Panic Attacks?? Chiari??

[Guest guest]

I know anxiety and depression are common with Chiari, but I haven't had a panic

attack in years. It used to be that I only got them when I lived in a second

floor apartment and had to go down stairs to lock the door. On the way back up

the stairs I'd start having an attack. It'd get so bad that by the time I got

inside the door at the top of the stairs I was in tears with a pounding heart

and shaking hands.

My question is, does anyone ever get panic attacks for like no apparent reason?

I actually had one in my sleep this morning and it's got me concerned. I was in

the in-between phase of being asleep and awake, but in a dream. Ya know what I

mean? Anyway, I started feeling like my heart was beating a few times, then it

would stop, then beat a few times...over and over again. I kept thinking that I

should get up and call the dr because I was dying or about to have a heart

attack or something (being half awake and feeling what was happening, I

seriously thought about getting up and calling the dr....but I couldn't move, I

was too afraid). I sat up (still in the dream) and looked up. The top bunk was

all washed out in light from the window and the foot of my bed was covered in

stuffed animals (my daughter's, but twice as many). All the while my heart is

still beating and stopping all weird. I kept as still as possible hoping it

would all go away. After a few minutes, everything was back to normal.

So, does anyone ever have panic attacks while they're asleep, or get them for no

reason, without a trigger?

Thanks for any help.

Niccy