Severe panic attacks at night

How to Cope With Panic Attacks at Night

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How to cope with panic attacks at night

Getting a good night’s sleep is essential for our health and wellbeing. Sleep promotes rest and relaxation and gives us a chance to recuperate and let go of the stresses of the day. However, this isn’t the case for the many individuals who struggle with panic attacks at night.

Here, we provide advice on how to cope with panic attacks at night and give tips on how to reduce them.

What are panic attacks?

Panic attacks can happen day or night. They are sudden, unexpected episodes of intense anxiety, which can cause a variety of frightening symptoms. These include:

Feeling out of control and disconnected from your surroundings
Feeling faint, dizzy or light-headed
Chest pains and shortness of breath - tightness of the chest and feeling as though it’s a struggle to breathe
A racing or pounding heart
Hyperventilating
Feeling as though you’re choking
Nausea
Muscle spasms and palpitations
Excessive sweating
Trembling or shaking
Numbness and tingling, for example, tingling lips and numbness in your fingers and toes
Fluctuating body temperature – feeling very hot or very cold

These symptoms can be so severe they sometimes make first time sufferers believe they’re experiencing a heart attack or a nervous breakdown. Over time, panic attacks can become more frequent, and the fear of having a panic attack becomes embedded, resulting in a 'vicious circle'. You might also experience what's known as hypnic jerks. If you're particuarly stressed or anxious, you might also experience what's known as hypnic jerks. These involuntary muscle sensations, like jolts, occur when you are in your lightest stage of sleep.

Nighttime panic attacks, also known as ‘nocturnal panic attacks’ or ‘night terrors’, happen while you’re asleep and wake you up, often with the same symptoms as daytime panic attacks. However, while these nocturnal attacks usually only last for a few minutes, it can take a long time for you to calm down enough to go back to sleep after having one. This, coupled with worrying about whether you’re going to have another panic attack, may lead to insomnia.

What causes panic attacks at night?

If you wake up with a panic attack, it's not often clear why these nighttime panic attacks (or nocturnal panic attacks) have occurred - often there is no explanation. Similar to daytime panic attacks, symptoms can include feeling faint or dizzy, a pounding heart, shortness of breath, nausea, and sweating. However, we do know that the brain doesn’t ‘switch off’ during sleep, so it’s possible for any pent-up worries or anxieties to manifest in our unconscious brains, causing a nocturnal panic attack. Also, struggling with daytime panic attacks makes it more likely that you will experience panic attacks at night.

While nocturnal panic attacks can be sudden and frightening, they’re actually a common mental health condition. So what causes them?

Research suggests there are a number of other factors that could increase the risk of someone suffering from both day and night time panic attacks. These include:

Experiencing chronic stress in your day-to-day life
Struggling with other mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
A lack of assertiveness - some evidence supports the idea that people who suffer from panic attacks have a passive style of communication or interactions with others
Genetics – having a close relative such as a parent or sibling who suffers from panic attacks makes it more likely that you will also develop panic attacks
Alcohol, drugs or medication withdrawal
The side effects of some medications
Certain substances can also trigger panic attack symptoms, including caffeine and cannabis
Chronic physical illnesses such as cancer
Experiencing a significant personal loss, including bereavement, or the breakdown of a relationship
Significant life changes such as losing a job, becoming a parent, and moving house

How to overcome panic attacks at night

If you’re having a nocturnal panic attack, try the following:

