Strange sensations while falling asleep - surges, zaps, jerks

[UnfoldingSky]

ADMIN NOTE If you get twitches or jerks in your legs when you want to sleep, stretching exercises may help, particularly if you site at the computer a lot.

 

Playing very soft music while you're sleeping may calm the hypnic jerks or other strange jolts interrupting sleep or relaxation, see

Music for self-care: Calms hyperalertness, anxiety, aids relaxation and sleep

 

Tips to help sleep -- so many of us have that awful withdrawal insomnia

 

Hypnic / hypnagogic jerks when falling asleep

 

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I have been having a symptom lately that I have never experienced before and can barely describe, but I wanted to take a crack at it...

 

When I lay down to go to sleep, more often than not it feels like I am sort of spinning and my field of vision, with my eyes shut, feels like it is moving. Does anyone have a word for the light "prints" you get from lights after you shut your eyes (I mean, what normal people would see?) Because for me if I look at a light and then shut my eyes to go to sleep, the "echo" of this light in my field of vision will start to move. It doesn't seem like a hallucination (not that I had them), as it seems to just be an alteration of the normal light imprint you would get from looking at a light and then shutting your eyes...It's really distracting. I'd like to think about other things when falling asleep, but as soon as this starts up I almost can't.

 

Does anyone know what this is? The closest thing I can think of is what some people call "visual snow", which I never had (though I had blue dots in my vision for a little while). Is this the same thing? What is strange about this is, even though it sort of feels like I am spinning, I doesn't feel like my body is reacting to being dizzy. It seems to be a strictly visual experience, if that makes sense. And it keeps me from being comfortable when I go to sleep.

 

Is there anything to be done about this, or will it just go away?

Edited January 26, 2021 by Altostrata
Added admin note

[GiaK]

I had dozens of weird symptoms of this sort...and yes they pass...I still have some but they are less intense and not as bothersome anymore...most of this stuff we never really know what it is...the nervous system seems to have hundreds, maybe thousands of ways to express itself when it's been harmed.

[Jemima]

The "echo" you get after looking at a bright light is called an "after-image".

 

It sounds to me like you may be having what's called a "headache-less migraine" or "silent migraine". I started getting them at one very stressful point in my life and they were super-scary. I had images that looked like stained glass diamond shapes going across my field of vision even with my eyes open, and they made me dizzy because they kept moving from left to right. I wasn't able to read through these images (although I could see to move around in the house), and I certainly wasn't fit to drive. If I remember right, I had only the one episode although I felt several more coming on over the next two or three weeks and prevented them by immediately relaxing. The first attack came on just as I laid down to sleep.

 

As soon as the stressful period was over, the attacks stopped. Here's some info from the Web:

 

http://headaches.about.com/lw/Health-Medicine/Conditions-and-diseases/What-is-a-Silent-Migraine-.htm

[GiaK]

ocular migraines they're called too...I've had several (only since in withdrawal)

 

I got one while driving once and had to pull over and call my husband to come get me...

 

the first time I had one I was terrified...it was like a hallucinogenic trip...they pass in about an hour and were not accompanied by pain but made me very very spacey.

 

for whatever reason I didn't make a connection with the ocular migraines and what Unfoldingsky is talking about, but it is possible its the same...though if it's happening every night I kind of think it might be something else...

 

I used to get what I called the strobe-light effect...my field of vision at bedtime would flash in and out like crazy...it was not a migraine...but I really hated it...it still happens every now and then when I'm really tired...but it used to be every single night.

[Georgia]

Since my SSRI experience, I have had movement phosphenes, similar to what is described here:

http://www.mssociety.org.uk/forum/new-diagnosis-and-diagnosis/bright-well-defined-circular-phosphenes

I saw several eye doctors and was also tested for MS since my other WD symptoms were neurological. I also had waves of shadowy "color" when my eyes were closed and other strange visual effects in darkness. Medical doctors and Opthalmologists did not find any explanation. Some of the vision issues have improved, but not all. I have visual snow. I'm also very myopic which seemed to have been made worse by the drug.

[peggy]

i was going to suggest the painless migraines too. I have had them on occasion - but not in withdrawal - they come on without warning, stay for a while and then go - but they are very unsettling when they are there. The first time i had one was 26 years ago and i was pregnant - it was quite scary at the time

[UnfoldingSky]

The "echo" you get after looking at a bright light is called an "after-image".

