Sleep Panic Attacks

If you've never experienced one, it's hard to imagine just how terrifying a nighttime panic attack is. A person can be sound asleep and then suddenly awake in a state of absolute fear and panic. Even though most people have never heard of sleep panic attacks, they are relatively common in people who have problems with panic attacks in general. Roughly 50% of people have an anxiety disorder with panic attacks during the day will experience one at night.

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As I mentioned, a sleep panic attack can abruptly wakes someone out of a sound sleep. There is no obvious trigger. There doesn't need to be a sound in the room or any other disturbance. The person usually isn't having a nightmare. In some ways it would be more reassuring if sleep panic attacks were associated with nightmares. At least then they'd be some explanation for the fear.

A nighttime panic attack is associated with all the physical symptoms of a daytime episode. Specifically, the person awakens with a rapid pounding heart rate, shortness of breath, hyperventilation, trembling, sweating and all the other symptoms of panic attack accompanied by extreme fear and a sense of impending doom.

As with any other panic attack, it's important to rule out any underlying medical disorder. One difference with sleep panic attacks is a need to rule out a sleeping disorder such as sleep apnea. Doctors are recognizing that sleep apnea occurs much more frequently than previously recognized. It can cause multiple problems, including symptoms that look like a panic attack.

Once medical conditions have been ruled out, the treatment of nocturnal panic attacks is essentially the same as all other panic attacks. One difference is that patients often request and physicians often prescribe "sleeping pills." Ambien is a common one, and is actually in the same class of drugs as Valium and Xanax which are often prescribed for daytime panic attacks.

These sedatives don't cure panic attacks, they simply lessen symptoms. They should be used only in the short-term but unfortunately many people become dependent on them.

As another option, people suffering from sleep panic attacks should consider some of the more natural sleep aids discussed on Nocturnal Panic Attacks Part 2.

The more important approach is to eliminate the panic attacks themselves. Counseling and psychotherapy often helps many people have found complete belief quickly using Panic Away. Our review of this panic treatment system is at: Panic Away Review

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