Just as you drift off into a peaceful sleep, you are rudely awakened by sudden jolt and panic.
While it really felt like you were collapsing to your death, you accept that it was just a fabrication.
That terrifying feeling — usually accompanied by twitching in the legs and arms — is called a “hypnagogic jerk.”
But did you know there are ways to potentially prevent these random nighttime body hiccups?
Sleep starts can contribute to sleep deprivation and this in turn can cause even more sleep starts
Track sleep trends
Anyone can experience a hypnagogic shock, also known as “hypnic shock” or “sleep onset.” Bedding company Simba found that more than two-thirds of Britons surveyed have experienced the outage.
It happens during the transitional phase between wakefulness and sleep — when heart rate slows, breathing slows, and muscles relax.
Medically, it is classified as myoclonus – a brief involuntary twitching or jerking of a muscle group or muscle group.
“Hypnic jerks can affect the entire body or just the legs,” says Lisa Artis, deputy CEO of The Sleep Charity. “At the same time, you can also feel like you’re falling, experience a loud noise or a flash of light.”
While they’re “perfectly normal,” tracking when they occur can reveal what’s causing them, she said.
Ms Artis recommends that people write down the dates sleep starts in a phone or diary, along with whether they’ve had alcohol, coffee, or stimulant drugs — all of which can increase the likelihood of them happening.
Also, noting stress levels and types and times of exercise can help flush out patterns and triggers, according to the sleep charity.
Relaxed
People can become stressed by falling asleep.
This can contribute to sleep deprivation and in turn make more happen.
“It’s really important to make sure you’re getting good quality sleep, as tiredness or sleep deprivation can also increase the risk of hypnotic shock,” Ms Artis said.
So, if your mind is racing as it hits the pillow, try to breathe and release your negative thoughts from the day and invite peaceful and pleasant images, she advises.
This can help calm the mind and relax the body, aiding in falling asleep.
Plus, relaxing the body can ease that transition to sleep, making your muscles less likely to shake.
Don’t exercise right before bedtime
Exercising too close to hitting the sack may increase the risk of sleep attacks, it’s thought.
Tapering off and aiming to finish your workout at least two to three hours before bed will help you fall asleep, according to Ms. Artis.
But how hard you train can also play a role in sleep.
You may think that working hard in the gym will only make you tired.
However, if your evening routine includes things like running, high-intensity interval training (HIIT), body pump, or body combat, it will be hard for your body and muscles to slow down and relax because they will be under more stress.
Moving your exercise routine to the morning can help with this, but so can lower-impact sessions in the evening.
Swimming, walking, Pilates or yoga — which focus on breathing and stretching — can help you relax and prevent you from falling asleep, the charity says.
Taping down and aiming to finish your workouts at least two to three hours before bed will help you fall asleep, according to The Sleep Charity
Block sunlight
Good quality sleep is vital for your body to function normally and to avoid experiencing these nighttime shocks, experts agree.
Making sure the bedroom is cool, dark, and quiet before you go to bed can help you get a good night’s sleep, according to the sleep organization.
Heat, light, and noise can affect our ability to fall asleep and increase the likelihood of us waking up and falling asleep during the night.
This may mean changing your duvet between seasons to prevent overheating and investing in blackout curtains or blinds during the summer months when things get lighter earlier, the sleep organization says.
Switch to decaf
Stimulants can disrupt your sleep and increase the frequency of falling asleep.
Switching to decaf eight hours before bed can help you avoid hypnagogic shocks, according to the sleep charity.
Drinking low- or non-alcoholic drinks during this window may also help you wake up and go to sleep at night, experts say.