Hi I just wanted say that I keep getting panic attacks occationally and my first night one was last night. I can however tell you that this has followed a stressful time at work, when I had a cold and have been unable to exercise. The two other times in my life when I have had bouts of panic attacks have both been rectified by starting to exercise regularly after a lapse (I do yoga twice a week and climb) so I am sure there is a direct link between exercise and panic (probably to do with the old fight or flight theory). So if it helps any of you I am going to try and get back to a healthy routine again and I will let you know if the panic attacks subside. I feel a lot for any of you suffereing from these regularly as they are horrible! I nearly dialed 999 last night. Watch this space and if anyone has any views re exercise I would love to hear them.

Wow, I also had no idea how many other people were suffering from this nighttime plague. I ONLY have panic attacks/symptoms at night. I can go about my daily routine without any problems. But for some reason when it gets to be about 8:30 or 9:00, it's all over. They never wake me up, but I cannot fall asleep easily. I have dizziness, racing pulse & I shake. I KNOW there is NOTHING wrong with me and I tell myself that, but I can't seem to get past this. After my first two attacks, I started to do really well and went a whole month with no symptoms. Then this month it's all been downhill. I just started the panic program and printed out session 1 to read while my kids are napping this afternoon. I have not seen a specialist (just my doc) and I am not taking meds. I have Xanax, but I don't want to become addicted. I am trying everything with meds being a last resort. These hit me out of the blue with no apparent cause. I feel so stressed out!

Hi there, Thank you for your reply and understanding my situtation. I am doing everything I can to avoid these horrible attacks. I constantly drink cammomile tea w/o caffiene of course! and I started to exersise hoping this will help. I start counseling tomarrow so lets pray I can kick this! Thanks again! Heather

Heather, We thank you for sharing your story with us. This support group is full of supportive individuals who may be able to help you answer some questions regarding panic and anxiety. It is great to hear that you are making an appointment to see a doctor and working together to assess the situation. In the meantime please feel free to roam the site at your own pace. If you look to the left of the screen under "TOOLS" you will find many supportive tests. These tests are not diagnostic tools and are not a replacement or substitute for a physicians advice. The purpose of these tests is to prepare you with information that you can present to your physician. When youre finished the test, you can either print your Final Report or email it directly to your doctor. We also have developed a Panic Program. This program is 12-weeks and involves the tools mentioned above. Each session is based on the previous session, so we strongly advise that you work slowly through the program and not jump ahead. If you have any questions or concerns with our "TOOLS" you can contact our support department at support@paniccenter.net. Take care and we hope to hear from you soon. Josie ______________________________ The Panic Center Support Team.

Oh by the way I forgot to ask in my post, does anyone else ever feel like there head and nose has alot of pressure in it? Like its squeezing off? I hate this feeling my muscles are sooooooo tight and tense all of the time. I cant seem to relax naturally anymore I just hold my muscles very tight all the time unconsiously. sometimes I catch myself and let go

As I sit here and read all of your responses regarding these panic attacks I didnt realize that there were so many people going through the same experiences as myself. I just sat and sobbed because I have felt so very alone! It is now 2:50 am and I have not been to bed yet. Just as I was going to lay down to go to sleep my heart felt like it flopped around in my chest like a fish out of water. It happened 2 or 3 times and then the series of events started. Only this time I was not able to go to sleep. So here I am on the PC looking for a support group. And I found one YEaaaah!Ihave been having these attacks since October now and the symptoms are constantly changing. I truely hate the way I feel anymore! THis is really effecting my life in a negative way. I just feel helpless. I have been to my doctor and all he wants to do is put me on symbyax. He has run some blood tests on me like for my sugar and thyroid but nothing else. I still feel like he should send me to a cardiologist just to make sure nothing is wrong with my heart. I have been to the emergency room at least a half dozen times and had blood work and ekg's and nothing was found there. Am I over reacting? I am going to start counseling this wed. and I also read at the health food store in this big medical book that most people with anxiety are defecient in b vitamins,magnesium, calcium,Iron and some other vitamins. I have started to take these vitamins as it was suggested. We shall see what happeneds. Its so strange I really thought I was the only one who always thinks I am going to die. I know that the dying issue is one thing I certainly need to address in my counseling. Good luck to everyone

