Sleep problems affect half of people who have anxiety and panic symptoms. At least 35% of adults have experienced sleeplessness. Sleep disorders include sleep apnea and narcolepsy but insomnia is by far the most prevalent. Insomnia can vary in severity and in frequency.
The triggers for insomnia are countless and can range from medical health conditions to emotional stress. Chronic insomnia affects more people who have an existing mental disorder. Anxious people and obsessive worriers tend to find sleep difficult to come by.
They might experience restlessness, anxious and worrying thoughts and feel tense and unable to relax. Common nighttime anxiety and panic symptoms include sweating, tingling sensations and a pounding heart. In addition ten percent of the time panic attacks occur when the person is sleeping.
They can come out of the blue and be extremely terrifying. Most sufferers will agree that night panic attacks are more disturbing than daytime attacks. Panic attacks at night are highly disorientating and startling for the sufferer. Sufferers feel as though they're having heart attack.
Emotional and physical panic symptoms feel magnified during the night. Many sufferers find it impossible to sleep after an attack are likely to feel anxious through the night. Sufferers start to fear sleep because of panic symptoms and attacks.
As they grow more tired because of sleeplessness they become more fatigued and anxious in the day. When bedtime comes they dread going to sleep in case of another attack. This only feeds the cycle of fear and anxiety and makes their sleep and anxiety disorder worse. Causes of sleep panic attacks are still unknown.
Studies have shown that the cause of attacks are not related to nightmares. A person's lifestyle can have a negative and positive effect on anxiety symptoms. Feelings of anxiety intensify with the addition of stress and tension.
To help reduce panic symptoms during sleep it's essential to be in the right frame of mind. Relax through meditation, a hot bath or a bedtime drink. To unwind watch a comedy TV show or something light. Steer clear of alcoholic and caffeinated drinks.
Some people dread bedtime and going to the bedroom so make your bedroom comfortable and inviting. Why not listen to something calming to help you fall into sleep. What's important is not to worry if panic attacks occur during sleep. Bear in mind that panic symptoms are only sensations and they will eventually disappear.
