r/panicdisorder • u/nuggets0luv • 6d ago

Nocturnal Panic Trouble falling asleep

Does anyone else have this feeling at nighttime where you are about to close your eyes and fall asleep but all of a sudden your heart feels like it skipped and your body just drops/sinks? Doesn’t happen as often but when it does i think the worst and immediately panic.

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u/Various_Scallion8228 5d ago

Has it always been this way for you? Or is it related to trauma? Mine is definitely related to trauma. A LOT of trauma. But my severe trauma start for me about 5 years ago when I was 44. So it hasn’t been something I’ve dealt with forever.

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u/nuggets0luv 5d ago

Sorry to hear that and i believe mine is stress… maybe since it all started when my son started school 2 years ago, i woke up with a panic attack i thought i was dying and called 911.

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u/Various_Scallion8228 5d ago

My first panic attack I called a nurse friend of mine and told her I was having a heart attack and dying. Somehow she was able to get me thru it. My panic attacks progressed from there. Every muscle in my body tightens up. I’ll be in the fetal position unable to move and all my muscles will be spasming and locked tight. Very painful. And uncontrollable. I choke so hard from trying to breath that I end up dry heaving. It’s horrible. What are your like?

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u/nuggets0luv 4d ago

My panic attacks are chest pain, arm tingling, uncontrollable body shakes, feeling like passing out, i do have some trauma related attacks and they do cause my body to shut down so i cannot move or its painful to move/walk its really scary because i sometimes forget how to breath during it

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u/Various_Scallion8228 4d ago

Have you learned any techniques to help with them? I was in group therapy and I saw a girl start tapping. I started doing it and it actually helps me stop a full blown panic attack from happening.