Fear of Night Anxiety Attack Leads to More Attacks
Panic disorders are characterized by night anxiety attacks which usually result to dreading sleep. Patients experiencing this type of attack are actually more distressed and worry more. These night attacks are possibly due to mental worry and corporeal uneasiness.
But what causes nocturnal fright attacks, why do some people experience this and others don't. Nocturnal fright attacks actually 10.2 percent of the total anxiety attacks that a person might feel. And this is also more frightening as this can lead to other serious health problems like heart attacks, stroke, and even 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.
Panic attacks are due to worrying or stress so find ways to stop worrying. Try to stop being afraid of going to sleep and most importantly don't think about having an attack. Worrying can strain your mind and increases the risk of getting an attack. It would be beneficial to you if you can 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.
To lower risks of getting night attacks, it would be best if you avoid caffeine, nicotine or wine in the evening. These substances can actually make you more alert and makes your mind more active and prone to negative thoughts. And this can 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.
But what causes nocturnal fright attacks, why do some people experience this and others don't. Nocturnal fright attacks actually 10.2 percent of the total anxiety attacks that a person might feel. And this is also more frightening as this can lead to other serious health problems like heart attacks, stroke, and even 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.
Panic attacks are due to worrying or stress so find ways to stop worrying. Try to stop being afraid of going to sleep and most importantly don't think about having an attack. Worrying can strain your mind and increases the risk of getting an attack. It would be beneficial to you if you can 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.
To lower risks of getting night attacks, it would be best if you avoid caffeine, nicotine or wine in the evening. These substances can actually make you more alert and makes your mind more active and prone to negative thoughts. And this can 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.
About the Author:
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Symptoms Naturally Learn how to get rid of panic or anxiety attack fast and naturally even if you have tried every single method and nothing just seems to work for you. Overcoming Night Panic Attacks