I wake up at 3AM and run for my life

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goldenhourcocktails@reddit

This sounds like panic attacks. They rarely get better on their own. Best to see a therapist and if that’s not possible, do some reading up on the subject and even start meditating and journaling. There may be something unresolved that keeps trying to come out in the middle of the night.

Alternatively, do you eat seafood? One of the worst side effects of a lack of Omega 3 in the body is a feeling that mimics panic attacks. It happened to me and now I take a fish oil supplement every day.

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Individual-Hold-9217@reddit (OP)

I rarely eat seafood. If I eat that, will it help possibly?

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TIL_eulenspiegel@reddit

You need to see a doctor and be 100% honest with them about your symptoms and the way it makes you feel.

It is treatable. (It does not mean you are mentally ill.)

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Individual-Hold-9217@reddit (OP)

Yes. I think the best thing to do is to seek help from a professional asap

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mlokc@reddit

I went through a phase of panic attacks for about a year. It was awful. The things that helped me were Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and meditation.

I remember reading a blog post about a woman who struggled with them. At one point, after fighting them for months, she had one and decided to just “let it happen.” She just lay in bed and didn’t fight it. It was over in minutes, and she was never afraid of them again.

I decided to try her technique. And long story short, it worked. I lost my fear of them, and gradually they became less intense and less frequent.

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Sue-Jones-123456@reddit

Also check your blood pressure, your thyroid, cortisol, and whether you’re diabetic or pre diabetic. Too much or too little of those could lead to feeling claustrophobic and panicky.

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goldenhourcocktails@reddit

It was the craziest thing. I was suffering from them badly, and I heard it on a podcast or something. So I started taking supplements and that panic attacks stopped almost instantly. That’s why I mentioned it-I wouldn’t have believed it unless it happened to me. I don’t know if that will work for you- but it can’t hurt to try.

But if it doesn’t work, definitely see a doctor or therapist. Best of luck, friend.

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lamppb13@reddit

Or skip wasting time experimenting and go straight to seeing a doctor.

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goldenhourcocktails@reddit

Taking a fish oil supplement is not the same as “experimenting.” It’s a quick and inexpensive way to rule out a potential solution. Calm down.

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lamppb13@reddit

Taking something to see if it's works is quite literally experimenting.

What is happening to this person is potentially serious and clearly causing mental distress. It's not like having a cough and seeing if gargling some warm salt water helps (which is also literally experimenting, btw).

This person should go see a doctor. Not waste time testing something just to see if it works. Some things are fine to just experiment or wait it out to see if you get better. Others are not. This falls in that second category.

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brianozm@reddit

Nothing wrong with trying fish oil but make a doctors appointment at the same time. Better not to wait with the doctor, even fish works.

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goldenhourcocktails@reddit

This sounds like panic attacks. They rarely get better on their own. Best to see a therapist and if that’s not possible, do some reading up on the subject and even start meditating and journaling. There may be something unresolved that keeps trying to come out in the middle of the night.

Alternatively, do you eat seafood? One of the worst side effects of a lack of Omega 3 in the body is a feeling that mimics panic attacks. It happened to me and now I take a fish oil supplement every day.

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AlternativeReading10@reddit

Culture shock is real. Give yourself time, extra love and care

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Knowthyselves@reddit

If you get help and take supplements and it still happens after that then, yes, get the hell out. Also, you may have had a past life/ alt. incarnation there where things went badly and are having a bleed-through. Tend to the physical and psychological first then spiritual, if not psychological. If it still happens after that then, yes, get the hell out.

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Individual-Hold-9217@reddit (OP)

Bro I dont believe in past life

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Knowthyselves@reddit

Ok.

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tiggat@reddit

Sounds like Dubai syndrome

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Individual-Hold-9217@reddit (OP)

Is that actually a thing

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owzleee@reddit

Dubai is a fake city you are probably feeling the cultural dissonance compared to your home town. Some people love it, some hate it. It sounds like it doesn’t fit your psyche. So either get therapy or leave. Sadly that’s Dubai.

