Getting Over Night Anxiety Attack

December 6th, 2009 Posted in Anxiety

Night anxiety attacks can be a panic disorder as this result to fear of sleeping. Patients who experience this type of attack worry constantly and gets so distressed. And this is possibly due to mental worry and corporeal uneasiness. But people need not fret too much about getting panic attacks at night as this can still be overcome.

So why do people experience night panic attacks? Studies have shown that 10.2% of panic attacks actually happened at night and this is more stressful to patients who are also suffering from daytime attacks. More patients are afraid of night attacks as this can also lead to loss of control or severe somatic consequences like heart attacks, stroke or other irrational cause of death.

But people needs to be aware that nocturnal panic attacks are not nightmares as this happen during the early sleep phase and not the REM or dream phase. Though not much are known about exact causes of night attacks but this incident might possibly be due to increase of carbon dioxide concentration or changes in the parasympathatonic system due to autonomic dysfunction. And this is usually influenced by what happened during the previous day, alcohol or drugs, and most importantly just plain anxiety of the patient.

Nocturnal anxiety attacks can be overcome. You can try exercising at night and taking a 15 minute shower afterwards. This will help relax and calm your mind so don’t do things that will cause you more anxiety like watching television as this strains the eye and brain which also leads to attack. You can also try listening to relaxing music or reading a calming novel or book.

You can also prevent night attacks by finding ways to stop worrying. This is because your worries and stress might be causing the attacks. And most importantly, don’t be afraid to go to sleep for fear of having another attack. This will only strain you mind and eventually lead to night fright attacks. So, try to lower your anxiety levels if you can.

You can try positive thinking as a way of lowering your anxiety levels. Since night attacks bring more negative thoughts, counter it by focusing on the positive things and not on the negative things. Thinking more negative thoughts will only lead to fear of sleep while positive thoughts can relax and calm your mind.

Also, experts would recommend that you don’t get out of bed when you get night anxiety attacks. When you go out of bed, you actually get more stressed, which means increasing your panic attack. So stay in bed and find ways to calm your mind. You can chant a mantra or you can also try to write down your thoughts during an attack. Writing not only relieves you of stress, this will also help you analyze the causes behind your attacks.

To lower risks of getting night attacks, it would be best if you avoid caffeine, nicotine or wine in the evening. These substances can actually make you more alert and makes your mind more active and prone to negative thoughts. And this can lead to night fright attacks.

People should also remember that being angry or frustrated of not being able to sleep soundly will not solve your problem. This will actually increase the risk of getting more night attacks. More importantly in order to overcome attacks, understand the causes behind the attacks.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Symptoms Naturally Learn how to get rid of panic or anxiety attack fast and naturally even if you have tried every single method and nothing just seems to work for you. Overcoming Night Panic Attacks Naturally

Possibly Related Posts:


  • Share/Bookmark

Leave a Reply