Does anyone experience hypnic jerks?

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  • Fibromite59Fibromite59 Posts: 22,518
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    The FBI wrote: »
    Restless legs syndrome is very uncomfortable

    Restless legs syndrome is different to hypnic jerks. I suffer from both. Hypnic jerks happen suddenly and you have no control over them. Restless legs is the uncomfortable feeling in your legs that causes you to have to move your legs to get some relief. It can go on all night and often in the day too. It is completely exhausting and stops you from sleeping.

    Both conditions are very unpleasant but restless legs if by far the worst of the two.

    To someone who asked if others can see the jerking people make with hypnic jerks the answer is yes, they can.
  • An ThropologistAn Thropologist Posts: 39,844
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    I thought everybody had hypnic jerks. I assume that everyone also has another sleep phenomena. This is one that when sleeping, one dreams that one is trying to wake and can't. Its like fighting to overcome the paralysis of sleep in order to wake up.
  • An ThropologistAn Thropologist Posts: 39,844
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    Restless legs syndrome is different to hypnic jerks. I suffer from both. Hypnic jerks happen suddenly and you have no control over them. Restless legs is the uncomfortable feeling in your legs that causes you to have to move your legs to get some relief. It can go on all night and often in the day too. It is completely exhausting and stops you from sleeping.

    Both conditions are very unpleasant but restless legs if by far the worst of the two.

    To someone who asked if others can see the jerking people make with hypnic jerks the answer is yes, they can.

    Indeed you can. I have seen it happen with infants too so that suggests something innate.
  • Fibromite59Fibromite59 Posts: 22,518
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    Indeed you can. I have seen it happen with infants too so that suggests something innate.

    I often used to see a cat we had jerking in her sleep too.
  • DixDix Posts: 79,018
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    it`s not my legs, it`s most often my arms, i have been known to fling what i`m holding at the time :blush: it`s like a big violent twitch.
    Jeeze, I had that the other day whilst moving a cup of coffee, and my arm jerked out and coffee went all over the place! I have some shakes now and again, but the way the arm jerked out was something new! :o
  • Keyser_Soze1Keyser_Soze1 Posts: 25,182
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    Indeed you can. I have seen it happen with infants too so that suggests something innate.

    I would bet that it is an ancient evolutionary survival mechanism - either to make sure we did not fall out of the trees or perhaps something to do with predator detection before we had truly fallen asleep.

    Everyone has experienced them at one time or another.
  • CosinCosin Posts: 765
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    Yep, particularly when the rozzers find my hardcore porn stash under my matress
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 53,142
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    jarryhack wrote: »
    Yes I get them, it's not a nice feeling! I also hear knocking, bells ringingand people talking just as I'm dozing off too, which is even weirder.

    me too sometimes..dogs barking and door bell ringing as well
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 53,142
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    jarryhack wrote: »
    Yes I get them, it's not a nice feeling! I also hear knocking, bells ringingand people talking just as I'm dozing off too, which is even weirder.

    me too sometimes..dogs barking and door bell ringing as well ..oh you said that door bell rings :D
  • TakaeTakae Posts: 13,555
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    I'm not sure. I don't think so. I do have an involuntary leg kick now and then, but no more than that.
  • annette kurtenannette kurten Posts: 39,543
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    Dix wrote: »
    Jeeze, I had that the other day whilst moving a cup of coffee, and my arm jerked out and coffee went all over the place! I have some shakes now and again, but the way the arm jerked out was something new! :o

    i`m just glad i live alone else i`d probably fetch someone`s eye out with plate or something.
  • cnbcwatchercnbcwatcher Posts: 56,681
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    I get them. It's an awful feeling. Wish I knew what caused it.
  • Fibromite59Fibromite59 Posts: 22,518
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    I once flung my arm out right across my husband's face when we were asleep in bed. :o
  • TellystarTellystar Posts: 12,253
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    I get them. It's an awful feeling. Wish I knew what caused it.

    Its a missed heart beat
  • Mrs ChecksMrs Checks Posts: 8,363
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    I too thought everyone had them.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 53,142
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    When i have bad dream like last night, my heart races 10 to the dozen, and i wake up, re leaved it was just a dream :o
  • alycidonalycidon Posts: 930
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    Yes, I get them and I thought that they were both normal, and common to everyone.

    They don't bother me.
  • MichellerlzMichellerlz Posts: 538
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    Yes, I have had them before, mainly when my kids were new babies and I was more tired than usual. Although I didn't know what it was called up until now. Also got sleep paralysis most nights from late teens to mid 20s, now that was horrible and I hope I never get that again, but will probably happen tonight now Iv said it lol.
  • AddisonianAddisonian Posts: 16,377
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    I seem to always get them on my commute home from work on a busy train. Can be quite embarrassing. ..
  • kitty86kitty86 Posts: 7,034
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    I had one the other day at work sitting at my desk.

    I didn't even realise I had started to fall asleep and was convinced I was wide awake when it happened.

    Very odd and confusing.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 897
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    I've had this for as long as I remember and it's not nice. Always such a shock every time, and comes out of nowhere. Doesn't seem to be anything possible to prevent it or see it coming.
  • degsyhufcdegsyhufc Posts: 59,251
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    I've been getting them quite often lately. A few times in a couple of hours earlier on yesterday. strange feeling, especially when you are exhaused but still stuggle to get to sleep.
  • dorydaryldorydaryl Posts: 15,927
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    Yep. Not nice. I have exaggerrated reflexes and get painful twitches sometimes, although they're not quite the same thing. Not had any while falling asleep lately *touches wood*.
  • Poppy99_PoppyPoppy99_Poppy Posts: 2,255
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    I have heard them referred to as mini deaths. A bit scary but nobody has died from them! If I have been having trouble sleeping and laying awake for ages, if I drift off I often do one of these, but I see them as a sign of being in the sleep zone and will be fast asleep soon.
  • degsyhufcdegsyhufc Posts: 59,251
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    I have heard them referred to as mini deaths. A bit scary but nobody has died from them! If I have been having trouble sleeping and laying awake for ages, if I drift off I often do one of these, but I see them as a sign of being in the sleep zone and will be fast asleep soon.
    The problem is sometimes when they wake you up you decide to goto the toilet and gets you out of the feeling of falling asleep.
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