Travels in Hypnagogia

[steepholm]

In the last year or so I've noticed that, as I am in the process of drifting off to sleep, I tend to get strange spasms and twitches, at the rate of one every thirty seconds or so. They aren't violent, but they are noticeable, and can emanate from more or less any part of my body. I'm fairly sure this never used to happen! What can it all mean? It doesn't happen when I'm wide awake, mind, but only in the borderlands of slumber.

My chronic Hypochondria Melodramatica leads me to wonder about degenerative diseases, and to remember that my aunt had Parkinson's, but I doubt it's anything to worry about, and I'd certainly rather twitch than have sleep paralysis, which used to be quite a problem. Still, I wonder if anyone else has similar symptoms?

Comments

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

You mean when your body just suddenly jumps violently? I've had that for years and years. I don't remember when it first happened. It sometimes happens in my dreams, which I really hate. But mostly, yeah, on the edge of sleep, or it could happen when I was dozing off in exhaustion at school, during my lunch minute.

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

It's good to know I'm not the only twitcher.

[a-d-medievalist.livejournal.com]

had a bf who did that almost every night. I do rarely, but usually when I've had a hard workout after not working out for a couple of weeks. And the cat does it all the time.

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

Since the only hard workout I ever do is my tax return, I'm not qualified to compare notes on that, but I strongly identify with your cat!

[brisingamen.livejournal.com]

Happens to me sometimes, and to PK a lot! We appear be otherwise ok. I know it's sometimes called jactitation, or myoclonus, leading to myoclonic. But that's all I know.

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

Thanks - and thanks too for the new words!

[ericmvan.livejournal.com]

The preferred medical term now is "hypnic jerks" (which is also what I plan to name any rock band I put together). They are universal and benign.

Speaking from a sample size of one, I had them much worse at a time when I know my serotonin levels were sky high. If you are also experiencing hallucination-like misperceptions when drowsy (e.g., white noise sounding like music) and/or especially experiencing facial muscle twitches, then that could be the cause. Otherwise they are idiopathic (which, come to think of it, would be a terrific title for The Hypnic Jerks' debut album).

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

Hypnic jerks - wonderful! Clearly the successors to the Beatnik Jerks of the '50s.

Thanks for the information, and for dropping by.

[mevennen.livejournal.com]

Yes, I have always twitched and sometimes get a sensation as if I'm falling from a great height.

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

Ouch! I've never had the height thing, I'm not sorry to say. But thanks for the twitching solidarity.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Count me among the Hypnic Jerks.

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

Welcome, sister!

[lady-schrapnell.livejournal.com]

I know a contest between your memory and your Hypochondria Melodramatica would be won by the latter no problem, but we have discussed this phenomenon and its widespreadness on several occasions! I usually have the falling off something variety and that's doubtless the one that caused the "it's a memory of birth trauma" theory which is so bloody plausible. Not.

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

Surely I'm allowed to revert neurotically to subjects we've already talked about?

Falling out of bed seems more likely than birth trauma, if it's going to be a memory of falling out of anything. Or maybe the nightmares caused by being sung to sleep with "Rock-a-bye baby".

[lady-schrapnell.livejournal.com]

Surely I'm allowed to revert neurotically to subjects we've already talked about?

Sure, but then I'm also allowed to tease you if you forget our discussion completely and ask whether anybody else in the world shares the symptom!

Yes, quite to 'Rock-a-bye Baby' as the least soothing lullaby lyrics ever.