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Ouriah@reddit

You can totally have anxiety related to a specific place, and feel a homesickness so great you need to stop, and listen to what you truly feel. I absolutely experienced (and am experiencing that) going up North in North America in the Arctic, it's beautiful, a great opportunity and people are lovely, and for a long time as a kid I thought truly I wanted to go up North ~ but guess what, I'm a European at heart, and after 3/4 years in North America I have simply had enough and I long to go home so much IT physically hurts some days. Listen to yourself. Finish the project or yo it work if it's under 3/4 months, and then go home.

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Evening_Revenue_1459@reddit

Read up on culture shock. You're going through a tougher phase than 'normal'. Just to understand what is happening to you and why. And what is to come next, so you can prepare yourself.

Professional help is a good idea, can you find someone in a short time? Because this needs to start being treated now.

Also, since your culture shock is more severe than usual, I would give myself a timeline or deadline. If within 6 months let's say, these symptoms dont get better, maybe it's better to listen to your gut feeling.

Either way dont leave this untreated, it's just going to get worse.

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uoaei@reddit

why are you in dubai? do you feel forced to stay? this sounds like an expected emotional reaction to hating the circumstances of your life. i say make a change, leave dubai if you can and find something that makes sense to your psyche so youre not in fight-or-flight mode.

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Purplealegria@reddit

Yes, sounds like a fight or flight mode reaction to me.

Their subconscious is talking.

I hope they are listening.

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wotchadosser@reddit

Possible sleep apnea. get a study done

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Purplealegria@reddit

This…as a former EEG tech with sleep study tech training… this is very plauseable

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sobmohmaya@reddit

I had similar panic attacks a few years back. Same thing, I had to get out of the house and just walk around randomly to calm down. Frequent sensations like heart beating fast or feeling a heartattack, ghost pains on my body. You can try taking some gas bloating reducing pills if you feel you are burping too many times which is due too much mouth inhalation. Panic attacks are very normal, you can overcome it if you are confident about your health and say yourself everything will be fine.

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mekwes@reddit

Your body is sounding the alarm that your mind and spirit are not aligned with what you’re doing in Dubai. Is there part of you conflicted/ not at peace about leaving your home, or the work that you do?

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Individual-Hold-9217@reddit (OP)

Absolutely. Does this really happen?

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mekwes@reddit

Yes. People are saying go to therapy like it’s going to give you these magic secrets / tools that allow you to ignore what you deeply know to be true and go on about your life as it is. But actually therapy is about the journey to being brave enough to be honest with yourself and follow through on making the changes in your life you need to make so that your actions, beliefs and thoughts are aligned with your values.

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pkgriff@reddit

Trust your gut. It seems to me that you're in a bad/untenable position. Why are you there, to work? Is the money worth it? I don't think any amount would be worth it for me, but I don't know your situation. There must be something/somewhere else for you. My advice is to leave ASAP.

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Purplealegria@reddit

I agree…. it is either panic attacks or your intuition is incredibly keen.

But I would tend to go with that its your higher knowing and trust your gut.

IMHO, run like the wind blows and get out of that place ASAP.

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Individual-Hold-9217@reddit (OP)

Brother I need to make it work. I would have left the very first time I felt this, but there are so many things that are forcing me to stay!

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ValuableForever672@reddit

Okay - so this is about managing your anxiety then. It’s important that you find some healthy coping mechanisms to help you get through this and eventually things will calm down once you’ve got a bit more security in the day to day.

Movement is really important, as is connection. Have those as the cornerstones of your life and see how things go - get out there as much as you can even when your body is screaming now to.

Mediation and breathing exercise will help alongside exercise. Do you play any sport? Could you pick one up? This will help tremendously.

Go to see a therapist who can help you get through it- someone to talk to really balances things. Ask a doctor about propranolol - they often prescribe it for the physical symptoms of anxiety and could help you too.

Things WILL get better - it just takes time and effort.

Good luck. .

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Individual-Hold-9217@reddit (OP)

Thanks alot

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pkgriff@reddit

I'm sorry to hear that. As others are saying, find some mental health care. I have panic attacks too. There are herbal supplements that might be beneficial; I'd see a doctor for a blood test--being deficient in B and D vitamins, magnesium, and omega-3 is not good. Try Ashwagandha first.

