Strange Feeling.

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I hve had this quite a few times the last few years and I have been wondering what could be causing it. Is it related to autism or something else? Is a strange one... Ok... Here goes:-
I am lying on my back in bed and all is quiet and calm. I am not far off falling asleep. Then I feel as if both my legs have slipped. As if I am standing up on ice and both my feet have slipped forward. My body then automatically gives a sudden reaction to correct this and re-gain balance, which, when I am in bed all peaceful is alarming! Makes me shocked.
I have had this twonor three times during trying to go to sleep in the past... It is anoying and scary... It is like I am walking on ice and my feet have suddenly slipped... You can imagine it.... Why is it happening in bed?
I was thinking that it could be an earthquake or something along those lines, but it does not follow the same pattern. When it happens it happens quick. It is an internal reaction rather then external. It is my balance somehow... My balance thinks I have slipped and sends messages to my body... And WOAH! My body is quick to react. Very quick! No issues with you, my body! Wow! But why is my balance thinking that lying down in bed which is a different way up from walking... Why does it think I am suddenly slipping?
Strange...!

Sounds like a hypnic jerk. I get them quite often but for me I suddenly feel like I fall down a hole and my whole body jumps. I think they’re pretty common.

Thanks Squiggle7. It is a frightening feeling! Is like "Woah! What was that!" My heart racing with the shock of it etc...Is like "Did that just happen?"... And I start to check my bed and bedroom are still safe! But, I have felt an earthquake like this before as a single downward jolt. I need to ask if my Mum felt anything.

I thought everyone experienced them... not too often, hopefully. You're falling off to sleep and it's like you're walking and suddenly trip up or fall down a hole. I'd say it was perfectly normal... but what's perfectly normal anyway.

No idea. Is only the last decade or so I have noticed it. The last five years I would say.

Everybody gets that.

I agree with Joe. This sort of thing happens with me. Don't worry about it.

I get feelings like that. I see comments about falling into holes, and your experience with ice. Mine is always a feeling of falling from the heavens down to earth, with clouds and airplanes around me.

I wonder what difference that makes, if there even is one.

I read recently that if you have vestibular issues it’s common to jerk when falling asleep. It used to happen to me almost every time I was falling asleep when I was around 5 years old, then it just stopped.

I don't have vestibular issues. I jerk sometimes when I'm in the process of falling asleep. I feel like I'm falling off a cliff at these times.

Just out of interest, I wonder if anyone has done a study to see if it was more common with people on the spectrum compared with those who are not? It would be interesting to find out.

I have it too.

I think most people experience this. I certainly do. My hypochondria tells me I'm going to have an epileptic fit; at least then, I could be like Prince Myshkin

I believe this is a HUMAN feeling; I doubt very much it has anything to do with being on the Spectrum.

Yes it is a common human thing.
It's not worth doing a study on it.
Just accept that not everything you do is because you are autistic, and move on.

Happens to me. Feels like I'm falling through space and I wake up just as I land back in my bed. Actually, it's kind of fun.