Don’t fight it - If you wake up and you’re having a panic attack, it’s important not to fight it, as this could make things worse. Accept the panic attack for what it is and let the feelings wash over you. Remember, it is only temporary, and it will fade eventually. You just need to let it happen.
Try and relax - Try to get your body back into a relaxed state. Inhale deeply and exhale slowly to regulate your breathing. Relax your muscles, and try to focus your mind on positive thoughts and images.
Get up and do something - It’s unlikely you’ll be able to go straight back to sleep after a panic attack, that’s why it’s important to do something to take your mind off your panic. Get out of bed and physically remove yourself from the situation. Try doing something relaxing to shift your focus, such as yoga stretches, listening to calm and gentle music, reading an inspirational book, or even a menial chore such as doing the ironing.
Go back to bed when you’re ready - Only go back to bed when you’re beginning to feel tired again and ready for sleep. When you’re in bed, keep yourself calm by breathing deeply in through your nose and out through your mouth, to the extent that your whole abdomen, not just your chest, is rising and falling.
Give yourself enough time to get the sleep you need - It’s important to make sure you go to bed at least eight hours before you need to get up so you’re giving yourself enough time to have a good night’s sleep. Going to bed too late and not leaving enough time for sleep may result in you constantly checking the clock and worrying that you’re not going to feel rested the next day. These negative thought processes can fuel anxiety, and potentially spiral into a panic attack.
Prepare yourself for the following day - Many people struggle to get to sleep because they are anxious about the following day. You can try to reduce this anxiety by making sure that you have everything prepared. For example, you could have a to-do list, or even have your clothes laid out.
Establish a consistent sleep routine - Try and go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. Even at the weekend, try and get up at a time that isn’t too different from when you get up during the week.
Limit caffeine, sugar and alcohol before bed - These substances can make you feel anxious and jittery at night, and can prevent you from getting to sleep and staying asleep.
Avoid electronic devices late at night - Avoid using electronic devices such as computers, mobiles and tablets within 30-60 minutes of your target bedtime. These devices give off light which can be overly stimulating and keep you awake.

Get help today

“Panic attacks can be very distressing to experience but can be effectively managed with suitable treatment. It is always better to seek help as soon as you identify the symptoms.” Dr Natasha Bijlani (CCST, FRCPsych, MBBS), Consultant Psychiatrist and panic attack specialist at Priory Hospital Roehampton, London.

Even though these steps can help, it’s important that you seek professional support if your panic attacks are becoming more frequent and are impacting on your ability to function. You could speak to your GP about your concerns or get in touch with Priory. We can provide you with access to expert psychiatrists, therapists and other mental health professionals, who will be able to support you with your challenges.

Page medically reviewed by Dr Natasha Bijlani (FRCPsych, MBBS), Consultant Psychiatrist based at Priory Hospital Roehampton London

Get in touch today

For details of how Priory can provide you with assistance regarding mental health and wellbeing, please call 0800 840 3219 or click here to submit an enquiry form. For professionals looking to make a referral, please click here

Causes and how to cope

A panic attack is a sudden, intense onset of distress or fear. These feelings heighten for around 10 minutes until starting to fade. Panic attacks can occur at any time of the day or night.

People may experience a panic attack without warning. Others may have frequent, unexpected attacks.

Those who have frequent panic attacks may begin to identify certain triggers, such as stress at work or fear of flying. However, nocturnal panic attacks may happen without a trigger and even wake a person from sleep.

Some people with a panic attack may feel as though they are having a heart attack and seek medical treatment.

Read on to learn more about nighttime panic attacks, including their causes, ways to cope, and possible treatments.

Share on PinterestIt can be difficult for a person to calm down after having a panic attack in the night.

Since there are several potential risk factors and causes of having a panic attack, it is possible that a person may experience panic attacks at night.

There is very little research on nocturnal panic attacks, however, so doctors are unsure what causes them to occur while a person is asleep.

People who have nighttime panic attacks typically also have panic attacks during the day.

When a panic attack occurs at night or while a person is sleeping, it may be difficult for them to calm down again.

Fear of the panic attack reoccurring can prevent the person from falling asleep again, which may lead to sleep loss and increased stress.

Scientists do not yet fully understand the exact causes of panic attacks, both in the day and at night.

However, some factors can make it more likely that a person will experience a panic attack. These include:

genetics, or having family members with a history of panic attacks
personality type
life events, such as job loss, a public speaking engagement, or a fear of flying
brain chemistry
underlying conditions, such as social anxiety disorder

Share on PinterestSweating is a common symptom of panic attacks.

A panic attack, during the day or at night, occurs when a person experiences four or more of the following symptoms:

sweating
chills
feeling faint
nausea
palpitations, a pounding heart, or an accelerated heart rate
feeling dizzy or lightheaded
feeling unsteady
trembling or shaking
feeling smothered
feeling a fear of dying
depersonalization, or the feeling of being detached from oneself
sensations of shortness of breath
feelings of choking
fear of losing control
pain or discomfort in the chest
paresthesia, or sensations of tingling or numbness

derealization, or feelings of unreality

Some people may experience fewer than four of the symptoms listed during an attack. In these cases, a person may have had a limited-symptom panic attack.

