The body jerks that you mention could be what doctors call ‘hypnic jerks’. Most people have had the experience of jumping or jerking as they are dropping off to sleep. These movements are called 'hypnic jerks'.
Hypnic jerks could easily disrupt your bedtime, leaving you feeling wide awake because they are so startling. Up to 70% of the people of all ages and genders experience hypnic jerks. They seem to appear more frequently in childhood, often being mistaken for seizures and epilepsy.
Possible causes
While little is known about their cause in adults, there are some prevailing theories.
First, that of poor sleep habits. Irregular sleep schedules, chronic sleep loss, and frequently interrupted slumber may all contribute to involuntary twitches.
Second, the use of stimulants. Caffeine, nicotine, and certain drugs can impact the body and brain, making these movements more likely.
Third, exercise has been implicated. While exercise is important for the body, working out too close to bedtime can have a stimulating effect on the brain, leading to twitching.
Fourth, anxiety plays a part. Stress and worries can also stimulate the brain, making it difficult to wind down for sleep.
Single-incident trauma survivors, such as car accident, may be diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) if they experience a set of very specific symptoms:
· Intrusive or re-experiencing: These symptoms include nightmares, flashbacks, visual or auditory memories or repetitive thinking about the traumatic event. These symptoms may disrupt sleep patterns.
· Avoidance or emotional numbing: This occurs when a person does not want to be around the people, place or situation that reminds the person of the event. While some anxiety is normal for anyone involved in a traumatic event, if avoidance or numbing keeps someone from doing daily activities, it may be a sign of PTSD.
· Hyper-arousal: This is a nervous anxiety response to things that did not previously lead to such a response. Increased heart rate, increased respiration, stomach butterflies or sweating might occur around certain events that did not bother the individual before the trauma.
· Negative changes in mood and thinking: Some people may become down or depressed after a traumatic event that might change how they see the world around them. An example is beginning to believe that driving is unsafe after someone survives a car crash.
