Omg I did have one when I was a child. Spent whole family trips watching him parkouring a full speed beside our car.
You are saying more people did this?
It's your brain being confused. It hasn't gone to sleep yet but your muscles have. So the brain is like: yo leg, you dead? And fucking jolts it. Then he's like "woah no need to freak out. kk we good, we're going to sleep btw". And then you sleep.
It's more weird/disorienting than awful. If you've ever been walking, tripped, and then caught yourself before you fell, it's like that. The difference is you're in bed, so you're half asleep, and you can't fall because you're already lying down.
I see, thanks for the explainer. Guessing based on the comments it must be somewhat common for this sensation to happen to people at least once in their life. The only time I had an odd sensation in bed is when I actually fell out of my bed, it was very disorienting but the difference is I actually fell out of my bed.
It's never been super bad experience for me, more annoying because, well I'd like to sleep lol. For me it's basically the same feeling when you're sitting and nod off and catch yourself before you tip over/fall. Usually accompanied by a sharp inhale and an "oh shit!... oh anyways, sleep".
It's your brains reaction to the sudden decrease of your heart rate. It's not that it's checking if you're alive it's that it's trying to correct the slowed heartbeat. So it sends a small amount of adrenaline which jumpstarts your heartbeat causing that falling effect.
I got gout in my toe once, every time I did that jerk right before sleep I involuntarily flexed my toe and the lightning shot of pain woke me right back up again. It was the most miserable 48 hours of my existence.
Huh, so other people also have this? Also regularly?
You've never had a unique experience in your life
Years on Reddit (now Lemmy) taught me this. We're all the same, really.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypnic_jerk
Oh you sweet summer child.
Next you'll tell us you also have an imaginary character that runs besides your car and does parcour on fences, buildings and poles
Is yours yodelling the whole time too?
Omg I did have one when I was a child. Spent whole family trips watching him parkouring a full speed beside our car. You are saying more people did this?
The amount of times I’ve kicked or smacked my wife when my limbs go flying cause of this… I’ve lost count
An ex elbowed me directly in the eye once doing this...ouch.
Love that moment! It's becoming quite rare time older I am...
And then you can't get back to sleep after....
i hate it when my brain pulls out a prank like this.
Ngl, I love it. It feels great! Me and my brain are buds. :)
I did this on a plane once and kicked the seat in front of me.
I actually think it's a nice feeling. I love falling. Its the end I dislike
But in the end it doesn't even matter.
I had to fall, to lose it all
https://mishathings.org/music_things/new_album_electro/new_album_electro_data/Fall.mp3
Like when it ends?
Same here, thought I was the only weirdo who liked it
Nah. A lot of people like falling. Else parachuting wouldn't be a thing
is there a name for it?
Hypnagogie
Bless you.
Whats ligma
I've known them as Myoclonic Jerks
Buncha jerks is right!
From that article it seems Hypnic Jerk is the more specific name.
I originally learned this term from the show House.
I've heard them referred to as Hypnic Jerks.
The fucking worst.
It's your brain being confused. It hasn't gone to sleep yet but your muscles have. So the brain is like: yo leg, you dead? And fucking jolts it. Then he's like "woah no need to freak out. kk we good, we're going to sleep btw". And then you sleep.
I love this explanation so much lol
And then directly into sleep paralysis
This is like ELI5 but better. I just can't put my finger on why
It's relatable and told in a humorous way, it kinda feels like a nice relative telling you a story as a kid
I've never experienced this before in my life, sounds awful though
It's more weird/disorienting than awful. If you've ever been walking, tripped, and then caught yourself before you fell, it's like that. The difference is you're in bed, so you're half asleep, and you can't fall because you're already lying down.
I see, thanks for the explainer. Guessing based on the comments it must be somewhat common for this sensation to happen to people at least once in their life. The only time I had an odd sensation in bed is when I actually fell out of my bed, it was very disorienting but the difference is I actually fell out of my bed.
edit: spelling
Two to three times a year for me. It's always super jarring. The jump in heart rate suddenly feels really unsettling.
It was really annoying at one point last year, it was like my brain was playing a joke on me.
It startled me like three times in one night. When it happened a fourth time, it was just annoying.
It's never been super bad experience for me, more annoying because, well I'd like to sleep lol. For me it's basically the same feeling when you're sitting and nod off and catch yourself before you tip over/fall. Usually accompanied by a sharp inhale and an "oh shit!... oh anyways, sleep".
The worst thing about it is it stopping you from sleeping
Yeah, it's not that bad. I'm guessing it will release some adrenalin keeping you awake for a bit but that's it.
Haven't had this happen in years. Forgot this was a thing. Weird.
Me too. It suddenly stopped happening.
I heard somewhere that the body does this to check if youre still alive? Dont know if its true
It's your brains reaction to the sudden decrease of your heart rate. It's not that it's checking if you're alive it's that it's trying to correct the slowed heartbeat. So it sends a small amount of adrenaline which jumpstarts your heartbeat causing that falling effect.
Thanks for clarification
The fuck it's gonna do if I'm dead?
Know its dead.
It’s not even always my leg at times. Sometimes it’s somehow my rib area or even my arms. Punched myself once cause of it lol
I no longer get the full body jerk but my legs or arms will randomly twitch just as I'm falling asleep and it's pretty much the same annoying effect
I got gout in my toe once, every time I did that jerk right before sleep I involuntarily flexed my toe and the lightning shot of pain woke me right back up again. It was the most miserable 48 hours of my existence.
This is just when your consciousness is shared with a version of you that's falling
Fun fact you might have a mild form of vertigo.
People should stop giving medical advice or diagnosis online based on almost nothing. Even if you say "might have".
I think I do. Is it curable?
It depends what you have, some forms are curable and some aren't. Talk to your GP and probably get a referral to an otolaryngologist.
then go to sleep slower