Panic attacks are related to anxiety. Anxiety can also cause a person to experience physical symptoms. What makes a panic attack different from general anxiety is the speed of onset (reaching a peak within 10 minutes) and the intensity of the symptoms.

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety affects around 40 million adults (18.1 percent of the population). However, only 36.9 percent of them seek treatment for it.

Before, during, and following a panic attack, a person can try several different methods to calm down. These include:

concentrating on breathing using slow, deep breaths
thinking about positive things
focusing on relaxing the muscles in the jaw and shoulders
getting away from the situation causing anxiety
talking to a loved one
slowly sipping a glass of water
focusing the eyes on something nearby
trying to meditate
doing light exercise, such as going for a walk or doing light stretches at home

A doctor can assess a person to determine if they have had a panic attack, have panic disorder, or have another condition such as thyroid or heart disease that could present similar symptoms.

To diagnose a panic disorder, a doctor will typically:

perform a complete physical examination
run blood tests to check for issues with the thyroid
run tests, such as an electrocardiogram, to check heart health
discuss the person’s family history, current stress levels, any situations they may be avoiding, and their fears and concerns

A doctor may also refer a person for a mental health assessment. A person may receive a diagnosis of panic disorder if:

they experience repeated unexpected panic attacks
the attacks cannot be associated with other psychological or physical health conditions
the attacks are accompanied by 1 or more months of worry about having another attack

Even without a panic disorder diagnosis, there are treatments available.

Share on PinterestCBT can help a person confront and understand the symptoms of their panic attack.

Formal treatment of panic attacks will typically involve medications, psychotherapy, or a combination of both.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is often the first line of therapy for people who experience panic attacks.

In CBT, a therapist helps a person confront and understand their symptoms of panic attack in a controlled, safe environment. Once the fear is resolved, it can help a person avoid future attacks.

In addition to or instead of therapy, a doctor may prescribe one or more medications to help treat anxiety. Some examples include:

selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, which are antidepressants
serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, which are also antidepressants
benzodiazepines, but these carry a high risk of physical dependence

These medications can cause adverse effects. Using benzodiazepines with alcohol or opioid drugs, for example, can lead to life threatening side effects.

If a person experiences side effects after taking a medication for panic attacks, they should speak to their doctor.

The best form of prevention is to develop a treatment plan with a doctor and stick to it.

Therapy and medications are both very effective methods to help prevent future attacks and to make symptoms more manageable.

Panic attacks at night are treatable. Most people who follow a treatment plan see positive results and reduced symptoms.

People who experience panic attacks should speak to their doctor about their symptoms and discuss their treatment options.

Panic attacks at night, during sleep, during pregnancy and in children: symptoms and what to do.

In an interview with the Chief Physician of the Harmony Zdorovya Medical Center, psychiatrist, psychiatrist-narcologist and psychotherapist Vladislav Sipovich, we decided to discuss the problem of panic attacks (PA) from the point of view of the diversity and features of the occurrence, development and prevailing symptoms. Particular attention was paid to nocturnal PA, panic attacks in children and pregnant women, as well as panic attacks caused by osteochondrosis.

What are the most common types of panic attacks?

Some authors call a panic attack an emergency mode of functioning of the body activated by the SOS command, others call it a hysteria of the body, and still others call it a vegetative storm. In my opinion, it most accurately reflects what is happening earlier, the definition of PA as a sympathoadrenal crisis, in contrast to the term episodic paroxysmal anxiety now accepted in the international medical classification.

Symptoms and features of PA manifest themselves differently depending on the time and conditions of the onset of attacks, the state of the hormonal system, age and sex.

Depending on the conditions of occurrence, panic attacks are:
• Spontaneous, occurring completely unexpectedly and without reference to an apparent cause.
• Situational, which are the body's response to a specific disturbing or frightening situation. For example, the excitement before an entrance exam, an important interview, a showdown with an unfriendly person can provoke a situational panic attack.
• Conditionally situational. This is a special type of PA, tied to one stimulus, most often of a chemical or biological nature. An example can be PA against the background of alcohol intake, a large number of drinks containing caffeine.

Many PA develop under certain physiological conditions of the body, for example, panic attacks at night or during sleep, in childhood or during pregnancy, there is a kind of panic attacks in cervical osteochondrosis. Today I will try to talk in more detail about these special cases.

