Discussion Anyone else get random “violent” body jerks?

[SuiSqueeze92]

Decided to post this because I can't sleep and I've always wondered why this happens. I'll just be laying there and randomly my legs/back do this hard jerk movement, feels like my heart stops for a min and I have to regain myself. It'll even happen I'm my sleep, I'll wake up freaking out like I was just drowning and I snap out of it.. literally lol.

 

[Brick In The Wall]

This happens to me right before I fall asleep. Sometimes in my sleep as well. I'll go through phases where it doesn't happen, or phases where it always happens.

I still haven't figured out why or what causes it. It's pretty annoying though isn't it?

 

[itsamadworld]

Yes. I get restless leg syndrome at night and sometimes my whole body will jerk waking me up from an almost sleep. I also have vivid night mares in which i wake up screaming and thrashing, but those are becoming more rare for me. My heart only feels like it's stopping when i pass out. I have vasovagular syncope. Certain things just make me pass out like needles or even observing too much medical shit makes me pass out. I feel my BP drop and i go into a different world...

 

[K-O]

i do but i can recognize they are triggers ..
my body shakes and spasms..
also get twitches from drug related stuff..
fucking body.. what a drag..

 

[pete_x]

Could be Tardive dyskinesia ?

What Is Tardive Dyskinesia?

Tardive dyskinesia (orofacial dyskinesia) is a sometimes permanent side effect of antipsychotic medications that involves involuntary muscle movements. WebMD explains the symptoms, causes, and treatments of this condition.

www.webmd.com

 

[Notwinnernotawin]

Yes, and sometimes it happens when I'm either relaxed or having and anxiety attack. Also my jaw sometimes jerks out of nowhere, it happens mainly when I'm talking, then my speech becomes a mess. I thought it was because I'm not much of a speaker, but it's probably just my anxiety or side effect of the medication I take.

 

[SuiSqueeze92]

Well at least I'm not the only one! Sorry I actually slept for a few hours lol

 

[BlackPoppet]

I only get them whilst I'm in bed. They are called hypnic jerks. I'll be lying there falling asleep ( or trying to) and I'll be in this " twilight" area of sleep, where I'm not asleep and not awake. Then all of a sudden my body will just jerk really violently. It's quite scary. It's a phenomenon apparently. I also get loud bangs on my head, like a Shot*** is going off. I don't like that at all.

Hypnic Jerk: Twitching in Your Sleep Explained - Sleep Advisor

What is hypnic jerking (or a sleep twitch)? Our sleep experts explain this very normal movement.

www.sleepadvisor.org

Exploding Head Syndrome

Learn more about what causes exploding head syndrome, if it is considered dangerous, and what steps can be taken to manage symptoms.

www.sleepassociation.org

Forgot to add! Sometimes Promethazine gives me a stutter. Or has done in the past. Like it makes my tongue go all weird when I'm trying to talk. I'll be trying to get a word out and my tongue will " stick" to the roof of my mouth. My jaw will jerk around out of nowhere as well.

 

[Aonewayticketplease]

Decided to post this because I can't sleep and I've always wondered why this happens. I'll just be laying there and randomly my legs/back do this hard jerk movement, feels like my heart stops for a min and I have to regain myself. It'll even happen I'm my sleep, I'll wake up freaking out like I was just drowning and I snap out of it.. literally lol.

All the time..about 20 times last night (that that I can remember), it became fucking annoying, not a drowning feeling but a sort of a sudden falling feeling. Almost as if you were being tipped off a chair.

Has been happening for years but last night I was completely sober and it was quite horrible.

On a positive note not such weird dreams though.

 

[BlackPoppet]

Could be Tardive dyskinesia ?

What Is Tardive Dyskinesia?

Tardive dyskinesia (orofacial dyskinesia) is a sometimes permanent side effect of antipsychotic medications that involves involuntary muscle movements. WebMD explains the symptoms, causes, and treatments of this condition.

www.webmd.com

This is a good piece of information. I didn't know that Antipsychotics could cause this. I've been on 2 antipsychotics in the past.

 

[SuiSqueeze92]

I only get them whilst I'm in bed. They are called hypnic jerks. I'll be lying there falling asleep ( or trying to) and I'll be in this " twilight" area of sleep, where I'm not asleep and not awake. Then all of a sudden my body will just jerk really violently. It's quite scary. It's a phenomenon apparently. I also get loud bangs on my head, like a Shot*** is going off. I don't like that at all.

