Panic attacks

People who suffer from panic attacks will attest to the fact that it is the worst thing that can happen.

Panic attacks during the day are bad enough, however when you have a panic attack at night, it is a devastating feeling of fear and helplessness. You wake up feeling disorientated and some people feel tightness in their chest that resembles a heart attack.

Nocturnal panic attacks are basically panic attacks that happen at night. They can be just as frightening as daytime panic attacks and can be just as traumatic. The two major factors in nocturnal panic attacks are stress and pain.

Most often, nocturnal panic attacks are caused by everyday stress that manifests itself at night when a person has just fallen asleep. It is estimated that half of the people who suffer from panic attacks are nocturnal.

Studies have concluded that Nocturnal panic attacks are not bad dreams. Nightmares only occur in REM sleep. Nocturnal panic attacks do not occur during REM sleep, they occur just as the person is falling asleep.

If you wake up having a Nocturnal panic attack, it is important that you identify the reason you had one. Some experts believe that if you keep a diary of how you feel before bed, you will reduce your chances of having a Nocturnal panic attack.

People who suffer from Nocturnal panic attacks can come to fear going to sleep, and lack of sleep can lead to stress and anxiety causing a panic attack. It is a vicious circle that may seem endless, however it can be treated.