And here I thought I was the only one with attacks at night. I thought it wasn't possible to have them during a sound sleep. I can go all day running around to my feet are falling off. Taking care of me kids, cleaning house, working, etc.. things that most people find stressful, I'm fine with it. But every night some time between 2 and 3 I wake up gasping for air, with the sheets soaking wet, heart racing, VERTIGO! (that's the worse!), head throbbing, neck aching, leg cramps and numbness in limbs that aren't cramping. this has been happenig almost EVERY night for three or four months now. It's gotten to the point now that I'm having attacks even before I go to been anticipating having one in my sleep. I haven't slept the same since Fall. Insomnia has kicked in. I'm on 50mg of Zoloft and Xanax as needed. I've been taking at least 50mg of Xanax every night now just to get me to sleep. I do have an apt. with a psychologist this week. I've been to a few psychotrists but feel they would rather stuff pills down my throat than actually help me. I'm convinced those doctors get incentives for prescribing drugs. Especially maybe something "new" on the market. I'm hoping seeing a psychologist would be better. cutting out the politics. Maybe knowing they have no license to prescribe drugs will help me. For now I spend my time reading and study up on the internet. that's how I found this site. It actually hasn't prevented any attacks. But I definitely find it soothing to read about attacks and get comfort in knowing that I'm not the only one out there. To me it's sorta like having a 24/7 support group... getting on line and chatting with others just like me. The reason why I'm on here now is because I had an attack about 45 minutes ago. Ps... I realized that if I stopped eating before 6pm and cut out sweets, I have a less intense attack. I drink NO caffiene, basically cut out all chocolate and drink tea with Melatonin in it. GREAT stuff!! If you are on any meds I would ask your doctor first before taking Melatonin. You can buy the tea at a vitamin store (or on line) and I've found the vitamin capsules at Walmart. I've only been drinking the tea for about a week now, and not frequently. Takes the edge off of things and eases me into sleep. But

Thanks Crystal--Everything you said is true. My therapist uses the term "somatizing." No kidding, that's me. The bodywork--massage and hypnotherapy--are the most direct route to my panic triggers--most of them under my radar. Thanks again, and hugs, L

(((((lari))))) So sorry you had a bad time last night. If you have seen your Doc and he has assured you that your heart is healthy then the fear you have about cardio problems is just that "your fear". As hard as it will be, it will be up to you to retrain the way you think and react about the sensations you experience and know they are anziety and not a heart problem. This is difficult I know but its the only way to peace. You are already on meds, and the hypnotherapy is also a good route, it helped me several years ago, unfortunately I cant afford it now. I too live alone. You said in your post you have been waking up in panic for 10 years. Thats a horrible way to live, I can understand how fustrated you must be. CBT therapy has helped me alot (I am also agrophobic, PAs, PTSD and a choking phobia) I would suggest that you get the book "Hope and Help For Your Nerves" by Claire Weekes, she was a pioneer in the treatment of anxiety and panic and I have found her books and tapes a source of great help and healing in my life. The only true way you are ever going to rid your life of the nighttime panic attacks is to face that fear, let it do its worse, talk to it, try to make the symptoms worse! You must face the panic and pass thru the wall of fear. This is not easy, its terribly hard to do but once you have seen the fear is nothing but feelings you will learn that there is nothing there to fear. After 10 years of these attacks nothing has happened to you. Think about that and know that you are making the fear because you fear it. I am not trying to sound harsh just trying in the only way I know to help you understand that we build our fears ourselves and then because the symptoms are so severe and happen over and over we keep them alive in this way. Our nerves become so oversensitized that we are always on edge, listening in and waiting (anxiety) for the sypmtoms to start. Sending you hugs and understanding.

Thanks, I've been practicing that all day yesterday. It's 3:14AM now, I just woke up breathless,scared, cant remember the dream. My left side is tingly and my left hand is tingly/numb. I had my first hypnotherapy yesterday about this pattern. Hope it's PTSD surfacing and that's all. I do have a cardio phobia. Need reassurance this isnt cardio or anything.