Hypnic Jerk: Twitching in Your Sleep Explained - Sleep Advisor

What is hypnic jerking (or a sleep twitch)? Our sleep experts explain this very normal movement.

www.sleepadvisor.org

Exploding Head Syndrome

Learn more about what causes exploding head syndrome, if it is considered dangerous, and what steps can be taken to manage symptoms.

www.sleepassociation.org

Forgot to add! Sometimes Promethazine gives me a stutter. Or has done in the past. Like it makes my tongue go all weird when I'm trying to talk. I'll be trying to get a word out and my tongue will " stick" to the roof of my mouth. My jaw will jerk around out of nowhere as well.

Yeah pretty much spot on with the jerking (no funnies intended) ... or was it??? :P

Idk I'm on quite a few meds so it's hard to see what's doing what now, but I think Lamictal is messing with my vision or something, I'll get sometimes a constant "windshield wipers are trying but it's just smearing it" view. On the way to the VA as we speak! Lol let's see what fun they have in store today.

This is a good piece of information. I didn't know that Antipsychotics could cause this. I've been on 2 antipsychotics in the past.

Yeah I'm also pretty sure the antipsychotics and Xanax/Klonopin combo fucked me. Seroquel ruined my life... would fall asleep face first into my food, pass out, felt like shit wasn't real anymore, plus I gained a bunch of weight (why I stay slimmer now) that gave me stretch marks from hell, stomach at least, the others are from weightlifting and superdrol.

 

[BlackPoppet]

Yeah pretty much spot on with the jerking (no funnies intended) ... or was it??? :P

Idk I'm on quite a few meds so it's hard to see what's doing what now, but I think Lamictal is messing with my vision or something, I'll get sometimes a constant "windshield wipers are trying but it's just smearing it" view. On the way to the VA as we speak! Lol let's see what fun they have in store today.


Yeah I'm also pretty sure the antipsychotics and Xanax/Klonopin combo fucked me. Seroquel ruined my life... would fall asleep face first into my food, pass out, felt like shit wasn't real anymore, plus I gained a bunch of weight (why I stay slimmer now) that gave me stretch marks from hell, stomach at least, the others are from weightlifting and superdrol.

Yep Quetiapine/seraquel is hardcore. I would have to rush to bed after taking it or I would be scared of falling down. I would be sitting In my chair whilst waiting for it to kick in... I would lean to the side, it was that strong. I couldn't sit up straight. I put on at least 3 stone and couldn't stop eating carbs. It would make my head feel all buzzy and weird. I was on it for 2 and a half years. Never again!

 

[SuiSqueeze92]

Yep Quetiapine/seraquel is hardcore. I would have to rush to bed after taking it or I would be scared of falling down. I would be sitting In my chair whilst waiting for it to kick in... I would lean to the side, it was that strong. I couldn't sit up straight. I put on at least 3 stone and couldn't stop eating carbs. I was on it for 2 and a half years. Never again!

Yeah I had researched it causes your blood sugar to rise and that's where those hardcore cravings come from. Lol I remember my ex telling me I would sleep walk to eat. I can't recall about 3 weeks of time, which felt like one constant dream/nightmare. I feel you though about the falling too.. fell back in my chair on Thanks-fucking-giving, mouthful of food and BAM. Woke up to paramedics trying to do a sternum rub and the one had told me about Effexor, so I tried that... made me too speedy mentally, which just makes my impulses worse.

 

[BlackPoppet]

Jeez!! That sounds absolutely scary! How much Seraquel/ Quetiapine did they prescribe to you? I was on 150mg dropped to 100mg out of the blue. I don't know why they dropped the dose, it still had the same effects on me.

Seroquel Oral: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Pictures, Warnings & Dosing - WebMD

Find patient medical information for Seroquel oral on WebMD including its uses, side effects and safety, interactions, pictures, warnings and user ratings.

www.webmd.com

These side effects, common and rare, are absolutely terrifying!

 

[SuiSqueeze92]

Jeez!! That sounds absolutely scary! How much Seraquel/ Quetiapine did they prescribe to you? I was on 150mg dropped to 100mg out of the blue. I don't know why they dropped the dose, it still had the same effects on me.

Seroquel Oral: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Pictures, Warnings & Dosing - WebMD

Find patient medical information for Seroquel oral on WebMD including its uses, side effects and safety, interactions, pictures, warnings and user ratings.

www.webmd.com

These side effects, common and rare, are absolutely terrifying!

