Hello Kitty,
I think Brenna gave you great advice! The only thing I would add is before you do all the relaxation rituals, take time to fill in2-3 thought challenging forms about your main anxious thoughts about what is going on and going to bed etc. I find that writting it down once that night helps me recall the process more clearly if I need to do it in my head later. I have no other advice as I find Brenna gave you excellent advice.
Mostly, I just wanted to tell you I know EXACTLY how you feel!. I have gone through that before and yes I agree it is scary and no fun! I would go to fall asleep and wake up panicked that My heart had stopped or onather favorite of mine, that I had stopped breathing! So everytime I went to fall asleep I would panic repeatedly over this! Then I would be so tired the next day that I would be more anxious...Being more anxious made me more afraid of sleeping...vicious circle.
So first I want to tell you I understand I have gone through it.
Then I want to let you know I am fine, my breathing is good and so is my heart.
Then I want to let you know it passes.I very and I mean very rarely get this anymore.I only get it on very rare occasion when I am super anxious. This really does pass, so hang in there.
Finally, I think that this passed for me as I started to trust that however uncomfortable it made me be that it wasn't dangerous and also when I got my day to day anxiety under control. For me his symptom was really linked to my day to day level of anxiety.
Anyway, Hope this helps you feel better that others have felt like you and that it passed.
Hang in there!
-Diva
