Sounds like an experience of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_paralysis#Threat_hyper-vigilance https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_paralysis#Threat_hyper-v.

Sounds like an experience of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_paralysis#Threat_hyper-vigilance https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_paralysis#Threat_hyper-v... As one falls asleep one loses the ability to voluntary breath. This can cause sensations of suffocating and resulting in panic if experienced when still conscious.