"Sleep starts..." I thought I was almost rid of them for weeks...

[anothereveryman]

Please, I'm sure someone understands what I'm talking about. Ever since my first panic attack I've had bizzare jolts of adrenalin push me out of sleep just when I'm dozing off, sometimes snorting, gasping, or otherwise feeling in danger, just the moment I start to dream. Sometimes even in the dream I can feel it coming on...

What helps for these for you? Why did these flare up again out of nowhere? I feel helpless to them!

[29sillygirl]

These are actually panic attacks during sleep according to my doctor.  I've had them for years off and on.  I do take klonopin daily and it probably lessens episodes.  If dreaming ...or in that dream/awake state ...i sometimes go with it...part of my brain knows I'm only dreaming...not in danger...it isn't real....just the subconscious doing its thing.

I never ask why anymore....they happen or not...I carry on...

[Eseress]

Oh yes. There are times where I've been very close to falling asleep only to be jolted awake by gasping, or fear, or some other symptom that shakes me from half-unconsciousness. I wake up a couple times during the night too, so I can't even really maintain sleep.

[pauly j]

Other possibilities may include hypnogogic jerks, and sleep apnea.

pauly j

[anothereveryman]

My roommate (who lives and sleeps in the same room) swears up and down that I'm quiet and steady when I actually fall asleep, and that this only seems to happen in the initial minutes of dozing off. In other words, if it doesn't happen then, I'm clear until I wake up.

Apnea scares the hell out of me because I can't afford sleep tests let alone a CPAP, but for now all I can do is trust my roommate and see if somehow dealing with the anxiety helps. Got some nasal strips too...

[Brent8223]

I have been having these for years and have the majority of my panic attacks while I'm falling asleep. Sometimes so bad I leap out of bed and run outside my front door of my house and breathe the cold night air. I know it seems crazy but the walls feel like they are closing in and I have to get out of there.  Sometimes they last 30sec, sometimes 15min.

[Troubled_mind]

I'm glad you brought this up as I get these around the time when I'm most anxious. I rarely get them if ever when I'm asleep. Just when I'm at that point of unconsciousness, then blam! I wake up. Usually with a feeling of fear.

[anothereveryman]

Thanks for the replies. It's good to know we're not alone. :)

I'm not discounting sleep apnea in all cases, but for those of us who get these jolts in the very initial stage of sleep and can otherwise handle the rest of the night fine, I think there's a good possibility that it's just anxiety we have to contend with.

If anyone has any tips or advice or experience that works for them, please post it.

[laneysmom25]

I get these often...I will jolt awake and then get outta bed..I wake my bf up the majority of the time because I jolt so hard...