Why do I wake up terrified in the middle of the night?
If you wake up with a panic attack, you might be experiencing a nighttime, or nocturnal, panic attack. These events cause symptoms like any other panic attack — sweating, rapid heart rate, and fast breathing — but because you were asleep when they began, you may wake up disoriented or frightened by the feelings.
Can PTSD cause nocturnal panic attacks?
Insomnia is one of the most commonly endorsed PTSD symptoms and is thought to arise primarily from NREM sleep disruption. Other NREM sleep disturbances often observed in trauma-exposed individuals and patients with PTSD include nocturnal panic attacks and sleep terrors (13, 15).
Why am I waking up in the middle of the night?
For individuals who wake up in the middle of the night, the realization that their awakening may just be a throwback to an earlier sleep pattern may reduce some of the frustration and anxiety they feel. This is part of the cognitive behavioral technique of cognitive restructuring, or reducing stress by having more accurate information about sleep.
Is it normal to wake up at 3AM every night?
It May Be Natural. Research raises questions about the importance of sleeping through the night. In my experience, people who report waking up in the middle of the night most commonly do so around 3 a.m. This alone may not be very significant, but many people with insomnia say that they have a hard time falling back asleep.
Why do I wake up with a panic attack every night?
Hyperventilation Disorder. Hyperventilation is responsible for many of the symptoms of a panic attack, and often causes panic attacks as well. So it stands to reason that those that manage to hyperventilate in their sleep may be more prone to waking up with panic attacks.
What should you do if your anxiety wakes you up at night?
If your anxiety regularly wakes you up, Dr. Okeke-Igbokwe recommends mentioning it to your doctor, who should be able to help you get a handle on any underlying anxiety or panic disorder at play. Doing so may involve cognitive behavioral therapy, anti-anxiety medication, or a combination of the two.