Exhaustion Attack?

[ericaboo]

Has anyone had the experience of total weakness and exhaustion that seems just like a panic attack?

I'll have a typical trigger happen, and then instead of the normal shallow breathing, nervousness, anger outburst, or whatever, I'll just suddenly feel like going to sleep. My eyes want to close, my body becomes weak, I almost feel like I could faint... Like narcolepsy or something...

I don't know if this is a different type of anxiety attack, the klonopin, depression, or the fact that I tend to have low blood pressure????

Any ideas?

 

[amethist]

This happens to my husband Erica.

It's like his mind needs to shut down to recover from what ever the trigger was. He has been told if it is that bad and he needs to sleep, then sleep, as this is the minds way of coping sometimes.

 

[maddog]

I experience this exact same thing Erica, though as in your case, I'm not sure the real reason and am not even sure if it's PTSD-related or due to something else.

It's as though there are periods of time when, often for no discernible reason, I feel absolutely unable to resist the pull of sleep. This can occur even if I'm actively engaged in something such as a conversation or other gentle physical activity, and short of literally getting up and engaging in something very physical, it is almost impossible for me to resist the pull of a short sleep. Very, very embarrassing and inconvenient when in public!!

As quickly as it has arrived, it will eventually fade away, and doesn't even always correllate with times when I am feeling particularly fatigued.

I wonder though if this is something different to what you are talking about, as in a lot of cases I really can't identify any anxiety or PTSD-related trigger for this, almost as though it is a purely physiological response to something.

Whichever way, it's tough...

Maddog

 

[^^FlyingSolo^^]

Yes this happens to me more often then I would like. I don't have any ideas, just letting you know this same thing happens to me a lot.

Regards, solo

 

[ericaboo]

It definitely happens when there is a trigger - the exact same triggers that normally set me off. I feel like crying with relief that I'm not the only one, that I'm not dying or something.

Just a short amount of sleep - a little power nap - will make me feel somewhat better. Also, I have had increasing levels of stress, so I guess it isn't surprising that new symptoms could arise.

Thanks for the responses - sooo much :O_o:

 

[Meadowsweet]

Yes, this sounds exactly what I was trying to describe in this thread [DLMURL]https://www.ptsdforum.org/c/threads/fatigue-and-flashbacks.24402/[/DLMURL]

I related it to flashbacks, because thats what seems to happen more often than not for me. But ofcourse there's alot of anxiety with that.

I did ask my therapist about it, she said its not uncommon. But sometimes I don't know if my therapist says things to help me not to worry.

 

[^^FlyingSolo^^]

To elaborate on my previous post, ( and wishing I would have given my previous post more thought). I agree with you ericaboo, now that I think about it, these episodes have been in direct relation to triggers.

And I remember when the last time it happened, I realized that I wasn't actually tired, but more exhausted from a specific event/trigger immediately prior to the episode.

I think for me I'm just now recently distinguishing one thing from the other. As you noted, I brief nap was needed but afterwards seemed fine.

Regards, Solo

 

[lil_fighter]

Interesting thread, I can relate to the exhaustion. Last week I had a panic attack it was something I was panicking about the night before that was due to happen the next day so I didn't get any sleep which probably made me feel worse the next day, more 'on edge' and nervy. That was mid-week and it took me the rest of the week and the weekend to feel normal again, I felt so exhausted from getting so worked up.

So as well as feeling exchausted after panicking I also can relate to the shutting down feeling as opposed to panicking. It's like a machine when the batteries are running low and the machine slows down and grinds to a halt. I think that it's your body's way of saying "I've had enough" and after a rest usually you would feel ok and that the rest was well needed but I appreciate this is a pain if you're out and about in the daytime.