# Sleep Disorder or something else??
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleep-disorder-or-something-else/530080
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [February 23, 2010, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleep-disorder-or-something-else/530080 "2010-02-23T04:00:33Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)
#### Post date: [February 23, 2010, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleep-disorder-or-something-else/530080/1 "2010-02-23T04:00:33Z")
Once in a great while, when I am falling asleep, relaxed as a person can be, I will tense up suddenly, become rigid for a couple seconds and then resume the relaxed state.
I’m nearly asleep when this happens. There is no pain or other discomfort and by the time the next morning comes along, I forget it happens.
I live alone and sleep (mostly) alone. As it happens, an episode happened the other night when I had a guest in my bed. As we were cooking breakfast, she wondered what happened and then I vaguely remember it happening. I know it has happened occasionally in the past, maybe 4 or 5 times a year.
I really don’t know a better way to describe the sensation. A similar sensation occurs when I am trying to stay awake and I catch myself dozing off.
For the record, I do have a history of sleep walking, especially if I am really tired when I go to bed. The night of the episode, I had a taken a couple of aspirin for a scratchy throat but I was not under the influence of any other drugs, including alcohol.
disclaimer, I am not asking for medical advice, I just wonder if there is a name for this. Googling"sleep disorders" did not help too much.
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### Author:  [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)
#### Post date: [February 23, 2010, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleep-disorder-or-something-else/530080/2 "2010-02-23T06:51:37Z")
Try looking up hypnagogic jerk, which is not a sleep disorder–merely a natural response when your body is overtired.
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### Author:  [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)
#### Post date: [February 23, 2010, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleep-disorder-or-something-else/530080/3 "2010-02-23T14:58:32Z")
> [@BigT](#):
>
> Try looking up hypnagogic jerk, which is not a sleep disorder–merely a natural response when your body is overtired.
Thanks, I think that’s it.