I think it’s safe to assume that most of us have experienced that unpleasant feeling when we’re just drifting off to sleep, and we suddenly awake abruptly with a huge jolt. When this happens, it often feels like we’re falling down a dark hole or something, and the jolt is what makes the fall stop. If you’ve experienced this sensation before, you may have wondered why this happens.
This common but often misunderstood phenomenon has a name, a scientific explanation, and practical strategies for managing it. Understanding what is happening in your body during those startling moments can transform anxiety into curiosity—and help you rest more peacefully.
You’re not falling. You’re not having a seizure. You’re experiencing something completely normal.
What Is That Jolt Called?
The phenomenon has a scientific name: hypnic jerk (also called a “sleep start” or “hypnagogic jerk”). It’s an involuntary muscle contraction that occurs as you’re
