Something is wrong with me

[Flowerpower7320]

Hi all,

for the last couple of years when I fall asleep my head jerks to one side as I’m falling asleep. Then I wake up just as I fall asleep like I suddenly can’t breathe gasping for air and my heart is beating really fast.
it doesn’t happen every night. Some weeks it’s constant and some weeks it doesn’t happen at all.
I’m a 32 year old women only slightly over weight. Does this sound like sleep apnea? Or something else:
any advice would be welcome. It truly freaks me out when it happens

The jerking is called "Myoclonus". It can occur in any muscle group just as someone is dropping off to sleep.They are very common and nothing to worry about.

I'm not so sure about the shortage of breath and palpitations.
I think you should have a word with your GP about those symptoms.

This happens to me, fairly sure they are panic attacks. I can go months without them happening but when something anxiety provoking is going on in my life (most recently a cancer scare and then my mum dying), they start happening again. My dad gets them too and he believes his are panic attacks.
Are you feeling particularly anxious about anything when it happens? Or in a period of high stress? x

Do you jerk and your heart race when you suddenly wake up? yes to be fair I have been feeling anxious the last few weeks. It’s so weird I get so scared I’m going to have a heart attack when my heart races like that. Think it happens when I’m over tiered too x

I have experienced this on and off. I’d also say anxiety related. Sometimes allergy related, but I think due to last experience the allergies trigger anxiety which manifests itself this way. I experienced this badly for months after a pretty traumatic experience.

Yes, I do jerk awake and my heart races. I agree that overtiredness makes it worse. When it happens to me, I feel scared I'm going to die, it's really horrible. It's hard to know what to do about it because if it's happening when you're anxious or because something bad is happening in your life, how do you fix that? People have suggested meditation or deep breathing but it's hard to find time for things like that, we're always late to bed, worrying about needing to get up early! It might be worth seeing your GP about the anxiety? Certain meds can help with anxiety but I don't want to take anything at the moment because I plan to have another baby. It's been happening to me since I was about 19 on and off x

Sleep apnea was my first thought- the loss of breath etc. I WOULD SEE YOUR GP. oops caps ;lock