Waking up in a panic

The only thing similar to what you've described that has happened to me would be the problems I have while falling asleep, not when I'm already sleeping. Under severe stress, my mind will come up with "games" to play to purposely keep me awake (not so much now, but in the past for sure!) - also, there were a few times when I was just on the verge of drifting off to sleep, and I would hear a loud POP! sound in my head, both ears...like a gunshot went off in my mind. Creepy. I would wake up thinking an artery blew in my brain or something. Or I would hear a random voice yell something out at me right when I'm about to start dreaming. Xanax has stopped most of this for me, but I still remember it clearly. So I'm thinking a night terror is probably even worse, because this wakes you from a sound sleep, while my stuff was only when I was just falling asleep and still semi-awake. The only thing I would do is wake up, get scared, and try to go back to sleep again. This was one of the main symptoms that led me to my psychiatrist's office..
All I can tell you is to just realize that it was a night terror, and accept it. I spent so much time running away from symptoms, instead of just facing them head-on and saying, yes, you are a symptom of anxiety. That's all you are.
*OR* better yet find a doctor who knows how to fight the symptoms for you. I just let him deal with all my anxiety nonsense now. Things seem much easier. I've battled this almost my whole life, and I'm tired...you know?

Your telling me. Anxiety is exausting. My psychiatrist want 85 dollars an hour and I don't know if I can afford it. I was in the middle of listening to a hypnosis session on an app I downloaded when all of a sudden I felt more anxious and I was thinking... what up with that? I mean you are specifically designed to reduce anxiety I mean seriously? Anyways .. let me ask you something. You mention that you take xanax.. does it have any unsavory side effects? Is that something that you have to take at bedtime? And do you have to see a psychatrist in order get them? I've noticed that some people put there actual photo on there avatar. I wonder if I should?

Danes said:

That's actually a great idea, to keep a DVD player next to your bed, but remember to pick uplifting things to watch. Some movies might start off OK, but after you fall asleep your subconscious mind is still 'awake' and if there is stuff going on in the movie or whatever you're watching that might trigger an attack, it still gets 'seen' or 'heard' by your subconscious mind and it can still affect you even while you sleep, so be careful of that.

Click to expand...

Well, it is normally a historical movie. Mostly about the Tudors or the Templars so there is plenty of chopping heads off and blood and gore. I keep meaning to download some binaural beat that would help with anxiety or depression. It would be great to listen to something like that while I am falling asleep. lol

amonda said:

That has only started to happen to me recently, frequently too. It's becoming something that happens about once every other night. I don't even sleep at nights anymore and it is making me feel tired. I am so tired.

Click to expand...

I can help