If your body suddenly jerks while you’re falling asleep, here’s what it means

Exhausted and worn out, you’re finally in bed and sinking into what will be a deep sleep, when your body begins to “fall” and suddenly jolts to stop that “fall.” Naturally, you’ll wake up immediately and wonder where it came from.

And no matter how many times it happens, you never get used to it, it never seems less abrupt, and it never gets better. The sensation of falling can be downright terrifying, and ends with an involuntary, sudden, and shocking leap.

If this has happened to you at least once, you’re not alone. In fact, up to 70% of people experience this phenomenon, also known as hypnic jerks (or sleep attacks). No one knows for sure what causes these sudden jolts.

The Science Behind Hypnic Jerkys

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