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Individual-Hold-9217@reddit (OP)

Yes I'll definitely. Thanks alot.

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SeatUpright@reddit

Anxiety doesn't typically just go away. It's also not something that you tell someone to "just get a grip", "man up", etc. It's going to take self management sure, but it's not a "weakness" that you can just shout away. It'd be impossible to diagnose the causes from Reddit, but talking about what's going on with you can be helpful to begin to understand what could be happening. Look through some of the anxiety subreddit to see what others have said. Of course, it may not be 100% mental. Your body may be panicking because of something in your environment like pesticides, or caffeine etc.

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Individual-Hold-9217@reddit (OP)

I posted here to see whether anyother person felt this. Pesticides, yes, I sprayed insect killer quite a few times here. Also I have never felt like this ever before, so I'm not sure if this is just a reaction or what

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Agreeable_Cow_7230@reddit

Yes, the same thing started happening to me after I moved to Northern Ireland. My heart is pounding so hard when I wake up that I feel it in my head. The only thing preventing it is to sleep as upright as possible. Propped up on many pillows.

I don't know why. But I think it could be enviromental like Seatupright's comment mentioned. There is mold that keeps trying to grow on the ceiling and walls wherever furniture is near a wall. But I have no idea, really.

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driving26inorovalley@reddit

r/oopsthatsdeadly

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Individual-Hold-9217@reddit (OP)

Did it get better with time or not

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TIL_eulenspiegel@reddit

Stop inventing nonsense and see a doctor. (I really do mean that kindly.)

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Individual-Hold-9217@reddit (OP)

I'll, but it won't hurt to talk to people and learn about their experiences, will it

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sebisebo@reddit

Shambavi mahamudra from Isha Foundation herpès me a lot.

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averysmallbeing@reddit

Herpes me a lot, lol

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sebisebo@reddit

Thanks corrected it

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NEKOPARA_SHILL@reddit

Is it always at 3 am that you wake up or is it more like a range from 2 am till 4 am? If its 3am every time regardless of what time you sleep or wake up, there might be something going on at your place, might be worth staying up a night to see whats going on.

Anyways, everyone's mentioning therapists, but a shrink in the UAE tends to cost about 500-600 AED for 1 session a month, and then if they prescribe anxiety medication thats another 125 but could go all the way up to ~500 if the cheaper one doesnt work out for you. I am guessing if you had that extra money at hand you would not be living in a partition. But from my experience, it's worth sacrificing whatever you could to squeeze that money.

If the run outside is relaxing you, then maybe you could try making it into a routine instead of a reaction? Like just grab a high visibility vest from a supermarket and set an alarm for 2:30, go for a jog for half an hour and then come back to finish your sleep.

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Individual-Hold-9217@reddit (OP)

What do you mean by something going on at my place

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NEKOPARA_SHILL@reddit

So it could be a bunch of different things, like an alarm going off somewhere nearby and startling you at a strange time.

If theres poor ventillation and too many people at your place, it could be that the oxygen is dropping too much at night and around 3 am is when it drops enough that you're starting to suffocate and your body wants you to get out for fresh air. If there's a lot of house plants at your place they would actually make this situation even worse.

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Comprehensive_Box902@reddit

I had similar experiences when I’d first moved to Hong Kong from the US. I lived in a tiny 3 bedroom apartment in a very busy part of town and it never seemed to quiet down. My insomnia and anxiety was through the roof at one point. It sounds like the adjustment of moving to a tiny place in a bustling international city can be unsettling—but I trust you can conquer it, OP. Getting a workout in, meditating, journaling and having at least one trusted person to open up to on your issues really goes a long way.

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Individual-Hold-9217@reddit (OP)

Thank you for sharing your experience and your kind words. I'm trying my best, I hope I'll get through.

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Unhappy_Performer538@reddit

Please investigate and rule out sleepy apnea

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Individual-Hold-9217@reddit (OP)

I'll. Thank you.

