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

Posted , 41 users are following.

I don't know what's happening but the last two nights I go to bed and spend half an hour with severe anxiety thinking about bad outcomes of some of the pains I get in my body. So I try to fall asleep and then I suddenly awaking really short of breath like I need to try and focus to get myself out of it !? And that's when I am really tight up before I go to sleep. What's happening ? There is suggestions of heart failure and all sorts. Please help

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  • Posted

    Panic attack and yes they can happen in your sleep. Your mind isnt asleep. Dreams can trigger them too. They stink! Before bed always force yourself to think of things to be grateful for, never review your day in a negative way. I would say meditation before bed on positive affirmations always. This is a hypontic time of day for your mind.
    • Posted

      Another thing is to take a magnessium glycinate suppliment before bed. Calming.
  • Posted

    I went to sleep, only slightly anxious (in comparison to lately) and several hours later woke up trying to catch my breath. I was having awesome dreams and I thought feeling relaxed. So scary, this has never happened to me before
    • Posted

      Yea i just did that to rite now its SCARY now i cant go back to sleep
    • Posted

      These were my first symptoms of the gruelling months I have had with anxiety - please please try to stop it now because it ruins your life
  • Posted

    Hi! Did u get well already? Are you still experiencing the same upto now? Sadly i thinm im experiencing the sane thats what got me to this site or forum. I hope i would know what to do how to handle this. My chest area feels heavy and uncomfortable because of the shortness of breathing makes me worry more and couldnt able to asleep. This isnjust sudden ive been a deep sleeper before rhos happened.😞

  • Posted

    Drink lots of water and get regular sleep.. this is mainly from waking up very late and going to bed very late.. i suffered from it a lot but once I got regular sleep in a confortable place outside my usual room it disappear the problem.. first night i was cured i slept outside watching stars full of blankets over a matress on the floor.. i believe it just dissipated my anxiety.. basically hydrate your body.. have a cold room but confortable bed.. its just in your head
    • Posted

      This is the second night in a row that this has happened to me, what you’re saying makes sense. Because, I’ve been waking up at 8pm and going to bed at 11am. I do drink a lot of water, so that’s not a factor for me. A way that I go about fixing is that when it does happen I force my self to stay up for at least 30min longer and then it usually goes away. 
  • Posted

    Omg I am 34 and have memories of this stuff starting when I was like six thank you so much all for posting I think this is going to help my life so much thank you.
  • Posted

    Just last night, I woke feeling nausea. I mixed some Organic Apple Cider Vinegar and water. I drank it and at first, it didn't help. Felt like I was going to throw up. Was sweating like a person does just before throwing up. I stayed over thing sink in the bathroom just knowing any moment I was going to throw up. My legs were so weak and was really sweating. All of a sudden, the nausea began to slowly subside, but I couldn't stand anymore so I laid on the bed. Sure enough, the nausea went away, but every time I would doze off, I would wake, shortness of breath. It was like anxiety was kicking in, was shaking and mind racing. Anyone ever have that happen?

    • Posted

      I know how you feel with that nausea part I feel like that out of nowhere and it's annoying and just last night I was trying to sleep and I couldn't cause while I'm trying to sleep my breathing would become hard so I would turn and it kept going on for like 5-6 times and I eventually fell asleep but trust me this is the scariest thing ever and I'm just a 14 year old so imagine a kid like me with severe anxiety disorder and I'm not saying that your probably older then me cause I don't know that but me being a kid with this is just not a good thing it scares me but this page helps a lot thanks to everyone, I hope you feel better

  • Posted

    Hi, I had the same issue, but now I don't.. And not sure about the causes and cure but here is what happened to me... One night I didn't sleep I was looking to correct my sleeping I used to always sleep very late 4 o 5am... So I didn't sleep so the next night I'll sleep early.. But the next night I couldn't sleep.. The 3rd night I was very exhausted so I went to sleep and a soon I was going to that first stage of sleeping but my breathing stops.. And the same thing happend all night till I passed out.. The next I was very depressed.. And during the day began to find difficulties to breathe.. This last 3 or 4 days.. No sleep at night and difficulty breathing during day... The point of change for me was when I over comed the depression I remember waking up after few à hours of sleep.. But feeling kind of happy and the desire to go out that day i start breathing normally and slept that night normally... So in my case I think the lack of sleep is the main source.. After some research I found that lack of sleeping can cause depression and depression is what caused me the breathing issue.. Sorry for my bad English hope this help someone

