"Most likely there is a group near you, though it may take some searching to find it."

Dealing with a Nocturnal Panic Attack


A Nocturnal panic attack tends to be one of the most frightening panic attacks a person can have. They interrupt sleep, and most of the time the panic sufferer wakes up mid-attack. Anyone who has ever experienced a nocturnal panic attack can vouch for how frightening the first time can be, and the confusion they experienced. It may very well be the worst type of panic attack someone can have.

Fortunately after the first attack and the awareness that usually occurs, most nocturnal panic attack sufferers can begin to find their options. A nocturnal panic attack tends to be triggered during certain events, or after certain actions. For some this can be after eating disagreeable foods, or an attack might occur if a particularly stressful event happened before sleeping. In most cases the reasons behind these attacks can be distinguished and the panic sufferer can begin to build towards a solution.

Prevention Works

As with any other type of attack, the best thing for a nocturnal panic attack is prevention. Anyone who experiences frequent nocturnal panic attack episodes should begin to question their nightly regiment before they go to bed. Ideally a person who experiences frequent nightly attacks should make it their goal to reduce the common causes of panic attacks. Unfortunately, when it comes to panic attacks, almost anything can be the trigger.

This can mean all sorts of changes for a person. Cutting out the nightly snacks, and eating earlier in the evening always helps. Reducing any stress occurred during the evening hours is always very helpful. Try not to discuss any important issues before bed; this can lead to unwanted stress before sleep, which could be causing the panic. If possible try to exercise before bed, or at least sometime in the evening; even a short walk can be helpful.

If the problem still persists, or just seems too frequent to be caused by just these issues, then it would definitely be wise to consult a doctor. If you are a frequent panic attack sufferer then you probably already have a normal physician. Consult your doctor, an imbalance could be occurring that is causing these nocturnal panic attack episodes. If you are taking medication for your panic attacks already then it may be time to switch medications. Again consult your doctor, but in some cases certain medications have been known to increase a nocturnal panic attack while reducing daily ones.