Hypnic Jerks: My Experience & Coping Ideas

Dark photo of a couple in bed, with the words on top "when you're just about to fall asleep, but your arm jolts you awake"

Have you ever woken up with a sudden jolt just as you were falling asleep? Maybe it felt like one of your arms or legs had an involuntary spasm?

Perhaps you’ve woken with the feeling of falling, saw a flash of light or heard an unexpected noise. If this sounds familiar, it could be that that you’ve experienced hypnic jerks.

In most cases, a hypnic jerk or two is thought to be a harmless part of the process of transitioning from being awake to asleep. However, if you’re concerned by the severity or how much they disrupt your sleep, or if you have spasms during the daytime, it’s a good idea to consult your doctor.

In this article, I’ll be talking about my experience of hypnic jerks, and how I cope with my partner’s episodes. After that, I’ll cover some background information and coping strategies.

Contents

My experience of hypnic jerks

My own experience of hypnic jerks is that they are usually quite mild and only happen once or twice a week – as far as I’m aware. Just one or two small twitches of a hand or arm seems to be the norm on the nights I have them. After that, I typically fall asleep quite quickly, and if I do have any more, I don’t remember them.

A few times a year, I experience a much bigger jolt that feels like one side of my whole upper body spasms or jumps in bed. I’ve noticed that these tend to happen when I’m particularly tired, such as when travelling or if I’ve hit the gym especially hard that day. Again though, I usually fall asleep fairly soon after one of these more dramatic episodes and they don’t cause me any distress.

Living with someone who has more frequent hypnic jerks

My partner, who kindly agreed for me to talk about her in this article, has multiple hypnic jerks every night without fail. As a bit of a light sleeper myself, her twitching has a tendency to keep me awake until it finally subsides, especially because they are sometimes very pronounced.

Interestingly, like my own hypnic jerks, I only notice her hands and arms making any movements. Even when we have our feet touching, they never seem to twitch. It’s always her upper body.

They also seem to follow a pattern. There may be two to five small movements or twitches over the course of a minute or two, and then one big one. If we are holding hands at the time, it sometimes feels like an intermittent pulsing of her hand, followed by either a tighter squeeze of my hand as her fingers contract or a sudden movement of her whole hand or arm to one side.

They rarely seem to wake her up on their own, but sometimes they cause me to move in bed, which then wakes her up. If she does stir and I jokingly tell her she just had an epic twitch, her usual reply is ‘oh really? I must be falling asleep!’

Her hypnic jerks are nightly, and can go on for several minutes after we turn the light out. They are so predictable, that I’ve learned to accept that it’s likely I won’t fall asleep myself unless I sleep on the other side of the bed with no physical contact or I wait until she’s fallen asleep if our bodies are touching. And if she wakes up to go the bathroom in the middle of the night, and I’m awake too, the hypnic jerks often start all over again.

How I cope with our combined hypnic jerks

For me, the main thing is to always keep in mind that they are likely to be normal and nothing to worry about in both our cases. Fortunately, they don’t last long, so I don’t lie in bed worrying about my occasional twitches.

I harbor no resentment towards my partner just because her hypnic jerks keep me awake for a few minutes. It’s quite likely it would take me that long to relax and fall asleep anyway, with or without her spasms.

Finally, one of the key points I try to remember is that they can be seen as a sign that sleep is probably just around the corner. Even if I have a more dramatic jolt, I just smile to myself and look forward to the next phase – sleep.

As you’ll see in the following sections, there are some lifestyle factors that may be involved in hypnic jerks. For me personally, they are all things I try to do anyway, not specifically for the hypnic jerks. But I do feel that stress is an important one for both of us to keep an eye on, as the hypnic jerks anecdotally seem worse during periods of higher stress.

Background information & research

As someone who has had hypnic jerks for as long as I can remember, and more recently am living with a partner who has them nightly, it’s interesting to see what the current scientific thinking is around hypnic jerks. Let’s take a look.

Different names

First of all, if you look up hypnic jerks online, it’s worth bearing in mind that they are sometimes referred to by different names:

  • Sleep starts.
  • Night starts.
  • Sleep jerks.
  • Hypnagogic jerk.
  • Myoclonic jerks. A myoclonus is an involuntary muscle twitch, with hiccups being another harmless example.

What are hypnic jerks?

Hypnic jerks are the sudden, involuntary twitching of one or more muscles when you’re falling asleep. The International Classification of Sleep Disorders manual describes them as follows:

Sleep starts, also known as hypnic jerks, are sudden, brief, simultaneous contractions of the body or one or more body segments occurring at sleep onset. Sleep starts (or hypnic jerks) usually consist of a single contraction that often affects the body asymmetrically. The jerks may be either spontaneous or induced by stimuli.

International Classification of Sleep Disorders – 3rd Edition

The fact that they often occur asymmetrically explains why it might feel that just one arm or leg jolts. Furthermore, they can occur independently or in response to external stimuli in the bedroom, such as your partner moving or external noise.

