Does anyone else have a "witching hour" for their panic attacks or anxiety attacks?

[Anonymous]

For months I have suffered from what I thought was cardiac ailments...racing pulse, blood pressure spikes, headaches, and weird heart palpitations and skipped beats. Then I realized it has a pattern....around the same time every night. From 8:30 pm - 10:30 pm. The symptoms are a little psychological (sometimes feel withdrawn), but mostly physical with sweating, SVT-type heart racing, heart skipping around and fluttering, feeling hot etc.

I am wondering if this is typical for anxiety sufferers, and what I can do to try to break this cycle and pattern. It really does seem like my issue has a witching hour. In a way I guess this means it's probably not an arrthymia. but how to fix?

[Anonymous]

You might think you only have them between those hours because that is the only time when you have time to yourself.

i.e. Every other part of the day, you are busy or asleep!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You might think you only have them between those hours because that is the only time when you have time to yourself.

i.e. Every other part of the day, you are busy or asleep!

I am confused. Do you mean, I could be getting a racing heart and palpitations at other times, but just don't notice them? But I only notice them at night because I am not busy? interesting.

[Anonymous]

I don't have a specific time, but I do have specific activities that trigger it -- taking a shower before work, turning into the exit to go to my workplace, and starting a run

[Anonymous]

Sunday afternoon and evenings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You might think you only have them between those hours because that is the only time when you have time to yourself.

i.e. Every other part of the day, you are busy or asleep!

I am confused. Do you mean, I could be getting a racing heart and palpitations at other times, but just don't notice them? But I only notice them at night because I am not busy? interesting.

I mean, I don't know you, but sure.

When I was going through my divorce, my anxiety attacks came at night as well. That's when I had time to think, and my thoughts went to the bad things happening in my life..

[Anonymous]

what do the PPs do to break the cycle/pattern?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You might think you only have them between those hours because that is the only time when you have time to yourself.

i.e. Every other part of the day, you are busy or asleep!

I am confused. Do you mean, I could be getting a racing heart and palpitations at other times, but just don't notice them? But I only notice them at night because I am not busy? interesting.

I mean, I don't know you, but sure.

When I was going through my divorce, my anxiety attacks came at night as well. That's when I had time to think, and my thoughts went to the bad things happening in my life..

OK, I see. So, I could be having heart issues during day when busy (and just not aware of them because I am busy) or I could be having anxiety at night BECAUSE that is when I finally have time for my thoughts to race, and that anxiety is what prompts the heart symptoms (which is what you experienced)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You might think you only have them between those hours because that is the only time when you have time to yourself.

i.e. Every other part of the day, you are busy or asleep!

I am confused. Do you mean, I could be getting a racing heart and palpitations at other times, but just don't notice them? But I only notice them at night because I am not busy? interesting.

I mean, I don't know you, but sure.

When I was going through my divorce, my anxiety attacks came at night as well. That's when I had time to think, and my thoughts went to the bad things happening in my life..

OK, I see. So, I could be having heart issues during day when busy (and just not aware of them because I am busy) or I could be having anxiety at night BECAUSE that is when I finally have time for my thoughts to race, and that anxiety is what prompts the heart symptoms (which is what you experienced)?

Yes!

[Anonymous]

OP, I had nocturnal panic attacks a couple of years ago. I would wake up out of a deep sleep with completely physical symptoms. It happened every morning at 4 am and I was a mess. I found a psychiatrist that saved me and gave me klonopin (self disolving tables) that you pop into your mouth (no water needed) and suck on it and it calms you down. I had to physically break the pattern and go back to sleep after taking the klonopin. Your body starts to expect the reaction in a way...

Does this help any? Sorry you are going through this. Anxiety sucks.

[Anonymous]

op! Yes, I used to wake up and experience a wave of panic.

Learned later that serotonin levels can be/are low in a.m.

Also, trying to sleep would make me hyper aware of my heart racing and palpitations.

Have you had a cardio work up op? I learned I have PVCs and an adrenaline sensitive heart, but a healthy, strong heart. Reassuring to know that I am not dying, my heart is fine, it just sometimes goes off beat, especially if I have too much caffeine, am too tired, eat too much salt or msg, or during pre period.

Have you sought help? I take a low dose ssri daily and it saved my life and sanity. Get your thyroid checked, too.

To cope, I sleep with news radio on all night. I love it. YMMV but this shuts off/drowns out the constant mind spinning thoughts that would otherwise keep me awake. If I don't have my radio, I fall asleep saying prayers. Find something that works.

[Anonymous]

Mornings.

[Anonymous]

Very early morning, like 2am.

Most people have night time periods of wakefulness which they don't even remember in the morning, because they fall back asleep almost instantly. Whenever I am particularly exercised about something, I wake up with palpitations or racing pulse, convinced that whatever was worrying me will spiral out of control (cancer, child failing in school, humiliation at work, etc), and despite all my auto-persuasions, I have great trouble falling back asleep.

[Anonymous]

Mornings for me too. Wow, I thought this was just me. Comforting to hear I'm not the only one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mornings for me too. Wow, I thought this was just me. Comforting to hear I'm not the only one.

It's definitely a legitimate physiological thing. At times of bad anxiety I'd throw up in the mornings. So awful.