[kimmydawn]

fayerody made a post that reminded me of something that i do frequently when lying down to sleep.

i get quick gusts, swooshes, something in my head in different places. it's hard to explain. it's more like a soft pop/bomb thing. ok, this might be more like it...you know those little things that are filled with something that make them "snap" when you throw them on the pavement. it's kinda like that mixed with a swoosh. sometimes it feels as if there's light with it.

it's so hard to explain, but very unnerving when it happens. does anybody know what i'm talking about??? do they have better words to explain it? i'd love to tell t, but can't begin to explain it. i've done this since i can remember.

also, when it does it, it does it a intervals regularly until i go to sleep...maybe every minute or two or so?

thanks!

kd

Kim,

I don't know if it's the same, but I always described my situation like a factory shutdown.

As if a loud, vibrating machines have been running in my head all day and at night they're getting unplugged, a little at a time. Sometimes the wires short out and cause sparks or whooshes. I'm pretty sure mine is anxiety related.

Petunia

[kimmydawn]

ahhh, petunia, that sounds very similar! it's like quick shocks almost that take me from that place right before sleep and jerks me awake again.

i could definitely see how mind could be anxiety related as well!

thank you! it sounds alike.

I get the same thing. Im just about asleep and suddenly theres this clicking and sometimes a loud roar with a feeling like someone had hit me with an electric shock.

There is a medical word for it but I can't remember what right now. I was told its not something that will kill me its something about how the body and the mind sleeps in cycles. first theres fully awake then ideally the body and mind relax at the same time achieving deep relaxation and then there is sleep and the sleep cycles of REM and so on. But some cases the person hits deep relaxation then they get the "falling" sensation and experiences a type of panic where they jerk awake causing the body to jump out of deep relaxation which pumps blood through the heart and arteries and veins super fast. the sound is the blood rushing through ans the slight pain is the shock of so much blood going so fast kind of like eating ice cream too fast and getting a brain freeze. and this usually happens when the person is over tired. I was told to do something relaxing before bed and go to bed every night at the same time so that I get enough sleep.

[kimmydawn]

thank you myself! yes, it gets the same type of reaction from me as when you're on the edge of sleep and feel the "falling".

thank you!

kd

you're welcome. For me a 2 hour bath with scented bubbles or bath oil relaxes my body and for the mind - relaxation music or crystal gayles in my arms CD which has a great song called last rays of sunshine and some intrumentals.( Lots of other song too geared for putting children to sleep like princess little puppy). I program my stereo to play last rays of sunshine 3 times and then the instrumentals as many that will fit on the program timer. most times I'm usually asleep before the programing cycle ends and without the falling brain freeze as I have come to think of it as. take care.

[kimmydawn]

i have a wonderfully relaxing instrumental called "autumn in new england". it is the most beautiful music i've ever heard with alot of the penny whistle that calls me to. i might have to get that back out. thx!

[kimmydawn]

(((((((((((((petunia))))))))))))))))

she was so kind to send me some links that explain exactly what i do and that it's harmless, if scary! thank you so much, petunia! it has a name and it won't hurt me!

SLEEP STARTS
Most people have experience the common motor sleep start - a sudden, often violent, jerk of the entire body that occurs upon falling asleep. Other forms of sleep starts also occur just as sleep begins such as;
visual sleep start - usually a sensation of blinding light coming from inside the eyes or head
auditory sleep start - a loud snapping noise that seems to come from inside the head
The different types of sleep starts can be frightening, but these occurences are harmless.

i can tell t exactly what it is now. how great is that! i feel so relieved just knowing what it is and that it's harmless, because it does cause a panicked feeling.

kd

[Perzephone]

I was watching something about night terrors on the Discovery channel one morning.

They explained that a part of the brain - it's in the back of the head & can be affected by the position of the neck & head during sleep - that controls orientation & spatial perception. Sometimes, when your body is falling asleep, that brain portion gets confused, so people get sensations of movement, 'swooshing', falling, loop-de-loops, etc. This can also be accompanied by flashing lights, 'fireworks' & other visual effects, as the brain's pulse slows & various areas become slightly deprived of oxygen (people who play the 'Choking Game' & get into auto-asphyxiation experience this on a more lethal level) If you're bothered by the spatial sensations, sometimes changing the pressure on your head & neck by rearranging pillows or trying different sleeping positions can relieve it or lessen it.

Along w/REM's (rapid eye movements) we also get Rapid Ear Movements - the little bones & structures in the ear vibrate & can cause auditory hallucinations - most common is hearing your own name being called, or 'crowd' noises. (I get awakened at least once a week by someone calling my name, usually right over my head - it makes me soooo mad because sleep & I aren't exactly best friends).

Basically, the program was adding up the brain activity, muscle paralysis (it's a safety mechanism that prevents people from hurting themselves in their sleep - and sleep walking) rapid eye/ear movement & hypnogogic imagery (pre-dream hallucinations) to explain away people who believe they've been abducted by aliens, but it was still full of good information.