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SparklyGeek@reddit

Yes, impossible to diagnose over Reddit. But it reminds me of my own experiences as a recent immigrant, so I will toss in my two cents. One question: You say this has never happened to you before; is this your first time emigrating? Emigration is tough, and Dubai is a place a lot of people complain about.

Three months into my life in my new country, I still have occasional insomnia and sometimes get on the verge of anxiety attacks. Actual anxiety attacks are familiar enough that I recognize when I am approaching them. This happened a lot in my first couple of weeks here, and I would often suddenly awake early in the morning with a strong urge to get out and run, or at least have a long walk. I never resisted the urge, and it was a healthy outlet. Is there any reason you can't just toss on a jogging suit and take a run when your body is asking for it?

We share the angst of emigration but our situations and other stressors are not exactly the same. I also am dealing with addiction/drug withdrawal and the uncertainty of whether I will be able to stay here or how to make a living.

You, on the other hand, may have job security, but at the expense of a great deal of comfort and emotional support you are used to. That space you are living in sounds terribly claustrophobic. Don't underestimate the stress of social isolation. There's a reason solitary confinement is a dreaded punishment in prisons, as stressful as sharing a cell with random criminals is.

It's not easy to admit that we aren't as tough as we would like to be. What you say about the things you miss is honest and insightful. I'm not saying that you should give up and return home, but take stock of all your privations and redouble your efforts to fix them.

Do you really need to stay in that partition? I take it your job is footing the bill, but perhaps it would be worth budgeting a rental.

What are you doing to find people with common interests? I totally get that emigration comes with a measure of social isolation, especially at the beginning, but one thing about Dubai is that there are heaps of immigrants there. Your interests don't sound that unusual. For one thing, since you are on Reddit, have you joined any Dubai-related Reddit stacks?

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Individual-Hold-9217@reddit (OP)

You took so much time out to write this. Thank you. I relate to this a lot except the drug part, I have never done that. I'll try to follow your advice. I anyway have booked an online appointment with a therapist.

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Charming_Practice769@reddit

What does it mean to live in a partition?

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Individual-Hold-9217@reddit (OP)

Its one bedroom divided into 5-6 smaller rooms, like cubicle for a room.

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averysmallbeing@reddit

Sounds like a nightmare.

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Individual-Hold-9217@reddit (OP)

It is

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Overthereunder@reddit

Stop caffeine if you have coffee or tea

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Individual-Hold-9217@reddit (OP)

I dont drink either

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EU_dreaming22@reddit

It’s also possible you’re experiencing nighttime reflux, which can cause your upper airway to respond to the stomach acid and temporarily but severely disrupt your breathing. Panic immediately follows if you feel you can’t breathe. If you’re eating or drinking alcohol close to bedtime, you can at least stop doing that while you’re waiting to see a professional. Definitely make that doctor’s appointment.

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Individual-Hold-9217@reddit (OP)

I have never even touched alcohol in my life, I dont smoke too. Booked an appointment though.

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Miss_Dark_Splatoon@reddit

Health is more important than money

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Dry-Dragonfruit7966@reddit

It could be a combo of homesickness and panic attacks. Homesickness is very real. I went and got EU citizenship and after a couple of months I have to return to the US. HS has been a life-time problem.

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Boingo_Zoingo@reddit

This started happening to me last year after I quit drinking myself to sleep, kept happening for months until I got a prescription for a beta blocker, propanalol. Hasn't happened since

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raxmano@reddit

Panic attacks

I’ve had a few friends experience this and it could get bad and affect you in a worse way if you don’t get to the bottom of it.

I’m assuming you are under a lot of pressure. Get to a doctor asap and if your insurance covers it, see a therapist too.

Diagnose it as early as you can before you continue this path of “I don’t know why I was running… I don’t know why i did that etc…”

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Thriver93@reddit

Might be worth considering if you are open to starting therapy. There are folks I know who have clients all over the world. I am sure you can find a good coach or therapist with telehealth options. Just someone whose experience is familiar to you may go a long way in helping your nervous system adjust.