Strange sensation when falling asleep

[countrygirl]

This is not hypnic jerks as I do not physically move and whatever it is I have had for over 10 years on and off so its not immediately life threatening!
Within 10 mins of getting into bed and laying down as I start to relax to sleep I get evil split second sensation as if my whole body has suddenly dropped or moved although it hasn't moved even an inch and its accompanied by a whole body tingling sensation. On a good night I get it once or twice and fall asleep but I go through phases where it keeps going almost all night long and I cannot sleep.
I have been told it could be due to anxiety, or its from my damaged neck and misfiring nerves and have just had a ct scan of my inner ears to rule out a rare ear disorder and am waiting for results.
I know its a long shot but does anyone else with anxiety get this very strange symptom?

[LunaLiuna]

I do, and I've seen a lot of people talk about it on here. I think it's because we tend to think more before we sleep, when we are anxious we are over sensitive about everything and I think our minds interpret the sudden loss of thought as a threat, therefore waking/jolting us awake

^ Sorry I may have read it a little wrong, but I think what I said is still relevant, an anxious mind doesn't like relaxation

[Libra]

Yes, I used to get that. I describe at as feeling like dropping through the bed, a weird feeling.
I was told it was coming from my neck/shoulder tension though.
After physio it did stop.

[countrygirl]

Thanks both. My GP is adamant that it is from my neck problems as I have severe arthritis and a collapsed neck disc and he says its when my muscles finally relax that it happens. I do find that if I have been panicking about something usually health related that it is much worse.
I moved house recently and put my rubbish spine under awful pressure so my spine problems are much worse as is the weird sensations.
Another Dr said anxiety and or sleep disorder???????

[Andrash]

It's a textbook neck problem. In your case, probably worsened by your previous medical history with arthritis and herniated discs. Anxiety makes it worse too, as it makes neck muscles tense-and tense neck muscles do not cause only neck pains, but headaches, facial pressure, pins and needles in arms, head or face and sinus-like pains too. It has got something to do with anatomy-when your neck muscles tighten, they start pressing the facial nerves, which cause all these strange sensations.

One more thing-if you are sleeping on the side, the symptoms will be worse, as you put more pressure on your neck. They'll especially worsen if you sleep with your hand under your head. Try to sleep on your back-that's how the neck will not have to do a lot of job and therefore the muscles will tighten less.

My fiance suffered from this thing (neck muscle tightness) since she was a teenager and therefore I know everything about it

[countrygirl]

My sleeping position does not seem to make any difference to how much I experience this sensation and I also get the sensation even if I am sitting upright and start to drift off to sleep. It seems to be when I relax totaly in whatever position that I get it??

[Andrash]

Maybe it's astral projection and you have paranormal powers...

Well, as you had it for 10 years, it is surely not anything sinister-I still think it has something to do with your neck problems, as those are common causes of tingling and stiffness...

[SarahH]

Yes I get it frequently....in fact I only DONT get when I use sleeping tablets. I was told by my psych that it is anxiety related and when we are dropping off to sleep the bady totally relaxes and your heart slows right down. The brain then kicks in and jerks you awake (this may not be a physical jerk). For me sometimes the sensation is so powerful that my insides are like jelly afterwards and I have to take a valium to calm down.

[countrygirl]

Andrash

Sarah - yes thats it exactly. It is such a horrible sensation isn't it and its bad enough getting it once or twice before falling asleep but when it happens over and over again I could do with a large slug of valium as well.

[mandshere2000]

Hi
Such a interesting post, I've had this for years and it really does scare me so much
I am a regular on here in the early hours, and I've got to the point where it won't happen
for a few weeks, and I can sleep from say about 5am until 11am still not a normal sleeping
pattern I know...but then when it does happen which it has done a few times the last week, I really am to scared to sleepwith me it always happens when I been asleep say 30-45 minutes I wake suddenly and feel the panic rising and confusion and the heart racing it's sometimes been up 120 bpm then after it's over anything up to 30 mins it lasts
I become very breathless and feel I cannot breathe and bring like a mucus up by having to
cough so I can get air in
I have seen a heart specialist last year who put me on a 24 hr monitor for a week and it did not happen once, I also had a heart scan which I assume was ok because I got a very short letter saying I was referred back to the GP, i have since found out that if nothing shows up on the monitor or scan then it should be looked into with more tests, I told the GP this and he said because he was referring me to see a neurologist about the confusion and memory loss that they would look into it regarding my heart( confused neurologist is brain not heart) so feel I am being fobbed off....sorry such a long post and thanks for reading
Manda

---------- Post added at 03:18 ---------- Previous post was at 03:16 ----------

sorry if my post is confusing, I've only slept 2 hours in last 2 days