The Mdsmanuals.com website explains a key difference between physiologic myoclonus and pathologic myoclonus. It states that physiologic myoclonus can occur when a person is falling asleep or during early sleep phases, whereas pathologic myoclonus can result from different disorders and medications.

In a review paper in 2012, Dora Lozsadi neatly explained this difference as follows:

Myoclonus is a brief (less than half a second) contraction involving agonist and antagonist muscles, leading to a sudden jerk. It may be a normal phenomenon, as in the so-called ‘sleep starts’. When pathological, myoclonus is a symptom of a broad range of neurological and systemic diseases.

Dora Lozsadi

Symptoms

The most common symptom is the sudden twitching, spasm or jolting sensation of one or more limbs. Some people might have other experiences, such as:

  • The feeling of falling.
  • A shock sensation.
  • Hearing a sudden noise.
  • Seeing a flash or unusual light.
  • Hallucinations.

In addition, researchers have noted that it’s possible to have a physiological response, such as a faster heartbeat, increased breathing rate or sweating.

If you do have symptoms that feel more severe than simply twitching, it’s a good idea to consult your doctor about your experience.

How common are hypnic jerks?

If you have hypnic jerks, then rest assured you’re not the only one whose wayward limbs seem to have a mind of their own at bedtime. In a study in 2016, Italian researchers suggested that between 60% and 70% of people experience hypnic jerks, both men and women and people of all ages.

What causes hypnic jerks?

As is often the case in the complex world of sleep, the exact cause still isn’t completely understood. The International Classification of Sleep Disorders manual offers this technical explanation:

Hypnic jerks are hypothetically caused by sudden descending volleys originating in the brainstem reticular formation activated by the system instability at the transition between wake and sleep.

Or in layman’s terms, your brain and body are briefly a little bit out of sync as you relax and go from being awake to being asleep.

Factors that may increase the frequency and severity of hypnic jerks

Although the exact cause is still up for debate, researchers have suggested several factors (such as this 2015 paper and this 2023 paper ) that might increase the severity or likelihood of hypnic jerks happening, such as:

  • The use of caffeine or other stimulants. Medline.com has more information on the side effects of caffeine.
  • Anxiety or stress.
  • Fatigue, such as from intense physical work or exercise.
  • Sleep deprivation.
  • Certain medications.

Is it caused by another condition?

A review of hypnic jerks literature by researchers at the University of Alabama raised an important point. They proposed that hypnic jerks are often seen as benign, but could in some cases be a ‘characteristic of certain illness’.

They also suggest that hypnic jerks are more prevalent in chronic health conditions that disrupt sleep and could also be ‘mimicked by other movement disorders’.

Some of the differential diagnoses they say should be identified include:

  • Nocturnal seizures.
  • Nonepileptic seizures.
  • Parasomnias.
  • Hyperekplexia.
  • Restless legs syndrome.
  • Periodic limb movements in sleep.
  • Excessive fragmentary myoclonus.
  • Psychiatric diagnosis.

In addition, the Italian researchers in the 2016 study (see above) found that hypnic jerks are common in people with Parkinsonism. The Alabama team also suggested it could be helpful in diagnosing the condition.

Finally, don’t confuse sudden wakings from hypnic jerks with sleep apnea. If you, or someone you know, wakes suddenly gasping for breath or with loud snoring, this should be discussed with a doctor.

I don’t want to cause panic with the above information, but I think it’s good to be aware that ‘usually’ benign doesn’t mean ‘always benign for everyone’. Again, if you’re concerned about your own experience of hypnic jerks, it’s okay to raise it with your doctor, even if you think it’s likely to be normal. Peace of mind is valuable!

Reader survey results

Way back in 2014, I conducted a short survey for readers to share their experience of sleep starts. The results are of course biased because the people who voted were already searching for information about the topic. With thousands of people participating though, I think the results are still interesting.

1. Frequency

In the graphic below, you can see how often voters experienced hypnic jerks. It’s interesting to note that many readers had them on a daily basis. The largest percentage of 42.2% say they have them occasionally though.

chart of poll results into how frequently people have hypnic jerks

2. How they affect your sleep

Here you can see that many people were able to sleep well after an episode. 43.9% of people say it disrupts their sleep at first, but then they sleep okay.

no sleepless nights hypnic jerks poll 2 - how they affect your sleep.

3. The role of stress and anxiety

The final poll shows how people feel about the impact of stress or anxiety. 50.8% thought anxiety or stress ‘definitely’ makes their hypnic jerks worse. It could be that tackling stress or anxiety in your life is a good idea if it’s relevant to you.

chart of the poll results for how much people think stress or anxiety make hypnic jerks worse for them

Managing hypnic jerks

Do you need to see a doctor?

While sleep experts often suggest that hypnic jerks are benign in most cases, they do recognise that they can have a negative impact on some people’s sleep and well-being.

If your hypnic jerks aren’t severe and you don’t have any other symptoms or health concerns that are worrying you, then try to relax and allow yourself to fall asleep naturally when they occur.

However, if you have them regularly and/or severely, or have other symptoms, you might want to raise it with your doctor. If they think it’s a sign of another disorder, they might ask you to do a sleep study or further tests.

