You can approach a general practitioner or a psychiatrist for an evaluation of your condition. Possible causes include stress, anxiety, panic attacks, sleep disorder, and thyroid problems.
Nocturnal Panic Attacks
Nocturnal panic attacks are known to occur with no obvious trigger and awaken a person from his sleep.
Symptoms:
There could be other symptoms like sweating, rapid heart rate, trembling, shortness of breath, heavy breathing (hyperventilation), flushing or chills, and a sense of impending doom. These alarming signs and symptoms can mimic those of a heart attack or another serious medical condition. Although panic attacks are uncomfortable, they are not dangerous. Nocturnal panic attacks usually last only a few minutes, but it may take a while to calm down and go back to sleep after having one.
What Causes Panic Attacks?
As to what causes panic attacks, underlying factors may include genetics, stress, and certain changes in the way parts of our brain work. In some cases, an underlying condition, such as a sleep disorder or thyroid problem, can cause panic-like signs and symptoms.