the falling feeling

[amron]

Can anyone explain why when your just falling asleep you sometimes get the feeling that you are falling and you then kinda jump as if stopping yourself?  Does it happen to anyone else?

[FP]

It  certainly does, quite frequently.  I believe it is quite common.  I don't know why it happens though - it will be interesting to find out.

[amarillis]

I get this too. According to this website:

http://www.answers.com/topic/hypnic-jerk

The exact cause of the sudden jerks is not clear, but there are two main hypotheses to explain them. One is that it is a naturally occurring part of the sleep process, as are slower breathing, and reduced body temperature. Another hypothesis is that the feelings associated with relaxation before sleep are misinterpreted by the brain as falling or toppling over, and by reflex the body jerks out the limbs to stay upright.

[littleoldme]

Yes indeed. Apparently this is a type of sleep disorder known as a sleep start. They are harmless, but flamin' annoying. There's a bit on them here -
http://www.yesmag.bc.ca/Questions/sleep.html
There doesn't seem to be any one thing in particular that causes them.

As for stopping them, I don't know if this will work for you, but I find the best way is to make sure I don't try to go to sleep straight after working or any sort of concentrated mental activity. If I take some time to wind down and clear my head of thought first, I find it doesn't happen.

[littleoldme]

Oops, posted at the same time as amarillis! Synchography, I think Quizmonster calls it :-)

[amron]

thanks folks just wondering, it doesn't worry me just annoying as you're falling asleep glad it's not just me!

[smudge]

Thanks Amarillis & littleoldme - I've often wondered what causes this too.

[acw]

I tend to get it in the morning - about half an hour before the alarm's due to go off.  Dead annoying being woke up then don't you find?  Bloomin scary that falling thing is too!  Until you realise you're in a nice warm bed! :-)

[clarabel82]

it usually happens to me if I've fallen asleep in the daytime, or when I wouldn't usually sleep, on the settee or on my bed. I kind of like it when it happens though, maybe I'm just a freak?

[morg_monster]

it's called a myoclonic jerk.  I read somewhere that it happens when you go into a very deeply relaxed state, not necessarily asleep, and your breathing slows down too much.  Your body jerks you awake out of it so that you don't get starved of oxygen!  I can't remember where I read it though unfortunately.