I'm the same. When I drink I sleep nice. But first few weeks off the alcohol I will have night sweats, and nocturnal panic attacks and night terrors. Just like you I'm fine in the day time.
I have these strange attacks where I wake up but feel trapped and unable to move. I can see everything around but my brain doesn't process much and I feel trapped in my body. As soon as I wake up my entire body is tensed for about 5 minutes as I calm down. Always sends me into a state of sever panic and impending doom.
Only happens when I first come of alcohol, or I'm severely stressed. First time it happened was 10 years ago while I was at university.
Definitely a stress response for me.