[TheC]

my boyfriend has told me that i 'flip out' when i'm sleeping.. i remember it when it's mentioned, but i'm still too asleep at the time not to do this or to know why I do. Anyone have a similar experience/know why this might be happening?

[CedarS]

I've experienced something like that, waves of anxiety or sudden terror while asleep.

Do you experience really restless legs during this? If so, lots of info online about restless leg syndrome, and I think there are even meds just for that.

Do you drink coffee or have other forms of caffeine during the day? It can affect us even hours later.

You could look over your bedroom, think on whether you need things cooler or warmer, what blankets and pillows are best, if you need to block out more light, anything like that.

You can find good articles online about nightmares and night terrors and other sleep disorders. You can sort out what diagnosis might fit then talk with your doctor, some meds might help. Also you can look into sleep apnea possibilities.

I've found that being too wound up before sleep makes for a restless night, TV and computer need to be off for awhile before I crawl into bed.

Good luck!
Sarah

[TheC]

my legs aren't restless.. no.
Caffine doesn't really affect me .. i've consumed it for so long on a regular basis that it isn't an issue.
It doesn't happen all the time. I'm also not sure if i wake up (partially) because I'm panicking or if I wake up partially and THEN start to panick. Either way, i never become fully awake, but i do remember the episodes when prompted.

Hi Lori,

Maybe you could ask your boyfriend to wake you, that way you could be try and figure out if you panic upon wakening etc. Maybe keep a pen and paper on the nightstand to write down what was going on, ie; nightmares or anxiety.

I know when I was at the height of my PTSD night terrors, the only way I could remember was if I wrote them down at the time it happened. If I didn't by morning it was gone.

Take care cuz sometimes knowing this is going to happen can heighten your anxiety.

Petunia

[TheC]

thanks.. i'll try that. As it is, it seems like i remember thinking random things.. such as last night i was seeing cards from a card game.. i dont know how they fit into anything.. whether i was dreaming or the game was just on my mind as i had been playing earlier that night. It could be anything thing though.. i don't right now remember what i've been thinking other times, but they're pretty random other than the fact that they were recently occuring in my life in some way.. not necessarily "scary" or anyting.. could be a rabbit i saw in the yard.. either way, what i'm trying to say is i dont know that i'm dreaming necessarily. I suppose i could be. If i do end up waking fully, i don't really know what is causing me to feel panicky. I just know that i am and that it doesnt make any sense. I will try writing my thoughts/dreams down when this happens, but I'm not sure they're will be anything to write. Thanks again for your help/concern. And sorry that this post is a rambling one.

Lori, this happens to me. i've put it down as "panic attacks", but i don't know if that is really what is happening. i do have restless legs, occasionally. especially, if i'm really, really tired. i agree with writing it down. it helps me.......pat

[TheC]

yes.. i've been calling them that too, but i also don't know if that's quite what they are

[dottie]

Hello.

You might want to look up "sleep paralysis". This syndrome can be very frightening/disturbing.

I suffered from it when I was at the peak of an emotional crisis. I don't have it now...thank goodness.

Good luck. You are not alone. I still have night terrors tho..where I wake up screaming. Then I realize that I am fully awake & can move on from there.

Take good care.

~Dottie

[TheC]

it isn't sleep paralysis. i'm able to move fine. I suppose i won't be able to find out the why. Just looking for some ideas i guess. It doesn't seem to happen often enough to really do anything about it.

[obsids]

There have already been a number of good points brought up in this thread. I have anxiety attacks in my sleep on a regular basis. My best explanation is that I physically trigger to the images and feelings that occur in my ptsd nightmares. I hate waking up triggered.

My husband knows to wake me as best as he can when this happens. Sometimes I remember these moments and sometimes I don't.