GreenTea Posted August 8, 2017 Share Posted August 8, 2017 I wake up in a panic every morning. It has been going on for at least a year. My doctor says that he thinks that waking up in a panic is is all part of my instability. My pdoc has been trying to get my stable for a year now. I want to know if anyone else has experienced this. I really feel all alone in this. I belong to 2 other support groups, and nobody has gone through this. Has anyone gone through this, and gotten better. It is really difficult to wake up in a panic every morning, and it takes so long to calm down from it. Doctor suggested klonopin when this happens, but klonopin only works after I take my morning meds. Thanks all! This has been the best support board! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenTea Posted August 10, 2017 Author Share Posted August 10, 2017 Am I really the only one who wakes up with panic every morning? I haven't met anyone else who is bipolar go through this. Maybe something else is going on with me, and need to see another type of doctor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceberg Posted August 10, 2017 Share Posted August 10, 2017 I know of someone but it was an anxiety/depression disorder not bipolar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grab your bag Posted August 10, 2017 Share Posted August 10, 2017 sometimes people have phases like this . . what makes you panic or being anxious in general? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenTea Posted August 10, 2017 Author Share Posted August 10, 2017 I honestly do not know what is making me anxious. I dont' have any problems in my life other than this illness. Maybe I am anxious about this illness and going through so many medications. AI had been waking up with a panic even before medication, so it may be an anxiety from something a long time ago, that I am not aware of. Seriously, I have a great life, so why am I like this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lms-Kaz Posted August 11, 2017 Share Posted August 11, 2017 Extreme anxiety in my life has always been a reaction to things not being within my influence to control or frustration/confusion with my own ignorance. Waking up in jail? Inpatient hospital visits? Sure.. I earned it. But, other than serve my time, I was not free to life my life as I wanted. That trapped and cornered feeling provoked a great deal of anxiety. If you believe your diagnosis may be a contributing factor, taking some time to do some research will help immensely. There was a lot of anxiety tangled within the gradual development of my illness and all of the unknowns. Knowledge is power. All of those keywords and catchphrases specific to the different afflictions are sometimes the only language the textbook trained practitioners can speak or comprehend. Being familiar with their language tends to intimidate them, but.. if that is what it takes to find mutual understanding? Also, finding peace of mind in knowing what to expect may avoid future concerns regarding symptoms and/or medications? Anytime something new is happening, minor anxiety is a perfectly logical response.. the disruptive or debilitating feeling of being completely overwhelmed when waking up? I agree.. must be something important provoking that response. Random thought here. If it is a subconscious reaction, hypnosis might be a worthy option to persue in order to identify the culprit? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sugarsugar Posted August 11, 2017 Share Posted August 11, 2017 I have woke in a panic on occasion but not daily and usually in the night. No idea why. As to hypnosis, it ruined my life and I'm sorry I ever started it. I don't want to hijack your thread with that story but think long and hard before you go there. Anyway, the waking in panic went on for months then stopped without explanation so mainly I wanted to let you know someone else had the issue, but I can't offer why, or how to stop it. My pdoc had no enlightenment either. It was my own problem to solve and fortunately it stopped since I had no idea what to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alien Navel Cord Posted August 11, 2017 Share Posted August 11, 2017 It's happened to me before on occasion, it really sucks. Have you asked your pdoc if you can take a klonopin the night before, so that it still lats through the time you wake up in the morning? Might work, - can't hurt might help right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lms-Kaz Posted August 11, 2017 Share Posted August 11, 2017 Hypnosis has never been a viable option for me either. Seems like I am too grounded and content in my own little dysfunctional world to be tempted astray. Regardless of my personal experiences, I try to appreciate the YMMV aspect in all forms of potential assistance. I know very little of the various forms of electrotherapy? My bouts of panic have been very sporadic and the onset/reoccurance was easily tied to a particular event. In an effort to minimize the variables that influenced my thoughts and moods, I made the decision to avoid adding new medication to treat that additional concern. A Benzo (rarely, as needed) has worked wonders for me. If you have done your research, nobody knows you better than you know yourself. Apply that knowledge. It would be great if we could walk up to any specialist and say "I'm broken. Fix me." But, they are only a partner in our pursuits. We still have to do our part. A solid year of suffering with panic is heart-wrenching. Knowing that it is primarily a waking up event, perhaps a medication taken before bedtime with a longer active effect? Half life? People often cheat hangovers by setting an alarm clock an hour ahead of when they normally wake up to sneak an aspirin in? This approach might work, but only if you can wake up - without fully waking up - and then get back to sleep? Easier said than done, right? If your doctor is considering medication here's some research material for you. Rivotril is listed in place of Klonopin under the formulary Clonazepam. Apparently, the name changes often based on geographical location. http://www.vhpharmsci.com/vhformulary/tools/benzodiazepines-comparison.