Panic Attack While Sleeping Is This Normal?

[junglegirl]

I woke up after eñtering a sleep state last night thinking that I wasn't breathing and my heart was beating rapidly. I have not had this in so long I can't remember the last time. Have you experienced this with your ptsd?

 

[arfie]

Sometimes I go through this so bad that I might get more rest by staying awake.

Dream talismans and keeping a glass of water by my bed help me through it. A dream talisman is any old physical object that I use to ground myself while I stay in bed and process it. I used to jump out of bed in a hyper manic state. A talisman helps me process it with minimum disruption to my sleep. The water is just to rinse the awful taste from my mouth.

 

[FindingMyself88]

yes, quite often I'm sad to say. Sometimes this is preceded by a nightmare or flashback, sometimes its not. One day i woke up in a panic attack and was in a state of dissociation all day long, it was the worst…. I, like @arfie , try to stay in bed. I have a bottle of glitter glue on my nightstand, sometimes I will shake it up and watch it settle. Other times I will cut some music on and get my chihuahua to lay on my chest while I pet her and calm down.

 

[junglegirl]

Thank you guys. I thought I was having a heart attack.

 

[junglegirl]

But I am still here 12 hrs later:)

 

[Justmehere]

Happens to me too. It is frightening to experience it!

 

[shell]

Yes but thankfully they passed, after the memories starting coming back. Hope they end soon.

 

[Emily The Strange]

I get this quite often, a couple of times a week usually. I wake up from a dream and sit bolt upright taking a deep breath like there is very little air. It takes me a while to calm myself, i usually put on some music and count the books on my shelf at the end of my bed. Occasionally i might have to get out of bed and go elsewhere but i try my best to stay where i am.

I have sort of gotten used to it and it has become part of my disturbed night routine. The only time it is a real problem is when i sleep on my side and instead of sitting bolt upright i end up headbutting the wall causing nose bleeds and black eyes. But that's another issue. lol

 

[BananaSockMuffins]

I've had this happen to me several times, and each time it's taken me completely by surprise. It left me feeling completely off balance for most of the day. :( Thankfully it hasn't happened often but with my therapy beginning I'm afraid it's going to happen a lot more often. I'm planning on making myself a glitter bottle today, hoping it helps me calm down.

 

[FindingMyself88]

It does me the same way too @BananaSockMuffins. The glitter bottle works great (I mentioned it above). Watching the glitter settle is calming somehow. Maybe this might be a good idea for you @junglegirl. It's really easy. Put an entire bottle of CLEAR glue in a large water bottle (smart water bottle works great), fill with water and put your choice of color glitter in it. I mixed purple, pink, and silver in mine. I later made a smaller one to take with me in my purse for when I get triggered. With the smaller bottle you put less glue obviously. There really isn't a correct amount. The more glue you put, the longer it takes the glitter to settle.

 

[BananaSockMuffins]

All I have is white glue... Will that not work?

 

[Emily The Strange]

You wont be able to see through it to see the glitter settling.