anxiety "waking startle"

[Mo S]

Not necessarily looking for advice; more of a question really. Its something i have learned to live with the best I can: I awake in the VERY early hours of the morning: 2am, 3am. 4am. When i do its not the ol' "rollover and go right back to sleep." Its almost an anxiety attack with an adrenalin rush rthat makes me hop out of bed. Ive recently tried just staying in bed and tring to go back to sleep.....it just doesnt work- i get pissed off, frustrated and get up. I usually then nap later in the day.
The whole issue reallly bothers me today as i had to call off my volunteer job.
I feel like i let people down because i couldnt show up and teach a class coherently - much less make the long drive.

So...the big question: does anyone else have this problem? Thanks for taking the time to read this.

[wellnowwhat]

I often wake during the night, not usually with a startle, but I am WIDE awake for a long time.

I recently read an article on BBC website talking about "second sleep". It refers to the fact that the idea of sleeping 8 solid hours is a relatively recent notion in the history of man. People in ancient times acknowledged that they would sleep for a while, get up and read, socialize, eat and then have their second sleep. It is written about in literature and in medical journals from their times.

To me this just made so much sense with my sleep habits. Ironically, since I read that article I sleep better, having the notion that it's not "my problem" it's my "second sleep".

[strawberrygirl]

Going through the same thing. Sometimes I get through a night without it. Sometimes I feel like I'm up on an hourly basis. Totally frustrating but I'm also getting used to it at this point. I've been lucky in that I have a flexible schedule and can usually get 6-8 hours of sleep collectively even if I'm up and down. But going through a frustration that sounds similar to yours in that I've given up a steady volunteer commitment b/c I never know when it's going to be a sleepless night...and then feeling down on myself because it's a volunteer group I really love.

I like the concept of "second sleep." Often the biggest anxiety of getting back to sleep is my anxiety that I won't get enough sleep for the next day. Anything that can reel that in is helpful.

Hope things get better, Mo S.

[Lenina]

Yes, I used to have that panic attack/starle awakening for years. I have never figured it out. Since I've been on the beta blockers, a heart medication, It doesn't happen.

Love from Lenina

[Luweez]

I have the same problem but it's always at exactly 4am. No matter what time I go to sleep. Frustrating and scary sometimes

[LDT]

I never sleep through the night. This has been going on for so many years that it would feel abnormal to sleep more than a straight 3 hours at a time. Hate to say it, but it got worse after I got sober. I have also read about second sleep and it makes sense. I use to panic about not sleeping like a normal person.......first I don't drink like a normie, and then I don't sleep like a normie ( sigh ). Now I just accept it. I ignore what conventional wisdom about sleep. I'll sleep if I'm sleepy. The positive side of being an insomniac is I'm very well read

[jobezee1]

My goodness, do I ever know what you are talking about. I often stay up quite late (1:30 or later), and when I do fall asleep, my dreams are so vivid and realistic that it doesn't feel like I'm asleep at all. It feels like I'm sort of in between being awake and asleep. I never have deep sleep anymore and often awaken when I'm turning.

Some of my dreams are so frightening that they jolt me awake and it often takes me a while to remember where I am and what is happening. One of the greatest impediments to my recovery has been my sleep cycle and the disturbances in it. I hardly ever feel rested and this has lead me to take a few night caps on ocassion as I am so desperate for some sleep. Of course, we all know where that leads. My body and mind have relied on alcohol to induce sleep for so long. I just try to tough it out. Everyone has told me that it will take quite some time for a "normal" sleep cycle to return.

[Mo S]

Another nightmare: my dog just went to the doggy dentist yesterday. poor guy had 3 teeth extracted and we werent expecting that. So....at 5am i wake up with a nightmare that MY front tooth died and I had no money to fix it or get a new one. EEEKKK. Of course Could not go back to sleep...but sweet victory as i took a nap today!!! Woo hoo!
Thanks for the comments guys...nice to know i am not alone. Good suggestion to ignore what "conventional sleep" is.

[DaveVelasco]

More like a body clock system set to wake you up - but its kinda too early. When people age, it is normal for most to lessen the normal sleep hours that their body is normally taking. It might be the before, you really used to wake up too early and then your body got used to it - setting it every time you wake up too early in the morning.

Have you consulted a doctor already?

[TigerLili]

Sleep apnea or upper airway issues can trigger panic attacks at night, as can sleeping in a room that is too hot. I always have nightmares if I forget to turn the heat down or off.

[Mo S]

I started a new sleep med. It came to that after 6 months of pure sleep hell. Took the first dose last night. slept 7 hrs. Hopefully on my way to "normal" sleep hours.

[LDT]

Happy to hear that, Mo...... Good for you!

[dawnie24]

i had the waking up having a panic attack tonight and i now no matter how tired i am i cant sleep

[RevivingOphelia]

I have super vivid dreams (usually bad) that startle and wake me up. Sucks!

[THEOjibway]

I know how exactly you feel. I've been suffering attacks like this for awhile now. Even being sober for close to a year now... in a week I'll be a year sober.... I've been finding I'll start to feel this pressure in my chest when I fall asleep and it feels like my heart will explode. Last night I tried to go to bed at 12am and was awake till 430am! I couldn't sleep because I kept thinking I'd not wake up because my chest hurt. I know it's nothing wrong but I always suffered panic attacks when one time I suffered for a week major anxiety attacks where it felt like I was having a heart attack, Sometimes it gets annoying, sometimes I accept it because Im off the next day. But then sometimes it happens when I'm needed to wake up at 7am to go to work and I'll be lucky if I get 2 hours of sleep. One time it was so bad I finally fell asleep at 6am only to be woken at 7am for work and I was groggy and felt like dying because Im on my feet for the whole day. My girlfriend came to see me that day because i was suffering and when I sat down to eat lunch outside with her I leaned my head against her shoulder and started to cry and she was there to support me when I told her I had an hour sleep and was trying so hard to stay awake or even move. So yeah I know what your talking about. SOmetimes its very bad, other times it doesn't affect me.