Nocturnal Panic Attack: Causes And Treatments
The nocturnal panic attack appears suddenly in the middle of deep sleep, follows as a sensation of suffocation, tachycardia and sweating.
From a clinical point of view, it is very common to appear in patients who also experience panic attacks during the day.
However, it is known that attacks experienced during the night hours are experienced with greater intensity.
In the following article, we’ll explain in more detail what a nocturnal panic attack means, as well as who are the people most likely to suffer from it, and also some strategies for preventing it. Keep reading!
Nocturnal Panic Attack: Who Can Suffer?
When referring to panic attacks, it is common to imagine a person trapped in fear, paralysis and tachycardia in any daytime environment where the mind quickly assumes that there is a danger or a focus of anguish. However, these types of situations can attack us day and night.
The Mayo Clinic medical journal tells us in this report which people are most susceptible to nocturnal panic attacks:
- Patients who already suffer panic attacks themselves at any time of day.
- People who are immersed in situations of great psychological and emotional pressure.
- Patients with hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism
- Apnea sufferers
- People who have just experienced a traumatic event: loss of a loved one, having overcome an accident or witnessing a…
What are the symptoms of nocturnal panic attack?
The ‘Ayuda’ Association confirms that nocturnal panic attacks usually appear in the non-REM sleep phase , that is, when we are calmer and, interestingly, more relaxed
The awakening is sudden and violent, as if someone activates a mechanism that suddenly “pulls” us out of our rest. Awakening is accompanied by a feeling of intense fear, panic or doom. It is accompanied by suffocation, tachycardia and sweating. The person usually has the perception that he has been in this situation for a long time. However, it is often very limited and brief.
What can we do to address and reduce nighttime panic attacks?
As we indicated earlier, nocturnal panic attacks can be caused by a variety of reasons. However, we can differentiate two major areas: medical and psychological.
Panic Attacks For Medical Reasons
According to psychologist Julia Pascual, factors such as thyroid problems, apnea or reflux can lead to these violent nocturnal awakenings. The first thing to do is always c onsultar a doctor and follow his instructions to the letter. Other strategies we could apply would be:
- Trying to lead an active life, exercise is a good regulator of these anxiety attacks.
- After a nighttime panic attack, it is recommended to get up and do some non-stimulating routine task: organize something, brush your teeth or hair…
- It is not advisable to carry out activities that keep our brain active and that require great concentration.
Panic attacks for emotional or psychological reasons
For these causes, it would be advisable:
- Find out what is the source of our emotional problems or the trigger for anxiety.
- Manage the emotional world with the help of a professional or through appropriate personal coping techniques.
- Before bed, practice some breathing and relaxation technique.
- The mindfulness is ideal to manage these situations. This is stated in this study carried out by the Universitat Jaume I.
- Yoga is also of great help.
- Swimming, dancing or walking in natural environments are relaxing activities and ideal for this type of disorder.
To conclude, never hesitate to put into practice the knowledge of doctors in any type of sleep disorder.
Nocturnal panic disorders always have a biological or psychological origin that needs to be known.
