Trying to fall asleep and waking up with shortness of breath.

So I hope I can help .lay on your bed in fetal position and breathe deeply.Imagine you are breathing in through your feet and up your legs into your belly.No matter how your feelings try to take you back to thinking the worst.Visualization will help you distract .If anxiety is a problem you should practice the relaxtation exercises on this link on this page on the right so you can be familiar with this action when you need it.You will get better at it .The tension release will benefit you well in these trying times.I used to lay awake like this as well.It seemed to feel right .It felt odd to do relaxation breathing.I still wake up a lot but it no longer has a strong hold on me as with the breathing I just immediatly fall back asleep.now that feels normal.

Anexity does not affect ur heart even if ur mind is telling you that theres so many symptoms with anxiety from ur jaws to chest pains num in face neck pulling its horrible talk to ur doctor about ur symptoms they should be able to help i use to think thw same i wouldnt even get sleep from shaking and sweating heart beating rapidly and i suffer from high blood pressure

It's not heart failure. It's all in your mind. I have the same exact problem most of the time. Whenever I get severe anxiety and I close my eyes to go to bed all of a sudden I don't feel myself breathing right or not breathing at all then I wake up gasping for air or hyperventilating. It's just anxiety. Anxiety does typically get worse at night. Most the time I'll wake up with tightness in my chest and shortness of breath and my chest hella hurts. Even when you sleep you can be having anxiety. It sucks and is scary I know. Just know you're not alone and you're NOT dying.

Theres a couple of things you could do. Take a magnssium glycinate before bedtime. It calm the nerves and aids sleep. Secong go on utube and get a anxiety meditation, healing meditation or sleep hypnosis and play it. The last five minutes before bed you ar to think only of things to be grateful for, wheather you want to or not they are there just acknowledge them. Also you are going to say ....i am healing and i am going to have a restful sleep and wake up feeling refreshed. You are not going to doubt this or negate it with any toxic thinking. Its five minutes if yiur time. Then okay the chosen video close your eyes and only focus on the worde from the chosen video. Your poisoning your mind before bed and thats one of the orst times because you are tired and this toxic self talk goes into your sub cincous because thats hiw it works. Its similiar to self hypnosis whe your about to drift off to sleep. So follow the above and see how that works.when you awaken immediately be grateful for the beatiful day ahead of you, dont start self assessment or mind games with yourself before bed or waking up.. Two worst times. its like drinking poison.worrying is counter productive period it will never make you more alert or solve any problem in your life. The mind solves problems in a state of calm. Thats a new gift you need to give yourself. Before bed and when you wake up. 

Hey Ron,

What's your status with this problem? I've been experiencing exactly the same thing tonight. I toss and turn all night trying to fall asleep... Then finally as my brain is starting to drift into sleep... I shoot awake feeling out of air and have to sit up and breathe and focus for a few seconds. Chest also feels tight when it happens .