Thread: The feeling of falling whilst going to sleep/ feeling of not breathing

I was wondering if anyone could explain the feeling of falling whilst your trying to go to sleep, I've had many experiences where i Felt as though i fell out of my bed and i would sit up wide awake.

I've also had experiences where i thought i stopped breathing, i've heard of sleep apnea (sp?) but I dont think thats it, I start to rapidly breathe and almost panic to recover from the feeling.

Thanks.

I think you only have to worry about sleep apnea if you're obese, I'm not sure though. I'd have to do a Google search. I'll go do that now.

As for your breathing, I don't really know what to make of this. If you feel as if your lungs are ACHING for air, maybe you actually have stopped breathing.

EDIT:
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/...ea_WhatIs.html

I guess I was wrong about being obese. However, if you experience this while you're awake, I don't think you'd really have to worry about it. I'm not sure, if you're really worried, it'd be safest to go to a doctor.

10 seconds on google and found the answer to one of my questions

"This strange falling sensation and muscle twitch is known as a hypnagogic myoclonic twitch or “Hypnic jerk” If this has happened to you on more than one occasion, don’t worry, you are not alone. Close to 70 percent of all people experience this phenomenon just after nodding off, according to a recent study at the Mayo Clinic."

"The general consensus among researchers is that, as your muscles begin to slack and go into a restful state just as you are falling asleep; your brain senses these relaxation signals and misinterprets them, thinking you are falling down. The brain then sends signals to the muscles in your arms and legs in an attempt to jerk you back upright. This misinterpretation that takes place in your brain may also be responsible for the “falling” dreams that accompany the falling sensation."

I get central apnea.. which is caused my nerves :[
I get the feeling sometimes.. that I get so relaxed and I realized I'm either not breathing or breathing very lightly I can hardly notice.. mainly in meditation.
Apnea is when I stop breathing and wake up and realize I'm still not breathing and have to take a big gasp of air. It's not nice :[ I think Im going to die all the time. The doctors can't do anything about it though. I wake up with headaches :S
But the feeling like your not breathing (when it isn't apnea) or barely breathing I get a lot. It's like you have become so relaxed and slowed down you don't need oxygen...well not very much at all.