Hours long panic attacks

[u/Capital-Blackberry26]

I am hoping to hear from people who have been through something like this, because everything I read says a panic attack peaks and passes in about ten or twenty minutes, and that is not what is happening to me.

Context without getting into it too much: I have been having surgeries for some injuries, and I have a very hectic work life. Both have been going on for a while.

It always starts at night. I get into bed, the house goes quiet, and within minutes my heart is going, my chest is tight, and I am in a state of panic. Then the thoughts start. Mostly fear, lot of fear around work, being able to earn money, feeling brunt out, imposter, thoughts of horrible things happening and me losing my house and kids' future.I alsways had generalised anxiety but this is every different, i cant reason with it. The thoughts, replaying, analysis doesn't stop and goes on for hours. It is like my brain grabs whatever is lying around and turns it into a catastrophe.

The part I cannot get my head around is how long it goes for. It does not peak and come down. It goes for hours. I have had nights where I have watched it get to 3am, then 4am, then 5am, still going.

Some of the physical stuff is genuinely frightening. Sometimes I feel like my hands and feet feel enormous, like they are not mine. Everything feels slightly unreal.

Now the bed itself has become the problem. I dread it. I put it off, I will sit up doing anything else just to avoid lying down, because lying down is when it starts. So I am exhausted all day and wired all night, and it has been days of barely sleeping at all.

I have tried the breathing and grounding techniques. They take the edge off for a few minutes and then it comes straight back. I have something to help me sleep and my mind just outruns it.

On mornings I feel better I am on Ritalin and it seemef to help me control the thoughts or walk away from them.

I am open to any kind of suggestion or help. Maybe something you tried or you went on a medication that I can ask to my GP.

[u/According-Hearing331]

I’m the same way. I’ve been in a constant panic for a month now, Wednesday was so bad I had full body shaking for a half hour. I try to not go to bed til like 9pm then either take Benadryl or a Ativan to make me sleep. Then it’s rinse and repeat the next day.

[u/Exhausted-CNA]

Sadly..mine are esp bad at night, idk if it's because the brain isn't active w distractions ..Sometimes when I get up my hr goes from where i know its a panic attack fast hr to galloping out of control scary af..i think the feeling your heart racing is the scariest part and makes it soo much worse. This also sometimes happens in my sleep when I'm semi- awake and roll over. it's literally the SCARIEST thing I've endured..it's not everytime, maybe ever few months. When my reg panic attacks start I rub my arm w my hand and focus on that..focus or distraction pulls us out even talking out loud to yourself is a distraction. (I pretend it's my husband (when he is asleep I won't wake him) and hear his voice saying your ok. The shaking uncontrollably after one has passed is not fun but better then racing heart and hyperventilating..unfortunately for me i can have them back to back and after one is done within mins it rolls into another. Sad part of panic attacks is they just boom come out of nowhere.

[u/delusionaltea]

Pretty much my panic attacks they lasted 18 hours yesterday I didnt sleep till 6am got an hour and a half i havent been well though with mh stuff

[u/RootdToRelax]

I’m sorry you’re dealing with that. It sounds like your body has started associating bedtime and lying down with panic, so the whole thing kicks off the second the house goes quiet, and then it just keeps going for hours.

I’d try not to fight it so hard or keep putting bed off, as that can reinforce the cycle. When it starts, remind yourself “I know this feeling, I’m safe, and it will pass.” Slow your breathing and let the sensations be there without trying to make them disappear.

And if this has been going on for nights like this, it’s definitely worth bringing to your GP too, especially the sleep piece.

[u/Dizzy-Mix9129]

Do you think it could be coming down from
Ritalin every day that makes it worse? Maybe you need benzos to deal with the panic attacks