It can feel quite destabilising."Īnother factor is the closure of support services at night, which some people rely on during an anxiety or panic attack. "That can be hard to cope with because it can be very sudden and render them into a state of panic in a few seconds. People go from being in a relaxed state of sleep to waking up with a jolt, with an adrenaline surge," Lidbetter says. "We get calls about panic attacks at night too. "People also say to us that they're worried about having a panic attack in the night and waking up other people," Lidbetter explains. Some also worry their anxiety at night may impact others in a negative way. “At night that is harder, and everything is quiet,” she says. When people are anxious during the day, they can avoid thinking about the thoughts that cause them distress by doing activities, says Nicky Lidbetter, CEO of Anxiety UK. "Those who struggle with daytime anxiety and panic attacks are more likely to experience anxiety at night because there are fewer distractions to prevent them from worrying excessively and further, their heightened anxiety is likely to affect their quality of sleep," Bijlani explains. Small problems, such as forgetting to post a letter, can suddenly seem much worse than they actually are. Simply being aware that others are sleeping soundly can lead to a sense of isolation and worsen anxiety at night, too. "We do know that the brain doesn't 'switch off' during sleep, so it's possible for any pent-up worries or anxieties to manifest in our unconscious brains, leading to nocturnal panic attacks," Bijlani says. There is no single reason why people experience anxiety at night or panic attacks at night, she explains, but several factors may be involved. "However, this isn't the case for the many individuals who struggle with anxiety and panic attacks at night." "Sleep promotes rest and relaxation, and gives us a chance to recuperate and let go of the stresses of the day," says Dr Natasha Bijlani, a consultant psychiatrist who provides treatment for anxiety at Priory Hospital Roehampton. "The next day I'm drained, I can barely function and I just find it hard to get up which then sets back my entire day." Why is my anxiety worse at night? I feel like I can't breathe and I do get night sweats," she adds. "The worst is when it turns into panic attacks where my chest tightens. "I overthink which stops me from sleeping as I just can't switch off. "I think my anxiety, when it's worse at night, is when I feel completely alone," says Crissy, 26. Instead of restful slumber, anxiety starts to creep in and you think about work, bills or an awkward conversation you had earlier that day, and your head soon becomes crowded with worries. After a long day, you climb into bed and wait for sleep to come - but your mind has other ideas.
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