About 6,000,000 north Americans experience panic attacks.  Out of those 6,000,000, about half of them have reported to experience panic attacks in the night.  This has confused many sufferers as they might intuitively think that there would be more panic attack triggers during the day time than at night.  In this post, the reasons for the existence of panic attacks at night will be discussed as well as their prevention. 

The reasons for panic attacks at night can alter considerably from person to person.  A typical trigger for panic attacks is the sense of the loss of control.  Many night panic attack sufferers believe that being in a comatose sleep state would represent the ultimate lack of control.  They fear the vulnerability of a defenseless unconscious state.  Obviously, these fears are absolutely irrational but they nonetheless exist in some nighttime panic attack sufferers.  These misguided fears oftentimes lead to panic attacks at night. 

Another reason for panic attacks at night is the dread of death while asleep.  Sufferers fear the possibility of a coronary or stroke during their sleep.  Again, these fears are quite illogical but nonetheless act as triggers for anxiety attacks at night. 

Dreams, are glaringly a reason for panic attacks at night.  Dreams only happen in heavy REM sleep and research has proven that those who experience nocturnal panic attacks do not experience them during REM sleep.  Panic attacks at night typically transpire during early sleep phase.  Nightmares {, however ,} are a different story all together.  Some panic attacks at night are a result of nightmares as they occur in the second half the typical sleep period.  This is the reason why we can remember them. 

Actually, there exists a certain type of sleeping disorder called Pavor Nocturnus distinguished by waking up and crying, increased heart beat rate, cold sweats and heart throbbing and other panic attack-like symptoms.  Pavor Nocturnus is most typical in kids. 

I really hope that this article has been helpful in enlightening the reader referring to the causes and reasons for nocturnal panic attacks.

In the event you are searching for additional associated reading material – severe panic attacks and extra right here controlling panic attacks