A doctor explains the surprising reasons behind those jolting sensations as you drift off to sleep
London: You know that feeling when you’re super tired, ready to crash, and suddenly your body decides to jolt you awake? It’s the worst! A lot of folks struggle to calm their minds at night, while others deal with these weird spasms that just won’t let them sleep.
Dr. Sooj Kukadia, an NHS doc, has taken a closer look at these “nighttime glitches” or hypnic jerks. In a TikTok video, he explains that these jolts are involuntary jumps your body makes as you’re trying to fall asleep. It’s like your body is playing tricks on you!
He mentions that these jerks usually happen when you’re transitioning from being awake to actually sleeping. The brain gets a bit confused during this time, thinking you’re falling, which leads to those muscle twitches. Most people only notice them if they wake up because of the jolts.
Interestingly, Dr. Kukadia suggests that these jolts might be an evolutionary trait to keep our ancestors from falling out of trees. Stress, anxiety, being super tired, or even too much caffeine can trigger these jerks, especially if you’ve been exercising hard before bed.
If you find yourself dealing with these jolts for a long time or even when you’re awake, it might be a good idea to see a doctor. One viewer on his video mentioned that they heard it’s because our brain thinks we’re dying, which is a bit dramatic, right?
Others chimed in, saying they experience this all the time. One person said it happens every night and interrupts their sleep. Another shared that it’s linked to their dreams, especially when they feel like they’re falling. It’s wild how many people relate to this!
One viewer even said they barely sleep, getting only a few hours a night because their body just won’t let them. And another mentioned that after a few sleepless nights, it gets so bad they start feeling anxious. It’s clear that these jolts can really mess with your sleep!