 

It sounds to me like you may be having what's called a "headache-less migraine" or "silent migraine". I started getting them at one very stressful point in my life and they were super-scary. I had images that looked like stained glass diamond shapes going across my field of vision even with my eyes open, and they made me dizzy because they kept moving from left to right. I wasn't able to read through these images (although I could see to move around in the house), and I certainly wasn't fit to drive. If I remember right, I had only the one episode although I felt several more coming on over the next two or three weeks and prevented them by immediately relaxing. The first attack came on just as I laid down to sleep.

 

As soon as the stressful period was over, the attacks stopped. Here's some info from the Web:

 

http://headaches.about.com/lw/Health-Medicine/Conditions-and-diseases/What-is-a-Silent-Migraine-.htm

 

After-image, of course, I used to know that! It's so frustrating how much I can't recall now...Thank you. And I had no idea there were headache-less migraines either--mine were always very headachy. I knew people whom got the auras, but I always thought they were having pain with them. Yours sound quite alarming Jemima, glad they cleared up. For me it's not been happening when I am, well, sort of alert (usually I have some degree of brain fog), but only when I go to bed. Strangely it seems to have died down since I wrote this post.

[UnfoldingSky]

 

 

I used to get what I called the strobe-light effect...my field of vision at bedtime would flash in and out like crazy...it was not a migraine...but I really hated it...it still happens every now and then when I'm really tired...but it used to be every single night.

 

That's so scary. If I recall properly I think I had something similar as I came off benzodiazepines (which I couldn't tolerate, but took for three years nonetheless because I couldn't figure out how to get off them completely) and it did go away.

[UnfoldingSky]

Since my SSRI experience, I have had movement phosphenes, similar to what is described here:

http://www.mssociety.org.uk/forum/new-diagnosis-and-diagnosis/bright-well-defined-circular-phosphenes

 

 

I have a fair amount of brain fog at the moment, so I can't quite tell if phosphenes would fit, but they sound plausible. Have they diminished at all Georgia?

[UnfoldingSky]

i was going to suggest the painless migraines too. I have had them on occasion - but not in withdrawal - they come on without warning, stay for a while and then go - but they are very unsettling when they are there. The first time i had one was 26 years ago and i was pregnant - it was quite scary at the time

 

So your migraines didn't occur in any obvious pattern? The only thing that seems consistent with the lights is that they happen at night, which makes me wonder if it is a migraine. Strange that they don't happen in withdrawal isn't it? I used to have nausea in the mornings pre-withdrawal, which I think was hypoglycemia, and that stopped after my drug saga started. It seems to be one of the very few upsides to all of this...

[zen81]

Hello all,

 

I would really appreciate some help on this.

I was on a range of antidepressants for a problem that I was having while falling asleep. Initially it started of as an adrenal surge just while falling asleep

I was on citalopram, mirtazapin and sertraline. I am currently only on sertraline + propanolol and the surge has dissapeared completely.

Now the issue is something funny happens in my head as i fall asleep. Its almost like a sensation of falling but now its like a sudden bolt or reaction in the head that lasts a few seconds and only happens when i am falling asleep. What is this and how can i avoid it? Its v annoying. I was also getting some hypnic jerks but they have reduced quite a bit but i am fed up of this head reaction.

I am also not satisfied with my gps suggestion and he just says its not serious and something i picked along the well.

Can someone please tell me what this is? Yes this could be due to anxiety but what is it? I dont hear any sounds or see flashes of light while it happens.

 

Any helps is super appreciated

[whatshappening]

So I've tried to search the forums before posting this and so far I've only seen topics on adrenaline surges and cortisol spikes. So I'm not sure if what I am about to explain is really that?  I've been experiencing these weird energy surges (like electrical shocks) that happen in my upper body when I'm trying to relax in bed and close my eyes. I'm not asleep yet but just trying to close my eyes and clear my mind when these happen. I've read elsewhere someone describing it like starting off as that butterflies feeling you get in your stomach and then a rush/surge of energy to the brain which gives you a 'jump' and an electric feeling.  These definitely aren't brain zaps as I've experienced those before. This one is more the entire upper body and only during relaxed states. 

 

This keeps me from settling down and actually falling asleep because when it happens it literally feels like electricity. It hangs on for a bit until I find myself alert again then it will fade. Almost like it's saying "oh no you don't! Don't you dare fall asleep!" So it's a vicious cycle of relaxing, getting electrocuted, relaxing, getting electrocuted etc. I'm sure by now lack of sleep makes this worse. So I'm wondering if there are any remedies that may help lesson the severity of these energy surges so that they aren't so disruptive to sleep?

[ChessieCat]

It might be related to this:  hypnic-hypnagogic-jerks-when-falling-asleep

 

[whatshappening]

1 hour ago, ChessieCat said:

It might be related to this:  hypnic-hypnagogic-jerks-when-falling-asleep

 

Thank you ChessieCat for the response. It might be a variation of it but I would say completely different feeling all together. 

