What makes you jump as you fall asleep?
We’ve all been there: you’re exhausted and about to fall into a deep sleep when you’re jolted awake by…nothing. As it turns out, our body does a lot while we sleep and that annoying falling/jumping sensation has an explanation.
According to experts via The Daily Mail, our sleep occurs in several stages, beginning with a light sleep, a deeper sleep, and eventually, REM sleep, during which dreams occur and the body is essentially paralysed.
When you’re stressed out or extremely tired, this can disrupt the body’s natural sleep cycle, leading you to drift into REM sleep sooner than you otherwise would, leaving the muscles unrelaxed. The body, unprepared for this quick sleep and vivid dreaming, jolts you awake accordingly.
While normal, frequent occurrence can indicate that you’re not getting enough sleep or that your stress levels are high.