If Your Body Suddenly Jerks While You Are Falling Asleep, This Is What It Means

Have you ever experienced your whole body jerking back into consciousness while transitioning into sleep? This odd sensation is known as a hypnic jerk or a sleep start, and is both common and harmless. It could feel like a sudden jerk of the body, muscle spasms, or even a very quick feeling of dropping from a height. Is there any real cause behind this, and is there a need for concern?

What Hypnic Jerks Are Caused By

Hypnic jerks happen during the changeover from being awake to asleep. While the specific explanation for it is not known fully, researchers have made several educated guesses. 

1. Brain Misinterpretation: While your body relaxes, your brain may think that the indica scalar sensation is falling. The brain triggers a reflex where it attempts to catch you by putting your muscles into action.
2. Stress and Anxiety: An active mind or elevated stress levels can increase the chances of a person experiencing hypnic jerks. 
3. Caffeine and Stimulants: Having stimulants such as caffeine and nicotine too close to sleeping hours can hurt your central nervous system and make hypnic jerks very common. 
4. Physical Exhaustion: Extreme fatigue or overexertion can lead to uncontrolled muscle movements while an individual attempts to power down.
5. Sleep Deprivation: Not getting enough restful sleep can derail the body's sleep cycle greatly. This makes hypnic jerks more controllable.

How to Reduce Concerns Over Hypnic Jerks

As previously mentioned, hypnic jerks are most situations considered common and therefore not a source of worry. That said, if the occurrence is commonplace and leads to impaired sleep, it could be an indication of a more serious problem such as sleep disorders, psikoneurose, or even high stress levels. 

To lessen the chances of these sleep problems occurring:

• Make sure to set a sleep routine you intend to follow 
• Refrain from consuming stimulants and sleeping medications before going to bed
• Try meditative or breathing exercising
• Consider doing a light stretch before going to sleep

Knowing these sources can lead to better uninterrupted sleep. Although hypnic jerks may shock you at first glance, alleviating these jerks is the only concern.