They might also offer to prescribe medication to reduce the frequency. And importantly, they can offer reassurance if that’s the appropriate course of action and give you advice about healthy sleep habits that might be beneficial in your case.

Finally, despite what I’ve said, trust your instincts. If you just ‘have the feeling’ you’d like to speak to your doctor about it, then do so.

How can you stop hypnic jerks?

It might not be possible to totally stop hypnic jerks from happening. Accepting them as normal and harmless is perhaps your best option if they aren’t severe.

Additionally, the following self-help ideas might be worth considering:

  • Cut down on caffeine, nicotine and other stimulants – especially in the evening.
  • Reduce how much intense work or exercise you do in the evening. Do exercise in the morning or afternoon instead.
  • Eat a balanced, healthy diet.
  • Use a comfortable mattress and bedding.
  • Sleep in a comfortable position.
  • If you suffer from anxiety or stress, do some relaxation exercises in bed. One simple breathing exercise is to inhale for a count of 4, hold for 4, then exhale for a count of 4.
  • Try not to allow yourself to get too tired. You may understandably have a busy and tiring lifestyle. But it’s important to give yourself enough time to sleep well.
infographic with self-help ideas for hypnic jerks and good sleep

Avoid the vicious cycle of worry

Hypnic jerks may trigger a vicious cycle of worry if you become fixated on them.

If you worry about hypnic jerks, you might start to get less sleep and become more fatigued. The problem then is that if stress and fatigue can contribute to the frequency of hypnic jerks, you might find yourself in a vicious cycle.

The key is not to allow the occasional sleep start to disrupt your sleep any more than it has to. Again, try to relax, forget about it and go back to sleep.

Readers’ tips for coping with hypnic jerks

In the comments below, many readers have offered suggestions for reducing their hypnic jerks. So I’ve compiled a list of the most common and interesting ideas.

These ideas don’t all have medical backing and are anecdotal. Please take them with a pinch of salt. But you might find the ideas useful if nothing else has helped.

  • Try to see the funny side (I do this myself).
  • Magnesium supplements have been helpful for some readers, as has rubbing magnesium oils or transdermal magnesium into the area where you most commonly twitch. One suggestion was to get a blood test to check if you have a deficiency. Disclaimer: please discuss supplementation with your doctor as there is no conclusive evidence that magnesium helps with hypnic jerks.
  • Assess your current diet. Make sure it’s healthy and balanced. Eat less processed sugary and salty foods. Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.
  • If you follow a special diet, such as being vegan, pay particular attention to your vitamin and mineral intake, such as the B vitamins. Ensure your diet includes the right quantity, and preferably get your B vitamins through food rather than supplements if possible.
  • Don’t drink alcohol, coffee or energy drinks for a week and see if it improves.
  • Don’t stress about it, as worrying makes it worse.
  • Try to properly deal with any major source of stress in your life.
  • If you suffer from anxiety, take steps to tackle this in your daily life.
  • Stop doing very intense exercise late in the evening for a week and see if it improves.
  • Try to see them as a sign that you must be falling asleep. So it’s a positive thing as you know you’ll soon be asleep.
  • Ask your doctor if any medication you currently take could contribute to your hypnic jerks.
  • Check if medication you’re taking has a known side effect of myoclonus. If it does, raise it with your doctor.
  • Experiment with different sleep positions if you sometimes feel uncomfortable in bed.
  • Don’t go to bed very late at night.
  • Film yourself sleeping or use a sleep tracker. One reader said he discovered through doing this that he was snoring, and that the hypnic jerks occurred while he was snoring heavily.
  • Some female readers feel that it can be connected to hormonal changes.
  • Ask for a referral to a sleep clinic if it’s particularly troubling.
  • Ensure you have a quiet sleeping environment. It could be a sudden noise which startles you awake.
  • Stay hydrated.
  • If you’re being bothered by them repeatedly, get up and do something relaxing for 10-20 minutes, then try to sleep again.
  • Have a warm shower before bed. Then do relaxation exercises before getting into bed or while in bed.
  • If you do exercise, it could be excess lactic acid contributing to hypnic jerks. So try looking into ways to reduce the lactic acid.

Your views

It’s always interesting to hear your experiences, and I know many readers have benefited from reading the stories and advice of others.

So please keep your comments, tips and theories coming. And if you have any practical ideas for dealing with hypnic jerks, I’ll continue to add them to the list.

1,237 Comments

  1. I have chronic fatigue syndrome, now called ME, but when I’m in a bad spell, I’ve overdone it for too long, my body literally shuts itself down and wants sleeep and rest now, even when I’m awake.. And these jerking and twitching is what I get all day, everyday til I step back and recoup & repair my body.which takes a good month of downtime. When the twitching stops, I know my body is recovering from that bad spell aka crash..

