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Author
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Topic: Waking up in the middle of the night to a panic attack
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MoonWitch
Knowflake Posts: 367
From: Somewhere Out There
Registered: Jun 2006
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posted September 06, 2008 02:02 PM
 
I am a complete dork. Stress overtook me last night. Some of you remember my panic attack last year in March or May, I think. That was embarrassing because my boss called 911 at work and I was taken off in an ambulance. So I've been under such stress the past couple weeks with work and the upcoming child custody hearing, etc., my chest has been hurting quite a bit and I knew it was anxiety related. So I'd do some breathing exercies (makes it difficult to breathe) and try to relax. I haven't been sleeping and when I have it's been bad sleep filled with dreams about work and dreams about BEING stressed and dreams about freaking out about being so stressed. Night before last I hardly slept at all and last night I got in bed and still had trouble sleeping despite that and despite it being late and despite my really long day at work. I did finally fall asleep, though. Then at about 2am I woke up with chest pain which didn't make sense to me because how can someone have anxiety while sleeping? I sat up in bed with a pillow on my lap for a good 20 minutes and tried to breathe. Felt a little better and went back to sleep. Woke up at about 3am with a MASSIVE cramp in the calf of my leg. It seemed to last forever but once it finished I got up to go to the bathroom. I got extremely dizzy and nauseaus but I went and came back to bed and laid down. Then I started with cold sweats, my legs started shaking and the room was spinning even when I was laying down. Then I had to go to the bathroom again. Great, so I figured maybe I ate something bad but I didn't know and then I worried about the leg cramp and chest pains and started to think about the pill and the chances of pulmonary embolisms. Not a good thing for me to think about that because that freaked me out more and I was convinced that the pill gave me a blood clot in my leg and now it was loose and going to go up into my heart and lungs and that I'd die and Hunter would find my dead body and that WOULD BE SO SAD FOR HIM!!! I got up and went downstairs because I thought maybe I'd watch TV for a while and lay on the couch. I got SO DIZZY going down the stairs and it became hard to breathe. I made it to the bathroom but my legs started shaking again and the room was spinning so I lay on the floor. I started sweating like crazy - cold sweats. So I decided to call 911. I was convinced I was dying. WHY DO I DO THIS TO MYSELF?? It's so stupid!!!! Anyway, after calling 911, I called Brian and it was 3:30am by this point. Woke the poor baby up and I think he was confused because I didn't know what was going on and I think I almost cried on him. I should have called him first before 911. He said I needed to go wake up May and that made more sense than anything I was thinking. So I went up there and woke her up -- she had taken an Ambian to sleep last night so she was a bit out of it but she came downstairs with me. I needed her to be awake and aware of what was going on in case Hunter woke up. Long story made slightly shorter - I had a panic attack in the middle of the ********* night while I was SLEEPING and I feel so stupid that there were so many paramedics and the FIRE DEPARTMENT was here. What the hell? I need to get in control of my stress tolerance level. Most people would say that on the surface I handle stress okay. I guess that's the problem. I internalize it, binge on junkfood and don't go to the gym. I was thinking yesterday that I wanted to go to the gym today but now I don't know if I should or if I shouldn't. I am considering going to see a doctor in my HMO today to see what they think about everything. My primary doctor says meditation and exercise and I see the merit of that advice but last night it would have been REALLY nice to have had something to calm me down in an emergency. So I wonder if going to the gym today would just help me relieve some tension on the treadmill - my chest tightened up again a half an hour after waking up. It might also loosen up my leg which is so sore after that cramp last night. I finally got back to sleep this morning sometime for an hour or so. But then my feet were cramping so it was hard for me to fall asleep because I had to keep standing up. meh. I feel like such a loser. I used to have a boyfriend that got panic attacks and I hated him for it because I thought they were so stupid and that he was being a drama queen. Alright, so he was probably 90% drama queen anyway but now I feel like the huge idiot I thought him to be. I apologized to Brian this morning for waking him up or freaking him out - he made me laugh about it, though, which is nice So I've been looking at stuff online to get this handled in a better way and this was EXACTLY me last night: *******************************************************************************************
Panic attack is defined as a discrete period of intense fear or discomfort accompanied by somatic and psychic symptoms. The attack has a sudden onset and rapidly builds to a peak (usually in 10 minutes or less). It is accompanied by a sense of imminent danger or impending doom and an urge to escape.
A panic attack is also made up of severe, acute, systemic symptoms: cardiovascular (palpitations, pounding heart, accelerated heart rate), respiratory (dyspnea, chest pain or discomfort, sensations of shortness of breath or smothering), neurological-like (dizziness, trembling or shaking, paresthesias), sweating, nausea or abdominal distress, chills or hot flushes. Often the somatic symptoms mask or are predominant over anxiety and such patients are primarily referred to non-psychiatric physicians.