 

I get those hypnagogic jerks also so i am able to differentiate between that and these so call "energy surges/body zaps" that I'm referring to. It's like a shiver of electric current in the upper body.

[Onmyway]

Hi @whatshappening

If you read through the forum topic that ChesdieCat pointed out I think there is a theory proposed there on the activation of the alerting response. I think it was by altostrata. It could have possibly been in another forum as well, unsure. Maybe search for alerting response. Your symptoms seem consistent with that explanation.

 

Some suggestions for what might help including weighted blankets and background music while sleeping were given, afaik.

 

Hope it helps

OMW

[ChessieCat]

I found this in the Tips to Help Sleep topic:

 

 

[whatshappening]

9 hours ago, ChessieCat said:

I found this in the Tips to Help Sleep topic:

 

 

 

Hi ChessieCat,

 

I type this at 4.25am in the morning as I was jolted by that surge of energy at 2am and the tightness and vibrations in my chest still have not abated. Thank you for the link to the above post. It makes sense. I will try some of cymbaltawithdrawal5600 suggestions. And report back.

[whatshappening]

9 hours ago, Onmyway said:

Hi @whatshappening

If you read through the forum topic that ChesdieCat pointed out I think there is a theory proposed there on the activation of the alerting response. I think it was by altostrata. It could have possibly been in another forum as well, unsure. Maybe search for alerting response. Your symptoms seem consistent with that explanation.

 

Some suggestions for what might help including weighted blankets and background music while sleeping were given, afaik.

 

Hope it helps

OMW

Thank you Onnyway. If you happen across the link or post would you mind posting it. As you know this site is extremely huge and lots of content to read. For Someone lacking sleep, all the words and posts start to look all the same.

[Altostrata]

Merged similar topics.

 

This reaction when relaxing into sleep is paradoxical alerting from your sensitized nervous system. Playing soft music in the background can help reassure your nervous system you don't need waking up, you're not going into a coma.

[zen81]

Hello all,

 

I was initially taking 50mg zoloft which i self reduced to only half a pill. I have started feeling a lot better and was also sleeping better.

All funny strange feelings in my head had gone. Did not have many hypnic jerks and could sleep easily and when woken up could sleep again.

Until a couple of days ago where i am only getting around 4 hours or sleep. I am so upset as i cant go back to sleep. Its like my body is waking me up through a sensation in the chest

head and small toe or arm movements. I really need some help as i am so distraught about this. I thought i had conquered this. It seems to have come back and i dont know what to do.

Is there also an element of TV in here? I watch a movie and then read and go to bed.

Any help is so much appreciated.

[DaBro]

Hi. I was also on Zoloft and quit very fast. Too fast. I had 3 months where I felt great, then the insomnia started. It got worse and was at its worst 12-18 months after stopping plus I had all the other WD symptoms. I’m at 26 months now and for the last month my sleep has been good and symptoms better. 

 

So from my experience your insomnia is probably from WD and it is part of healing. There is likely nothing wrong - just healing. Unfortunately you have a journey ahead of you. I found little help in supplements other than Magnesium Glycinate, sleep hygiene and lavender. It was miserable but did improve. 

 

Admins may may have some advice on reinstatement and slower tapering. For me I decided to ride it out. There’s a topic on insomnia in this site which you may find useful. 

 

From my experience the drug has gone and you’re healing. Insomnia is an unfortunate side effect. 

 

 

[zen81]

Hello Dabro,

 

Thank you for your very very kind words and help but i may have given u a wrong idea sorry. I am still taking sertraline and now back upto 50mg with propanalol as and when i need it.

Also i am being given extended release propanalol. I only get these sensations when i drift off to bed. Can you please help get rid of these? i am very desperate and cant stop crying. i was lying in bed from 10 to 3 and its not that i am not able to fall asleep. i can easily fall asleep but this horrible feeling wakes me up and then my sleep is gone until it happens again. I was doing so well just taking half a sertraline for around 2 months. Guys please help. What can i do to avoid this horrible thing that happens.

 

Thank you thank you in advance

 

 

[DaBro]

5 hours ago, zen81 said:

Hello Dabro,

 

Thank you for your very very kind words and help but i may have given u a wrong idea sorry. I am still taking sertraline and now back upto 50mg with propanalol as and when i need it.

Also i am being given extended release propanalol. I only get these sensations when i drift off to bed. Can you please help get rid of these? i am very desperate and cant stop crying. i was lying in bed from 10 to 3 and its not that i am not able to fall asleep. i can easily fall asleep but this horrible feeling wakes me up and then my sleep is gone until it happens again. I was doing so well just taking half a sertraline for around 2 months. Guys please help. What can i do to avoid this horrible thing that happens.