    • Hi,

      I had this during sleep onset too in the most extreme way one can possibly imagine. Little or 2 hours of sleep, which became worse only when I was on Maxim. As estrogen obviously triggered the symptoms I went off the contraceptive pill and took an aromatase inhibitor instead. It was the first time a drug worked after 10 years of pain and horror at nighttime.
      I did not respond to any sleeping pills or any antiepileptic drugs just no therapy worked. I am better now but it was a fight of 3 life times.

  2. I have been trying to figure out what is going on with me for almost 11 years now. This sounds pretty close. It started when I was was about 20-21. I’m 32 now. I would wake gasping for air. It started with once or twice a night. Now, it is all thru the night, and if I wasn’t on Ambien I would not sleep at all. I hate the fact that I’m on Ambien, and would love to get off, but have yet to find anything else that works. I’ve done sleep studies (that told me nothing), tried a CPAP machine, been on Zoloft for anxiety (which I stopped). The gasping has also been coupled with body jolts which cause panic as I wake. This always happens right as I’m falling asleep. Any thoughts?

    • I take ambien as well for the same reason. I don’t take it nightly, but I dislike having it as a crutch. I wish modern science could find something safer.

  3. You know, I have more memory of my childhood than the average person. I remember when I started having these, I literally thought I was about to fall off the bed. I was thankful to have them, since it was often true, or close to true. As I got older, it just became a nuisance.

    Based on this, I pose to you the following hypothesis. Maybe sleeping on beds is NOT something we’ve evolved to do, since it does require a small amount of conscious control over your body in order to avoid falling. I think these jerks are just a natural reaction to the trauma (that most of us have) of having fallen off the bed as children.

    One way to test this would be to ask in societies where people don’t sleep on beds from which they can fall.

  4. I thought I was the only one having this. Been jerking for many years but recently got alot worse. Im on my third sleepless night now, just gave up trying to sleep at around the 15th jerk, beeing the last one with a huge self-slap in the face. My doktor, nor anybody exept my girlfriend who witness it takes me serious when telling about it. “Completely normal, everybody has it sometimes..” So frustrating and at this point im almost completely disfunctional in everyday life. Doctor wont prescribe anything but antihistamines, wich I feel only makes it worse and end up in a state wich I cant sleep but cant keep awake either. Another jerk every 5 minutes. Only thing that helps are alcohol and like someone above said; That’s a dangerous route to go. Anyway, im changing doctor now and later today im going to Get wasted to get some sleep. Sorry for my crappy english, I’m Norwegian. Thanks for all you guys writing and all my best to you :)

    • Try avoiding all foods that contain wheat and gluten. Try it for a few weeks to see if it makes a difference. Nothing to lose.

  5. My body jerks during the day ” not when I go to sleep”. But I suffer with restless legs syndrome. Is their any connection with the jerking. I also suffer with acute apnea. I am wonder if all of them are tired into each other

  6. Wow, now i know I’m not alone. I get them mostly every other night. Its almost always right after i fall asleep that i burst, sitting down and catching my breath. Just today when my alarm went off i actually slapped myself. I dont sleep much so im guessing that is the problem. Also have a very busy lifestyle and currently trying to slow my pace. Though bothersome, readimg these articles kinda calmed me down a little…. hope we all get better

  7. I started with the jumpiness in January this year. I counted 35 jumps before I fell sleep. I had a sleep study and labs. The only thing that was wrong was I was anemic. I am taking iron and the anemia is gone. The jumpiness was gone for several months taking Clonazepam and Mirapex. A week ago I fell asleep ok but when I woke up in the middle of the night there they were again. Just so happened I had my annual well exam scheduled that week. I was changed to Gabapentin. I was told I could take up to 3 of them, start at 1. Took one at 8:00. Went to bed near 10. Started jumping. Took another slept well. I only got up for the bathroom once which was good. In the morning my head felt like it was all congested my legs and arm were rubbery. Last night I took 2 at 8. Fell asleep ok. Woke around 4 and I had the worse jumping I have ever had. I intend to call the DR and ask if we can increase the old two meds. I think I will try adding some magnesium too.

  8. I have literally leapt from my bed and landed on my head before I knew what was happening. I was sleeping on my back every time on the left half of the bed and the leap was always to the left. Luckily there were no sharp objects in the way or I might have been grievously injured. I am glad my skull and neck are still intact. I realised how dangerous it could be and started sleeping on the floor. Since then it has not recurred. I prefer to sleep on the lower berth of a train to be on the safe side.

    I once had a hypnopompic hallucination while waking up. I saw bright coloured specks on the white ceiling, that gradually faded away.

  9. Hello Ethan, I have a hard time grasping how anyone could see the jerk as a problem. I LOVE the jerk. I don’t get it every night. To me, it’s God, whom I may or may not believe in, or maybe my mom or dad, patting me on the head the way they used to do when I was a little girl, and telling me “Good night and sleep tight.” I am then reassured that I am really about to sleep. I feel thankful and I rest.

  10. Anyone ever heard of this????

    I’ve experienced hypnic jerks many times throughout my life, more so when I was younger, but still on occasion. Most of these have been of the falling-sensation variety and do not bother me for the most part.

