What are Night Panic Attacks?
Night panic attacks have sent many people over the edge. They often find themselves awaken with an intense feeling of terror, profusely sweating, and heartbeat pounding off their chests that they can almost hear every beatings. This medical disorder is a severe form of anxiety and stress wherein nocturnal sufferers find it hard to get a good night’s sleep.
Contrary to the beliefs of many, panic attacks at night are not at all related to dreams. Dreams occur in REM (Rapid eye movement) stage and research shows that nighttime terrors often happen in the early phase of the sleep cycle. These terror attacks are linked to stress and anxieties from the day’s events that you brought with you on the bed. More often than not, the person expressed his worries and concerns through sleeping.
Although symptoms of nocturnal panic attacks differ from person to person, most sufferers commonly experience feelings of being choke, breathlessness, profuse sweating, rapid heartbeats, dizziness, and their thoughts are disturbed.
The factors that trigger intense anxiety attacks vary from individual to individual. Causative factors have been associated with extreme stress that occurred during the day, it could be stress at work, exams coming up, divorce, death of a loved one, major changes in life, etc.
Another reason for nighttime panic attacks is the fear of dying in sleep. According to research, people who suffered from stroke or heart attack suffer from nocturnal terror attacks.
Loss of sense of control is also a known triggering factor that may lead to severe anxiety attacks at night. Many sufferers have irrational beliefs that being asleep means they are defenseless and vulnerable. Though it sounds absurd, to them it is real.
The initial step in conquering this problem is the awareness that indeed you are experiencing panic attacks. When you woke up in intense terror, try to calm yourself down and take a few deep breaths. Avoid mulling over it, instead accept what had happened. By doing that, it will help subside the after effects of the panic attacks.
Psychotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy are effective treatments that deal with anxiety attacks. It helps the sufferers to come to terms with their irrational thoughts and also teach them relaxation techniques.
When you are in your proper frame of mind, determine the root cause of your panic attacks, and then deal with it head-on. Aside from that, it would also help if you avoid caffeine and alcohol, which can also trigger some anxiety attacks.
It is important that you control your nighttime terror attacks, because if not, it will control you.
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