if u sleep with a night light on, or even during the day with the blinds down, u can lie down with your eyes closed, and see if, with eyes closed, u can see any faint lights slowly moving across your eyes or appearing and then disappearing and see that light as the hand of God gently trying to reassure you...

the Lexapro can take up to 6 weeks to work fully
try sleeping with light and radio on
dreams sometimes cause nocturnal panic attacks
deep slow breathing helps, avoid rapid shallow panting
Lexapro often causes vivid strong dreams as a side effect later on

I find that breathing in the positive energy and out the negative vibes helps me out...

It sounds like your panic attacks come on at night because that's when everything is silent and your mind wonders and your fears come out. Mine is the worst when I first wake up in the morning because I think too much about what the day will bring. I've tried all the things you have tried too. It's very frustrating, I know. I don't have advice on how to stop them but maybe try reading the Bible before you go to bed or list to Christian songs or radio station to put you in a peaceful positive mindset. I started writing in a journal at night and that seems to help. I have trouble falling asleep because my heart will race and pound. Just try focusing on something peaceful rather than the panic attack. I know that's hard to do. God bless!

I had terrible panic attacks about 30-45 minutes after going to sleep. I found articles that said Zocor can cause these. I switched statin drugs and so far they have been less often and less scary. I've been on the new drug for about a year.

Mine are worse at night also. A light helps and if you have a smartphone/tablet I got an app called "calm" and it really seems to help. I let it run all night. I think it's because you feel alone at night and don't have the normal daily distractions. It's bad enough having panic attacks but to be sleep deprived only makes it worse. I'm sorry you are going through this. Keep trying different things and it will get better.

I get them in the morning and at night. I've had dreams of panic that wake me up in a panic attack. I've tried everything you have. I'm also at a loss. I really pray you find peace!

Nocturnal panic attacks for me are the worst but the easiest to come down from. The adrenal system is what wakes us up and being that panic is caused by a heightened adrenal system makes these very common.

Is there a lot of light in your room? I find this aggravates me and makes me feel like I should be awake. Light, expecially TV's, can mess with ones biological clock.

I too have panic attacks at night. I will be laying there trying to go to sleep and I hear a noise and I think someone's in my apartment even when I have lights on. my breathing starts getting heavier then I try and hold my breath because I don't want the person to know I'm awake and my head starts feeling really funky and then I can't move because I become paralyzed with fear because I think someone's in my apartment I can't even open my eyes or lift a finger I simply cannot move. then I pass out from fear that someone is in my apartment. so I can totally relate to having panic attacks during the night. when they happen I email my psychiatrist after I wake up and that could be 3, 4, 5 o'clock in the morning and usually when she wakes up she emails me back. but it makes me feel better being able to talk about it when it happens. so maybe if you have someone who you can text or email or call during the night even if they don't answer right away you could do something like just tell them my ear fear is and just tell them what you're scared of or just what's going on even if you're not scared do you know just maybe you could talk to somebody I know that it helps me. but that's just a suggestion.

While I don't have nighttime panic attacks, I do have major nighttime anxiety that jolts me awake each night. It's then hard for me to fall back asleep. Sometimes I'll just lay there for hours after waking. I typically don't have any trouble falling asleep initially...it's the staying asleep that is hardest for me. I don't have any advice since I'm still trying to figure out how to control mine, but I just wanted to offer support to you.

Wow! So glad that I am not the only one who has had nocturnal attacks!! Had one last night! Felt short of breath, pounding heart , abdominal pain. Still feel short of breath. Don't know why this happened??? Have had panic attacks on and off for many years but they have recently returned! Just started new job 3weeks ago and they been getting worse! Ha not been on meds for 3 years. Have been on lamottigine and ability. Can anyone help??? I need to get some rest and want to stop the panic!! Have been praying and the mobile app for calm and panic does help. But why the nocturnal one? Especially the breathing issue! Help!!!!!

maybe if you think of the panic attacks as making u sleepy they can gently pass u by but u need to trust God on this one that He can make u relax if u just let Him lead us through it. we'll be going thru this together so i can let u know it doesn't take surgery to cool down after a nightmare u just need a will to do it and the peace to avoid anything sugary like pop that always gives me nightmares. and try to avoid eating before bed and doing anything physical. just gaze up there and drink in God's sobriety and when u wake up try to let Him override your thinking through mind control I'm gonna try it too so we can see how it feels like i think it'll be fine...

if anyone wants to chat with me further, my facebook name is Annie Paikeday, or paikannie@yahoo.ca. thanks i am praying for all of you to get well soon!

Thanks so very much Annie!
Will continue to stay prayerful and will follow your suggestions to not eat sugary stuff nor exercise right before bed. I listen to Jody Whately on You Tube for sleep rest and anxiety hypnosis. It does help. Give it a try too !! I still wake up occasionally with shortness of breath. I have no health problems thank God. Will keep u in my prayers and check for your reply. Will get on Facebook to chat with u. Continued prayers and good sleep! Thank u once again for your reply!