    On occasion though, I have a different experience, maybe somewhat similar to the ‘exploding head syndrome’ described above. It is difficult to effectively put into words, but instead of the falling sensation, I feel a sudden and very acute burst of pressure on my face/head, which in turn jolts me awake. It does not hurt at all but it is very intense, as if I was being hit in the face very hard with a pillow, or a sudden burst of air pressure. As( or after) it happens I feel as if I have been hit in the face with a shovel and felt all of that force, except with no pain or other sensation whatsoever.

    I have asked many friends, family members, etc. and none of them have experienced anything like this, even if they do experience hypnic jerks. I’m not at all worried or bothered by it, just curious if anyone else has had a similar experience?? I am diagnosed with bipolar disorder and take a variety of psych meds, and I am also a recovering addict. I am no expert but I would imagine these factors could play into this, although I’ve asked friends/acquaintances who have a mental illness and/or history of substance abuse and none can relate. Like I said, not really a problem for me, just an odd phenomenon. At the very least I hope this is interesting and/or useful. Cheers

    • Was reading through the comments waiting to see someone describe something similar to what I feel, and you just kinda did.

      I experience it as a blackout which startles me awake, I will be super tired on the brink of sleep, but I will still be conscious and aware, and then suddenly all the static from my vision disappears, so my field of view goes pitch black for a brief second,

      This sensation feels very similar to someone throwing a soccer ball at your face, and it’s almost like the jerk is an automatic dodge response to that sensation.

      Oddly enough, I am also diagnosed with Bipolar, maybe our neurological makeup causes us to experience these hypnic jerks a little differently.

  11. The only time I don’t ever get them is if I have alcohol in the evening. As I want cut down I get the jerks back

  12. Last night I experienced what may have been considered a Hypnic Jerk. I would get to the point of almost being fully asleep and then wake up super fast in a full panic like my heart had stopped beating. To me that’s what it feels like, like my heart stops beating and my body is waking me up to stay alive. Once I was awake Id check my heart beat, and it was fine, a little fast but fine. This repeated 4 times until I went down stairs and read about my possible condition. I was going to go to the ER but eventually passed out. I am so tired today and my anxiety is super high for going to bed this evening. :(

    • I hv been facing the same issue for the past weeks.. Kinda bothering me… It’s like almost going to sleep n suddenly feels like my heart beat is going to stop n I hv to wake up immediately to keep a check… I face this situation when I am tired n stressed out.. Don’t know wat to do. Can someone help

  13. I somewhat knew the jerks were fairly common – mine are falling off a curb which then wakes me back up but I have the exploding head as well! It’ll sound like
    Someone’s banging on the front door, or knocking loudly – rarely it might sound like a
    Large box being dropped Thanks for the info!

  14. i have a 8 years old boy that was born with this in 2009 took him abroad to Germany and London when he was 3 thy told that it will go away but still hes having it and more than before but now that he grow up he doesn’t get disturb with it and now my last baby boy also is like this sens birth and its getting worse he doesn’t sleep at nit its driving me crazy ????
    its very clear to me when i give him flue or cough medicine like antihistamine it gets worse and when he plays and be active during day too much its worse alsooo the gerky movement doesn’t stop in all parts

    my older son was on depakote for 1 year when he was 2 years but with no affect nothing better then thy stopped in london
    now i wanna put the small one or monoclonal or melatonin

    i am always on unti-depression and mood stabilizer but not during pregnancy so i dunno if this effects

    • Hi Sana
      Thanks for your comment. I can understand your concern – it’s upsetting when children just don’t seem to sleep well. I’d say though that it’s important to check with a doctor what could be causing it, and especially before giving them melatonin.
      Reggards
      Ethan

  15. I self induce a hypnic jerk when I haven’t had enough sleep and feel tired after work. It takes exactly 18-22 mins every time, and I’m incredibly curious about why I can do it and what is happening.

  16. I go through different types of sleep disorders. For over a year now I’ve been going through sever episodes of Hypnic jerking. I read some helpful info about how although it is rare in most people, that are certain groups of people where it is fairly common. These include people who are reluctant to go to bed until the feel they can no longer keep their eyes open. People who’re afraid of laying awake and worrying, people afraid of not being able to sleep or being woken up frequently, people that have frequent or chronic nightmares, and people afraid of laying in bed and being in pain, like people with fibromyalgia. The cause is because of being exhausted, the brain doesn’t advance through the proper stages of sleep and advances directly into deep sleep, so the brain reacts as if it is going unconscious, and so the head jerks to wake you back up on purpose, as it thinks it is passing out. When I have these it’s usually in morning when the episodes can be so sever that I won’t dream much all night, and then after 8 hours, I’ll wake up and I’ll be so exhausted I’ll go back to bed and then I’ll start a cycle of starting dreams and images before I’m barely even a sleep and wake straight back up, and this will repeat it self over and over while short little 2 or 3 seconds dreams, and this can go on for an hour or two or three, after already having 8 hours of sleep. And I still don’t feel rested.