On the full effective dose, I was at 600mg. I think I started at like 150mg.

And probably because if the lower dose was "therapeutic" vs the same benefit at a higher dose, they'll taper you down.

 

[krsu]

i think I get these weird jerks as a side effect from abusing opioids, I jerk alot when I'm trying to sleep

 

[K-O]

On the full effective dose, I was at 600mg. I think I started at like 150mg.

And probably because if the lower dose was "therapeutic" vs the same benefit at a higher dose, they'll taper you down.

i collapsed in the street due to Seraquel and only 150 the month i started..

 

[SuiSqueeze92]

i collapsed in the street due to Seraquel and only 150 the month i started..

This is why I'm like NOOOOOOO when someone is on Seroquel or benzos in general. I'm a hypocrite about the benzos because I want to be on them again, but mainly because the damage is already done, so I might as well take them if they give me back that clarity I had and carefree attitude. Now it seems I live waiting for someone to come after me etc... which isn't living at all

 

[K-O]

This is why I'm like NOOOOOOO when someone is on Seroquel or benzos in general. I'm a hypocrite about the benzos because I want to be on them again, but mainly because the damage is already done, so I might as well take them if they give me back that clarity I had and carefree attitude. Now it seems I live waiting for someone to come after me etc... which isn't living at all

but after some time it did help me sleep and get my days in order some.. it felt like it was numbing me out.. but im hypersensitive usually..
also i was cold turkey rehabbing at the time and it helped me get less violent and with the coke calm down etc.. but after 6 months i abruptly stopped seroquel and relapsed.. so dunnow..

 

[BlackPoppet]

On the full effective dose, I was at 600mg. I think I started at like 150mg.

And probably because if the lower dose was "therapeutic" vs the same benefit at a higher dose, they'll taper you down.

Ah I see! I was giving quetiapine for BPD then a psychiatrist told me that it won't fix my BPD so I was put on it for nothing. So I'm annoyed at the NHS for that. It made me pre diabetic. That's part of why I didn't take part in that stupid " clap for the NHS " bollocks.
I tapered off quetiapine so I didn't have any problems with any thing else. Voices come back occasionally. But Iprefer that over being a lobotomised zombie. I took another Anti psychotic for a bit , Aripriorizole, but it didn't help me sleep. I'm not bothering with them anymore.

 

[Deleted member 1465]

If it happens just as you are falling asleep, then it is likely to be a hypnic, or hypnogogic jerk. This is your body telling you not to go to sleep because you are not safe, you are under threat. It happens when your anxiety level is high, even if it is subconscious anxiety.
The hypnogogic phase of sleep is the liminal period just as you his off and also just before you wake up. It tends to be when you have the most vivid dreams, just before waking, which are actually hallucinations, as you are beginning to be awake.
It's a relict of an evolutionary response. Imagine a tired monkey sitting in a tree, falling asleep, then waking up with a sudden jerk. Is it that feeling?
I got these for a week when my illness first started due to stress. It also came with a heightened stress response, ie. jumping at the slightest noise. And I'd get the spasms whilst awake too.
I first took zopiclone but came off that cuz it's awful stuff. Now I use CBD oil, which I think helps though it may be the placebo effect. It happens much less to me if I'm not so stressed.

 

[K-O]

I was giving quetiapine for BPD then a psychiatrist

same

This is your body telling you not to go to sleep because you are not safe,

thats exactly how i read it when that happens!

came off that cuz it's awful stuff.

cool cuz (stupid bitch slap)

 

[Deleted member 1465]

 

[BlackPoppet]

same

thats exactly how i read it when that happens!

cool cuz (stupid bitch slap)

@Underscore yeah I think my body tells me to not go to sleep because it's not safe. I don't feel safe anyway. Long story and this long story is why I have insomnia in the first place. So as soon as I try to fall asleep ( without meds) my body jerks itself awake. It's a self fulfilling prophecy now. I had insomnia because I didn't feel safe. No my brain is so hard wired in to that thinking that with out meds to put me to sleep, my body and mind keeps me awake. It's a curse.

 

[Deleted member 1465]

@Underscore yeah I think my body tells me to not go to sleep because it's not safe. I don't feel safe anyway. Long story and this long story is why I have insomnia in the first place. So as soon as I try to fall asleep ( without meds) my body jerks itself awake. It's a self fulfilling prophecy now. I had insomnia because I didn't feel safe. No my brain is so hard wired in to that thinking that with out meds to put me to sleep, my body and mind keeps me awake. It's a curse.