  • Posted

    Aside from having the basic Drift off to sleep then fight for your breath or as I sometimes think "Life",I have the so called devil's grip like a hand is grabbing my heart,my muscles sometimes twitch randomly when I try to fall asleep like my entire hand almost once moved,I exprienced some wild things mostly everyday I feel like it's the last I am a healthy 22 y o male,it kicked off for me 'bout 9 months ago on a party got wasted The I stopped with everything that I ocasionally used like alcohol weed,I did a checkup on my heart turned out allright,but still even I always found myself to be very mentally strong but after that night in the ER 9 months ago my life has turned into hell all day everyday checking my heartbeat hating going to sleep knowing the suffering falling in it takes,I can only give a couple of advices for you guys drop everything even coffee,ciggs alcohol drugs ofc dropping coffee kinda helped me out a little,but still Everyday I feel like it's my last the most terrifing thing is I just stopped careing,I mean I care for my health but I just accepted that I'm going to die which is terrifying sorry for tipos englsih is but my 3rd language I know I went a bit too deep but I know that this all here is about anxiety and some of you will respond with the same simptoms I honestly hope I am sick or smt rather then this mindf**k I am not knowingly doing to myself which eats you slowly up like a catfish.

  • Posted

    I don't usually write on forums... but I know what I'm about to write might help someone else out there who is also suffering the same as I am at the moment. For the last 3 - 6 months, I've been drifting off to sleep... then all of a sudden... a massive urge/surge comes over me as if I'm suddenly about to die... I immediately sit/lay up holding my chest... the panic is so strong/intense that my heart is racing & it takes a few seconds to actually realise that I am actually capable of breathing & that I am actually ok... I turn over & actually get back to sleep quite quickly... I can feel my heart starting to slowdown/not beating as fast & feel myself calming back down before I drift off again. It is so hard to describe the exact feeling when these episodes occur... which means it is is so hard to type into google what it actually is you are experiencing... but this post/forum is the closest I have found that kind of matches what I have been experiencing for last few months. It doesn't happen to me every night... & it doesn't happen to me during the day... I used to think it had something to do with the loose crystals in my inner ear... technical term (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo) because I thought these episodes were only ever occurring when I laid on 1 certain side whilst trying to get to sleep... but these episodes would come laying on my right or left side... some nights I can get to sleep within 15-20 mins... other nights it takes me over an hour... these episodes seem to occur randomly, regardless of tiredness, insomnia, position, number of pillows, time of day... I even feel quite positive going to sleep some nights but still these episodes come to haunt me. I am aware that you can actually have panic or anxiety attacks whilst sleeping... but if my frame of mind is mainly in a positive way on a daily basis... why would it trigger anxiety during times of when I'm not actually conscious or in control of my thoughts? That's the weirdest thing about these episodes! I am 36 years old... I used to rave pretty hard in my late teens, but gave up all class A, B & C drugs when I was 23... it took a while to adjust after giving up cold turkey... I used to suffer really bad with panic & anxiety attacks after I gave up... but I learnt to overcome them within a few years to a point where I never got them again... So why, all of a sudden, out of the blue have they decided to show their ugly face again? During times of when I am most at peace? Sleeptime!? I am physically healthy & no longer  abuse any form of substance... I only drink caffeine free coffee... only have 1 cup of tea a day... I don't drink any energy drinks or consume glucose... I don't smoke anymore & only drink alcohol once every 2 weeks... everything seems to be fine above the surface... so why would these terrible episodes decide to start happening now of all times? They are the worst feelings I have ever felt... & as I said before... I can't even put into words or describe in writing exactly how they feel but I know this for certain... they are the bane of my life at the moment & It's actually starting to give me anxiety, when I spent so much time & energy trying to overcome it in the 1st place! All doctors ever try to do is prescribe you drugs... but I spent a lifetime trying to come off the drugs... the last thing I wanna do in my later life is take even more drugs! Legal or illegal! I've tried natural remedies... natural herbs... breathing exercises... nothing seems to work! I truly think that these episodes are totally out of our hands & it's just a glitch in our minds/brain that will hopefully correct itself in time... the only reason I can think of which makes more sense than anything else is... the older I get, the more I fear death! Maybe that's what is bothering me subconsciously & doesn't show during the day or when I'm in control... but effects/haunts me when I'm most vulnerable! ie: in my sleep! I never have nightmares... nor do I lay awake at night fearing death or thinking in a negative sense! I always look at life in a positive way & always try to be the best person I can be on a daily basis! You might be wondering why I have been writing so much & why it is taking so long to read my post... remember in the beginning when I said that this post might help someone else out there?! Someone will be reading this now who has had the exact same episode as me in the middle of night & now feels alot calmer due to their mind being distracted by reading this post smile Anxiety is a nasty invention & a terrible affliction anyone could ever suffer! The mind is the hardest body part to cure & due to us all being different... anxiety effects everyone differently! 1 cure/remidy might help some but not others... anxiety can make you feel so alone & it may seem like you will suffer from it for the rest of your life... but you're wrong! So this is mainly for all of you who are & actually do recognise that these terrible episodes are only a mere glitch in your brain & nothing is physically wrong with you smile There's just an underlying thought which is causing you anxiety on a subconscious level! Whether it's money worries, relationship worries or like me... fear of death... the quicker you can accept what is & what will be... the quicker you will become 1 with yourself... & all your worries & fears WILL eventually drift away... & you'll look back at this time and realise that it was all in your mind... consciously or subconsciously smile I have 1 last amazing thing to share with you which helped me overcome my original fears & anxiety... it might work for you... it might not... but it certainly enlightened me to a point which helped me during what felt like the worst time of my life... I'm a massive film buff... & love watching movies... I came across a film which I had seen a couple of times before, but never really seemed to get exactly what was going on... until it hit me! It changed my thought process immediately & gave me the strength to overcome my fears & anxiety at the time! You may also need to watch it a few times to understand it... but once you do... it will open your mind to anxiety & how to deal with it smile The film is called 'Revolver'... directed by Guy Richie & stars the 1 & only Jason Statham! You may have even seen this film before... but after you've heard what I've said today... you will watch it with a different mind set & hopefully it may enlighten you as it did me smile I hope my post has been of some help to atleast 1 person out there today & I really hope you do eventually overcome this sh*tty feeling we are all experiencing at the moment! I will definitely post back here if anything else changes or if something else enlightens me which removes my terrible affliction of my fear of death... but please know, that I am always there for any of you who just need someone to talk to or for just someone to listen smile Please feel free to email me directly ...thankyou for taking the time to read this smile I wish you all the very best in life! Kindest regards... Steven