  17. I have had this condition for 20 years and didn’t know until a few days ago what it was.
    thanx to Mr. Google . Have tried everything i could think of to make this jerking go away but nothing seems to work. Sometimes, a few glasses of wine in the evening seems to help but, probably not a good idea in the long run. Until recently, i thought i was the only one of Earth with this condition as several doctors and two sleep studies came up with nothing.

  18. Mine last all night. My entire body jerks. I came off Desipramine . I was on it over 30 yrs. Now im on zoloft…..it seems thats when this all started…..

  19. There’s a new Facebook group called “hypnic jerk support.” Whether you’ve cured yourself of this or are still suffering, come join. We’d love to hear your story.

  20. I was only 4years old when hypnic jerks started until now and i am 43, i didnt know what they called it until i research it recently, i always thought it was an evil spirit that was standing at my bedside and because of its powerful presents i could not move just jerking its very difficult to get me out of it i must hawl like a dog so my children can hear me so that they can come and pull me out of bed because i cant get myself out of it it is so EMBARRESS

    • Lezil, it sounds like you are experiencing sleep paralysis with hypnogogic hallucinations. For me, the hypnic jerk is just a quick jolt and that’s it. I have also experienced sleep paralysis with the hallucinations. Those will also usually happen as you are falling asleep. The difference is that the hallucination part of the sleep paralysis does usually happen as a feeling of something evil at your bedside and the paralysis keeps you from moving for a few minutes. I have had episodes when it felt like a demon was sitting on my chest and reaching in to pull my heart out or crush my heart. Very terrifying. I stumbled on some information years ago explaining that the sleep paralysis with hallucinations is essentially your body going straight into REM as you are falling asleep instead of going through the normal sleep stages before you go into REM. Your body does paralyze itself during REM to prevent you from physically acting out your dreams, so that aspect of it is normal. What makes it a problem is that it shouldn’t happen immediately upon falling asleep. I also learned it is more likely to happen if you are sleeping on your back. It helped me immensely to learn that it was an immediate dream state because I am able to recognize if it’s starting to happen and interrupt it by opening my eyes and waking myself back up before trying to sleep again. I also started sleeping on my side, which almost completely stopped it from happening to me.

      If you are experiencing this, you should probably consult with your physician to make sure nothing more serious is going on and see if there are some treatment options that might work for you.

    • I used to have out of body experiences along with the paralysis, and the presence of evil eventually, where the demons would try to pull me out of my body right during the period of time when I would start to fall asleep until I was asleep. It was very terrifying. I finally received help when I had special prayer that some would call Deliverance, and none of those things happen to me anymore since then. I had unknowingly opened occultic doors in my past, by playing with the Ouija board, watching certain scary movies, or even reading certain books. What you need, are born-again, Spirit-filled, believers, who are familiar with spiritual warfare, and know how to pray to close spiritual doors in your life, along with getting rid of demons and their effects. It is amazing what the name and the blood of Jesus can do!

  21. I started suffering from hypnic jerks (in the form of chest spasms and arm movement) back in November of 2016 which initially cause 5 nights of no sleep. My doctor prescribed Ambien which worked for about a month and then resulted in me waking up after 4 hours. Going off the Ambien caused the jerks to return instantly. My doctor prescribed Xanax, which I took for 7 months and had relief. My doctor wanted me to wean of the Xanax and the jerks returned with a vengeance causing insomnia again. Oddly, my blood pressure has always been slightly high (top number at 131 consistanly) and my doctor prescribed a low dose blood pressure med prior to giving me a new sleeping pill After just 4 days on the blood pressure med the hypnic jerks were gone and a weeks later I’m sleeping 7-8 hours per night again. I know this is not the same cure for everyone, but if you have an elevated blood pressure it might be worth talking to your doctor.

    PS – I also tried every natural remedy and sleep hygene cure prescribed. None of it worked.

    • Eric G,
      Thanks for posting! I’m glad that you found something that finally helped you. My blood pressure was in the 130’s also and I also suffer from hypnic jerks. I’m just curious, what is the name of the blood pressure medication that you are currently using that has stopped the hypnic jerks for you?

        • Me also.
          As my blood pressure was up at 160 / 100 way above my normal obviously and i just recently starting jerking waking me up which has been so severe that i’ve not actually got to sleep for 2 nights which is very frightening and starts a vicious circle
          this sounds to me like there might be a ling to hypertension and twitching.
          please let me know the name …. of blood pressure and sleeping pills
          many thanks
          rosco

  22. I started having the jerks back in feb 2017. at first i was startled about what it was at first. i learned to deal with them. i sort of learned to block them by placing a heavy wool blanket over me. that actually worked 90% of the time. until a week or so ago. now last week to now, they came back with a terrible vengeance. 3 days of all night jerks whenever i would try to sleep. no sleep during those 3 days. i was crying cringing and the like. my depression,anxiety, and panic disorders were rapidly worsening and i was lashing out at ppl. lately this has spooked me so much to a point that im afraid to go to sleep.

