Must as you think you’re falling asleep, you suddenly feel as though you’re in a freefall. Your stomach somersaults and your body involuntarily spasms as you lay in bed. Your limbs, or even your entire upper body, may jerk or thrash in the process. There’s no logical reason why you felt as if you briefly entered a fight-or-flight mode and whatever calmness you recently attained is erased in an instant. The experience may leave you confused, annoyed, or simply weirded out—and to make matters worse, it likely isn’t the first time this has happened. Around 10 percent of the population may even regularly succumb to the sensation, also called hypnagogic jerks in reference to the hypnagogic transitional stage of falling asleep. And yet, despite its regularity and decades of documentation, researchers haven’t come to an agreement on what causes the oddity often called a “sleep start,” or why it happens. While a “high intake of caffeine or other stimulants” and “excessive stress” could generate sleep starts, so could “prior intense physical work or exercise” and sleep deprivation. Hypnagogic jerks could come from being too amped up—but also they may happen when you are exhausted. For its part, the AASM recommends some of the classic pre-slumber tips avoid caffeine and other stimulants in the hours before going to bed, work to reduce stress, and ensure you are getting enough sleep overall.
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Thursday, December 5, 2024