Why That Jolt at Bedtime Feels More Alarming Than It Is

The kids are finally down. Your body starts to go heavy, and then your leg kicks as if you missed a step. The jolt is over in a second. The question it leaves behind — is something wrong with me? — can keep you awake much longer.

This episode gives that jolt a name: a sleep start, or hypnic jerk. You’ll hear why it happens at the edge of sleep, why some nights bring more than one, and why the worry afterward can cost more rest than the movement itself.

It also looks at the ordinary conditions that can make sleep starts more likely — caffeine, stress, hard evening activity, and too little sleep — and when frequent or unusual movements are worth discussing with a sleep specialist.

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7 Good Minutes is presented by OCEANSCAPE and published by The Extraordinary Network.