Body vibrations when falling asleep or waking?

Posted by cricketlips @cricketlips, Jun 2, 2022

After many google searches for the reason I feel vibration in my head, shoulder and arm just before falling asleep and waking, I found nothing that satisfactorily explained it. Of course anxiety seems to be a common explanation but there was nothing specific enough to help me. I am currently reading Incognito by David Eagleman. It discusses the functioning of the brain as an organ. This morning, going through my routine to get ready for work, I thought of a way to understand the vibrations. Similar to the hypnic jerks we experience occasionally just before we fall asleep, I think the vibrations are intended to arouse me to stay vigilant. Which is the fight or flight mechanism in action. So there is the anxiety connection. Originating in the amygdala. I was thinking Parkinson's or MS but my symptoms don't indicate those conditions, thankfully. It seems counterintuitive to be anxious and sleeping at the same time but the brain can do that. The cerebral cortex sleeps but the life support systems of the brain must stay online, obviously. If you thought you were in danger, sleeping would put you at risk but at some point sleep becomes absolutely necessary. I think the vibrations I have been experiencing are caused by my sympathetic nervous system and not a neurologic disease. Thankfully !

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lindybowers | @lindybowers | May 2 11:19am

In reply to @bille76 "I also have inner vibrations. They started in Jan 2020. They always occur when waking. On..." + (show)

@bille76 I have them also. I called them heart palpitations but the cardiologist ignored my complaint and ordered a sleep apnea test. Not that either. Interested in this. Linda

margotabc | @margotabc | May 29 1:49pm

In reply to @danielgg "Hello Trait, Have you had any results or diagnosis explaining the issue? The same exact thing..." + (show)

@danielgg
I am having this same issue when falling asleep and suddenly waking. It started when I was pregnant and I attributed it to the increase blood volume. But it persist 7 months post partum. Another symptom I’ve noticed is an increase in blood rushing to my head when I bend over. Almost suddenly all the blood is in my head. Not sure if related. Would love to know if any results or answers for you

brigid444 | @brigid444 | Jun 1 8:19pm

Yup! Going on almost two years for me now. Here's what happens to me... At around the 7 hour mark of sleeping, I start waking up with what feels like an adrenaline surge in my chest and arms. Sometimes with heat that feels like what happens when you have a CT scan with contrast dye (heat flowing through your veins). Once I get up I'm fine all day long! But if I try to fight it and go back to sleep it keeps waking me up. I've worn the holter monitor and had EKG's which have all been normal. I'm a 59 year old female using the estradiol patch and progesterone tabs at night. I also tried to see if switching from Cymbalta (been on since 2007) to Lexapro but that only helped my mood during the day. I learned about Guanfacine that is an ADHD med primarily (which I don't have) but can help with these crazy surges. I just started and the surges seems to be less severe so far so I'm hopeful things will improve to the point that I don't wake up terrified every morning. Oh and I'm supposed to do a sleep study soon. In the meantime, thank you all for your posts and I'll take any and all advice!

edornton | @edornton | Jun 2 5:20pm

I started a similar link back in 2020 because I was having vibrations just as a was falling asleep and just as I was waking up. For the first several months they really scared me and I was nervous even about going to sleep. Over time I found the less a worried about them and realized that they seemed harmless, they continued but not so strong. Now when I feel them I just know I have entered the stage of falling asleep, stay calm and go to sleep. Mornings aren't so bad because I am getting up and they go away. I have had them everyday since 2020. I have excepted it as a permanent feature of my sleep cycle.
Have having read tons of messages with all kinds of different histories, medications, ages, sex, and medical conditions I have not seen any common factor emerge to explain. How this helps.

margotabc | @margotabc | Jun 3 3:49pm

In reply to @edornton "I started a similar link back in 2020 because I was having vibrations just as a..." + (show)

@edornton this helps me thank you. I have also not seen any common factors in this with all the people I’ve read about. Thank you for the positive feedbaxk

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