Feels Like My Heart Stops, I Jolt Awake. Extremely Terrifying

[Kym brown]

I have this nearly every night, it completely destroys my sleep, literally scared to go back to sleep, so over this crappy jumping out of my skin and heart racing a million miles an hour bullocks, can't think of anything pstd or anxiety related but it dead set feels like my heart has stopped. . good luck guys hopefully people are doing some research to help us get some peaceful rest from our night time hell

 

[BreeCastillo]

Honestly people, relax iv almost cured it you could say, used to get it every night a good 15-20 t...

I'm a 20 year old that has been experiencing these symptoms for a week now. I go into REM then suddenlybI feel as though my heartbhas stopped and I can't breathe correctly. Before this, I had just gone through months of a tremendous amount if stress and anxiety. Do you think that this could be the after effects, and are there also remedies to help the palpitations or sleep anxiety that you may know of?

 

[racheltro]

So glad I found this thread. I dont feel so alone now. I've always suffered from panic attacks (from my tern years to now 27 years old )I've been on zoloft, Cymbalta, all of them....they've all worked but I got sick of feeling like a zombie so I've been off of them for awhile now. I've been good and haven't really had any panic attacks, I've had a few minor episodes but nothing like before. Now, off and on for the past few weeks I've been waking up gasping for air....it's always when I'm just starting to fall asleep, I feel like my heart stops and I usually end up waking up and slinging my arm up and hitting something and saying something like "woah" or "shit"....my heart feels like it's beating out of my chest when I wake up. And this may sound weird but sometimes I feel like I see things right before I pop awake....like someone standing there or when I open my eyes I see a black dot on the wall that disappears after a few seconds after I start waking up. I just really hate it. I want to have a good night sleep without worrying about this. Oh, and I've noticed that it gets worse if I take a sleeping pill....so I mostly go without it and just lay awake half the night....sitting up in bed trying to sleep is not fun :(

 

[Gvenegas22]

Has anyone very had shortness of breath before sleeping then your scared to fall asleep and not waking up. Once asleep wake up around 330 am stand up quick because u can't breath hands are blood shot red and hot . you massage them to feel better. I get these symptoms one every blood moon(rarely) and I seem to know when ones happening that night every time . its like I tell my self before I go to bed I'm going to wake up put of breath with red burning hands like I'm dying and it happens.

 

[FoundTheAnswer]

I have all of the symptoms mentioned. There is nothing as terrifying as waking up, gasping for air, not sure if you are alive this time.

Now for a cure that I have found. There is a drug called 'pyrazolam' which can be found online. It is an Anxiolytic of the benzo class, but unlike other benzos, this one does not give you any drowsiness and has no noticeable effects. It works without you even knowing it is there - night jolts gone.

I am unaware if it works for everybody, I can only speak for myself. Certainly worth a try, nobody deserves to experience the coming of their death every night.

 

[AtlantaMan]

I feel so much better now that IV found this forum, I'm so relieved to know that I'm not alone, that...

Take a few strong deep breaths when you go to bed.

 

[selina]

Over the past few years, this weird occurrence has happened to me occasionally.

When I am laying in...

hay i am 16 years old and i been having tht like twice a week and i got anxiety problem so it problem ur stressing and anxiety worrying so much

 

[Maiden]

Over the past few years, this weird occurrence has happened to me occasionally.

When I am laying in...

i haven't read the replies but my answer to this problem was to take medication for Hiatus Hernia/Gastritis. I was told that it was caused by stomach acid gasses rising up the oesophagus. If I keep taking the medication I have no problem.

 

[daniel S]

They went away for awhile but sadly they've come back harder than before. I feel like it takes longer to...

Almost two years later i see this at 4 am feeling the same dam way for the past month and a half. I hope it has improved for u finally cuz yes i get the same exact symptoms especially driving. Its crazy. Its ridiculous. The worry..

 

[Casperld]

I know this is old but this has been happening to me every night for YEARS. I had chronic anxiety but in the last year it hasn't been too bad but the sleep thing is horrible. Even though I'm so used to it, it's still scary as hell.

 

[Sleep Jolts]

I am not sure what the symptom is that jolts me awake in the night, but it is terrifying. I wake up afraid that I am having a heart attack or stroke. When I try later to put my finger on the symptom, I can't recall what it was.

 

[CaringVet]

We all have to realize that PTSD/trauma hijacks your nervous system and makes changes to your brain that can bring about a myriad of problems. For those of you that are scientifically minded, and not worried about hearing detailed trauma stories, I recommend the book "The Body Keeps the Score." This book is not a self help book but a good detailed explanation of the body symptoms that many experience when they have PTSD.

I too suffer with this sleep issue, which may actually be compounded by sleep apnea. Sort of a sick cycle where you stop breathing, oxygen drops, brain sends alarm signals that you are dying because you are not breathing. This surges adrenaline which makes you wake up and your heart will race. Then, if you are an anxious fella like I am, you tell yourself all sorts of creative things about what is happening to you. This makes the entire situation worse and keeps your body releasing all those fun chemicals that make you feel as though you are in a life threatening situation.

PTSD makes it so that your brain has trouble identifying what is life threatening and what is not. Good therapy with a well-versed therapist, yoga, progressive muscle relaxation, and mindfulness are all great tools. Medication can be helpful for many but the other interventions tend to have longer lasting effects and less side effects. Some need meds though to get through and that's ok. Just know that you will not keep the benefits of the medications after getting off of them. They only help while on them and when you stop, there will be a rebound effect. As long as you know that and are prepared for it, it's manageable.

Sorry if this sounds educational in nature but I hope it's helpful. I also have an issue with this problem...very upsetting and frustrating. I've felt defeated about this problem as recently as yesterday. Keep the hope...I say that for myself and for all of us.