Nocturnal Panic Attack Symptoms

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By Senobia Torres
eHow Contributing Writer

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A panic attack is a sudden feeling of terror or fear that comes on for no apparent reason. Although panic attacks are a benign occurrence, panic attack symptoms can mimic those of more serious conditions, such as a heart attack, and for this reason can be very terrifying to the person experiencing them.

Panic attacks can occur at any time of the day. Panic attacks that occur at night during the onset of the sleep process are known as nocturnal panic attacks. Here is an overview of the symptoms of this type of panic attack and how they present within the body.

Abrupt waking from sleep

The tell-tale symptom of the onset of a nocturnal panic attack is an abrupt awakening from sleep. The person may jar awake, sit straight up in her bed or leap out of the bed into a standing position. Usually there is no reason for the person to have woken up other than the body's own "fight or flight" mechanism kicking in to counteract the panic attack.

Sudden, intense fear

At the same moment that the abrupt awakening occurs, the person will immediately feel an overwhelming sense of terror. There is no apparent cause or trigger for the person to feel so afraid, but the fear is so great that it is debilitating. Many times the person is afraid to even move.

Trembling, Sweating, Flushing, and Chills

Due to the high level of fear the person is feeling, trembling during a panic attack is common. People who are experiencing other symptoms of a panic attack will usually begin to sweat profusely also. The fluctuation in blood pressure due to an increase heart rate will make the skin flush or feel cold.

Trouble breathing and Hyperventilation

During a nocturnal panic attack, a person may experience being short of breath and begin to hyperventilate to compensate for the perceived lack of oxygen within the body. Tightness in the chest is also common with these feelings due to the lungs expanding in an effort to get more air into the body.

Rapid Pulse and Chest Pains

The adrenaline released into the body by the state of fright the person is experiencing will cause a sharp increase in the heart rate. Chest pains are also common during a panic attack, but not because of an increased heart rate. The chest pains usually come from the muscle contractions in the chest while the person is trying to get more air in their body because of feelings of suffocation.

Length and Severity

Most panic attacks peak in severity within 10 minutes from the onset of symptoms. However, because the body is in such an agitated state, it may take hours for the person to feel comfortable and relaxed enough to attempt sleeping again.