Bellevue Christian Counseling Logo

  • ServicesRead about the expertise available
    • Individual ServicesAddress your personal concerns confidentially
      • ADHD
      • Abandonment Issues and Neglect
      • Aging and Geriatric Issues
      • Anger Management
      • Anxiety
      • Autism Spectrum Disorder
      • Bipolar Disorder
      • Chemical Dependency
      • Counseling for Children
      • Counseling for Teens
      • Codependency
      • Depression
      • Eating Disorders
      • EMDR
      • Grief and loss Counseling
      • Individual Counseling
      • Infidelity and Affairs
      • Lifespan Integration Therapy
      • Men’s Issues
      • OCD
      • Personal Development
      • Psychological Testing
      • PTSD
      • Relationship Issues
      • Sex And Porn Addiction
      • Sexual Abuse
      • Spiritual Development
      • Trauma
      • Weight Loss
      • Women’s Issues
    • Christian Couples CounselingWork through challenges together
      • Couples Counseling
      • Premarital Counseling
      • Marriage Counseling
    • Family CounselingEstablish the peaceful home you desire
      • Christian Counseling for Children
        and Teens
      • Family Counseling
    • Group CounselingBenefit from the support of others
      • Men’s Sexual Addiction Recovery
        Group
      • All Counseling Groups
    • Online Counseling
    • Anxiety
    • Depression
    • Marriage Counseling
    • Sex And Porn Addiction
  • LocationsChoose from our variety of office locations
    • Anacortes 1Anacortes
    • Bellevue
    • Bothell 8Bothell
    • Bellevue Christian Counseling 1Edmonds
    • Everett 8Everett
    • Federal Way
    • Kent 2Kent
    • Kirkland Christian CounselingKirkland
    • Lacey Christian CounselingLacey
    •  1Mill Creek
    •  1Monroe
    • Oak Harbor Office OutsideOak Harbor
    • Poulsbo
    •  1Puyallup
    • Redmond 3Redmond
    • Seattle Ballard 6Seattle Ballard
    •  1Seattle Downtown
    • Seattle Greenlake 10Seattle Greenlake
    • Silverdale Office FrontSilverdale
    • Tacoma 6Tacoma
    •  1Spokane
    • Spokane ValleySpokane Valley
    • Vancouver
    •  1Online Counseling
  • CounselorsFind the best counselor for your needs
  • CareersBecome an affiliated Christian counselor
  • (425) 939-6856Please give us a call, we are here to help
header-image

How to Stop an Anxiety Attack at Night: 10 Solutions

Bellevue Christian Counseling
https://bellevuechristiancounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/how-to-stop-an-anxiety-attack-at-night-10-solutions-4.jpg 6000 4000
https://bellevuechristiancounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/bellevue.jpg
https://bellevuechristiancounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/cropped-cropped-seattle-logo.png
330 112th Ave NE, Suite 302
BELLEVUE, WA 98004
United States
330 112th Ave NE, Suite 302
BELLEVUE, WA 98004
United States
Bellevue Christian Counseling
May
2018
07

How to Stop an Anxiety Attack at Night: 10 Solutions

Ann Horton

AnxietyIndividual CounselingMen's IssuesWomen's Issues

Many of us have, occasionally, experienced an attack of anxiety. It often seems worse in the middle of the night, because there is no one to talk us down “off the ledge,” so to speak.

How to Stop an Anxiety Attack at Night: 10 SolutionsSo we lay there with our hearts pounding and our minds racing, imagining all the worst possible scenarios (none of which might even happen).

We can’t seem to shut our brains off like we can during the day, when we can use distractions to keep us from worrying.

Like us if you are enjoying this content.

Some anxiety is normal – preparing for a test, job interviewing, or waiting to hear medical test results, for instance. This type of anxiety is a normal, healthy state.

It’s when we worry about things that are not realistic or haven’t happened yet, that anxiety becomes a problem.

How to Stop an Anxiety Attack at Night: 10 Solutions 1Healthy anxiety occurs when we are confronted with real problems or dangers.  For example, if I am walking through the woods, and I hear rustling in the trees, I may experience some anxiety as I’m alone.

