Terrified to sleep. Palpitations only at night

[jdenoma7]

Soo one night after drinking an energy supplement i started having palpitations while trying to sleep. The next day i had a panic attack  (first ever) and went to the hospital. Had EKG, blood test, ultrasound, and holter monitor, all of which came back normal. My holter showed a small number of pvcs (like 15) , and the cardiologist said i was fine.

For the past few months I have developed a lot of anxiety, most specifically at night. Some nights I am terrified of sleeping. On multiple occasions I have woken up in a cold sweat with PVCs every two or three beats and I feel like I am dying. I eventually calm myself down and fall back asleep and wake up as if nothing had ever happened. I just don't understand why I only get palpitations at night. I also get sleep paralysis more often now, as well as a feeling like I am sinking into my bed (kind of feels like I am dying, falling into my bed).

Is this all just anxiety/ panic related? It is driving me insane and I am sick of feeling like I am going to die every time i try and go to sleep.

[Cuchculan]

You would be amazed what anxiety can do to you. The list of symptoms is vast. And what you describe fits right in there with them. The only thing you don't know if why they began. Did the doctor say anything about the health drink you had the night before you had the first panic attack? I won't pretend to be a major fan of these. Some of them are good. But other ones are to give you energy. Which is not what you need before going to bed. You energy levels could have been through the roof. Once you have one panic attack you are fully aware of it and the mind expects a second one. Because it was night when the first one happened, night time becomes the trigger for your attacks. It is all just the mind playing tricks on you. You have had all your tests done. All is fine there. The mind is a powerful thing. But you have also seen that they can go away just as easily as they come on. If we ignore them. Let them come on. Ride it out. Don't feed them by jumping about. They simply vanish. But I would guess anxiety.

[AnxiousK24]

I get them too, believe me I've had them all at the worst times. I had one when I was driving that lasted a few hours. I think at night when you go to bed your laying down and your mind semi-relaxes to the point where all your brain is thinking about is more anxiety.

[Smalm]

the sleep paralisis is normal I used to have it often during stressful times and strangly I do not have it during my anxiety for it's not that bad or something... I grew out of the sleep paralsis, just stop freeking out :) I hate the sleep paralsis just like you I think I'm dying and I remember once that I told my grandma near me while I could barely open my eyes during sleep paryalisis that I was dying and she didn't hear me probably because I could barely move my mouth 

[Island]

I have the same problem  sometimes not being able to sleep, what can I do?

[EmmanuelGonzo]

I've had the same problem for months.  What you can do is buy omega 3,6,9 at walgreens, and krills oils.  I take an omega in the morning.  And krills oild at 6.  I have not had any palpatation since.  Hopefully it will work for you.  Also I had to learn to trush the ekg results i got from the doctors.

[Soccer_Dude]

Hi,

I would avoid energy drinks or any other type of drink that contains caffeine, taurine, and/or tyrosine.  Those can increase anxiety, could trigger heart palps in sensitive individuals, etc...

I also had some sleep paralisis type symptoms.  And, other panic like symptoms while in bed.  For me the sleep paralisis type symptoms came on when I went to a higher dose of a particular med.  Lowered the dose and it never happened again.  But, for years off and on I have had panic like symptoms when I'm laying in bed. They were alarming at first.  But, now I just get up and walk around my bedroom and shake them off, go back into bed and I usually fall asleep.  The sleep paralisis could also just be a form of a panic attack.

I would avoid the energy drinks, and try some magnesium before bed. Magnesium can help make you calm, relax, and help you sleep.  And if you are deficient in magnesium, then it will help replenish your stores, and could help...There are different forms of magnesium. There's one called "CALM" by Natural Vitality that seems to be pretty popular. Just follow the instructions on the container. You can also buy individual single serving packets of it. I've seen them at Whole Foods stores.  There are many natural remedies that could help with anxiety, panic, and sleep, but I would try something simple like magnesium first and see how it goes and eliminate/reduce caffeine/energy drinks, sugar, etc..... 

I hope you are feeling better.

Soccer.