The psychic symptoms are: feelings of dizziness, unsteadiness, lightheadedness, or fainting, derealisation or depersonalization, fear of losing control or going crazy, fear of dying. Individuals seeking help for panic attacks will usually describe the fear as intense and report that they thought they were about to die, lose control, have a heart attack or a stroke, or ''go crazy''. They also usually report an urgent desire to flee from wherever the attack is occurring (escape behavior).
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LEXX
Moderator Posts: 1296
From: Still out looking for Schrödinger's cat.........& LEXIGRAMMING... is my Passion!
Registered: Jan 2008
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posted September 06, 2008 03:17 PM
I get them too. Do you have any allergies?
Do you get "Charley Horses"?
Do you get enough Magnesium and Calcium, and Potassium? Is you neck or back out?
Hope you find a solution and your life improves.
Take care{{{HUGS}}}------------------
It is not about waiting for storms to pass...it is about learning to dance in the rain!
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LEXX
Moderator Posts: 1296
From: Still out looking for Schrödinger's cat.........& LEXIGRAMMING... is my Passion!
Registered: Jan 2008
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posted September 06, 2008 03:19 PM
YOU ARE NOT A DORK!
THESE THINGS ARE REAL AND TERRIFYING!
And yes, they can, and do in my case, come usually whilst sleeping.------------------
It is not about waiting for storms to pass...it is about learning to dance in the rain!
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MoonWitch
Knowflake Posts: 367
From: Somewhere Out There
Registered: Jun 2006
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posted September 06, 2008 03:39 PM
I don't have typical allergies. Codeine gives me hives. But then I often get hives when I am stressed, too. I'll get an 8 inch long hive that lasts for half an hour on my leg or something.I get foot cramps OFTEN. Actually, last week I was struggling with my feet because they wanted to cramp up for TWO hours! Even when I was walking to stretch them out they were trying to cramp. The only thing that helped was a muscle relaxant. Leg cramps are less often but still seems like I get them a lot more often than other people. I usually take a multivitamin. My lower back went out a couple weeks ago for a few days for no apparent reason. IP: Logged |
LEXX
Moderator Posts: 1296
From: Still out looking for Schrödinger's cat.........& LEXIGRAMMING... is my Passion!
Registered: Jan 2008
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posted September 06, 2008 03:49 PM
Do you do alot of caffeine? Magnesium and Potassium levels can be lowered by coffee in excess. Also Calcium is needed to help your body absorb Magnesium. Many multi-vitamins have little to no Potassium and or Magnesium. Orphenadrine is a good muscle spasm relaxant. As I said, I sympathize as I get the cramping and panic attacks too, and HAE plus neurological damage contribute to mine. ------------------
It is not about waiting for storms to pass...it is about learning to dance in the rain!
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Azalaksh
Moderator Posts: 7107
From: New Brighton, MN, USA
Registered: Nov 2004
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posted September 06, 2008 05:10 PM
I'm sorry to hear about your anxieties, MW {{{ hugs }}} 
The gym is a good solution -- 30 minutes on the treadmill at just 2.5-3.0mph can do a lot of good for your body. Or -- you live someplace nice and temperate, so perhaps a brisk walk outside?? The negative ions in ocean air can be very positive for one's mood.....Some people have troubles with it, but when I'm so anxious that I can't fall asleep I take Melatonin. Please go to Walgreens and get a bottle -- I take two 3mg tablets. You can try it tonite and see how you feel and how it affects you, and if it works you can get the sleep you need. Hunter needs you to be rested and with all mental faculties alert on Sept 9th  Do you have a regular chiropractor, or do you see a masseuse?? All that tension can easily subluxate any of your vertebrae -- if you could get in to see a chiro on Monday it could be a big help..... You are *NOT* stupid and you are *NOT* a dork -- please don't be so hard on yourself 
I'll be rooting for you on Tuesday!!! IP: Logged |
MoonWitch
Knowflake Posts: 367
From: Somewhere Out There
Registered: Jun 2006
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posted September 07, 2008 12:09 AM
Well,
tomorrow I go out to the boat and maybe we'll go kayaking. That will relieve some tension  Usually I go to the gym a couple times a week and walk at lunchtimes but have been too busy at work the past couple weeks to do either.I think my roommate has some Melatonin - I'll ask her! No chance on a chiropractor at the moment (I don't like them, btw, one hurt me really badly and the though of someone else popping my back horrifies me!) - Monday is 5 crazy house at work in the morning and then child custody mediation at the court. Then Tuesday is the court hearing so ... Hopefully after that things will get better. IP: Logged |
AcousticGod
Knowflake Posts: 13152
From: CA, USA
Registered: May 2005
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posted September 07, 2008 04:35 AM
I like the workout idea. I've actually done that while experiencing one. I felt that if I wore myself out I'd be able to forget about the panic attack, and get back to sleep. It's worked, though it also required trying to put the panic attack and the stress that caused it out of my mind.IP: Logged |
Dervish
Knowflake Posts: 433
From: California
Registered: Nov 2006
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posted September 07, 2008 10:23 PM
exercise is good if for no other reason it helps to burn up the adrenaline you experience from panic attacks and stress related to it (and it turns toxic if left unused in the system--NOT that you'll get ill from a little, and probably not even a lot, but it's something you don't want to build up). The sauna is good for getting rid of other toxins, too, possibly even whatever is giving you these panic attacks.Btw, I believe the fastest heart rates recorded were from people suffering (and being treated for) night terrors. What you're experiencing, as bad as it is, sounds pretty mild compared to what enough others have to put up with. What causes them is a mystery, and you're not alone out there. IP: Logged |
LEXX
Moderator Posts: 1296
From: Still out looking for Schrödinger's cat.........& LEXIGRAMMING... is my Passion!
