Panic attacks are characterized by a sudden feeling of fear and immense anxiety. While most people can tell when an attack is coming, most ...
Panic attacks are characterized by a sudden feeling of fear and immense anxiety. While most people can tell when an attack is coming, most patients say that their condition occurs randomly without noticeable cause.
Experts in the field of mental health say that panic attacks are caused by insurmountable stress, depression, fatigue or a close encounter with a subject of trauma and phobias. Those who have been in vehicular accidents, for instance, are more likely to feel nervous while driving. Employees from the strenuous working environment are also susceptible to this condition.
What most people don’t know, however, is that panic attacks could occur even at the calmest state of an individual – during sleep.
Why do I have panic attacks in my sleep?
The reason behind panic attacks while sleeping is yet to be discovered. Similar to a panic attack that happens when the patients are awake, no one can really pinpoint a proven cause of attacks happening during slumber. But experts believe that attacks are the product of short span of anxiety, physical distress and fear from the stress that individuals went through during the day.
A person going through unbearable emotions, for example, is more likely to suddenly wake up symptoms of an attack. People who are moving to a bigger house, separating from a spouse, retiring from work or grieving the death of a loved one without an outlet to express their anxiety over these major life changes may suffer from panic attacks while sleeping.
Suffice to say, bottled emotions find a way to come out while sleeping. As a result, the patients will experience the symptoms of a panic attack.
Is it dangerous t have panic attacks while sleeping?
Normally, patients would wake up shaking, profusely sweating and feeling signs of a heart attack. In some cases, individuals who have had panic attacks while sleeping may feel paralyzed as groups of muscle stop functioning and turn completely inactive as they undergo deep REM slumber. Thus, when the body suddenly wakes up, the part of the brain controlling the muscles is still not fully active.
Paralysis caused by panic attacks does not pose an imminent physical danger. All the patients have to do is relax and practice breathing techniques to let the oxygen flow in the brain.
The experience can be scary and traumatic and some would even mistake it for a near death experience. Individuals would, therefore, develop a fear. The end result of this is insomnia, which is an even bigger problem. It should be treated immediately as it can lead to further build up of stress, stimulating an onset of panic attacks and other health conditions.
What can I do to stop the attacks?
Fortunately, there are numbers of ways to deal with the occurrence of panic attacks while sleeping. Some doctors may prescribe medications including benzodiazepines and antidepressants. These, however, are not cure to the attacks. They can only suppress their recurrence.
The key is in finding the root of the problem and look for viable solutions. Find out what exactly is causing the intense emotions that lead to having panic attacks. Therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy and systematic desensitization can be helpful in determining the reason behind panic attacks while sleeping.
Also read: https://coorms.blogspot.com/2019/02/how-parents-can-deal-with-panic-attacks.html
Experts in the field of mental health say that panic attacks are caused by insurmountable stress, depression, fatigue or a close encounter with a subject of trauma and phobias. Those who have been in vehicular accidents, for instance, are more likely to feel nervous while driving. Employees from the strenuous working environment are also susceptible to this condition.
What most people don’t know, however, is that panic attacks could occur even at the calmest state of an individual – during sleep.
Why do I have panic attacks in my sleep?
The reason behind panic attacks while sleeping is yet to be discovered. Similar to a panic attack that happens when the patients are awake, no one can really pinpoint a proven cause of attacks happening during slumber. But experts believe that attacks are the product of short span of anxiety, physical distress and fear from the stress that individuals went through during the day.
A person going through unbearable emotions, for example, is more likely to suddenly wake up symptoms of an attack. People who are moving to a bigger house, separating from a spouse, retiring from work or grieving the death of a loved one without an outlet to express their anxiety over these major life changes may suffer from panic attacks while sleeping.
Suffice to say, bottled emotions find a way to come out while sleeping. As a result, the patients will experience the symptoms of a panic attack.
Is it dangerous t have panic attacks while sleeping?
Normally, patients would wake up shaking, profusely sweating and feeling signs of a heart attack. In some cases, individuals who have had panic attacks while sleeping may feel paralyzed as groups of muscle stop functioning and turn completely inactive as they undergo deep REM slumber. Thus, when the body suddenly wakes up, the part of the brain controlling the muscles is still not fully active.
Paralysis caused by panic attacks does not pose an imminent physical danger. All the patients have to do is relax and practice breathing techniques to let the oxygen flow in the brain.
The experience can be scary and traumatic and some would even mistake it for a near death experience. Individuals would, therefore, develop a fear. The end result of this is insomnia, which is an even bigger problem. It should be treated immediately as it can lead to further build up of stress, stimulating an onset of panic attacks and other health conditions.
What can I do to stop the attacks?
Fortunately, there are numbers of ways to deal with the occurrence of panic attacks while sleeping. Some doctors may prescribe medications including benzodiazepines and antidepressants. These, however, are not cure to the attacks. They can only suppress their recurrence.
The key is in finding the root of the problem and look for viable solutions. Find out what exactly is causing the intense emotions that lead to having panic attacks. Therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy and systematic desensitization can be helpful in determining the reason behind panic attacks while sleeping.
Also read: https://coorms.blogspot.com/2019/02/how-parents-can-deal-with-panic-attacks.html
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