Dreams and panic attacks

Has anyone awaken from a dream having a panic attack? On two different occasions just recently I have had a dream I can not breath and then I wake up feeling like I am on the verge of a full blown panic attack. I spend most of the morning worried I am going to stop breathing....very scary for me.

(((((((Snow))))))))) Hey its good to see you.

I wake up pretty often. I'd say at least 5-6 times a week gasping for air, like im choking and cant catch my breath. A friend of mine who's a nurse told me to keep a bottle of water next to my bed and when i wake up with that choking feeling to take short sips of water until i can catch my breath. It helps. It really does. I might spit a little water out at first, but that dries. She told me im hyperventilating and that is what wakes me up. Good thing it does.

I do feel panicky, so it may be a panic attack. That i'm not sure of. But try out the bottled water and see if that helps you any. I hope it does. And i really hope those dreams your having stop.

Keepign ya in my thoughts,
chalmette

((((snow))))
(((chalm))))
yes i too have had that happen
you are not alone
know its a dream and you will keep breathing
breath in breath out

((((((((((((( snowy ))))))))))))))))

How unnerving it is to awake like that isn't it? I'm so sorry that it's happening to you so often or at all for that matter.

Chalm's idea sounds really good....and muffy is right in trying to re-orient yourself to realizing it was a dream and IRL you are safe in your bed and you are ok.

Do you have a stuffed animal you can keep close by to grab onto and soothe yourself with? Maybe wrapping up in your blanket nice and tight will help give you the feeling of safeness and a calmness for you too. Anything next to you that will help you ground to your environement when you awake might help

I hope these things go away real soon for you or at the very least you find something that will help you when you wake up.

Sending you *Gentle Hugs* and soothing thoughts.


sabby

I cannot say that I have, but that is unfortunate. Everyone should be able to have a peaceful nights sleep!

((((((chalm))))))))
I will try that chalm. Thanks so much for replying. I may be hyperventilating..never thought of that. And the reason I feel panicky I think is because I am afraid it will happen again thru the day.

And I am so glad to see the progress you have made with the booze. Good for you!!! I am so happy for you. You are doing so well!!!!!...YAY!!
Snowy

((((muffy)))))
Thank you for replying. I try my best to keep myself breathing normal. Just scary when you are alone.
Snowy

(((((sabby)))))
No stuffed animals but I do have my dog. Sometimes I put my arm around her and hold on. Its those darn feelings that come after that really gets to me. The ones that are there but really are not. The worries that it will happen again and I will die from it. I know better than this and it makes me so angry that I allow myself to get this way. What a perpetual predictiment...blah....

Yes everyone should have peaceful sleep YellowApple22. We feel so much better when we do get our rest. And feel better in general just taking care of ourselves. I hope you never have this happen to you....
Snowy

((((((snow)))))
i know alone, My dog is with me at night.......I have to say he makes me feel safe.....If I wake up hes there....if anything moves in the house he is barking
Let your Dr know
And know I care

I have asthma and often wake up in the night literally having trouble breathing. The little bit of water trick Chalmette uses works for me/that as well.

I have a little ritual I follow when I wake, I go down to my dresser where my inhaler is and take a puff (or two), go to the bathroom, come back to the dresser and take a sip of water and then go back to bed. Sometimes I check to see if I'm hungry or my stomach feels "odd" and I'll have a Pepcid Complete in case there's acid reflux or something complicating my asthma. If I'm truly hungry I might go downstairs and have a small carton of yogurt or bagel or toast and come online while I eat for a few minutes then go back up to bed.

But having a little ritual helps me, makes me feel "safe" and comforted. I feel like I'm more in control. I put it into action for whatever reason I wake, whether it's a bad dream or breathing problems or just having to go to the bathroom or being too hot/cold/physically uncomfortable.

The only dreams I have a problem with is food. If I dream of eating a big steak I will wake up craving M & M's!! lol my brain is confused!

amazing what a little water can do. If I wake up from a nightmare, if i lay right back down I will continue to have the dream; but after a sip of water the dream is gone.

((((((((((( snowy ))))))))))))

That underlying current of dread can be a heck of an adversary can't it? For me, the best thing I can do is to busy myself with something that I have to get my mind around so I'm not contemplating the "what ifs". It's not always easy to do, but most times I can put it off at least for a time and I do end up feeling better because of it.

I hope you can find some way to "put it off".


sabby

When I was working, I had full blown panic attacks in my sleep... I would wake in the middle of them... sometimes... I would make it down the hall.. kinda crawaling... gasping for breath....

((((snowy)))... it is scary.....I have a stuffed animal now.. and I have to say... it really makes a huge difference....

my nightmares are still every night... but the stuffed animal is comforting... having something to hold onto...

I do this thing where right as I'm drifting into sleep something explodes in my chest and I'm suddenly jerked, bolt upright in bed, panting. It's like my muscles were jolted with electricity and it scares the hell out of me every single time it happens (which is multiple times per week).

My conclusion: I carry so much tension in my muscles that as I relax they sort of spasm and jerk, thus causing my heart exploding sensation.

Cyran0

That sounds scary Cyran0 but figuring out the cause is some relief. Hopefully it will subside at some point soon for you.

Snowy

Dunno, I've done it for years and years. At least now I don't wonder if I'm having a heart attack. I just go back to bed.

Cyran0