Why You Feel Like You're Falling In Your Sleep

It happens much more often than we'd like. But why? A couple of scientists have formulated theories about why you feel like you're falling and then suddenly wake up. Here's what they think is going on. -------------------------------------------------

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[MisterRay]

It's happened to me while I was ABOUT to sleep, not during my sleep. Am I the only who's had this happen to them.

[Cheezmfries]

It's scary falling in your dream. I wake up kicking in the air and breathing hard and my heart beating fast.💓

[imaniryn]

i fell asleep in class and felt like i was falling so i jumped..and i had to play it off school so i dont look weird so i started tappin my foot like im makin a beat lmaoo😂 but i get these off the time and just HAD TO KNOW if i was the only one

[ViperCannabis]

it's pretty embarrassing when you fall asleep in class and you felt that you fell on your sleep and then your legs and feet started to kick randomly and then you're left wondering if that just happen or was it just in your mind and most importantly... did anyone see you... XD

[lucynool]

It's like missing that ONE STEP ON THE STAIRS IN UR DREAMS AND WAKING UP

[ralphlawrence]

I feel like I'm running then stepping in a hole

[corrinmorganstern]

I hate when I experience it because I ruin my sleep 😴🚫😰😦😮😤

[dezz]

Fell asleep in study hall and this happened😑 Everybody looked up like someone died

[Yealo]

This might sound wierd but when ever I fall in my sleep it just feels so good

[uyuy]

I actually try to make this happen because it makes me really calm, the first time it happened I was legit scared, but now I'm used to it. It makes me sleep faster and I love it. It's also really fun. Try to picture yourself actually falling inside a wormhole and it'll just happen. It's great trust me! Do it every night trust me dude it's super cool.

[janaisbored]

This started happening when I was 6 or 7

[FudggeYeah]

They say when ur body is to relaxed u stop breathing. So you feeling like u falling is ur body trying to wake u up. So you won't die

[sykeoutoffical]

This only happens when in my dream when I fall off the swing at the end of the dream and then I wake up

[S_xpreme]

This started happening to me when I was about 9 I was really scared I thought something was wrong to me my mom took me to the doctor but when I told my mom and the doctor they didn't know what I meant but then it happened more often so I got used to it but now I know it happens to everyone 😂😂

[chaimaaabdelli]

I really hate dreaming about me falling... I dreamed about me dreaming that I am falling and then slap myself in the dream and oh that was just a dream

[timothy]

Actually the common hypnic jerk always occurs on your heart. When your sleeping and you suddenly feel falling really fast, it means your heart stopped for a moment and the reason why we are like falling when sleeping its because one of your muscles triggers and sends a signal to all your body to wake you up and not die.

[NeonDefense]

hypnic jerks are my hero, they saved my day for the past recent days.

when I'm working with my homework and I suddenly fall asleep, hypnic jerks often come and jump on my bed so I can actually shock myself and wake up. after that I saw books in front of me and made me think "oh yeah, i'm working on my homework, fuck!"

[TheDailySnail]

I’ve never had this happen to me but apparently everyone has?

[wolfie-mask]

I had a falling dream once it kinda was like I was flying and falling but suddenly I hit the ground, woke back up and noticed that I fell of my bed.

true story

[u-u-UU]

It feels relaxing to fall in my sleep. It’s like paradise.