 

Thank you thank you in advance

 

 

I’m sorry to hear. I can’t help other than to say if you never experienced these things before medication then it’s probably caused by the medication. Withdrawal has been tough for me but I’m leaving these symptoms behind 

[Lucy1983]

Hi @zen81I suffered with non epileptic seizures (PNES) for several years due to extreme stress. You can find many articles regarding symptoms by researching PNES.

Just based on the symptoms you stated I it doesn't sound like non epileptic seizures.  I do believe your symptoms are WD based on other posts I've read on SA. I hope you feel

better very soon.

 

On 12/28/2020 at 8:33 AM, zen81 said:

Its like my body is waking me up through a sensation in the chest

head and small toe or arm movements.

 

 

[MaryMoo429]

On 10/7/2020 at 11:57 PM, whatshappening said:

So I've tried to search the forums before posting this and so far I've only seen topics on adrenaline surges and cortisol spikes. So I'm not sure if what I am about to explain is really that?  I've been experiencing these weird energy surges (like electrical shocks) that happen in my upper body when I'm trying to relax in bed and close my eyes. I'm not asleep yet but just trying to close my eyes and clear my mind when these happen. I've read elsewhere someone describing it like starting off as that butterflies feeling you get in your stomach and then a rush/surge of energy to the brain which gives you a 'jump' and an electric feeling.  These definitely aren't brain zaps as I've experienced those before. This one is more the entire upper body and only during relaxed states. 

 

This keeps me from settling down and actually falling asleep because when it happens it literally feels like electricity. It hangs on for a bit until I find myself alert again then it will fade. Almost like it's saying "oh no you don't! Don't you dare fall asleep!" So it's a vicious cycle of relaxing, getting electrocuted, relaxing, getting electrocuted etc. I'm sure by now lack of sleep makes this worse. So I'm wondering if there are any remedies that may help lesson the severity of these energy surges so that they aren't so disruptive to sleep

I have these symptoms every night when I go to sleep that seem to be completely similar to what you're describing. I've tried to research them and can't seem to find anything. They're scaring me so badly. They happen when I'm initially lying down and trying to fall asleep - when I'm between being awake and asleep. It's like as soon as I'm about to drop off into sleep I get this rush of what I can best describe as anxious energy throughout my upper chest, over my heart and into my arm. A few times I have even felt like my air is being cut off and like my heart has stopped beating and I jump up and gasp for air. They're terrifying and now each night I anticipate them happening, which they always do. If I wake up in the night however (which I do constantly) and try to go back to sleep, they are no longer there and I am able to fall asleep without feeling these awful rushes of warm anxious energy. I'm trying to convince myself this is from withdrawal but I keep thinking that something is wrong with me heart or something else and that I'm going to have a heart attack and die in my sleep. I'm so frightened of them and want them to stop.  

[zen81]

So Mary Moo

 

I know exactly where you are coming from and this has happened to me so there are two stages to this and trust me it will go away. You might feel it is permanant just like i did.

thats what anxiety does to you. there is nothing wrong with either your brain or heart.

i have been lucky to be in this forum to get all the support i have needed and finally i have found what it all is.

it stems from anxiety

Anxiety has various stages, first it starts with small flutters in the heart and butterflies Then with persistent anxiety it spreads to arms and fingers causing coldness and tingling.

then it goes to head in form of tingles and sensations. Post that it is what you have described above. the surges while trying to sleep.

It is as if your body does not want you to sleep and wakes you up just as you are about to drift. two things do that 1. The surges and the rush in the heart 2. A feeling of falling down caused by something in the head. Both wake you up.

Apparently i spoke to a doctor and the 2nd is due to migrane cause by anxiety.

The first one is just anxiety at its worst.

The thing that really helped me was to start sertraline 50mg. I am still on it but dont take it everyday. Its more alternate day now. I tried to come off it too fast and the 2nd thing started at night with jerks. For this the doc gave me 80mg propanolol and within 3-4 days i was getting proper sleep without head jerking me.

Sertaline helped me get over the 1st symptom. I dont take propanolol and quite cold turkey. it does take a few days to fully have effect. once you start sleeping well the subconcious knows nothing will happen and you  dont think of the feeling.

There is another thing that helped me. There are massagers electric ones on amazon. I now read a book with the massager doing its thing to my legs and feet.

its like something is going on and tricks the body thinking you are not sleeping. these wonderful massagers have a heat function also and switch off after 15min.

reading a book will take your mind complimented with the massager. this will help you drift off to sleep v quickly. its more about getting into the habit. Nothing is wrong with you trust me. it all eventually goes away. 

