Anxiety after falling asleep

[sylvina]

Hi had anxiety for years now on and off but for a long while now I get it every single night just after I have drifted off to sleep even if I have had a good day .. It's like I'm only asleep for around half an hour then I'm woken with a jolt with my heart racing and confused for a few seconds.. I no what it is every time it happens but it still scares me.. Anyone no why this happens and does anyone else get this .. Thanks xx

[tailspin]

I get something like this occasionally and it really scares me!! It ALWAYS happens within half an hour to an hour of me falling asleep. I pretty much don't even have to look at my watch. It's the weirdest thing. I wake up with a huge jolt and I literally leap out of bed. I'm very disoriented and I feel like something is really, really wrong. Often I am literally shaking. It takes me quite a few minutes to come back to myself and feel somewhat normal again. It's scary and totally weird! And, as I say, it always happens - when it happens - within half an hour to an hour of falling asleep. It has nothing to do with a nightmare or anything like that.

I wonder if it's to do with heart rate and blood pressure dipping really low or something??

[NixonRulz]

That's the worst time to have a panic attack. It sucks.

I think they continue to occur since no matter how great of a day we have had, whether consciously or subconsciously, we expect it to happen at night so the anxiety doesn't disappoint.

Change your mindset prior to going to sleep to one of strength instead of one of weakness.

[sylvina]

I get something like this occasionally and it really scares me!! It ALWAYS happens within half an hour to an hour of me falling asleep. I pretty much don't even have to look at my watch. It's the weirdest thing. I wake up with a huge jolt and I literally leap out of bed. I'm very disoriented and I feel like something is really, really wrong. Often I am literally shaking. It takes me quite a few minutes to come back to myself and feel somewhat normal again. It's scary and totally weird! And, as I say, it always happens - when it happens - within half an hour to an hour of falling asleep. It has nothing to do with a nightmare or anything like that.

I wonder if it's to do with heart rate and blood pressure dipping really low or something??

Mine sounds exactly the same as urs but I get it every night now .. It's so annoying .. Once I'm past it I sleep fine for the rest off the night.

[sez]

Could it be like a Hypnic jerk (that sort of jump a lot of people get just as they are going to sleep) and perhaps because your already anxious the Hypnic jerk scares you more than it should and now you've come to expect it which makes it worse? Google Hypnic jerk and see what you think. I think if you try some relaxation before you go to sleep or even fall asleep listening to relaxation it may help. When you are falling asleep do you worry about this before it happens?

[sylvina]

Could it be like a Hypnic jerk (that sort of jump a lot of people get just as they are going to sleep) and perhaps because your already anxious the Hypnic jerk scares you more than it should and now you've come to expect it which makes it worse? Google Hypnic jerk and see what you think. I think if you try some relaxation before you go to sleep or even fall asleep listening to relaxation it may help. When you are falling asleep do you worry about this before it happens?

Yes I do worry about it as its been going on for so long .. It happened to me again tonight it's always exactly half hour after I fall asleep I wake with a panic , heart racing and in a daze for a few seconds.. Once that's passed and its calmed down I sleep fine for the rest off the night.. Started off few times a week now it is every night

[sylvina]

Oh and I have looked on google and no it's not the hypnic jerk

[Dahila]

I have it and I hate it. It is so confusing and I have difficulties to go back to sleep... takes a few minutes to calm down, usually not always.

[NeverToo...Fear]

It doesn't happen all of the time, but I do wake up in the middle of the night shaking, heart racing, not remembering my dreams and being very confused. It's a terrible feeling, like something is very off.. and it's terrible that it happens at night cause those hours are where I feel the most alone and helpless.