Tell me, what is the difference between panic attacks during sleep and night panic attacks, are their symptoms and causes the same?

I must say right away that these are different phenomena, although they occur during sleep. The differentiation between them is related to the different phases of sleep during which they occur:
• Sleep panic attack is associated with nightmares during REM sleep, which occurs in the second half of the night. At the same time, a person basically remembers the events of this horror film from our subconscious - the main director and director of nightmares.
• Panic attacks at night, or nocturnal panic attacks, are tied to the period of slow-wave sleep, usually occurring from 12 am to 4 am. They arise without viewing nightmares. A person wakes up not from experienced horror during dreams, but from severe panic and excitement with all the attributes of PA - tachycardia, rapid and labored breathing, covered in sweat and trembling all over the body. It seems to him that in a dream he had a heart attack or a stroke, so he panics even more from the fear of death. In addition, nocturnal PA can develop not only during sleep, but also before and after it.

Usually an attack lasts no more than 10-20 minutes, but several may occur during the night. The experienced mortal horror makes the patient ask for help from loved ones, he literally screams that he is dying and demands to immediately call an ambulance. There are times when an ambulance is called 2-3 times a night to the same patient. As a result, a person does not sleep himself, does not allow relatives to rest, and literally terrorizes the ambulance team, distracting them from helping those who really need it. And most importantly, you can’t blame him for this, because he really suffers, and his psyche is really in danger.

The consequences of nighttime PA can be the most deplorable. In fear of them, the patient is afraid to fall asleep, delays sleep time and thereby provokes the development of chronic insomnia. Sleepless nights lead to a deterioration in general health, irritability, fatigue, a decrease in the quality of life and the effectiveness of any type of activity.

As for the causes of nighttime panic attacks, there is still no clarity on this issue. There are various theories of their origin. Only the association of PA with the release of stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol is considered proven. And if PA from nightmares can be explained by the release of these hormones, because in a dream, a person perceives everything that happens as a reality, then the release of adrenaline in the slow phase of sleep is rather difficult to explain. It may be caused by factors such as:0013 • Individual mental characteristics - increased anxiety, suspiciousness, emotional lability, suspicion, a tendency to keep everything under control and not relax.
• Delayed neurohumoral response to severe stress or chronic stress.
• Abuse of coffee, strong tea and alcohol, especially at night.
• Violation of the metabolism of neurotransmitters, infections and injuries of the brain, leading to an imbalance in the autonomic nervous system.
• Regular and excessive mental and/or physical overstrain, hazardous work that puts life at risk.

In addition, pre-existing mental disorders are a significant risk factor. For example, according to statistics, approximately 50% of patients with neurosis or with a diagnosis of VVD had a history of nighttime PA.

Is it possible to cope with a nocturnal panic attack and how?

Often the patients themselves and their relatives come to the psychotherapist with the most urgent question for them - if a panic attack occurs at night, what should I do? The thing is that a person who has suddenly woken up from horror is simply not able to adequately assess his condition. He is confused and disoriented, trying to control his pounding heart and panicking even more if he can't. Several such attacks and the patient has obsessive thoughts about an incurable disease, the fear of dying in a dream from a heart attack or re-experiencing this whole nightmare. Without the help of a psychotherapist, it is almost impossible to cope with nighttime panic attacks; without treatment, they progress and develop into a panic disorder.

But it is still possible to help a person during a nighttime panic attack. Relaxation techniques, muscle relaxation, breathing techniques and self-hypnosis are effective. You can learn how to stop an attack in individual sessions with a psychotherapist. The most popular and accessible techniques for self-exit from PA are: When awakening in the state of PA, take a deep breath through the nose with swelling of the abdomen, and then exhale through the mouth. At the same time, attention is maximally concentrated on the process of breathing. After that, they strain the muscles of the whole body, putting their arms and legs forward, tightly close their eyes, arch or bend their back. After being in this state for a few seconds, the muscles “release” and feel how relaxation spreads throughout the body. In such a relaxed state, self-hypnosis begins, preferably aloud, it is possible in a half-whisper. Words can be something like this: “I am completely safe, I am in control of my body. Everything will be fine with me, it will pass soon, it is already passing. It's gone." In this way, you calm your subconscious mind until you feel better. Then you reinforce the success with another positive suggestion: “I am satisfied, I succeeded! Every time I get better. Soon I will sleep peacefully and wake up in a good mood.”

