Twitching

[porchy]

I have noticed that when my girlfriend is falling asleep, she twitches ever so slightly usually in her arms or legs. I have noticed this in myself sometimes and was just wondering if anyone had an explanation for this? I though about it but could not come up with anything plausible.

[Nodnarb]

This twitch is called a hypnagogic myoclonus, which basically means "sleep" and "involuntary muscle twitch." Back when I took physiology, we learned that the exact cause is unknown but it's thought to be related to how your brain relenquishes control of your muscles as it goes into sleep mode. They're rather common on GHB.

[The Dreamer]

My cat gets them when too high, tripping or even just too tired.

[lostmente]

I have them extensively, a high dose mineral supplement seems to help. It is closely linked to over working your nerves aka being stressed

[Nodnarb]

If you did any reading, mente, you'd see that most people get them. You claim that it has to do with being stresed. Do you have a citation for that? The closest I can find is that being extremely tired or agitated while falling to sleep can increase the likelihood of getting twitches like that, but nowhere have i seen that general stress can cause them.

Reputation Comments on this post:

Rude and combative

[The Dreamer]

That's weird because my cat gets them more often when he is stressed about something or nervous. And his brother who is a nervous person in general seems to get them almost every time he smokes. I wouldn't bet my life on it but there does seem to be some connection.

You don't need to read everything you know from a book. Sometimes you can just use your eyes.

[Nodnarb]

I was trying to distinguish between the more acute stress of being agitated while going to sleep and the state of your "nerves being stressed." I suppose I wasn't quite clear when I said "being stressed." I meant stressed in the same sense that I interpreted lostmente's usage as: the ongoing state of living a stressful life rather than the acute state of being stressed because of agitation, stimulant intake, or simply fighting sleep.

Now you may have read my post as being rude and combative, but I think that you are projecting onto me. I asked to see a citation simply because it's very possible that he might have one. When it comes to the matters of physiology, evidence is superior to anecdote if available. Don't read so much malice into other people's motives. I think more people need to be skeptical of the claims they read lest they fall into the trap of assuming that everything they read online is indeed true.

[The Dreamer]

Originally Posted by Nodnarb

If you did any reading, mente

That sounds combative to me. I've heard lostmente say some reasonably intelligent things so I don't think he goes around believing everything he reads.

However if you wanted to ask him for a citation, which can be a reasonable and helpful request, that is fine. Sounds like he's speaking based on someones experience though so I don't think he'd have anything to cite. I'll even give you the fact that he needs some clarification about this 'strong link' and whether that was an opinion or a scientific finding.

It's not a big deal we all do it sometimes when we're pissed (especially if we're being misinformed) but don't try to defend it lets all just move on. Cool?

This is getting really stupid. You need to stop.

[kalininin]

as you're posting on drugs-forum, which drugs seem to cause the twitching ?
or is gf sober etc ?
very serious twitching being experieced by my gf when she's doing much bzp n forgets to take her anti-twich alprazolam [xanax].
after recovering of some days of bzp n xanax , finally getting off xanax must be done with care n slowly cuz twitching can come back.

[mks_1112]

My grandmothers turtle most often gets twitching after stimulant use. Unless your sober, it could be depletion of some chemical or just a side-effect of something in your system.

If it's only twitching when sleeping then it could be just a habit or something.

[lostmente]

A swan named george would hallucinate extensively (as in very advanced altering of reality) during hypnic jerks. Quite an experience to attempt to wake up from what seemed like a day dream only to find it won't let go of you.

Interestingly the same swan was watching a TED video about a neuro scientist who documented her own stroke. She described sensations loosing ones natural flow..a disconnected sense, the swan related this to sensations that occured when he experienced twitching while awake and active. Actually must post that video, it had many interesting phenomena described

[enquirewithin]

My cat has noticed very pronounced hypnic kerks after kratom use-- tension does increase them.

[Ilsa]

the cat used to have this problem when she went to bed stoned, but it's gone away over the last couple of years. during times of chronic stress/anxiety it returns, stoned or not.

[porchy]

Originally Posted by lostmente

A swan named george would hallucinate extensively (as in very advanced altering of reality) during hypnic jerks. Quite an experience to attempt to wake up from what seemed like a day dream only to find it won't let go of you.

Interestingly the same swan was watching a TED video about a neuro scientist who documented her own stroke. She described sensations loosing ones natural flow..a disconnected sense, the swan related this to sensations that occured when he experienced twitching while awake and active. Actually must post that video, it had many interesting phenomena described

A friend told me about that video. Fair play she is a champ!!

Its just something that happens when falling asleep, regardless of drug intake.

Anyway thanks for the replies.

[Junkhead23]

Pacman jerks in his sleep all the time.(not that kinda jerk ) Also does anyone get that where they jump and wake up with a huge shock?