Twitching during sleep

[Otispunkmeyer]

Anyone else have this?

I have had this for years now, at least since I started uni in 2004.

Just as I am nodding off....twitching and jerking. Sometimes its strong enough to wake myself up again. I've kicked the cat clean off the end of the bed a few times (she still sleeps at my feet though, doesn't learn clearly) and I've managed to slap my OH in the face a few times when she's slept on me and my arm is under her neck but not wrapped round, just outstretched...so its jerked from being flat out to fully curled and smacked her in the chops

Seems to be random, I thought it was to do with being a bit worn out after hard training, but happens when well rested too. The other night my OH pushed me away and told me to stop dancing in my sleep.

I might get a sleep tracker to see what is going on when I am actually asleep. Often have mornings where it feels like I haven't slept. I wonder if its because I am twitching and jerking all night?

[Mothersruin]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypnic_jerk

[Otispunkmeyer]

Mothersruin said:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypnic_jerk

Seems to be many different names for it. Periodic Limb Movement seems to cover it because (apparently) I continue to do it once asleep, though diminished. Most of the activity is in that twilight zone between being awake and being asleep.

Not sure its indicative of anything though. I exercise plenty, eat plenty of good foods, don't really drink alcohol... just a peculiarity and entertaining (for me, not for her).

Edited by Otispunkmeyer on Monday 15th May 11:43

[Huntsman]

I do it as I nod off, wakes up Mrs H at times, I've not managed to smack her in the chops yet, but there's still time!

[peekay74]

Yes I get this and have had it as long as I can remember, just before dozing off. They don't bother me too much and seem to be related to stress for me - more often/Bigger when I am dwelling on something or have had a big night the previous night. What I also get, which is much more annoying is an itch, every night, just as I am about to fall asleep. The type you cannot ignore!! Normally on end of nose or side of neck!!

[paulmakin]

myoclonic or "hypnogogic" jerk. hypnogogic refers to the borderline between waking and sleep

neurological and not indicative of any specific disorder. a couple of the more common theories are that it's a primitive brain function or a more evolved explanation that nerves misfire in the transition from wakefulness to sleep.

more common than you might think; i quite enjoy them unless attaining sleep rapidly is a consideration !!

paul

[wazztie16]

You're not alone, happens to me often. Girlfriends find it funny, I'm really bad for talking in my sleep too, I've even had conversations with people in the room when I've been asleep and they're awake.

On a funny note, yesterday was on a flight, started to drift off and must have had a mini dream that I was walking and walked into something.

I jerked forward quite dramatically in the sitting position, and woke up, had only just nodded. I had the window seat, and best mate in the middle found it hilarious as he had been looking out the window at the time.

I've not seriously injured anyone yet, I dread the time I do though.

(You kicking the cat off the bed made me laugh a lot more than it should have OP, imagined it as I was reading it).

[Otispunkmeyer]

wazztie16 said:

You're not alone, happens to me often. Girlfriends find it funny, I'm really bad for talking in my sleep too, I've even had conversations with people in the room when I've been asleep and they're awake.

On a funny note, yesterday was on a flight, started to drift off and must have had a mini dream that I was walking and walked into something.

I jerked forward quite dramatically in the sitting position, and woke up, had only just nodded. I had the window seat, and best mate in the middle found it hilarious as he had been looking out the window at the time.

I've not seriously injured anyone yet, I dread the time I do though.

(You kicking the cat off the bed made me laugh a lot more than it should have OP, imagined it as I was reading it).

I normally have a leg bent up or I am fetal-position-ish and the jerk essentially makes my legs belt straight out. Poor kitty, but as said, still sleeps there. Thick as mince. Keeps going in the bathroom as well as its easy to push the door open. but then can't get back out again. Doesn't learn and then to punish us, pisses in the bath.

[LordGrover]

Phew, not just me then.
I kind of like it - it's like falling off the edge of a cliff, but not.

[dazwalsh]

i get it, mainly in my legs as im falling asleep, bugs the hell out of me some nights.

[ambuletz]

I get it all the time, it's perfectly normal. For me sometimes it can be a tiny jerk of a foot or muscle, other times it can be a full on kick or my entire body, it varies depending on my levels of tiredness and how i might be layinig down. sometimes i do even get it when falling asleep in bed, I could just be sat around very very tired. I think its more to do with your muscles just relaxing as sometimes I might get it very quickly after getting into bed or some time later when almost falling completely asleep.

[SpunkyGlory]

I get this all the time, and anyone that shares a bed with me comments about how much I thrash around.

The only injury I've ever had from it is punching myself in the face; once when I dreamt I was lifting weights and once when dreamt I was fighting.

[paulmakin]

the theorising around the "primitive" brain postulate that it's to do with falling asleep in trees and it prevents us from falling to the ground and getting dead. it may be linked to the dreams of "falling but waking before hitting the ground"

yes, we've all had them !!!!

paul

[R1gtr]

I sleep on my front in a starfish position and sometimes just after falling asleep I get a similar thing, it jolts me awake, it feels like I have been hovering 6 inches above the bed then dropped on to the mattress, if I did not know better I would thing a poltergeist was messing with me. The feeling that I have dropped on to the mattress is that real.

[J4CKO]

I find it amusing, usually involves the beginnings of a dream and coincides with something happening in the dream. trouble is that it wakes you up.

[SteellFJ]

My son and I bopt do this, I use it as an indicator that he's finally fell asleep. We also both let out a short sharp groan which I can wake from but it doesn't seem to bother him.

It does however drive the Mrs (more) mental.

Strange vessels the human body.

[scorp]

I usually get this when i go to sleep very late / am very tired. I guess some part of the brain goes to sleep faster than the conscious half and it causes some kind of momentary panic.

[sjj84]

I get this too, as does my brother, seems surprisingly common.

[hepy]

I used to do this almost every night, big kick just before falling asleep.

Once I started taking ZMA tablets before going to bed, the problem disappeared. Only cost £10 for 2 months supply and are a mix of Zinc and Magnesium, so nothing harmful in there.