I have very few symptoms anymore, and sleep hasn't been an issue for awhile. Things have been going relatively well, until about the past month.

I am still sleeping but it's a broken sleep with anxiety attacks waking me up. Well actually it's this weird feeling in my stomach that actually wakes me up. Hard to explain this. Years ago when I had this I was told by a Dr that it is part of anxiety and it's the stomach muscles contracting and releasing that is causing this weird sensation.

The only way I can describe the sensation is from my own experience. It's like the feeling of falling from a great height, or being on a roller coaster. Like your stomach just fell out. This is happening now at least 20 times a night, plus the night sweats from menopause...OH JOY!!!!! Sleep is just too broken to feel like I am getting enough sleep.

So my question after this lengthy post...LOL!!! Am I the only one that has this ????

Thanks for any thoughts on this.

I have had this...kind of like you feel like you are falling when you wake up or feel like you want to crawl our of your skin. I also have IBS so this makes my stomach feel not well at all......can't say I have the menopause symptoms...LOL...SORRY! ha ha.....I am sure my time will soon come. I don't know if this is the same but similiar.....I haven't had more than 3 hours without waking up in longer than I can remember and that is with meds. Take Care.

i actually have the opposite problem. i have that gut wrenching, about to go over the first free fall of the worlds tallest roller coaster, sensation all day while im awake. sleep is usually my only refuge, but even then i have anxiety, its just alot less. lately though its been getting alot better. i hope you feel better soon.

take care,
nate

Thanks guys for the input. You both seem to understand and have the same. Just started about a month ago. The last time I went through this was over 20 yrs ago, and my anxiety was out of control back then.. I hope this isn't a warning of more to come....

Thanks

I hope for your sake it doesn't stay that long!!!!! What did you do to stop it 20 years ago....can you do that again?

She Cat - I have that same exact feeling in the pit of my stomach. My T calls it terror as it is what happened when I heard him coming. That is one of the main reasons I can only doze, not really sleep and I come out of that dozing state with my stomach dropping. Yep - I do understand it and I haven't had any luck stopping or preventing it and it always starts a whole new round of PTSD hell. But hey - maybe someday there will be a cure for us, huh?

Grace

What stopped it 20 years ago????? Well, I had the feeling for several years. At the time I was a basket case. Could barely function, attempted suicide several times, was hospitalized twice,on massive meds, and in therapy. I really felt like a crazy person that was out of control, and I had no diagnosis. I never told anyone what I had gone through as a child.

I guess I would have to say that just getting myself back into control, and lowering anxiety levels worked to stop it.

Slept better last night so I am hopeful that it will just go away. LOL!!!!!

Grace...Yup that's the feeling. It's awful, and I do hope it isn't going to start a new round of PTSD symptoms for me. UGH!!!!!

it used to be my first feeling in the morning. now it's gone... it only happens during stressful periods. i'm sorry you're feeling it, it's awful.

So.......try to get back to feeling somewhat in control and keep your anxiety levels down. I know.....easier said than done.

I wish I could wave a magic wand and make all the hurt that we have all experienced and make it go away.........if only it were that easy. Again, I am sorry you are having such a terrible time. I'll be thinking about you....and I will say a little prayer.

I've had problems with anxiety for years. Always wake up with that feeling in the pit of my stomach and have rushes of it during the day.

I went to a hypnotherapist (because I was trying not to go on meds) and he gave me a helpful system that uses the acronym A.W.A.R.E.
A = Accept the anxiety; just go with the feeling. don't try to run away by watching TV or eating. It works for me just letting it flow out of my stomach and through my body.
W = Watch the anxiety. Observe it characterizing it as good or bad, just as a sensation.
A = Act normal. Try to keep doing what you were doing, breathe normally. If you're in an uncomfortable situation, stay in the situation and don't run from so you can start desensitizing yourself. (This step doesn't apply to me - my anxiety just comes on, even if I'm home on the computer.)
R = Repeat the above steps and keep going til your anxiety decreases.
E = Expect the best. What you're anxious about may not happen.

I hope this works for you. It does for me, although it usually takes me a few minutes to remember to just let the sensation flow!