If it turns out to be a bear, my anxiety will issue a warning that I need to do something. The danger is indeed real.

Once I’ve escaped the bear (by running as fast as I can away from it) and know that I’m safe, my system calms down. However, if I hear another noise, my nervous system will go into overdrive, even if it turns out to be a baby rabbit.

How to Stop an Anxiety Attack at Night: 10 Solutions 2Because my nervous system has been activated, even something as harmless as a baby rabbit causes my system to jump into action once again.

The more our nervous system is stimulated, the more frequently we will experience the sensations and feelings of an anxiety attack. Our systems are now highly reactive to any kind of event, even those that normally wouldn’t make us feel nervous or anxious.

How to Stop an Anxiety Attack at Night

Here are some things you can do when you can’t sleep or fall asleep due to anxiety or stress, and you’re wondering how to stop an anxiety attack at night:

  • Change locations. Get out of bed. Lying there awake worrying will only make it worse. So get up and go into another room or sit in a chair.
  • Distract yourself with a book or a television show. Make it something that will take your mind away from the problems that are worrying you.
  • Don’t clock watch – the temptation to look at the clock and worry that you aren’t getting enough sleep is great in the middle of the night, but can also increase your anxiety. One trick I use is to think of the number of hours I still have to sleep, instead of thinking “I only have two hours til I have to get up.” Thinking “I still have two hours to sleep” is more encouraging, and will help to ease your mind.
  • Try journaling your anxieties. When our minds are swirling with worry, it often helps to write them down. Take note of how realistic some of them are. When we begin “going down the drain” of worry, it helps to actually take a look at what’s bothering us. Sometimes, that’s all it takes to relax our bodies and our minds.
  • Mindfulness exercises can help as well, although when we are in anxiety states, it’s often difficult to calm our minds. Mindfulness takes practice, so be patient with yourself if you aren’t able to stay focused.
  • Practice deep breathing – when focusing on your breath, it’s difficult to also focus on your anxiety.
  • Use an anxiety release app on your phone. Mark Grant created one called aptly “Anxiety Release” that will help with relaxation. There are many others that will work as well.
  • How to Stop an Anxiety Attack at Night: 10 Solutions 3Turn off your electronics at least 30 minutes before bed so that your mind can begin to relax for sleep. One of the reasons we don’t worry as much during the day is because we are active and occupied with other things. Evenings and night are the times when we don’t have as much going on and we begin to worry.
  • Limit caffeine and alcohol consumption before bed.
  • Talk with a therapist if these other suggestions don’t seem to be working. A trained therapist can help you find the causes behind your anxiety, and give you tools to deal with them.

If you are struggling with anxiety, feel free to reach out to any of the counselors in our counselor directory for help.

Photos:
“Grass in Sunlight”, Courtesy of Tyler Gebhart, Unsplash.com; CC0 License; “Cloudy Day at the Beach”, Courtesy of Quino Al, Unsplash.com; CC0 License; “Bird in Flight Over Sea”, Courtesy of Alex Wigan, Unsplash.com; CC0 License; “Tall Grass”, Courtesy of Joseph Barrientos, Unsplash.com; CC0 License

  • Share on Facebook
  • Tweet it
  • ↑ Back to top

Other articles that might interest you...

spacer

The Challenges of Anxiety and Relationships
Bellevue Christian Counseling

The Challenges of Anxiety and ...

For most people, addressing anxiety feels overwhelming. Since anxiety has a physical and mental toll , it often feels like a...

continue reading »
Signs of Anxiety
Bellevue Christian Counseling

Signs of Anxiety

Oh, my goodness. I think I’m having anxiety attack. Today there are tons of ways that our minds go on...

continue reading »

Related Services

  • Anxiety
  • Individual Counseling
  • Men's Issues
  • Women's Issues

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Bellevue Christian Counseling Logo
Bellevue Christian Counseling
Professional help with faith-based values
We are an association of professional, independently licensed Christian counselors experienced in helping people of all ages find healing for a wide variety of issues.
© 2023 Bellevue Christian Counseling. All rights reserved.
330 112th Ave NE,, Bellevue, WA 98004. Tel (425) 939-6856.
Facebook Twitter Online Counseling About Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use Feel free to contact us!