Sleep should be restful, shopping should be relaxing and meeting strangers in the grocery line shouldn’t cause panic attacks. What causes pent up anxiety to become overly unbearable or out of control in seemingly normal circumstances? Panic attacks can occur unexpectedly without warning and can disrupt daily routines to the point of withdrawal.
Have you ever awakened from sleep with your heart racing, your respiration levels at maximum with no apparent cause for this over exaggerated feeling? Bad dreams with a scary notion can cause our mind to race with anxiety and panic while causing physiological changes such as faster respiration, sweating and a racing heart. Dreaming can seem so real, so scary. Sometimes, there is no way to convince one that the heart attack they are having is the result of a psychological scare, a panic attack from the inability to sort out a dream!
The overwhelming feelings experienced from such episodes can cause sleeplessness and true fear. Ever had to be convinced your spouse wasn’t really having an affair simply because you dreamed about one? Events we experience in our daily routine can bring back terrible feelings of dejavue from a bad dream. A trip to the zoo or a close call while driving can make us recall from our dreams that animal attack or the horrible accident we experienced while riding shotgun with no seat belt on with the side door missing! Our mind is a powerful tool that does control the anxiety levels associated with panic attacks.
Exercise shouldn’t be overlooked as an effective alternative to drug therapy. Minimizing the amount of caffeine or other stimulants can promote more restful sleep. Drink plenty of water. Changing bedtime habits including avoiding television shows that can leave your mind anxious can help eliminate the bedtime fear that can trigger bad dreams.
The fear of having another impending attack can be debilitating, causing agoraphobia, which is an overwhelming fear of going outside the common, safe elements to which one is accustom. So, is there anything else that might help? The outlet of having someone to “talk it out” with can help curb panic attacks brought on by fear, or by bad dreams.
There is a calming effect brought on by clearing the mind of bad thoughts or desensitizing oneself to what may trigger panic attacks. These horribly anxious feelings of panic are very real, even though they are psychological. The fear can be minimized by lifestyle changes and efforts to experience more restful sleep. Numerous studies have shown about 90% of those who seek this type of treatment for panic attacks will see improvement. There is treatment available; there is a way of escape.