Registered: Jan 2008
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posted September 07, 2008 10:31 PM
Exercise is good unless one has underlying heart troubles. Exercise combined with a panic attack can induce a heart attack in some folks, or dizziness and fainting, along with a drop or raise in blood pressure.
Distraction can help...
Counting can help...
But some will need an antihistamine or Ativan.
I have found doing something like brushing my teeth is enough distraction, or singing like crazy. (like 1,000 bottles oif beer on the wall, or some counting ditty, or backwards counting from 1,000)
And counting thusly out loud can stop the hyperventilation many experience.
If you have a person handy, a good brisk back rub can stop it too. Or a foot rub.
Same for Reiki.
------------------
It is not about waiting for storms to pass...it is about learning to dance in the rain!
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GemLover
Knowflake Posts: 173
From:
Registered: Aug 2008
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posted September 08, 2008 01:38 AM
I have panic attacks too recently but not anywhere as severe as yours. I agree with what Lexx said about the Calcium and Magnesium, a simple multivitamin doesn't contain enough and you need extra. It may also help with your leg cramps. Do diaphragmatic breathing. And be checked out by a doctor just to be certain that your physical symptoms aren't being caused by another condition. I usually find that a doctor's visit calms me down as he usually finds there is nothing wrong. (Which is embarrassing, but it's worth it for my peace of mind). Good luck! IP: Logged |
CancerianMoon
Knowflake Posts: 1193
From: Sydney, Australia. Cancer Sun.....Gemini Moon.....Aqua Rising
Registered: Aug 2003
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posted September 09, 2008 05:53 PM
Awww sweetie..i feel you...ive been there too!! Definately need a good amount of sleep...good food and some exercise...
The one thing that always kept me sane was reminding myself i have a guardian angel watching oveer me at ALL times...loved me unconditionally and would be my strength when i had none left..
Sometimes attacks like this happen when we are calm or sleeping...not in the heat of the stress...i know thats always when it happens to me...
Major red flag for us.. usually because we are holding sooo much emotion in that really needs to be let out...
Hope your feeling better soon
Ohh and you are not a dork...usually those with alot of empathy and sensitivity are the ones that have episodes like this...IP: Logged |
Ra
Moderator Posts: 2161
From: Atlanta
Registered: Jun 2005
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posted September 11, 2008 04:42 AM
EFT
www.emofree.com It is absolutely amazing.  IP: Logged |
MoonWitch
Knowflake Posts: 367
From: Somewhere Out There
Registered: Jun 2006
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posted September 11, 2008 07:09 PM
Well, since the child custody hearing on Tuesday - for the first time in weeks my chest hasn't hurt and I've been able to BREATHE. So I imagine I'll be okay until the court evaluation in late November. I know it'll go well but I worry worry worry. I wonter what it is in my char that makes me that way. Dammit. BUT after this week going so well things will be better For the milder panic attacks or anxiety I can usually distract myself, watch a movie to make me think of something else, go for a walk, etc. Just the one in the middle of the night caught me offguard and when you REALLY believe completely that you are dying and those are your last moments on Earth and you really don't know it's a panic attack -- the usual things are kind of pointless. Next time, hopefully, I'll be better prepared to know what is really going on. Though even more hopefully there won't be a next time because I don't want one again!
lol @ Ra
Just looking at the title I though "omg is he calling me Emo? My gothic sensibilities woul dbe so offended!!"
I see that's not what it's about though. I'll take a look at the webpage IP: Logged |
Lindaland
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