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenTea Posted August 13, 2017 Author Share Posted August 13, 2017 Thank you all for chiming in. I am in therapy right now. She thinks there is an underlying cause. I take klonopin on a daily basis because nothing else has worked for anxiety. I tried to set my alarm for 4:30am to take klonpin, but it doesn't work in the morning. It is so weird because my morning I wake up in a panic, then my day is full of anxiety, and by night I am perfeclty normal, like the person I always was. My was given several different diagnosis. MDD NOS, bipolar NOS, and Mood disorder NOS. He wasn't sure what category to put me in. Honestly I have tried so many things for my anxiety. I did not have issues prior to a year ago. So confused about everything, and scared of Klononpin dependence, but my pdoc insists that I need it. So glad to have it or my days would be torture. Just venting. Thank you all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eilatan Posted August 13, 2017 Share Posted August 13, 2017 Just wanted to say I hear you on waking up in a panic. It happens to me every morning too. Haven't found a solution other than diazepam yet but seeing my psych tomorrow. Sorry I couldn't he more help. X 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianOCD Posted August 14, 2017 Share Posted August 14, 2017 (edited) I don't have bipolar, but I've had this happen several times. Panic Disorder is what got me to go to doctors. Many of my panic attacks happen out of sleep, and they're some of the worst because of how disorienting it is... If you can, the best way to eliminate it, is get up quick and talk to someone. That will bring you back to reality sort of...Even if you just pick up the phone and call someone close to you that helps a lot. If that option isn't available I will take a benzo, Ativan. But ya, I've noticed it's a recurring theme with anxiety, that it's generally much much worse in the morning upon waking, and gradually gets better throughout the day. Edited August 14, 2017 by BrianOCD 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenTea Posted August 14, 2017 Author Share Posted August 14, 2017 22 hours ago, Eilatan said: Just wanted to say I hear you on waking up in a panic. It happens to me every morning too. Haven't found a solution other than diazepam yet but seeing my psych tomorrow. Sorry I couldn't he more help. X Let me know if you find a solution. I haven't met anyone but you who is going through this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eilatan Posted August 14, 2017 Share Posted August 14, 2017 23 minutes ago, GreenTea said: Let me know if you find a solution. I haven't met anyone but you who is going through this. They increased my aripiprazole today hoping that will help. I'm skeptical but will let you know if this works...... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renarde Posted August 15, 2017 Share Posted August 15, 2017 You definitely aren't alone. I have gone through some phases where I wake up gasping, bolt upright, nearly falling out of bed. I attributed it to having experience doing day and night shift work in the past and never really knowing what time it was when I woke up, should I be on my way to work, etc. When I stopped that work it would still happen, and happen in phases, like every morning for a few weeks. Usually I could shake it off. However lately I've been waking up to visual hallucinations that are terrifying and when I'm waking up I don't have the insight that they aren't real. So waking up with actual screaming, fighting, seeing things on my ceiling. It shakes me for days and I feel traumatized afterward. I'm really sorry you are experiencing this. My pdoc just keeps increasing my lamictal and now I have some xanax if needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenTea Posted August 18, 2017 Author Share Posted August 18, 2017 On 8/14/2017 at 9:02 PM, Renarde said: You definitely aren't alone. I have gone through some phases where I wake up gasping, bolt upright, nearly falling out of bed. I attributed it to having experience doing day and night shift work in the past and never really knowing what time it was when I woke up, should I be on my way to work, etc. When I stopped that work it would still happen, and happen in phases, like every morning for a few weeks. Usually I could shake it off. However lately I've been waking up to visual hallucinations that are terrifying and when I'm waking up I don't have the insight that they aren't real. So waking up with actual screaming, fighting, seeing things on my ceiling. It shakes me for days and I feel traumatized afterward. I'm really sorry you are experiencing this. My pdoc just keeps increasing my lamictal and now I have some xanax if needed. My doctor keeps increasing my lamictal too, but I don't want to go up on it anymore. I am getting all twitchy now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renarde Posted August 19, 2017 Share Posted August 19, 2017 (edited) What are you on now? I'm up to 200 and "feeling fine." Once I got past 100 I stopped having side effects. Edited August 19, 2017 by Renarde Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eilatan Posted August 23, 2017 Share Posted August 23, 2017 On 8/14/2017 at 8:13 PM, Eilatan said: They increased my aripiprazole today hoping that will help. I'm skeptical but will let you know if this works...... So I thought I'd update as it's been a few days on 20mg of aripiprazole. Well I'd say my panic is about 30% better so there is *some* improvement. However now I'm feeling sick dizzy and shivery and in bed which I'm not sure if it's a side effect or a bug. I'm so sick of all this! Hope you're doing better x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcjimjam Posted August 24, 2017 Share Posted August 24, 2017 Could it be a sleep disorder type problem? Something like night terrors? I have woken up screaming from those. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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