Hope this helps you and i know where you are coming from and totally understand. Please try the above if things are v bad. 

You can always taper the sertraline.  Take care and hope you feel better and dont feel afraid. 

 

zen81

[Patti2057]

@whatshappening Hi. I read your posts from October that I found when I did a search for the symptoms you are describing.

On 10/7/2020 at 8:57 PM, whatshappening said:

I've been experiencing these weird energy surges (like electrical shocks) that happen in my upper body when I'm trying to relax in bed and close my eyes. I'm not asleep yet but just trying to close my eyes and clear my mind when these happen. I've read elsewhere someone describing it like starting off as that butterflies feeling you get in your stomach and then a rush/surge of energy to the brain which gives you a 'jump' and an electric feeling.  These definitely aren't brain zaps as I've experienced those before. This one is more the entire upper body and only during relaxed states. 

I am dealing with the same as I try to fall asleep. 
Did you find anything that helped with this or any explanation? Or, hopefully, did it resolve?

[Patti2057]

@MaryMoo429 How are you doing with the sensations you describe when falling asleep? I am going through the same thing and can’t help but be frightened. 

[MaryMoo429]

@Patti2057I am still having them just about every night. Some nights they are very extreme and while other nights they are mild. There seems to be no rhyme or reason as to what intensifies them. Like you, they really freak me out and cause further distress. What eases them for me, however is to try to tell myself that they are just a result of my nervous system being over sensitized and to try my best to allow them to be there and not react to them so intensely. I also fall asleep each night with a television program on low volume and a sleep mask over my eyes to block the light. Something about hearing people talking in the background allows me to feel less alone, safer and more relaxed. For me, these sensations scare me into thinking that my heart is going to stop, or I am going to stop breathing, so anything to promote safety, security and relaxation seems to be key to making them less severe. What do the sensations feel like for you, exactly?   

[MaryMoo429]

@zen81Thank for your recommendations here. I'm still experiencing these sensations but am trying my best to accept them rather than let them freak me out even further. I have been trying to remind myself each night that these are normal responses for a sensitized nervous system and to assure myself that I am safe and that they wont kill me. I'm hoping that by not feeding into these, my anxiety will lessen and the symptoms themselves wont be as severe...As far as the Sertraline goes I'm just so hesitant to go back on SSRI's as I feel so damaged from them and really don't want to go on a new med or reinstate at this time. I feel like I've passed this time frame being off of meds now for 5 months but I honestly don't really know. The massager and reading a book is something that I am interested in checking out, however. Let me know if you have any other tricks for dealing with this terrifying symptom as I'm open to most.  

[Patti2057]

Thanks for answering and I’m so sorry that you are going through this. For me, as I drift off to sleep, within a couple of seconds I am jolted awake by the turbulence of fear in my stomach, electric like zaps in my legs, a vague wooziness in my head and a heaviness on my chest. Then it takes me awhile to calm back down with self talk and slow breathing in order to fall back asleep.  But it can happen again during the night. 

[MaryMoo429]

@Patti2057This seems to be very similar to my own experience. I have a handful of them just about every night. Two of them last night were so intense that I jumped up and gasped for air in a panic. Rather than zaps, however, mine present as a surge of warm anxious energy, as if its being injected into my upper body, quickly washing over me...

 

I'm so sorry that your experiencing this symptom as well, but hope you can find some comfort in knowing you're not alone. 

[Patti2057]

Thank you, it does help to hear from you. I pray we'll get through and past this. 

[zen81]

@MaryMoo429

I am pleased that you are getting back your confidence. I can understand why you are hesitant with the sertraline.

Have you tried propanalol? Thar will also help immensly as it controls the migrane. I have a strong feeling its 2 things that are troubling you.

please try the massager. the key is your brain tells u it will happen and it does. you need something to distract you. so a book and massager wil help lots

i will pray you feel better. Also you need good sleep. What i have seen is that long duration of sleep also reduces them. I tried taking zopiclon for 7 days to help me sleep

then it happens automatically. also please take omega 3 tablets. they will help with rebuilding the damage.

[ChessieCat]

2 hours ago, zen81 said:

Have you tried propanalol? Thar will also help immensly as it controls the migrane.

 

Please do not make suggestions about drugs to other members because it might be dangerous for them.

 

It is generally better to tell a member what you have tried and how it affected you.

 

Edited February 21, 2021 by ChessieCat

[zen81]

Hi ChessieCat,

 

I tried it with the doctor's suggestion and it worked.

 

Thank you