  24. I remember reading or hearing that “falling dreams” were caused by falling asleep with a limb partially off the bed, like having your hand or foot dangling off the side or end of the bed. This disrupts the blood flow to the limb causing the hypnic jerk. Ever since learning this (probably 10 or more years ago) I’m very careful not to fall asleep with my arm over the side of the bed, and ever since then, I don’t recall a single falling dream.

  25. I have had these for many yrs. The big one hit lat august and I thought it was a heart attack. I was admitted for testing and everything was normal. The jerks stopped, but in the last week they reappeared. I started to look what had changed.
    Stress and anxiety have been a problem for me always. I have I insomnia as well. I rotate between klonopin and Valium usually every 60 days to avoid physical dependence. So I am coming off klonopin and have been off 2 weeks now while going back on Valium. My research showed me that klonopin affects the motor part of the brain, while Valium does not. I will be moving back to klonopin much quicker now. Meanwhile I will see a neurologist to find a medicine that can duplicate this effect.

  26. After two months of 4 hours/night sleep due to change in mania at start of year, worse sleep deprivation from stress ended in 9 day with 8 hours total sleep (legal paperwork.) July 2012, with other health issues, hypnic spasms *any time I relaxed,* including meditation and sleep, started.

    Enough sleep and less stress, start of 2014 they were down to almost normal, once in a while before sleep, start of meditation but gone before end. Meditation was very helpful, reduces stress /cortisol that depletes nutrients and interfere with liver etc. functioning.

    Then my thyroid started improving sending TSH low, thyroid high, but main doc would NOT send me to endocrinologist. Hot summer, hostile move (renovations), a fire, unable to think straight, overheating, loss of money, of things in family (avoidable if thyroid normal) . . .

    TSH went to 0.02, 5 months of heart pounding even in the 2-3 hours daily of sleep.

    When I stopped thyroid, damage had me twitching at any relaxations. Puss un gall bladder, even in public just saying words like love, prayer, meditation, etc. Instead of calling my neurologist, one doctor called security, putting off GB surgery by 2 months.

    Now GB out, started zinc, spasm free 20 hours, and 51 other symptoms improved, then got weird.

    Also on sodium citrate/citric acid, due to 5 low bicarbonate labs I was told were normal. Then told I was psych to think they related to certain foods causing bilateral sciatica, then to avoid this foods (all protein, dairy, oils, plums, Brussels sprouts.)

    Suddenly on “Bicitrate,” light sensitivity, side effects to anesthesia, ammonia in urine as well as shortness of breath *also* reduced. May be helping hypnic spasms too, if only through less stress, less nutritional depletion, less body-induced stress and cortisol, as well as having prop it wasn’t just psych.

    I’m also on depakote. It depletes l-carnatine (which is how it controls epilepsy – check the PDR – vitamin E, folate, selenium (be ware of overdosing; if you eat meat or Brazil nuts, you may not ever need supplementation beyond vitamin) and Chromium.

    Stress depletes calcium, and low calcium in nerves leads to grinding teeth, insomnia and irritation. Irritation can happen when your body is short of one of the complex of calcium input nutrients, including major players: Ca, Mg, Zn, MN (manganese is strong in Basil, which cures an odd non-illness scratch throat I get; I carry it with me) and Vitamin D, for me.

    Any shortage can cause issues: low B5 causes low stomach acid, so many calciums won’t absorb. (My Mom took pre-acidified calcium to deal with this.) All nutrients must be available.

    I also ate cooked brain. I started dreaming again immediately, and processing my losses from the move, etc. Lots of crying, but less stress. I find cycling types of foods with a baseline of vitamins and nutrients helps, with exercise to slow my hyper-healing, sleeping as well as I can.

    Along with sleep, one’s specific nutrition needs and exercise, meditation and Chinese exercises, probably yoga (somewhat similar) are what had them almost gone for me, and going away again. Mine almost busted the recliner I was in. Now I can at least safely go in public without fear of having security called on me.

  27. Possible Help for Hypnic Jerks From Personal Experience

    I started getting hypnic jerks over four years ago. Tried everything from western medicine to alternative treatments, including acupuncture, somatic experience, brain spotting, emotional freedom technique, massages, chiropractors, ericksonian hypnosis, neurological medicines.

    Recently the following three things together seems to be making a huge difference so far and very quickly.

    1)Drinking a lot of water everyday
    2)Taking electrolyte pills as well as also taking magnesium separately
    3)Using the Ondamed machine which is a biofeedback machine.

    Not sure if they are really helping me or just a good stretch for me but I feel fairly confident it is the above but not sure which of the three is the most important. But will keep you updated if I continue doing better.

    No harm in trying at least the first two.

  28. Mine happens when I try to fight falling asleep to stay awake few hours before bedtime. When I do go to bed and go to sleep my body jerks to wake up because I did not relax and knowing that it is ok time to go to sleep, I don’t need to fight to stay awake.

  29. Jerking is the most embarrassing thing especially in school. Now I don’t always sleep in school but I do during a long test that I finished before the time, or a field trip on the bus.
    I think the worst one that i’v had was when I jerked myself awake in the silent classroom. Resulting in me loudly passing gas and kicking my leg into the person’s chair in front of me..
    I don’t think anyone could top that.

