panic before sleep

[CrazyAmy]

i was wondering if anyone has ever experienced a pseudo panic attack in that awake sleeping mode? I've found several times as I'm going to sleep I have these nightmares which I think is reality and happens in the same setting that i am in where something bad is happening and I'm unable to speak or call for help. It feels like I'm trapped and muffled by some invisible force. I can always wake myself up out of these pseudo dreams, but then I'm afraid to try and go back to sleep!

Just wondering if this is anxiety or if I'm crazy on another level?

[livinthislife]

this happens to me not often but it sure does i can normally feel that its going to happen before i even go to sleep what i normally ldo is just stay awake until i feel it go away just watch tv or get online

[MistaVega]

http://www.anxietyzone.com/index.php/topic,1944.0.html

[gardenhumor]

Its funny because that happened to me two nights ago. I felt that someone was breaking into my room and I tried to call the dog but nothing came out. I have GAD but I did not associate the dream as part of the anxiety. I thought it was an annoying scary dream.

I just did some deep breathing and fell back to sleep.

Try turning on the tv or radio. SOmetimes it helps you not feel all alone and can comfort you back to sleep.

[gloomy]

This sort of thing has happened to me and I have been gripped with terror its really awful.  Sometimes I am frightened to go back to sleep in case I go back into the horrible nightmare mode.  Anxiety is so powerful!!

[Emily]

When my anxiety is at it's peak, I often shake myself awake when I am almost sleeping.. it's scary!

[mprinceton]

hi amy,

I get that too when things aren't going well. I sort of wake up and my heart is pounding and I feel like I can't breath or i'm not getting adequate breath. Then I start concentrating on my heart beat and feel like I'm going to have a stroke or something and feel like there is blood rushing to my brain. I'm a medical professional and you think I have a grip on this stuff... but all I end up doing is self-diagnosing myself and thinking i'm having problems and freaking out even more. It sure makes for an awful nights sleep I do this a couple nights a week.

[TigerGirl80]

Sometimes when I fall asleep, usually when taking a nap, I feel like I can't wake myself up.  It's like I'm dreaming about not being able to wake up or open my eyes.  It is really scary when it happens and makes me not want to go to sleep again.

[CrazyAmy]

I've noticed recently I'm almost afraid to go to bed. I purposely stay up so late my body can't handle being awake anymore so when I get in bed I'm out in about 5 seconds.  This is nice and all being that I'm on winter break from school, but going to bed at 3 and waking up at 11 won't cut it when I have to go to work at 7. anyone have any suggestions on ways to peacefully fall asleep?

[notwaving]

You guys, I think you might be describing something called sleep paralysis. It's happened to me too, all my life, for as long as I can remember--just as I'm about to drop off to sleep I get the feeling of being trapped and unable to move but internally sped up with a racing heart, along with an eerie rushing sensation in my ears and head. I know I shouldn't have been trolling around online looking for medical information (!) but very recently I came across a paper some doctors had written on this phenomenon and its possible connection to out-of-body experiences during waking time--something else I have experienced many times, as an anxiety symptom. Who knows what it all means, but you're not alone, anyway.