more& more to avoid feeling this way. I never act on it, but mostly out of laws and rules, than any feeling that I shouldnt otherwise. Ive put up with a ton of constant ridicule in my lifetime due to my style or looks, being homeless awhile, ect. and even fpr no reason other than people are rude judgemental jerks to me- and I have a feeling after almost40 yrs of that, Im just fed up& done with others in general. It is hard on me to venture into a store, bus, public place, clinic, etc. and tolerate other strangers around me, deal with waiting, with directly speaking to anyone, the rides to& from. And it worsens on days after these sleep and panicked when waking ordeals. 
    • hadi67176
      hadi67176 kayfabe

      Posted

      That's no problem. I get panic attacks too. I used to get them in daytime now it's sometimes at night time especially when I wake up. Try control the things you can control, like when you're in public try and remain calm. Try relaxation and breathing excercises. 

      This should help you remain calm. I've booked in to see a heart specialist and a psychiatrist. I think it is best to make sure you're physically well and then try and get help from an expert to help treat this. 

  • a74156
    a74156 kayfabe

    Posted

    Yes I had that. It was terrifiying! I couldn't make my self understand the nighare wasn't reality. It lingered for an hour. I'm on prozac and am a little better now 
  • roseyellow
    roseyellow kayfabe

    Posted

    Hi Kaybabe, I too have the same thing. I thought I was going insane or am insane. It sarted for me 2 months ago. Everday I am hit with the same morning "Terror of Fear" I try to talk myself out of it every MORNING, saying to myself..You are "OK" stop thinking about it. Get out of bed start moving around, turn on the T.V find something "Happy or Funny" on.  Do'nt watch the world news.
    • kayfabe
      kayfabe roseyellow

      Posted

      I do try to watch funny or lighthearted shows or older things from years past ( all in the family, Fawlty Towers, Bewitched) just to get my mind off the fear. Seems to work for me like ASMR videos work for my hyper panic shaky feeling, the slow calm whisper/talking, and slow deliberate motions sooth me, it also helps with this public anger issue too
    • hadi67176
      hadi67176 kayfabe

      Posted

      That's good to know. Keep doing what you do to help yourself. And I hope we both get better soon.
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