Does this ever happen to you?

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-14-2005
Does this ever happen to you?
3
Tue, 06-07-2005 - 8:00pm

Hi!

I am sort of new to these boards. I have found many of your posts very helpful.

I have been suffering from a severe anxiety disorder the last couple of months. It just came on suddenly out of the blue. I've pretty much have my panic attacks and agoraphobia under control now, but what I can't control are these night terror episodes. Sometimes when I am trying to fall asleep I get this feeling like I am falling off a cliff and I am jolted awake. This goes on 10-20 times a night. I just want to cry because I am so fatigued and frustrated. I've tried relaxation cds as I go to sleep which have helped tremendously, but just as I am going into deep meditation the voice on the cd startles me. I can't win. Does anyone else have these problems when falling asleep, and if so, do you have any tips that works for you that you can share with me? The oddest thing is that I just got back into the gym and took a pilates class and I was feeling really good about life and myself. Why would it happen then is beyond me?

Thank you for taking time to help me!




Edited 6/7/2005 8:31 pm ET ET by bluebelle613
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-08-2004
Tue, 06-07-2005 - 8:54pm

Hey there! I am sorry you are going through this-but its almost funny you should ask at this time--I am just getting over the SAME problem. When I say getting over it, i mean it is happening less and less. It started where I would be half asleep and the falling off a cliff feeling would happen to me and I would open my eyes and sit up quickly in terror. Now I get to sleep for the most part, but sometimes I wake up out of a deep sleep and it happens and my body is numb or tingly. It scares the crap out of me, now to mention I am exhausted throughout the day. The only thing I could think that would help you is a long lasting medication, like trazedone. Trazedone doesnt necessarily make you get to sleep, but once you are asleep, it keeps you asleep and makes it harder for you to have those half dreamy falling experiences. If you are having trouble getting to sleep, I would suggest a drug like sonata, or ambien, which make you fall asleep right away, but not stay asleep. I used to take sonata and trazedone to ensure a good nights sleep.

To be honest, without drugs, it is very difficult to relieve these night terrors. i just started lexapro, and the more it builds up in my system, the less i have night terrors. This doesn't mean that you would need to be on sleeping pills forever, just until your anxiety is more under control, then you can ween off of them. Even if you don't want to jump right into prescription medication, I would also suggest melatonin, which is a natural sleeping drug, that is available in walgreens by the vitamins. Tylenol PM, or even Nyquil could help you too. Melatonin is probably the best non prescription option though.

I dont know if you were looking for an answer or remedy that doesn't involve drugs, and if you were, im sorry i dont know of any. the things i listed above are things that have helped me and other people.

Best of luck!

Katie

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Wed, 06-08-2005 - 4:43am

Hi & welcome to our community! It's great to know that reading the posts here has been helpful. You are not alone.


I have had what you described as falling off a cliff feelings when drifting off to sleep. In fact, I have literally fallen out of bed with that little jumping feeling. It has caused me to awaken with a panic attack. Has this happened to you? It might be because you are exhausted or going to bed with alot on your mind. But nowadays there is hope. There is treatment. Have you considered going to your dr.? I'm not suggesting you have an illness, but your dr. could check you out & perhaps send you on to a sleep specialist. Alot of folks here on the board have had sleep studies. You sleep in a laboratory, while the technicians monitor your pulse, oxygen levels & brain waves, etc. Their results will determine what can be done to help you. Sleep is such a mystery & there isn't much we can do to control our sleep. Here's a link that will take you to others involving sleep disorders. HTH. Good luck & GBU! Please keep in touch. We care about you. (((hugs))) jan


http://health.ivillage.com/sleep/slsnoring/topics/0,,4vkr,00.html



 

 


 



iVillage Member
Registered: 05-14-2005
Thu, 06-09-2005 - 11:22pm
Thanks Katie and Jan for taking time to respond to my post. Yes, I am trying to do things more naturally (sorry, I should have specified that)only because I am trying to get pregnant as well. It is comforting to know that this does happen to other people. Thanks for sharing your experiences with me. No, luckily I have never actually fallen out of bed. That's scary and you could hurt yourself, but you seem to have a sense of humor about it. Having a sense of humor always helps. But, I was as you said exhausted when I went to bed, but my mind was clear and happy which is why I don't know why it would happen then. I'm an odd case because it seems a lot of my anxiety comes on when I am happy...how weird is that? But now that I think of it, I was exhausted the other times it happened too. The last night wasn't so bad and I was been able to fall asleep, so I am keeping my fingers crossed that this lasts. Thanks again for your support!