| p>If panic attacks during the day are extremely | | | | during sleep will greatly benefit the individual. The |
| frightening and upsetting for the sufferer, then sleep | | | | frequency and severity of the attacks will be |
| panic attacks are doubly more so. The individual | | | | considerably lessened, which will also benefit the |
| abruptly wakes up from a seemingly deep sleep | | | | treatment of waking panic attacks. |
| suffering from the debilitating symptoms of a full-blown | | | | Treatment will vary according to the severity and |
| panic attack, which can leave him/her feeling very | | | | frequency of the symptoms, with the existing |
| distressed, confused and agitated. In some cases, this | | | | medications for waking panic attacks an important |
| can give way to extreme fear of sleep, which is called | | | | consideration, too. For many sufferers, changing the |
| hypnophobia among mental health professionals. | | | | medications can prove very helpful along with a |
| Attack Types | | | | different approach in psychotherapy. Of course, |
| It must be noted that 50-70 percent of individuals who | | | | self-help techniques will always be useful in any kind of |
| have panic disorder will experience one or more | | | | panic attack. |
| episodes of these attacks in their sleep. Unfortunately, | | | | Causes |
| other sleep disturbances like insomnia can also happen | | | | At present, the causes of sleep panic attacks are not |
| with said episodes especially when these become | | | | yet full understood although theories do exist. One |
| more frequent. | | | | theory suggests that increased levels of carbon |
| To further complicate the matter, there are many | | | | dioxide in the blood triggers the attacks especially in |
| forms of panic attacks during sleep.o It can be that the | | | | individuals with who are prone to hyperventilate. |
| person suddenly wakes up with the feeling that a | | | | Another theory suggests that sudden changes in the |
| panic attack is about to begin.o It can be that the | | | | sleep cycle trigger the attacks. |
| person seems suspended in mid-sleep where he/she | | | | No matter the causes, however, the symptoms are |
| is completely aware that a panic attack is happening, | | | | similar in almost all cases. There are heart palpitations, |
| which results in a struggle to wake up.o It can be that | | | | chest pain, sweating, hot flashes or chills, trembling and |
| symptoms atypical of a waking panic attack - teeth | | | | twitching, hyperventilation, dizziness, fear of losing |
| grinding, headache and pressure in the ears - are | | | | control, sensation of choking, abdominal distress, |
| present.o It can be that the symptoms are very similar | | | | numbness or tingling sensations in the extremities, and |
| to waking panic attacks except that these are sleep | | | | a desperate urge to flee from danger. |
| panic attacks. | | | | Fortunately, these symptoms will subside in 10-20 |
| No matter the type of sleeping panic attack, the | | | | minutes although these may have arisen so suddenly |
| person wakes up feeling confused, agitated, | | | | that the individual is caught off guard. However, it is |
| disoriented and detached from reality. And if a sleeping | | | | highly recommended that professional opinion must be |
| panic attack happens in an unfamiliar room, the effects | | | | secured to determine if other sleep disorders like |
| are doubly distressing for the individual. | | | | obstructive sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux |
| Benefits of Treatment | | | | disease and laryngospasms are not the culprits behind |
| Of course, the right treatment approach for attacks | | | | the sleep panic attacks. |