2. "Grounding" with the transfer of attention from one's own unpleasant feelings to the realization of reality. The technique is very simple, done step by step:
• Find 5 objects in the field of view and list them out loud.
• Then they name 4 objects that can be touched and briefly characterize them.
• Also note out loud 3 objects that can make sounds and indicate which ones.

For example, a cat meows, a bed creaks, a telephone rings.
• Find 2 smelling objects and characterize their smell. For example, sheets smell like fresh powder, cigarettes smell like tobacco.
• Allocate 1 object that can be tasted. In the bedroom, this is quite difficult to do, but you need to try. For example, a drink that you prepared for the night, a half-eaten sandwich waiting for a better fate, or, in extreme cases, the remains of a removed vegetable mask (for women). While you are engaged in the selection of objects in terms of quantity and quality, your consciousness will turn on, begin to dominate the unconscious and streamline the neurohumoral connections between various signal systems, subordinating them to the solution of specific problems. As a result, the failure of the autonomic nervous system will be eliminated, and the attack will stop. This technique is especially effective if tasks are set by a nearby person. Questions are asked clearly and loudly to get through to the consciousness of the panicking subject. If you are around a person who is experiencing an anxiety attack, say all tasks and questions out loud. Distract him.
Speak questions loudly and clearly.

3. Breathing techniques , which are a universal means of coping with stress and getting out of PA. There are quite a few of them, I will give a few of them as an example:

• Deep, lingering breaths and exhalations, and the exhalation goes through the lips extended into a tube, as if you were trying to blow into a straw. You yourself take a bent position, hands clasping your sides, increasing the rise of the diaphragm and providing a deeper exhalation. Panic usually begins to subside after 20-50 breaths. You can additionally press your thumbs on the eyes, but the remaining fingers should be directed not up, but down. It is quite difficult to master this technique on your own, it is better to study it under the supervision of a specialist.

• Breathing on a count of 5, 2, 5, 2. Take a deep long breath, counting from 1 to 5, hold your breath for 2 seconds on a count of 1. 2 and slowly exhale on a count of 1-5. After holding the breath for 2 seconds, the respiratory cycle is repeated.

• 4x4 square technique. It combines breathing with the translation of the gaze. The object is any square or rectangular object - a window, a TV screen, a monitor. Inhale for a count of 1-4 starts from its upper right corner, then look at the upper left corner and hold your breath also for a count of 1-4. Move the gaze to the lower left corner and exhale at the expense of 1-4. We move our eyes to the lower right corner and again hold our breath at the expense of 1-4. Then the cycle is repeated, as if drawing a square with the eyes.

If the above methods fail to relieve a panic attack, then anxiolytics prescribed by a doctor (the former name of tranquilizers), related to anti-anxiety drugs, can be used. They literally take minutes to relieve stress and stabilize the autonomic nervous system.

What are the characteristics of panic attacks during pregnancy?

Pregnancy is a complex physiological process associated with the conception, bearing and birth of a child. At this time, the woman's body undergoes significant hormonal changes, moreover, repeated and having its own characteristics in the early, middle and late stages of pregnancy. Panic attacks during pregnancy pose a threat to the health of the woman herself and her fetus. Most often, they appear in women who have been fixed before pregnancy, but may occur for the first time during this period. There are quite objective reasons for the occurrence of panic attacks during pregnancy - this is an increased level of anxiety in connection with the upcoming birth, fears about the course of pregnancy and its premature termination, the condition of the fetus, the presence of genetic abnormalities, fear of the future, especially if there are problems with husband, housing, work, etc.

Factors contributing to the development of panic attacks during pregnancy can be:
• Sleep disturbance and overwork.
• Organic diseases and reduced immunity.
• Severe pregnancy with severe early and/or late toxicosis.
• Endocrine disorders, especially thyroid function.
• Problems at work, poor psychological and social conditions.
• Perfectionism, the desire for perfect order and the desire to keep everything under control.

The excessive release of adrenaline observed in PA can harm a woman's body, which is especially vulnerable during pregnancy, and in some cases even end in a miscarriage. Therefore, even single PA cannot be ignored and it is necessary to tell the specialist leading the pregnancy about them. If a woman has already encountered PA before and was treated by a psychotherapist, then during pregnancy she must definitely consult with him and seek help at the slightest sign of their resumption.

