[Gareth Monkton]

Hello
I suffer from clinical depression and psychosis. I frequently wake in the night and get panic attacks. I get a strong urge to text certain people I know to tell them how I am feeling, what is happening to me. I know it is wrong to text people at 4am in the night but I cannot stop myself from doing so.*

After I have sent the text messages I feel relief and the anxiety / panic attack fades. I feel guilty and remorse for having bothered people with lots of texts, particularly sending them in the middle of the night. I promise myself that I must not do it again. But maybe the following night or a few nights later, I find myself doing it again. It is causing my friends annoyance but I cannot stop.*

Is this some kind of control disorder like pyromania, kleptomania or uncontrollable gambling ?

[Crazy Hitch]

Hang in there Gareth Monkton.

Panic attacks aren't nice.

I found this good blog for you here on PsychCentral - hopefully something may be of benefit to you in here:

How to Halt and Minimize Panic Attacks | Psych Central

[MusicMike]

It is certainly understandable that you would want to do something to help the panic attack fade as panic attacks are very difficult, especially alone at night. As far as not being able to stop, it might not be a symptom in itself other than just an expression of the fact it helps you feel better at a very difficult time.

I always turn the sound on my phone off at night. Do you have any friends who do that, and could you only text them?