  30. i get soo scared when my husband cuddles up to me at night because in less than a few minutes into sleep, his body twitches or moves so rapidly fast, that for example, if his hand or arms is near my faces, i feel like im being boxed … soo i get really hurt in the process of this unbearable situation… and it happens almost every single night..
    i feel very bad telling him to sleep on his side of the bed , but this is a worrying factor for me… and really want to know, if his not suffering from anything else other than whats been mentioned from other comments… im really concerned, any help?

  31. I take a product called CALM about 30 minutes before my bedtime. It is powdered magnesium. I use just a tiny bit because it knocks me out cold if I use too much. It’s sour tasting so I just use a small amount of water, let the powder dissolve and gulp it down. I hate being jerked awake when I am on the brink of sleep. It’s scary and it really makes me afraid to go to bed. My arms also feel tingly and weird. I wonder if these things are related.

  32. suffering of jerk … its so annoying, it scares me a lot .. i feel so helpless at the point when i face it .. i just went through one and woke up where i ended googling for the solution to get ‘sound sleep’.. lets discuss more on how we can knock them outta life..

  33. I dnno how i can help myself getting rid from this serious problem .. i hate this as I am getting almost evry night these days. I have been doing intense exercise since a month and from that time I have this jerk awaking nights .. I just had one worst jerk and i felt like i will die and woke up .. This is bringing stress in my life .. HELP !

  34. I am an alcoholic and I have.stopped drinking. Since then I haven’t been to sleep. How long will this last? Has anyone else had this problem that saw this article?

    • Hi Andy
      Thanks for your comment. It is quite common for people to have sleep difficulty when reducing or stopping drinking. Hopefully it will stabilise in a couple of weeks. The useful thing you can do is to try to keep as stable a sleep routine as possible to help your body and mind adjust to a new lifestyle and routine. Also make sure you eat well, and try to get out and do some exercise or go for a long walk during the day.
      Regards
      Ethan

    • Hi Andy, I have the same problem the subsequent night after a binge is awful, I just lay there thinking the most morbid things, and eventually when I do dose off I get these jerks

  35. I had 3 nights of multiple hypnic jerks. They were so strong that I bit my tongue and cheeks to the point of bleeding. Then I was too scared and anxious to fall asleep again for fear of hurting myself again. On those nights I had a bad head cold and was taking benadryl. Now that my cold is gone, I am hoping the hypnic jerks are also.

  36. I call them “body jerks” because every area of my body has one at one time or another..even my face. It started a year ago when I had an allergic reaction to Armour Thyroid med. I was having the jerks all night long, every time I started to go to sleep…BAM. My body was using the T3 and not storing the T4, within a few months I was in the hospital, where they put me on T4 but I still felt horrible. Just in October I found an endocrinologist who discovered my body was not adequately changing the stored T4 to T3. He started me on a T3 supplement and I have to say they don’t happen as frequently as the used to, but when they do it’s just as bad…all night. They don’t start until around 2 or 3 am, but then are constant.
    I am very active during the day (yoga, hiking, biking) and am not prone to being “stressed out”. I do enjoy wine at the end of the day, but it is not near to bed time.
    This has been a long hard year for me, I’m 56 but days like today I feel like I’m 86.

  37. Thank you very much for this article…
    I really didn’t know when this started but I started noticing since 2012. I usually feel am falling down from a high building and my leg or hand become paralyzed.

  38. I feel for all of you, as this condition can seriously affect your health and mental state. I wish to share with you how I overcame my hypnic jerks. For some reason my jerks only occurred in my right leg, sort of an electrical shock through my right thigh and calf. I’ve used a TENS unit previously to help with minir muscle aches and decided to place 1 TENS pad on my rt calf and the other on my thigh. I selected an impulse setting that closely matched the feeling from the HJ. Since the TENS impulse is so similar to the HJ, it totally masked the HJ shocks and I can now fall asleep. Just the peace of mind that you won’t feel a sudden HJ shock from a calm resting state puts me at ease and allows me to sleep. Please give it a try, if you’re out of options.

  39. I noticed that, if I’ve been sleeping more than 8 hours including naps for 2 days in a row, I’m bound to get HJ the following night. If I cut down my sleeping hours to less than 8 hours a day and no napping for a day or two, HJ stops.

    The problem is, I get blurry vision when sleeping less than 8 hours at night. Either way I still have broken sleep, waking up at least once every night. Feeling tired throughout the day.

    I’m guessing that HJ is trying to prevent us from oversleeping.

  40. Whoa, I never realised that hypnic jerks could prevent a good night’s sleep. I used to jerk awake in the middle of lectures and can almost be counted on to fall asleep after lunch. In hindsight, it was combo of ignorance about controlling the amount of rice for lunch and also desperately trying to stay awake during lectures. Sometimes I realise I am asleep when I don’t see the lecturer or the classroom.
    It’s not nice to have this kind of weakness and am looking out for clues and hints to get over it. Glad to hear of others with similar problems.

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