It is very difficult for a pregnant woman to cope with panic attacks on her own, she needs help and support from others:
• First, breathing should be normalized. Breathing into an account or into a paper bag will do.
• Second, you need to divert the pregnant woman's attention by asking her to count to 100, take a shower, or eat something tasty. You can stroke your stomach, hug, caress, tactile sensations in terms of switching attention for women are especially effective.

A logical question, if all these techniques were ineffective in getting rid of panic attacks during pregnancy, what should I do? After all, tranquilizers and antidepressants cannot be taken during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester, but what about without them. Here, sessions of psychotherapy and prevention of seizures come first, namely:
• Exclusion of places and situations where PA is most likely. It can be a crowd or a closed space, discussions with friends about their unsuccessful pregnancies and "terribly difficult" childbirth, various negative "reading" on the Internet about possible complications during pregnancy and their danger to the fetus. You should not increase your level of anxiety, it is better to think positively, because it is not for nothing that they say that thoughts often acquire their real embodiment.
• Walks in the fresh air, especially before going to bed, lasting at least half an hour. This evening exercise will help you sleep better.
• Moderate physical activity. You can do breathing yoga, meditation exercises, swimming, group classes for pregnant women, or at least do a simple morning exercise with a few easy exercises.
• Peripheral vision training. Oddly enough, but it helps to switch attention faster.

As for sessions with a psychotherapist, they will help to identify the root cause of PA, choose the best treatment method to reduce general anxiety and prevent panic attacks. Cognitive behavioral therapy and hypnotherapy are quite effective. During the sessions, negative attitudes are replaced with positive ones, self-esteem and self-confidence increase, relaxation techniques are mastered, control over thoughts and emotions is established. As a result, the frequency and intensity of panic attacks gradually decrease, and then the attacks stop completely. Sometimes just a few sessions of psychotherapy are enough for this.

What are panic attacks in osteochondrosis?

Panic attacks in osteochondrosis are associated with degeneration of the vertebral cartilage, as a result of which the intervertebral discs are flattened, thinned and displaced. Bone outgrowths, the so-called osteophytes, appear on them, the main task of which is to stabilize the spinal column. But under certain circumstances (long sitting at a computer, a microscope, sharp turns of the neck), they can pinch the nerves passing in the canal and partially block the vertebral artery. As a result, the blood flow in the brain, its supply with oxygen, as well as microelements important for brain activity (zinc, selenium, calcium, magnesium, etc.) are disrupted. And this, in turn, leads not only to severe headaches, but also often causes depression, anxiety and PA. Launched osteochondrosis in 60% of cases is the cause of cerebral hypoxia, which sends SOS signals to all vital systems and organs, including the autonomic nervous system, as the main regulator of the body's vital functions. The mental sphere is no exception, which responds with increased anxiety and a change in character, when a friendly person becomes aggressive, an active person becomes passive and apathetic, a merry fellow turns into a whiner, and a cheerful person ceases to enjoy life.

In case of PA caused by osteochondrosis, in addition to their usual symptoms in the form of tachycardia with arrhythmias, feeling of lack of air, pressure surges, tremors, increased sweating and others, the following are added:
• Numbness of the face and extremities.
• Hearing and visual impairment.
• Frequent urge to urinate.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Problems with coordination.

In addition, even outside of PA, a person with osteochondrosis suffers from increased weather sensitivity, stiffness and pain in the neck and shoulder girdle muscles. To get rid of these sensations, he often has to turn his head in an unconscious attempt to relieve muscle tension.
To differentiate PA against the background of osteochondrosis, you should first of all contact a neurologist and a psychotherapist. Ultrasound of the vessels of the cervical and thoracic regions, the results of REG and CT will be decisive for making the correct diagnosis. Both specialists should manage such patients - the neurologist will prescribe treatment to normalize blood flow, and the psychotherapist will deal with the psycho-emotional sphere. Only by the joint efforts of both specialists will it be possible to cope with depression, save the patient from panic attacks and restore his ability to have fun and enjoy life.

And of course, one should not forget about such common truths as an active lifestyle, healthy eating, outdoor walks and positive emotions. After all, depriving yourself of all this for the sake of financial well-being, you will lose your most important treasure - your health.

