Fear of Night Anxiety Attack Leads to More Attacks

By Ai Qin Lee

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.

People usually experiencing night fright attacks are more afraid as compared to patients suffering from daytime attacks. Based on studies conducted, night attacks comprise 10.2% of panic attacks. And patients suffering from night fright attacks are also prone to loss of control, heart attacks, stroke, or other irrational cause of death.

Night attacks are not similar to nightmares. When you have a nightmare, you can usually recall what the nightmare is about. Unlike anxiety attacks wherein you don't even know why you're having one. And attacks also happen during the early phase of sleep and not during the dream phase or REM phase. Though it is not clear what causes night fright attacks, but experts are speculating that this might be due to increase carbon dioxide concentration, changes in parasympathatonic system from an autonomic dysfunction, stresses during the day, alcohol or drugs, or worries and fear of the patient.

So how can people overcome nocturnal attacks? One way of overcoming nocturnal anxiety attacks is through exercise. Exercising and taking a 15 minutes shower at night can help relax and calm your mind. Also, it would be best if you don't watch television before you go to sleep as this can strain the eye and brain resulting to attacks. Read a calming novel or book instead or listen to a relaxing music before you sleep.

You also have to stop worrying. Remember that attacks are usually due stress and worries. It would be best if you can stop fearing sleep and stop thinking about having a panic attack. Straining your mind with worries can actually make things worse for you. So find ways to lower your anxiety levels.

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.

You should also avoid drinking caffeine, nicotine or drinking wine at night. This is because these substances make you more alert in the evening thus leading to insomnia. And when you can't sleep you become prone to negative thoughts that will eventually 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. - 30415

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