Choking

[Day_by_day]

Hi guys I am new here. Diagnosed with PTSD the last year as a result of continuous work with criminals over my career and some very near misses and attacks.
i am a terrible sleeper and scream/cry/talk in my sleep most nights.
Last night however, was a very scary experience.
I had an overwhelming fear that something was going to happen to me before I fell asleep (I do not surffer from anxiety and I feel myself that I have a some good coping mechanisms so this is very unusual behaviour from me)
So anyway... prior to falling asleep I can only describe myself as terrified of.. I don't know what. So I had a dream where one of my attackers was choking me and I couldn't breathe. I woke up coughing up bile and gasping for breath. It was absolutely bizarre. I also had a pain in my throat and very tense muscles. I live alone.

I'm a bit scared that maybe I had some this to myself while sleeping? Or perhaps the dream felt so real that my mind actually felt that i was being strangled.
Either way, I would love to hear from anybody who has had a similar experience so I can stop feeling crazy
Thanks in advance.
Sarah x

 

[cat-lady]

It's possible that was all from the ptsd but that makes me worry that maybe you are getting sleep apnea or reflux or something similar and your brain is interpreting it through past trauma. You might want to get checked out to make sure there's not a physical issue with breathing when you sleep.

 

[Riot]

@Sarah Mulroy, my husband has the same kind of thing minus the nightmare. He found that forcing air out of his stomach mid attack stops it immediately, as well as taking some anti acids before bed. I believe that part could be acid reflux. Definitely get it checked out!

 

[Day_by_day]

Thank you guys. My doctor is useless when it comes to this type of issue just offers sleeping pills which I try to avoid. I will try to research a good doctor in my area and get this sorted.

 

[pixel]

Hi @Sarah Mulroy and welcome to the forums :)

You're not alone, by a long shot.

Found this thread, hope it provides some reassurance:
I Wake Up Choking At Night Has Anyone Else Had This Happen?

 

[Atopthethoughts]

I just,had this type of dream on the 19th or something. My in home helper person said i probably was just tense from it bein haloween. I was with criminals in past, but not one myself...it was sex assault...anyway i have stomach issues also. Not feeling well, is a link. Try not eat before bed, you may have apnea, and acid reducers do help! OtC, give that a try and some light music without words before bed, or nothing upsetting, get well!

 

[Deleted member 37343]

I hope you're on your way to finding a diagnoses! This sounds very scary and the fact that you're coughing up bile concerns me.. I would highly suggest meeting with a doctor that specializes in sleep disorders. Explain your situation. Did this start after you left your job, has it happened during, before, as a child, family history? etc. Good luck!

 

[BoN-bOn]

I often have a repeat dream that someone or someTHING (very scary looking) is choking me. It is always VERY vivid & it's one of those dreams where I can't move or speak or breathe & I wake up gasping for air. I even know that I need to wake up in the dream but I can't. Just a few weeks ago I woke up screaming, "I'm not afraid of you anymore!" I was choked often when I was in an abusive marriage.