Question 1

why do i get a minor panic attack as i am falling asleep (ust drifting into sleep) ?

Accepted Answer

Anxiety and fear: There are many individuals in the populations that experience increased anxiety related to the start of sleep. There can also be hypnagogic and hypnopompic psychotic experiences that are a function of the initial intrusion of rem sleep at the start of sleep or the intrusion of wakefulness into rem sleep that produce  transitions in sensory and neuromuscular function that can be distressing to many.

Question 2

while falling asleep, started getting hallucinations of someone in the room. this led to panic that felt like the kind i get during hypnic jerks (which i get often). couldn't fall asleep for half hour due to these panic episodes. should i see dr?

Accepted Answer

Common: Hypnogogic, hypnopompic hallucinations occur for some people as they fall to and wake from sleep . Nothing really to do or worry about .https://patient.info/doctor/hypnagogic-hallucinations

Question 3

rarely when i'm falling asleep i get scared, almost as if i'm having a panic attack and i can't stop crying. what can this be? anxiety?

Accepted Answer

There could be: Many different reasons for this. Going to sleep may remind you of a time when you were traumatized in the past. It could remind you of things you have repressed and do not therefore remember. The unconscious works in mysterious ways. In therapy you could try to analyze the dreams and makes sense of them.

Question 4

when i fall asleep early i have vivid nightmares within a few mins of falling asleep, awake in panic. what is causing dreams so early in sleep cycle?

Accepted Answer

While most dreams: occur in REM sleep, dreams may occur any time in the cycle. Stress, medications, substances, alcohol, foods, etc. may increase likelihood. Stress reduction and anxiety management measures may help. Use fantasy to rewrite your dreams and train your brain to be calm. If you experience distress and impairment despite all measures consider an evaluation and therapy. Best regards for relief.

Question 5

sometimes when falling asleep i feel like my breathing slows too much & i panic. once i am asleep its fine. i had the feeling last night & according to my fitness watch my breath rate dropped to 8 at start of sleep then went normal, is this normal?

Accepted Answer

: The amount you breathe with each breath, called the tidal volume, factors into how many times per minute you need to breathe. If you take deeper breaths, then the number of breaths you need would be less than if you take more shallow breaths. Your brain determines this based on the amount of carbon dioxide and oxygen you have in your system. This is done automatically while you sleep. Good luck!

Question 6

my eyes have felt dry of a morning. today i started to feel as if i couldnt hold my eyes open and i was falling asleep and begin to panic ,i have anxiety. my vision feels off now and i feel weird im not sure whats wrong. tired eyes? dry eyes?

Accepted Answer

: It is not feasible to provide an opinion without additional history, physical examination may be some tests. It would be prudent to see your doctor to see if you may be depressed. Depression is treatable. Counter-intuitive as it may seem, exercise may help. Start with low intensity exercise such as walking and gradually increase the intensity as tolerated. Drink more water. Wish you good health!

Question 7

when i am close to falling asleep i have what seems like a panic attack, my  heart beat goes way up and life seems like its going 100 mph. whats happe ?

Accepted Answer

Anxiety: Sounds like you have anxiety-  would suggest to dsee your pcp of a psychiatrist for treatment.

Question 8

woke up 2hrs after falling asleep, short of breath and a racing heart. felt better and was able to go back to sleep within a couple of hours. could this have been heart related or just a panic attack?

Accepted Answer

See pcp: If it happens again, or you've had it before.

Question 9

falling asleep fast?

Accepted Answer

What is the question: I'm not sure if you're falling asleep too fast or if you want to fall asleep faster - 
if you could re-write it we'd love to help.

Question 10

why am i continually falling asleep.

Accepted Answer

Need evaluation: work up for medical illness as well screening for depression

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Doctor answers about:

Panic when falling asleep

A member asked:

Why do i get a minor panic attack as i am falling asleep (ust drifting into sleep) ?

A member asked:

While falling asleep, started getting hallucinations of someone in the room. this led to panic that felt like the kind i get during hypnic jerks (which i get often). couldn't fall asleep for half hour due to these panic episodes. should i see dr?

A member asked:

Rarely when i'm falling asleep i get scared, almost as if i'm having a panic attack and i can't stop crying. what can this be? anxiety?

A member asked:

When i fall asleep early i have vivid nightmares within a few mins of falling asleep, awake in panic. what is causing dreams so early in sleep cycle?

A member asked:

Sometimes when falling asleep i feel like my breathing slows too much & i panic. once i am asleep its fine. i had the feeling last night & according to my fitness watch my breath rate dropped to 8 at start of sleep then went normal, is this normal?

A member asked:

My eyes have felt dry of a morning. today i started to feel as if i couldnt hold my eyes open and i was falling asleep and begin to panic ,i have anxiety. my vision feels off now and i feel weird im not sure whats wrong. tired eyes? dry eyes?

A member asked:

When i am close to falling asleep i have what seems like a panic attack, my heart beat goes way up and life seems like its going 100 mph. whats happe ?

A member asked:

Woke up 2hrs after falling asleep, short of breath and a racing heart. felt better and was able to go back to sleep within a couple of hours. could this have been heart related or just a panic attack?

A member asked:

Falling asleep fast?

A member asked:

Why am i continually falling asleep.

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