Weird head sensations jolt me awake

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Hey. For a few months now I have been having sleep issues. I jolt awake numerous times at night which makes me lose most of my sleep hours and I'm exhausted. The sensations I get feel like a surge/rush of energy that is felt either in my chest or in my head - it jolts me awake, often followed by a sudden rapid heartbeat. Sometimes the sensations in my head are so intense, they make me feel like I'm dying - I can't seem to find anyone experiencing anything like this as I find it so difficult to explain - but it's like I wake up with this surge of energy that feels like a bubble growing and taking over my head and my whole being (often makes me think it's my brain being deprived of oxygen) and I jolt and have to breathe until this awful sensation is gone. It goes away pretty fast when I sit up but I get a bout of terrible tachycardia. This is the scariest thing I've ever felt because every time all I think is that this is the end - I have no oxygen any more. I thought it could be sleep apnea but it doesn't feel like I'm choking. It doesnt't happen every night, either. I have to note I am a highly anxious person with health & death anxiety but I don't understand why this happens even when I'm calm or do everything possible to calm my nervous system down. Please, if anyone has experienced this what help did you seek? I don't even know what doctor to turn to!

1 like, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • Edited

    Sounds like it could be a panic attack. When was the last time you were in for a physical?

    • Edited

      A few weeks ago I told my GP about my sleep problems but she just said it's stress related. I had a full blood work done at the beginning of the year, everything was fine. Only vitamin D is low so I supplement. All these anxiety issues started after I got covid in December 2021 as I suffered horrible consequences - sinus tachycardia and a severe panic disorder for 8 months. However, this head sensation is new and giving me anxiety and panic all over again.

  • Edited

    i don't know how exactly the use tachycardia as explained as a issue for your breathing. was this diagnosed or is it something you have read about. continue with what you feel is best for you to find what is causing this reaction. you know your body better than anyone . be your own self advocate and research , and by the way stress can lead to health issues. seriously.

    was your blood sugar levels checked. your symptoms can also be high or low blood sugar or Low blood pressure has many different causes including: Emotional stress, fear, insecurity or pain (the most common causes of fainting) Dehydration, which reduces blood volume. The body's reaction to heat, which is to shunt blood into the vessels of the skin, leading to dehydration. can you give a age reference plz.

    plz be assured that a certified therapist can help you get a start and what is best the course for you.

    sending heeling blessings your way.

    • Edited

      Thank you very much! Yes, winter 2022 I was diagnosed with sinus tachycardia and took beta-blockers for it. Haven't been on them for 10 months now though. (Stopping them was awful - they block adrenaline so I felt the adrenaline release for weeks after I stopped them) I'm 23 years old, with normal blood pressure and normal blood sugar levels. I might speak to a specialist if this goes on as my main concern is sleep apnea.

  • Posted

    150% YES! Sometimes it's like I am being zapped painfully in my head. Moves up my spine from somewhere near my neck, and rolls over my head like a freight train. It gives me such a fright, it is possibly one of the worst feelings I have experienced, and I do get it quite often. I am super anxious at the moment, I also have health anxiety and a massive fear of illness and death, and now I can't sleep well at night, because I have to battle this weird rush into my head. Sometimes it's zaps, sometimes it random pains. I believe it is something to do with my neck and it spasming, but it's just so scary. I wanted to find someone who had experienced it too, and your description is so spot on. Unfortunately for me, I have been getting it a lot. It only happens at night when I am trying to fall asleep, the second I begin to drift, it happens. I might get to have a few days break and then it will start up again and can last days. Has been about a month. I find it completely terrifying and now I am scared to try and fall asleep. I do have tension headaches throughout the day lately, and achey sore neck, it's chronic neck issues that have been ongoing. But now this. I too started having a large spiral in my health after having covid for the second time 1yr ago. Nov 2022. Since then, it's one thing after another, and the health anxiety I have experienced for many years, is all fired up, because of it. Did you get any answers? Has it stopped now? I am seeing and osteopath, and also just started seeing a therapist. I'm using yoga, and Youtube to try to relax too.

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