Feeling like falling

Ever experienced the illusory sense of falling? When you fall asleep, you feel you’re entire body drop as the air screams past you. You may or may not know what caused this in the first place. You might have been standing on a solid floor when the ground unexpectedly gave out. You might have been running away from someone or something chasing you, and felt your foot touch air before you realised you were tumbling off a cliff. Either way, in these dreams, you are falling, dreading the impact. But in comes the incredible power of dreams to save the day! One second you’re plummeting, and the next, you find yourself safely in bed. Sweaty and trembling, but safe. The reason for this? Two words. Hypnic jerk.

What is it?

So what exactly is a hypnic jerk? Is it a scientific diagnosis? A medical condition? Not at all. A hypnic jerk can be defined as an involuntary muscle spasm, or twitch, that occurs when someone is in their first or second stage of sleep. It is a common condition that can be found in more than 80% of the population.

Some studies suggest that nearly everyone experiences a hypnic jerk at some point in their lives, but the intensity and frequency can vary. Hypnic jerks happen during the transition from wakefulness to sleep, particularly when the brain starts to relax but suddenly misinterprets muscle relaxation as “falling.”

Causes and treatments

As stated before, hypnic jerks are common and not harmful. But what causes them? If they are not uncommon then how does their presence make one night different from the other? Firstly, hypnic jerks are a natural byproduct when the body transitions from a state of wakefulness to sleep. When going to sleep, muscles tend to relax as the brain slows down. Sometimes, mixed signals from the brain cause a brief muscle contraction. High levels of stress and anxiety can increase the frequency and intensity of hypnic jerks. Caffeine and sleep deprivation can also trigger hypnic jerks. To manage your sleep, there are many methods to avoid these twitches. After identifying the cause, you can take the proper steps to regularisation. If stress is what causes your jerks, then take up stress management techniques, like breathing exercises, meditation, yoga, etc. Reduction of caffeine, consistent sleep (at least eight hours), and proper exercise are a few other treatments one can take.