Insomnia Support Group

Insomnia is a symptom, rather than a disease, and is characterized by inadequate quantity or quality of sleep. People with insomnia complain of difficulty falling or staying asleep, which results in significant impairment of daytime functioning. Insomnia is categorized as transient (shorter than one week), short-term (one to three weeks) or chronic (longer than three...

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Insomnia and night panic attacks.

kcladyz
kcladyz

I had insomnia all my life. i was on antidepressants for a few years that worked like a charm and had years of blissful sleep :) .  I been off them for a year now with great sucess  but once in a blue moon I have severe insomnia  such as tonight.  its 5 am and still awake.  at one point I was close to sleeping when i had an anxiety attack.  I had to get dressed and " walk  it off"  usualy a shower or stepping outside  snaps me out of it.  I usually go back to bed  but since its so close to dawn I give up and will try to nap during the day. Has anyoone experienced night panics and how do you go back to sleep.  Panic attacks at night are th eworst for you are already delerious from lack of sleep.


I been taking 5-htp  and I found it is better than sleep medication or anti depressants. My moodiness is gone, coworkers notice a positive change in my behavior  and i sleep beter. i forgot to take last night.

abs.tract._
abs.tract._
I’ve had the same thing happen with me. I am still on my antidepressants tho, but I forget to take them and when I do I end up not sleeping and when I try to sleep I wake up in a panic and have a small and short panic attack. It used to happen all the time before I was on them and now that I’ve been forgetful and not taking them, the problem has started back up. When I have those problems tho I usually walk around my house, read a book, exercise or play a game to occupy my mind and make myself tired, not sure if it’ll work for you but couldn’t hurt. Are your panic attacks because of something you’re thinking about and dwell on when trying to sleep or are they just at random here and there ?
Hypnos07
Hypnos07
Hi, those middle of the night panic attacks can hit especially hard, but the timing and presuming you were in bed at the time all suggests you did in fact get some sleep but just weren't aware of it. This is very common.

We all awaken to some extent after each completed sleep cycle, typically 90 minutes or so. The first few cycles seem to be the time when the worst panic attacks hit, possibly because those first few cycles contain the most slow wave or deep sleep. This may be what happened to you, it would not be surprising.

I think you are right to walk it off or do something to break the negative hold of insomnia if you are lying in bed too tense and aroused to sleep. But then when that wears off go back to bed and try it again. If you don't sleep, so what? Accept what rest you do get as OK and let go the worry.

I would also suggest you consider NOT napping the following day, as that will have the effect of stealing sleep from the following night. This is one way how the vicious cycle perpetuates.