@Gwenie
Hypnic Jerk
Have you ever been so close to falling asleep, only to be woken up by sudden jolt or jerk in your body? Well, that falling feeling is quite common and it is called the *hypnic jerk.* A **hypnic jerk** is a brief and sudden involuntary contraction of the muscles that occurs when a person is beginning to fall asleep. It is a form of involuntary muscle twitches called myoclonus, which also includes hiccups. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myoclonus Hypnic jerk got its name because it tends to occur during the *hypnagogic state* – the transitional period between wakefulness and sleep. This phenomenon often causes the person to awaken suddenly. Physically, a hypnic jerk resembles the *jump* that people experience when startled. This muscle contraction may occur spontaneously or may be induced by sound, light, or other external stimuli. Some research suggests that up yo 70 percent of people experience hypnic jerk. However, not every one of these moments will force a person awake. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1389945716301198 **Symptoms** It is important to note that hypnic jerk is not a disorder. For that reason, symptoms of this condition are not signs of a problem. These are simply things a person may experience. Falling sensation. Dream or hallucination that leads to startle, jump, or fall. Jerk or jolt of a muscle or a body part. Rapid heartbeat. Sweating. Researches are also unsure why hypnic jerks occur, but few theories exist. Some possible causes of hypnic jerk include: Some research says that hypnic jerk is a natural part of the body's transition from alertness to sleep, and occur when nerves *misfire* during the process. Sleep deprivation. Sleep disturbances and poor sleep habits may be linked to hypnic jerks. Anxious thoughts, stress and worry may keep the brain active, even as the muscles try to relax when a person drifts off to sleep. This might cause the brain to send out *alert* signals while a person is dozing or even while asleep. Likewise, if a person starts to experience more twitches, he may develop anxiety about sleeping because he will begin to worry about these sleep jerks. Caffeine and nicotine can also impact the body’s ability to fall asleep naturally and stay asleep. Chemicals in these products prevent the brain from reaching deep sleep and instead startle it from time to time. It’s important to remember that hypnic jerk is not a serious condition. It is not even uncommon. Many people experience these jolts in their sleep. Taking time to relax before bed may help reduce how often a person experience it. A few changes to the daily routine may also set up for better sleep at night. *Here's a gif that shows how I personally experience hypnic jerk. 😂*
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20 comments
I experience this a lot. Sometimes I see someone throwing something at me, or I'm falling from a building. Vry creepy.
Yeah, this is somehow creepy. But not as creepy as those stories you wrote. 😂
So that's what they call it. People more often experience this when they fall asleep while sitting than when they're lying down
I see 🤔 I haven't read about that. Is there an explanation why those who sleep while sitting have a higher chance of experiencing this?
It's a kind of survival instinct for the body, really. The fact that you're seated means you need to stay awake for something or that you'll get those jerks so your body doesn't crash on the floor while you sleep and end up injuring yourself. It's fascinating, really
I always experienced it and I know why😅 But as per observation I experience it when I have no intention of sleeping but suddenly I began to asleep. Anggulo haha
I understood what you want to say sis. 😁 Yung tipong di mo namamalayan na nakakaidlip ka na. Madalas ganyan din kasi sakin. 😂
Oo, yung nagugulat hahaha
Hahaha the last gif is a bit funny for me. Never knew this phenomenon has a specific name to it
Haha. The gif is literally shows how I experience hypnic jerk 😂😂
I know the feeling. And felt many times during the sleep 😂
I usually experience this one 😂 It's really annoying it feels like my heart jumped off my chest 😂😂
Haha. True. And most of the time it starts from a dream of being chased and getting slipped or falling into a manhole 😂😂
Hahaha yeah sometimes you r will really fall from the bed when you are at the edge 😂
Hypnic jerk was unexpectable
True. You'll just suddenly wake yourself as soon as you're about to sleep comfortably.
Oh yes i have feel that many times while sleeping .it looks like i am gonna die by falling but actually i rest in my bed .thanks for great information.
You're welcome. Yeah, it was such a relief when we realized that we're safe 😂
I have experience hypnic jerk several times ,am excited to know that it's normal. Thanks so much for the information.
You're welcome. Yeah, it's normal. Nothing to worry about 😉