Do you ever feel that your daily schedule is too hectic? Or is this schedule disturbing your mental peace somehow all throughout the day? If yes, then it is not strange to hear that this schedule can also disturb your peaceful sleep. The medical term is ‘panic attack’.

Sleep panic attack is basically an extended version of the disease panic attack. Though the number of cases of sleep panic attack is quite low, it shouldn’t be taken too lightly.

The symptoms a patient generally faces are almost similar to that of the panic attack. Uneasiness like sudden rise of anxiety level, fear, gastric irritation, insomnia, feeling of insecurity etc is seen. Even hearing the name of sleep sometimes becomes a nightmare to the patient. This is because of the inherent fear that the attack might take place during sleep.

Panic attack is often confused with bad dreams. But there is a major difference between these two. Dream is a state of REM phase of sleep while sleep panic attack generally takes place during the primary phases of sleep. The exact cause behind this attack is still not clear to the scientists. But a lot of reasons may work behind it. The strongest reason may be the increase of carbon dioxide level in blood. It is assumed that this increased carbon dioxide level triggers a false suffocation alarm causing some uneasiness in our body such as breathing difficulty, increased heart beat, resulting in the sleep panic attack. Some other reasons are alcohol abuse, consequences of the stressful incidents of daytime, stress, depression etc.

Sleep panic attacks are often mistaken as sleep apnea or cardiac arrest. This misconception often leads to an unwanted scary situation. Sleep apnea and sleep panic attack are completely different. Still they are often linked up because of similarity of the signs and symptoms of these two.

Now where the question of curability comes forward, doctors give a very positive answer to this. A number of ways are there to fight against sleep panic attack. Benzodiazepines, Beta blockers, Tricyclic antidepressants, Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (ssris), Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (maois), and Anticonvulsants are some of the drugs that are generally used.

One can come out of this disease by practicing a healthier life style along with theses medicines. As we know, key to the healthier life is nothing but the art of living, i.e. through yoga and meditation one can easily return back to normal life where no sleep panic attack scares our peaceful sleep.

This is my story.
I had a near death experience (or so I thought) with drug OD. My triggered was that I’m so sure I’m going to die and want to get to hospital as soon as possible. As I live in the city, getting to hospital is considered a problem with major traffic jam here and there. This is what created a scar mentally and fixed a trigger system in my body and mind. But that’s the past. I now have panic attack and it comes and goes.

I have look around internet with little help on curing my panic attack but plenty of info about the facts. One fact that most of the websites didn’t show is that no one has ever died from Panic Attack! That’s the word from my professional GP and physiatrist.

My experience:
I can’t be in a crowded place. I can’t be stuck in traffic jam for a long period of time. I can’t explore new place without getting worried.

Of all this years, I have found thing which can help me minimized the impact or help me calm down. I do a lot of driving due to my work. So I would always have a bottle of anti-anxiety spray (natural herb) in my car. I never like the idea of having another dose of drug in my system to help me combat anxiety and make me drowsy and like a dumb walking stick without any feeling! If I’m going travelling, I will always have them in my pocket. Another trigger is when I’m hungry and all of sudden lack of energy. For this, I’m always prepared with a choc bar or anything which can help you boosts some energy, but stay away from Red Bull. If you have no choice and have to take public transport (crowded), have some soothing music handy or your fav band/album in your iPod. Listen to them along the journey and if possible try to sing along (quietly – not in front of all those people!). This is to keep your mind occupied. Have a mint or something as well to help relax.

If all this fails, then this is what I do. I will start calling my close friends and tell them of the situation, you will need to tell them that so that they understand. I would normally ask my friend to talk about something, ask question, so that you can have your mind occupied. It works for me.

Timing is an essence itself, for my case. If crowded place triggers panic attack…and that you need to do some shopping, then go at time when it’s not peak time, e.g. lunch time or after 6pm. If it happens when you’re in a long queue at checkout, for me I would just drop the item to front desk and tell them I’m having panic attack and will have to pick up the item later. Then go to somewhere quiet and relax yourself.

All the above are just temporary solution when it happens. To summarize it, you will need to change your lifestyle.

Natural Herbal and Homeopathic Remedies

Below are some of the natural herbs and homeopathic which can help you minimize anxiety and stress and improve overall mood as well as preventing symptoms of panic attacks. You may use it solely on its own or in combination with therapy.

Lemon Balm, Lavender and Passiflora – some natural remedies with positive results for relieving panic attacks and anxiety.

St John’s Wort - regular use of St John’s Wort will increase a sense of well-being and reducing and eliminating the occurrence of panic attacks. Please seek advice from your GP first.

Scientist has also found out that there has been a strong correlation between anxiety/panic disorder and the levels of certain vitamins and minerals. These are some of the supplement which can help you rejuvenate the balance in your body:

Bad Breathing Causes Anxiety and Panic Attacks
When you’re scared or spook, Rapid shallow breathing will normally occur and will cause hyperventilation and this happens when more carbon dioxide is breathed out than the body is able to manufacture. The symptoms may include dizziness, tingling, chest tightness feeling with rapid heartbeat, feelings of unreality and also inability to think clearly. Does that sound familiar? When this happen, always remember to inhale through your nose and exhale through your nose or mouth.
Practice abdominal breathing when you are feeling quite calm and relaxed so you know you are doing it correctly.

Try to Slow down your breaths to 6 to 10 breaths a minute using a watch.
Notice when you are shallow breathing or when you hold your breath and immediately take a couple of deep abdominal breaths.
When you start to feel anxious just remember to push your stomach out as you take a breath.

The nervous system is also bolstered by the action of the B vitamins, during times of stress in particular- the body makes rapid use of these substances. The increase in the lactate content of the body is also stabilized at certain times by the use of the B vitamins taken in supplemental form. Among all the vitamins, the B6 is considered to be the most important vitamin. The susceptibility of a person to anxiety and panic attacks can also be reduced by taking supplements of the essential minerals calcium or magnesium, the deficiency of one or both of these in the body will increase the likelihood of a panic attack affecting an individual. Proper nerve function and relaxation in the body is promoted by the essential minerals calcium and magnesium when they are taken on a regular basis. A deficiency of the essential mineral magnesium is caused by a poor diet and the abuse of alcohol-this produces nervousness and irritability in the person.
An irritated nervous system has traditionally been treated using the herbs such as passion flower, the valerian, the St. John’s wort or the lemon balm as herbal remedies. These help relax and soothe the nervous system in the affected individual. Usage of these herbs by the sufferers will also aid in giving that person a good night’s rest and will relax him or her in general

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) – constant or exagerated worries about everyday life events, lasting at least six month.

Simple phobias – overwhelming and unreasonable fears of a place or thing.

Social phobia – unreasonable and disabling fear of scrutiny or embarrassment in public situations.

Panic Disorder – repeated episodes of intense fear that strike often and without warning.

Agoraphobia – fear of being in places or situations that are potentially embarrassing.

Obsessive-vomplusive disorder (OCD) – unwanted thoughts or compulsive behaviors that seem impossible to stop or control.

Acute stress reaction – symptoms that appear within minutes of a traumatic event and disappear within days (even hour).

Adjustment disorder – emotional or behavioral symptoms that occur because of a series of stresses.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) – persistent symptoms that occur after experiencing or withnessing a traumatic event