That's exactly how I was. It's definitely a curse.

 

[BlackPoppet]

If it happens just as you are falling asleep, then it is likely to be a hypnic, or hypnogogic jerk. This is your body telling you not to go to sleep because you are not safe, you are under threat. It happens when your anxiety level is high, even if it is subconscious anxiety.
The hypnogogic phase of sleep is the liminal period just as you his off and also just before you wake up. It tends to be when you have the most vivid dreams, just before waking, which are actually hallucinations, as you are beginning to be awake.
It's a relict of an evolutionary response. Imagine a tired monkey sitting in a tree, falling asleep, then waking up with a sudden jerk. Is it that feeling?
I got these for a week when my illness first started due to stress. It also came with a heightened stress response, ie. jumping at the slightest noise. And I'd get the spasms whilst awake too.
I first took zopiclone but came off that cuz it's awful stuff. Now I use CBD oil, which I think helps though it may be the placebo effect. It happens much less to me if I'm not so stressed.

This is a great explanation of why this phenomenon happens. It is totally evolutionary. I'm just waiting for someone to come and get me, even though there is no actual threat. For a long time I've been like this. My Counsellor told me that my brain is now hard wired this way.

That's exactly how I was. It's definitely a curse.

It's the worst curse in the world. Isn't it? How do we break it? I've tried to sleep without meds. I've managed to sleep normally twice without meds since I stopped sleeping. Twice in 22 years.

 

[Deleted member 1465]

That's a long time!
I took myself of medication because I could see it was just a way to sweep the issue under the rug, whilst letting it get worse. I had the added issue of nocturia, so I actually had to not sleep or risk urinary retention.
What's happened recently, is that doctors and especially psychs have left me alone so I don't feel as threatened. I've been trying to listen to my body and letting it control what I do. I've been managing to sleep more despite my nocturia, but still getting up when my body tells me to, because I'm not sedated by any medication.
I've also been taking CBD oil, which may be a placebo, bit it has coincided with better sleep, so I'll take it.
It's a very fine balance for me: listening to my body, allowing myself to sleep but retaining enough awareness to wake when I need to.
Ironically, this is a skill I learned from camping alone in remote places without a tent. I'd sleep cuz my body was tired, grow accustomed to what were natural non threatening sounds, but wake if there were any sounds that didn't fit. So a fine balance between managing need and threat response, that can only be learned by being aware of your physical needs in balance with your mental needs.
Sorry, my answer isn't a quick one, as it's a difficult issue and one I still struggle with sometimes.
But I'd stress that medical sedation only upsets your natural equilibrium, even if it helps in the short term. Learned that the hard way.

 

[BlackPoppet]

No it's a good answer. I know that you are right! I need to get out of the city. Which I find threatening, and get back to nature. Your right about sleeping meds just curing the symptoms and not the cause. I feel stuck between a rick and a hard place with this sleep disorder. I've tried to sleep a few nights without my meds, I don't sleep those three nights and I get ill and start freaking out, then I just rush back to my meds out of desperation and fear. I don't know what to do. My original threat has gone, but new ones are popping up in its place. This is one if the reasons I want to CTB.

 

[Deleted member 1465]

Can you wean yourself of the medications and replace with a CBD dose to help calm anxiety? You may have to accept sleeplessness for a while as a side effect. Annoyingly, you can't make yourself sleep and the harder you try, the less likely it is to happen.
I went for six months with 1 to 2 hours a night, but eventually my body just took control.
There's also the whole day night rhythm thing...if you rise with the sun and sleep with the sun set and spend as long outside as you can, it helps with hormonal regulation. Your body and mind need this cycle to be healthy. Working in offices and staying up late really messes this up and stops us from being able to listen to our bodies.

 

[BlackPoppet]

Yes I agree that life now is super unnatural and not how ya humans are supposed to live.
I could try and use CBD oil. It has worked once to help me sleep. Naturally. I can't believe you went that long without a lot of sleep! Did you get heart palpitations? Because that's what I get if I don't sleep properly. I literally have panic attacks over it. Bearing in mind I've had a heart arrhythmia before so I always get scared that it's affecting my heart.
Yes the more I try to make myself sleep, the less it happens. Plus I'm worried about the world and the way it's going. So that increases the fear that I feel. I do get very scared at the thought of being on meds for the rest of my life. I don't want to be on sleeping tablets forever. I wish more than anything to be able to sleep normally.
Us* humans