Feels Like My Heart Stops, I Jolt Awake. Extremely Terrifying

[Neverthesame]

This sounds alot like sleep paralysis. Though I can't say for certain that is what it is.

If I remember correctly, it is caused by the part of the brain that paralyses you when you are sleeping. So you don't act out your dreams and run face first into a wall or something. This is supposed to switch off when you wake

Sometimes this doesn't work as intended, so you wake up while still paralysed.

It is very frightening, but if it is just sleep paralysis. It would be nothing to worry about.

 

[Edward Abbott]

I am a soldier who is 100% disabled and have been so since 2009. I have sever PTSD, I don't deal with people that well anymore outside of my home and I do sleep like a mad man with too much on his mind every night. Aside from them trying to get me to take pills, which we all know is the only response to anything anymore, I have found nothing to help with these dag gone sleep problems.
I start to fall asleep and everything is fine, then after about an hour of sleeping I wake up for what ever reason. I then attempt to fall back to sleep because everyone in the house is sleeping and I don't like to be awake all dang night long.
So I try to fall back to sleep and it begins: Start to drift off and then "BOOM", I jolt awake and feel like I can't frickin breath. Then, lay back down, and it starts all over again... all night long until my mind is about to snap.
Not apnea, because I do not start gasping for air like apnea people do... I just feel like the moment I start to fall asleep, I cant breath, my heart is going to stop or I am going to die. I adjust my sleep position and it never helps... same thing only getting worse now. I get up, walk around, worry that I will never sleep and try to calm down.
Nothing helps... the world gets smaller and my mind starts to race. Take a blood pressure pill, and try again... same results. Get up, almost crying and freaking out... then I get 1/2 a Xanax... try again... then when the pill starts to make me drowsy, I fall asleep and jolt awake again and again... until the pill is strong enough to over ride the symptoms... I hate this crap... it is lonely and horrible to feel like this.
Usually happens more frequently when I go to counseling and talk about my issues. Then I feel better and go home only to find that my sleep is destroyed... So... you are not alone my friend... this is just horrible and scary. Hold on... God is watching us all and will deliver us from this madness. Just have faith. I am with you, and know it is horrible. Good luck.

 

[California Girl]

I sadly have had this since I was 14 years old. Many years I've spent trying to figure out what wa...

I would love to know what helps your jerks. I am also experiencing these. Please tell.

 

[Me too]

I am so thankful to have found this thread. I started suffering from panic/anxiety attacks 3 years ago. High blood pressure meds and lexapro have helped but I most nights I will have the same symptoms y'all have. Right before falling asleep, my body jerks like my heart stopped or if I forgot how to breath. It happens when sitting up or lying down, then my heart starts racing and my arm will hurt and I'll get even more anxious thinking I'm having a heart attack. But reading this thread shows me realized I'm not alone and that is the biggest help!!

 

[Freaks me out too!]

Over the past few years, this weird occurrence has happened to me occasionally.

When I am laying in...

I suffer from the same problem I found if I lay in bed and tell myself I'm ok it works.

 

[lucio avila]

Hi all, I haven't read all the replies so i dont know what has been said and i probably won't read...

that makes a lot of sense, that It could be anxiety, I thought it was because I live in a 2 story apartment on the 2nd floor and smoke was getting into cracks from the window, I noticed it only ever happens in the winter when fires are more likey to be going. even tried pluggin every single crack I could find and feel for drafts that ive missed. but I also noticed that it never ever happens when I fall asleep, when ive been drinking. belive me ive felt the same way as all of you.

 

[lucio avila]

Thank god I read this forum. Last night, I was falling asleep, after being awake more than normal the prior da...

I think u just cought ur self sleeping dude that happing to when In my mid teens im 31 now but its diff then that.

 

[Catalina]

Over the past few years, this weird occurrence has happened to me occasionally.

When I am laying in...

Hi thank you for your comment you have described what I go through everyday.
Do you have any meds for this? Should I worry avout this condition?

 

[Mike H]

I have this shit too. In one of the posts I found a possible cause "hypnic jerk" that seems to fit best in my case. I have a lot of stress too. It would be nice to hear some words from the person who started this thread and from the persons who were first to reply. How are you doing today?

 

[Mike H]

If I get these jerks and just continue in bed trying to get some sleep, there will be more jerks. I am relatively new to this but I have found it helps some if I get up and walk around the house, drink a glass of water, use the bathroom, and then go back to bed. This way I get some distance to the "jerks" and I have a better chance for getting some shut eye.

 

[Linda t]

I sadly have had this since I was 14 years old. Many years I've spent trying to figure out what wa...

I would like to know what you do before going to bed to prevent this occurence?

 

[joemc]

For me laying on my side really helps after the first one. Iam up most of the time waiting to feed my so...

yes i get hypnic jerks- not so much at night time now- but if i am lying down during the day and feel sleepy- just as i am about to go into deep sleep- i jerk awake with a gasp- feel anxious then and get frustrated that i cant sleep- nightime however is fine now- i just sleep on my left shoulder and no prob