Falling off ladders…
Not in the literal sense. I’m referring to the feeling of falling off ladders, or down stairs, or tripping etc.. right as you are about to drift off to sleep!
According to Mayo Clinic, apparently almost 70 percent of people experience this phenomenon, or have experienced it at some point just after drifting off to sleep.
This muscle twitch is known as a hypnagogic myoclonic twitch or “Hypnic jerkâ€.
“Most experts agree that this is a natural part of the sleeping process, much like slower breathing and a reduced heartbeat. The occurance is well known and has been well documented. However, experts are still not completely sure why the body does this.
The general consensus among researchers is that, as your muscles begin to slack and go into a restful state just as you are falling asleep; your brain senses these relaxation signals and misinterprets them, thinking you are falling down. The brain then sends signals to the muscles in your arms and legs in an attempt to jerk you back upright. This misinterpretation that takes place in your brain may also be responsible for the “falling†dreams that accompany the falling sensation. These “dreams†are not really normal dreams, as they are not produced from R.E.M sleep, but rather more like a daydream or hallucination in response to the body’s sensations.”
Last night while I was lying on the bed watching The Prestige, I found myself nodding off. I was picturing working on the new room. I was up on the ladder, the long sheet of board for the top shelf in my hands, suspended above my head. I was carefully balanced on the ladder when suddenly, taking the next step up, I realised there wasn’t in fact a step there. And I was jerked violently out of my sleep.
Kate, who was at the time next to me, found this incredibly funny.
I did not see into this humour, but was quite amused when she fell off the bed laughing.
Strange sensation 
Kate said,
May 27, 2007 @ 10:16 pm
You have to admit, it was a little funny. Me and you on a tiny little bed, both ‘pretending’ to watch the movie while dosing off (quite possibly a few snores from me) and both of us rudely awoken by your sudden jolt.
Yes…That is right
By the way it wasn’t my fault I fell off the bed, it was yours for jolting and pushing me off
miniminor said,
May 28, 2007 @ 2:38 am
PMSL !
But tbh i’ve suffered from that a few times… Quiet embarrassing when done at work with people sitting near you
ScottyB said,
May 29, 2007 @ 12:02 am
Tiny little bed?! Geez Kate, its not that bad!! (Okay, well it is :P).. oh what rubbish.. you sooo totally fell off of your own accord!
PMSL MM… hahahaha… at work?! PMSL so much
I can just see you doing that too! Should pop onto the forums instead of sleeping ffs 
miniminor said,
May 30, 2007 @ 8:06 am
LOL
in my dinner hour. sitting in the shed !
have to kinda pretend i’ve woken up then start to get up in one go so i don’t looks such a plonker !