    Moderator comment: I have removed the email address as we do not publish these in the forums. If users wish to exchange contact details please use the Private Message service.

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    • Posted

      I am a multi tour war vet and I too suffer with extreme fear of death anxieties, but I found a combination of things that helped me tremendously. I tried everything I could find for the better part of 10 years trying to find relief, and in the end this is what works for me.

      1. I stay away from caffeine!

      2. I try to eat healthy, but I admit I am only about 70% successful at this goal. Food is a stress reliever for me.

      3. Supplements: Redi Calm and Natural Calm (I tried meds but the side effects stressed me out more than the anxiety alone, these supplements are both natural and have 0 side effects. Together they are amazingly effective. I take the Redi Calm with lunch and drink the natural calm before bed.)

      4. The greatest help to me when it comes to fear of death came from a source that I rejected most of my life. I came to know Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour. I still get the fears, but now I am able to suppress them in minutes rather than hours.

      The first three things help your physical body and mind heal naturally, but when you combine it with spiritual healing, the results are life changing.

    • Posted

      Reading your post has helped..I also have a similar background only more extensive in time and involvement. I'm in recovery now but chemicals really exacerbated my trauma rooted anxiety and depression plus ptsd. I take antidepressants to help and am waiting for specialist therapy to deal with alot of stuff. I started training today on a peer mentoring course helping people with substance problems. I came home tired and was dozing in front of the TV. .I kept awasking with a falling shocked feeling and anxiety. ..felt like the walls of my bedroom where closing in...I've drank alot of coffee today and I realise my underlying thoughts as I dozed where...I'll always be alone...I'll never get out of this room etc...Ithe bought me to tears.your post really helped...I will stick to tea tommorow!

    • Posted

      Thanks for your post, it is assuring that I am not alone having this problem. Also thanks to all who wrote in this forum.

      Fear comes when I come to know of people I know are dying with heart attacks, that also at night. Then symptoms like chest squeezing and shortness of breath increases our doubts- Is it happening to me? Then heart rate starts to build up. I tried to relax, but sleep is a long way, then I take half medication for anxiety and sleep and go to sleep. Next day wake up tired, maybe with 3 hours of sleep.

      Certain things I could have avoided the previous night like; watching TV late at night, browsing using Tablet or Mobile (the blue and white lights affects our sleep)

      It happens to me once a week, even though I had put lot of control on my way of thinking.

      I noticed - a slight negative thought really triggers anxiety. Also it happens while walking into a place with people, our assertiveness or botheration too affects. So the solution is to have a positive mind.

      I pray to God morning and evening, try as much to sing hymns, in mind and during prayers. This has given good improvements. Believing in God and following Jesus creates a positive mind in us. Trusting in him give us boldness admist the fear we have. That is why in the Bible it is mentioned many times, 'Do not be afraid'. But we're humans. Hope to overcome this illness. I wish everyone recover from their illness. Try living healthy in body and spirit.

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