Question about sleep disorder - Part Two...?

I've asked this question before, but thought, what the hell, try it again and see what results I get (I only got two answers last time)

For the past year or so, I've had a recurring dream. The situation and people in the dream are always different, but the outcome is always the same.

If it helps, I'm usually in large, spacious surroundings (usually fields, once the sea), and there is always someone with me. In the dream, and I instantly know when its going to happen, I start panicking because I can't breathe, and I'm trying to tell the person that's with me that I can't breathe. I often fall on the floor due to the lack of oxygen.

Anyway, this ALWAYS results in me waking, gasping for air. It's not just a mental condition, I am literally gasping for oxygen. My wife woke once and saw me lying there like a fish out of water and had to wake me up.

Is there a reason behind this? Has anyone else had this problem? My wife says I should go to the doctor because, you know, one time I may not actually wake up........

Help?

You might have sleep apnea, where you quit breathing during sleep. You dream about being unable to breathe because you actually aren't breathing. It is something you would want to see your doctor about. Sometimes it can be fixed by loosing weight, other times you need to sleep with a C-PAP, a machine that forces air into your nose during the night. You know there is a problem, you know it has to do with breathing, you have the online back up you were looking for, make sure you have it checked out.

Most likely you are having a panic attack and your breathing precipitates your thought process and the dream then materializes.

A full-blown panic attack includes a combination of the following signs and symptoms:

Shortness of breath or hyperventilation
Heart palpitations or a racing heart
Chest pain or discomfort
Trembling or shaking
Choking feeling
Feeling unreal or detached from your surroundings
Sweating
Nausea or upset stomach
Feeling dizzy, lightheaded, or faint
Numbness or tingling sensations
Hot or cold flashes
Fear of dying, losing control, or going crazy


It wouldn't hurt to have a stress test done and an EKG, etc. to rule out any heart problems. Also, be checked for sleep apnea too as it is rather common in men.

You may be under too much stress/anxiety at work or home because initially that is what your symptoms seem to indicate...