My Panic Attack Solution

Last night, I went to bed about 11:30 p.m. and was awakened around 12:30 a.m. due to something that was either a night terror or panic attack. For the record: I’ve NEVER had panic attacks while conscious, nor do I have any history of night terrors as a kid.

Anyhoo, when I awakened, I was in a high state of agitation and fear. My heart was pounding like it does when I watch a terrifying movie! The main thing I recall is feeling like I had not been breathing moments before, or that I was not able to breathe, even though I *was* able to breathe. I had NO chest pain, NO irregular heartbeat, NO tingly extremities and NO sweatiness.

I simply had a pounding heart, a feeling of dread/fear, and a feeling like I was in a panic to breathe, perhaps the way I’d feel if someone was trying to drown me. Oh, I also remember I was momentarily confused about what day/time it was and where I was. I can’t recall whether or not I’d had any type of bad dream beforehand. It was all just so sudden! :[
I ran out of room above; here’s some additional info:

- My asthma had been bothering me that day and that night. I wonder if maybe my brain thought it wasn’t getting enough oxygen and panicked, thus awakening me? For the record, I’ve had asthma for about 20 years but have NEVER had "asthma attacks". But I wonder if somehow my asthma was connected to what happened last night? Maybe due to partially constricted airways? (I was not wheezing or dizzy or anything, tho, when I awakened).

- A psychologist and a psychiatrist have diagnosed me with ADHD and have also told me they think I have a co-morbidity of generalized anxiety disorder. Could there be a connection there as well?

- I have actually had these night-time "incidents" in the past as well; maybe once every couple of months. But none were as scary as this one!!
Hi Rnpviger. This edit is to answer your questions, although unfortunately there’s only 7 hours left before this question expires and I have to pick an answer.

Anyway, NO to both questions. I’m not at all overweight. In fact, at 5’7" and 120 pounds, I’m almost underweight. (I’m trying to gain weight but it’s hard with my metabolism, which has been checked by several thyroid tests and is apparently normal).

Also, I never eat any type of meal anywhere near bedtime, due to my GERD/acid reflux. I always leave at least 2 hours, and preferrable 3 hours, between my last food intake, and laying down in bed. Not that I eat large meals to begin with; that also triggers my reflux at times. I eat less food than "average" at each meal, but I eat more healthy snacks throughout the day to make up for it.:)
FINAL EDIT — I just did a lot of online research and found a definite connection between asthma and sleep apnea (asthmatics are more likely to have apnea, even if they’re not overweight). I also found a connection between night terrors and sleep apnea. So in any case, I think a call to my doctor is in order, since I only seem to experience these "episodes" when I go to bed with uncomfortable asthma symptoms! And only when I’m lying on my back; I never have trouble on my side or tummy.

Thanks everyone for your support and help! Hopefully somewhere down the line, when this question is archived, it’ll help somene ELSE too!

It sounds like sleep apnoea ( apnea) to me.

Esp if anxiety is not a concern to you during your waking hours.

Asthma suffers are prone to this and there are surgical procedures that can help.

You should consider going to a sleep disorder clinic where they can monitor your activity , especially your breathing while you are asleep.