How common are panic attacks in children and what causes them?

Unfortunately, panic attacks occur not only in adults, but also in children. And the symptoms of panic attacks are largely similar, and the differences lie in the content of fears and triggers that trigger PA.
During a panic attack, a child experiences the full range of symptoms typical of a panic attack:
• Difficulty breathing.
• Lump in throat.
• Chest pain.
• Tachycardia.
• Increased perspiration.
• Numbness and coldness in hands and feet.
• Dizziness.
• Abdominal discomfort.
• Feeling the unreality of the situation.
• Violent fear of death due to the unusualness of these sensations.

All the biological and psychological resources of a little person at this moment are focused on the fight against the danger that seems to him, because he is not yet able to control himself and realize that nothing really threatens him.

An attack can overtake a child in any place and under any circumstances - at school, transport, at home, at a ruler, concert, hike, excursion, etc. Moreover, the child is not only afraid of the attacks themselves, but also the reaction of others, therefore, he often hides his condition from parents, teachers, and even more so from his peers. It becomes “not a day off”, i.e. prefers to spend time at home, avoids collective events, extra classes, any communication, his circle of friends narrows. All this negatively affects his socialization, the acquisition of new knowledge, communication skills and life experience.

The following factors can cause panic attacks in children:
• Genetic predisposition.
• Violation of the metabolism of the neurotransmitter serotonin, the so-called "happiness hormone".
• Negative psychosocial conditions, such as an authoritarian family structure or, conversely, overprotective parents.
• Traumatic situations with teachers, neighborhood kids, school bullying, disruptive behavior of one or both parents.

Most often, PA in children is associated with tests, exams, a call to the board, the first love. Practically, any problem that affects the circle of interests of the child can become a trigger for a panic attack.

Children's PA develops mainly in children of younger and middle adolescence, starting from about 12-13 years old, which coincides with the onset of intense puberty and hormonal changes in the body. For young children, PA is not typical, because. they have not yet fully formed the mechanism of fear.

Diagnosis and treatment of PA in childhood is almost the same as the treatment of panic attacks in adults. The main method of making a diagnosis is a clinical interview with a psychotherapist or psychiatrist, during which the features of the clinical picture of PA are revealed, their most reliable causes are clarified, and an individual treatment plan is developed. The most effective method of treatment is cognitive-behavioral therapy, which helps the child to understand the causes and explain the content of his fears, change negative thoughts to a positive attitude towards the world, understand that he is not in real danger, and all his fears are unfounded.

Usually, after the first sessions of psychotherapy, the child's condition noticeably improves, he regains a sense of security and peace, he begins to enjoy life again. With severe symptoms, sparing drug treatment is allowed, but this is only at the beginning of treatment in order to reduce its intensity and allow the child to fully concentrate on classes with a psychotherapist. In no case do not engage in self-treatment of a child, trips to psychics, grandmothers, exorcists and other pseudo-specialists in mental illness. Only an experienced psychotherapist and an individual approach will help save your child from such difficult trials as a panic attack.

causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment - medalvian

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A panic attack is a sudden, uncontrollable attack of severe, “peak” anxiety that has no real and justified cause. This condition is accompanied by intense fear and bodily symptoms - palpitations, shortness of breath, heaviness and pain in the chest, excessive sweating, trembling in the body.

Such attacks can occur not only during the day, but also at night. There is no mind control in sleep - anxiety can manifest itself in threatening, frightening dreams, or it can manifest itself as a panic attack. During the day, a person keeps all emotions in himself, and at night the control weakens, and an attack occurs. Panic attacks in a dream have a certain danger to human health, do not neglect and underestimate the possible adverse effects. Quality sleep is a necessary condition for the full restoration of physical and mental strength. During an attack, there is a sharp awakening with a painful feeling of anxiety and fear, accompanied by all the same bodily symptoms: heart palpitations, shortness of breath, heaviness and pain in the chest, excessive sweating, trembling in the body. Several such nights - and this will lead to a deterioration in general well-being, irritability, decreased performance, i.e. quality of life will be lost.

Panic attacks during sleep cause insomnia. It seems to a person that if he does not sleep, then this will help to avoid an attack. Going to bed is delayed for various reasons. The very thought of going to bed soon causes anxiety and fear.

