Adrenaline when trying to fall asleep

[KSW54]

Anyone else experience adrenaline rush when trying to fall asleep. I will get into a light sleep and all of a sudden a rush of energy throughout my body. This typically happens for hours. I have tried everything to get sleep but this happens every night and I am now going days without sleep. Anyone have anything that helped them? I practice good sleep hygiene by not using devices before bed, take a bath with Epson salt, have black out curtains in my room. Nothing seems to help and I am desperate. 

[ChessieCat]

This might be a cortisol spike / surge which can happen at any time.

 

early-morning-waking-managing-the-morning-cortisol-spike

 

 

[ChessieCat]

Or possibly:

 

hypnic-hypnagogic-jerks-when-falling-asleep

 

[Erimus]

I had this for months and months after getting my first and second covid jabs. Just as I was dropping off a jolt of adrenaline through my chest. I got used to it and it very slowly faded over time as my nervous system stabilised. I think I had it for a good 6-9 months but it’s long gone for now. 
 

First time it happened I was terrified. Best thing I can suggest is doing work on accepting the symptom and not allowing it to cause a fear response. It takes a lot of work.

 

Diphragmatic breathing is also useful. Breathing in for 4 seconds through the nose, hold for 4, out for 8 slowly through the mouth. I did this for 15-30 mins whilst listening to meditation or calm music. 
 

It will fade with time.

Edited October 7, 2022 by Erimus

[Rhernan]

Hi, just reading this post…I came off my AD 7 months ago and have been having this happen every night for the last 2 months.  Every time I try to fall asleep I am awoken by rushing throughout my body and brain.  This happens over and over and I’m not sleeping which is compounding everything else.  It’s not the morning cortisol as it happens when I’m initially falling asleep or throughout the night and it’s not jerks either…it’s rushes throughout my body.

 

did this resolve for you or did you find anything that helped…it’s very distressing and it’s like a panic attack at night but over and over.

[LotusRising]

32 minutes ago, Rhernan said:

Every time I try to fall asleep I am awoken by rushing throughout my body and brain.  This happens over and over and I’m not sleeping which is compounding everything else.

@Rhernan I had this for quite some time. I even remember making myself stay up to avoid the feeling when I would doze off. It did eventually pass for me - I expect it will do the same for you. I knew things were improving when I was able to nod off for a short nap during the day. Have you tried yoga nidra, or maybe gentle music to play as you're falling asleep?

[Rhernan]

1 minute ago, LotusRising said:

@Rhernan I had this for quite some time. I even remember making myself stay up to avoid the feeling when I would doze off. It did eventually pass for me - I expect it will do the same for you. I knew things were improving when I was able to nod off for a short nap during the day. Have you tried yoga nidra, or maybe gentle music to play as you're falling asleep?

Did you have that feeling in your brain too?  It’s an all over sensation but the brain part is what keeps me up over and over and it’s happening all night long on many nights.  I also severely sweat and feel scared.  I am able to calm down only for it to happen again and again.

 

I haven’t tried music or yoga nidra, but I was looking at a pillow speaker to see if the music helps at all. I do have a fan that runs in my room for white noise, but maybe that isn’t enough anymore.  
 

when you had this feeling how long did it last and did you often feel like it was toxic sleep?

 

Thank you soooo much for replying this is by far my worst symptom!!!

[LotusRising]

11 minutes ago, Rhernan said:

Did you have that feeling in your brain too?

@Rhernan I don't recall it being a specific sensation in my brain. I did have a somewhat related feeling of energy/electricity moving through my body on waking, but for me it was unrelated. I don't recall how long it lasted for me, but I know it no longer happens. 

 

Maybe give yoga nidra a try. It gives you something to focus on while you're falling asleep, so it might be calming for you. I used an app called Insight Timer, which is free.