Spooky

I don't know if this is normal or not- please let me know if this happens to you.

I'll be in bed about to fall asleep, in that stage between sleep and waking. Suddenly, I'll just POP awake, extremely startled, as if I was catching myself about to fall. I can never remember what it is that startled me, but I'm always surprised to find myself flat on my back, safe in my bed before I wake up a little and come to my senses. It doesn't do any harm (other than give me a good jolt), but it's terribly uncomfortable.
What is this called, and has anyone experienced it?
Thanks,
Theresa

I remember someone describing what caused it once but I can't recall what they said.

However, yes, I have experienced this quite a few times, normally when I'm first going to bed at night. I usually feel like I'm about to miss a step so I'll jerk my leg, or I'll feel as if someone's going to touch my shoulder so I'll jerk away. It's not uncommon, and they actually kind of make me laugh.

Anyone have an explination?

i get this often. I am just about to fall asleep and all of a sudden I have this huge falling feeling happen so i jerk up to "catch" myself. Its so annoying when it happens because you have to start sleep all over again. Its normal though. All it is, is a bumpy takeoff into your second or third stage of sleep. As your body is slowing down, sometimes it messes up and does something to our ears and throws our equilibrium off before the rest of the body is ready. thats what causes the falling feeling. there isn't much you can do about it, so do not worry :)

Sounds like a hypnogogic(alt. spelling hypnagogic-aka hypnic) jerk. I've always had them. I call them "the yips". Sometimes they shake the whole bed.
Here's some information on yips:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypnic_jerk

Well, I know that when I'm doing a WILD, and I start to slip into the dream world, the first feeling i get is that I'm gilding across my bed, and then I fall off and am gliding across the floor before I open my eyes and find myself in the dream world. I don't believe in astral projection or any spiritual stuff like that, but I like how it feels like you're almost getting sucked away from your body.

Perhaps this is the same phenomena, only you're not conscious that is about to happen, and when you're not quite asleep but feel that falling sensation, maybe thats what causes the "jolt" as I like to call it.

I have a slight case of sleep apnea which I think is mostly psychological in my case (most of the time it happens when I think about it before bed). I find that I get this jolting awakening quite often and some of the times my wife says it was due to the fact I stopped breathing. Let's just say I doubt this is your case but I thought I might aswell share as you never know.

Ive heard a great deal of this and that to explain jolting awakenings, one that stands out was something to do with muscle cramps/relaxation (odd enough too much relaxation causes muscle jolts).

I would just recommend trying a calcium/magnesium supplement before bed if this continues or annoys you too much. I believe 400mg of magnesium and 200-300mg of calcium, taking magnesium with the calcium will help with the absorption of the calcium.

Always check with a proper source or talk to your doctor before you start any supplements/drugs!

A month or two ago, I got them almost every night. For me it was more like I was throwing myself into the air suddenly. Damn that was annoying.