is this some form of severe anxiety attack?

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Whilst I'm sorry I can't be very helpful and supply an answer, I can understand what you are going though as I have very similar experiences.

I will often jerk out of just-falling-asleep violently, as though I've just been defibrillated, or I will jerk awake out of a dream and wake up in the middle of a panic attack feeling sick, shaky, dry throat, irrational, etc.

In fact, I am typing this now because I just woke up in a panic after one hours' sleep!

As far as I can tell, with me it is anxiety related, and if my anxiety levels are up, I'll have more episodes of this. When I'm relaxed, it happens less often (though it still happens.)

I honestly don't think it is a psychic or paranormal occurrance, I think it is entirely a biologically based reaction to a psychological state. (Psychosomatic - though that word can have negative connotations as it has often been used to tell people they're making stuff up.)

SOrry you're having difficulties

Take care of yourself

Robin

Hi Waterdogs. I agree with other posters who have said that the feeling you describe is a natural occurrence,theres nothing spooky behind it, but it is scary.
Ive noticed that this rarely happens to me anyway when its time to get up in the morning, its as though, oh ok its another day, Im still here. I can relax now and have another little nap!
Try not to worry too much and think of something relaxing when youre in bed, like a favourite place in your mind.
I know this is easier said than done!
Take care Waterdogs, youll be fine.

Can also be hypnogogic hallucinations.

I get the sleep-paralysis thing every few years, no sinister shadowy visitors trying to strangle me or anything like that just a momentary thing which is usually frightening as it seems to take bit of effort to snap out of. A few months back i found i could go back into paralysis state at will (or perhaps it was so strong it kept coming back by itself?) It gave me the opportunity to experiment - see how far i dared go into it. So perhaps next time it wont be so scary - im currently in a process of letting go of my anxiety by facing up to my fears of death, loosing touch of this 'reality', sudden changes in perception etc. So now i welcome the next episode!

Another thing i may as well mention, because it has to do with sleep & amxiety and has touches of the paranormal.

Sometimes (well, twice) ive had a dream in which im moving about in the general area in which im currently living in, outside the house. Then, something happens which panics me & im overwhelmed with a strange urge to get home as quickly as possible. So i race home and rush into the room im sleeping in and jump into bed. As soon as my body aligns itself within the bed i wake up.

The first time, i was in the garden and a monster of some sort chased me. With this moster hot on my tail, I ran up through the corridoors, up the stairs into the bedroom i was sleeping in at that time, because for some reason i knew there id be safe. As i jumped into bed, i was aware the monster was right behind me, poised to burst through the door. The next moment i was awake & the door DID open, my dad walked in.

Second time, was recently in my current home. I was walking round town then got the sudden urge to rush home, i cant remember eactly but its possible when i got home i could see my body ALREADY in bed, and i knew it was critical to align myself with it before waking up, otherwise id lose control with my soul or something*.

*tbh i have read something to that effect in a Crowley book on astral projection, a long time ago now but it did make quite a firm impression on me.

What are hypnogogic hallucinations?

Hypnogogic hallucinations are hallucinations you might have just when drifting off to sleep. They occur every now and then and, for me, set off the anxiety/sudden arousal thing. Mostly voices, though.

They're hypnopompic hallucinations, too - when you're just waking up. And your mind is still half-dreaming and turning the sensory information it gets into stuff that isn't there. Have had those, too.