Jumping as I fall asleep

[ACCx]

Hey, this is so random but I cannot find any information about what this could be. I suffer with health anxiety so anything like this is a worry for me. For the past 2 nights, as I’m falling asleep I have suddenly jumped, not so much moved myself but woke up and when it happens there’s a sudden exhale of breath from my nose. Really weird and hard to explain over here sorry. It’s happening around 3/4 times a night. I am just getting over a cold and still have a little congestion in my nose/ears and I’m using nasal spray. Not sure if the cold could be linked. Anyone else had this? x

apps.nhslothian.scot/refhelp/Neurology/SleepSymptoms/HypnicJerk

It's called a Hypnic jerk and is pretty common afaik. I get it sometimes, ds also gets it. I've heard of loads of others who do too.

I get this most evenings. It's not a problem, apart from when I happen to have drifted off cuddling poor DP who then gets the shock of his life

I thought everyone has these! Never knew what they were called though.
Happens to me every now and again… sometimes to the extent that I do actually move. DP hates it, it makes him jump when I suddenly kick him.

Nothing to worry about though, perfectly normal.

They are called hypnic jerks and are completely normal. I would say that everyone has probably experienced by them at some point and are nothing to worry about.

I get these, and now I'm menopausal my heart races as well, either as I am falling asleep, or waking up. It's really quite disturbing.

I get these sometimes. I dream I am stepping off a kerb, and the 'fall' wakes me up.

I do this. I actually think it’s funny 🥴

Everyone gets this don't they? I certainly do, it's really common. Always gives me the eebie jeebies though.

@GameofPhones

I get these sometimes. I dream I am stepping off a kerb, and the 'fall' wakes me up.

Oh God yeah, that "falling" feeling then you wake up and think thank fuck 😂

I get these together with racing heart and shortness of breath. Every bloody night. Can't get back to sleep afterwards. Oh the joys of being middle aged!

Yes I regularly get them. So annoying I am a poor sleeper and normally when these happen I find it hard to fall sleep again.

Oh wow thank you all for your replies. I have had the odd ‘falling feeling’ before but this time with the sharp exhale out my nose, and it becoming a few times a night each night i thought it was something different. It’s because I’ve never had it so frequent and especially two nights in a row. I worry about absolutely everything but I’m glad I’m not alone. Thank you!!x

I thought everyone did this!

I get it when I'm really tired. It's normal.

I get them occasionally too. Maybe this is why it's called 'falling' asleep?

I get this all the time. I fall asleep in seconds, dream I'm falling down the stairs and when I hit the floor I wake up with a jerk. Scares the crap out of DH who is amazed I fell asleep and dreamt anything in the time it took him to roll over and turn off the light.

Is it normal to have them all a sudden though, 2 nights in a row and a few times a night? I’m not even dreaming or anything x

Very common and not at all sinister, you don’t need to worry.

Yes, it's normal.

Thanks everyone. I don’t know why I’m so worried I think it’s just because it’s usually once in a blue moon and now it’s a few times a night. I might take a propanolol before bed tonight maybe see if it helps x

I only get these as I'm falling asleep and they aren't accompanied by dreams. I get them every night and like them because I know I'm nearly asleep.

Ahh that’s interesting @OnceTheyDid did they just start randomly? X

I get them more when I'm very tired. My son is the same.

I didn’t realise I was very tired but I have been unwell with a cold and been very stressed recently perhaps what’s contributing. I started googling last night when it was happening and really scared myself. I sound so silly I know X