Such seizures can occur in children, adolescents, and adults; people who have a more sensitive emotional system are most susceptible to them. It is not always possible to immediately recognize that this condition is precisely a panic attack in a dream, but the fact that the quality of night sleep suffers is a serious argument for consulting a psychiatrist, psychotherapist.

This condition has a close relationship with both biological and psychological causes; it is a disorder that requires professional help from a psychiatrist, psychotherapist.

Causes

Biological causes may be due to the fact that the endocrine glands begin to release a large amount of adrenaline into the blood. This hormone is normally produced in extreme situations that threaten human health or life. It is he who influences the acceleration of all physiological reactions, that is, the heartbeat quickens, the sweat glands and lungs begin to work hard. This is how the body prepares to defend or flee from a deadly threat.

But why does this hormone begin to be released during sleep, when a person is safe and not in danger? The answer to this question is not completely clear yet. Most likely, there are individual psychological reasons here - for example, increased personal anxiety as a character trait: most often seizures occur in suspicious, emotionally vulnerable and anxious people. It is they who are most prone to self-flagellation and long experiences of life events; and / or negative experience of relationships in the past, in which a person acquired such qualities as distrust, suspicion, lack of internal, psychological permission to relax (“you cannot lose control for a minute, you cannot relax - otherwise something irreparable will happen”).

Provoking factors for panic attacks at night during sleep are:

Chronic alcohol consumption or excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages before bed.
Severe stress.
Childhood psychological trauma.
Hormonal disorders.
Exhaustion of the nervous system due to constant experiences, stress.
Hereditary predisposition to anxiety disorders.
Traumatic brain injury.
Labor activity that is associated with constant emotional stress or risk to life.

According to statistics, about 50% of people diagnosed with neurosis or vegetative-vascular dystonia suffered from nighttime panic attacks.

Symptoms

Panic attacks occur during deep sleep, between 2 and 4 am. In rare cases, this condition occurs immediately after falling asleep.

In sleep panic attacks, symptoms include the following:

abrupt awakening from a feeling of anxiety and intense fear;
lack of air;
difficult shortness of breath;
increased sweating;
tachycardia;
increased blood pressure;
sensation of paralysis or stiffness of the body;
dizziness;
chest pain;
chills, numbness of extremities.

In time, a night attack lasts from 10-20 minutes. Due to paralyzing horror, a person is unable to call for help. Sometimes awakening comes from one's own cry. The darkness in which a person finds himself only aggravates his condition. Therefore, in panic attacks at night during sleep, the symptoms are more pronounced than in daytime attacks.

In the first 5-10 minutes after a sudden awakening, there is confusion and disorientation in space. Then comes awareness of the situation. A person tries to calm his pulse, and calm down. Feelings of anxiety and fear can be disturbing for several days, intensifying in the evening. This is due to the fear of falling asleep and again falling into an insurmountable nightmare.

Panic attacks during sleep are also symptomatic of intrusive thoughts (so-called obsessions). There is a fear of serious illness, death, heart attack in a dream. Without proper treatment, seizures can become more frequent and occur every night.

Help with panic attacks

A person suffering from panic attacks at night cannot correctly assess his condition. Often, waking up with a feeling of fear and anxiety is perceived as an ordinary nightmare, so they are in no hurry to seek help. But such episodes are becoming more frequent, and the state of health is worse. When panic attacks occur in a dream, treatment should only be prescribed by a psychiatrist or psychotherapist. At the initial consultation, the doctor collects an anamnesis. Only sincere answers and a confidential conversation with a doctor will help to correctly diagnose and select the optimal therapy. The main goal of conversations with a doctor is to learn to quickly recognize your panic attack and, over time, learn to cope with it, learn to help yourself, gain personal experience of successfully overcoming, coping, and thereby minimize the risk of its reappearance.

Sleep panic attack symptoms and treatment are interdependent. With a high level of anxiety, as well as with severe or frequent attacks, a course of anti-anxiety (anxiolytic) drugs gives a good effect. Medications are selected individually, and only with the consent of the patient.

If you have a panic attack in your sleep, how to deal with it without pills?

At the beginning of the disease, relaxation and muscle relaxation techniques help to quickly calm down and bring the nervous system back to normal. This is taught in psychotherapy sessions. Breathing techniques, therapeutic hypnosis, cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy are also effectively used.

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