If you think that having a panic attack while sleeping is impossible, think again. Panic attacks can happen whether you are awake or at rest. It is a crisis suffered by millions of people worldwide. Experts believe that these panic attacks n sudden but brief periods of intense anxiety, fear, and physical distress and may be owed to heavy stress that you undergo during the day.
Causes
When you go through a major life change, for instance, a big house move, retirement, or separation from or death of a loved one and you cannot find an outlet to express these grievances, these contained emotions will find a way to be expressed. Sometimes, they let themselves out when you are asleep.
Symptoms
Symptoms of panic while sleeping are equally the same with the usual panic attack symptoms. Normally, you will wake up trembling, sweating profusely, and feeling like having a major heart attack. However, you should realize that you are not in imminent physical danger. Though sometimes you may feel paralyzed, you have to remember that this inability to move is just normal. Technically, the bulk of the bodyis major muscle groups stops functioning and turn completely inactive during deep REM sleep. This is believed to be the time where muscle cell repair and growth happens. Thus, if you wake up unable to move, just think that your muscles have just iput up the shuttersi for the night and nothing else.
Insomnia
In most cases, people develop a fear of going to sleep thinking that they might suffer from another attack if they let their eyelids drop. As a result, they start experiencing insomnia which can be another major problem. This insomnia should be managed as soon as possible for this can lead to further stress, another panic attack and other unpleasant health conditions.
Management
If you want to avoid another unwanted attack, a simple change in lifestyle can go a long way. Following a healthy balanced diet, engaging in yoga and other exercises, avoiding smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages, and eating light evening meals are just some of the things that a person suffering from panic attack can do.
Treatment
Other treatments for these attacks include taking prescribed medications like benzodiazepines and antidepressants. However, medications are not the key to cure this burden. You have to get to the root cause of the problem and find a way to solve it. Therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy and systemic desensitization can help you uncover this.
Panic attacks while sleeping are disturbing instances that need to be addressed as soon as possible. The best way to get rid of these is opening up to someone and asking them for help. Dealing stress in this way can relieve you of these panic attacks while sleeping.
