Body sliding while trying to go to sleep

I haven't taken anything to help with this specific issue of my body being awake and my brain being asleep, but when my brain is too awake I'll occasionally take a Benadryl or NyQuil of I'm sick. I've tried stretching before bed or trying to be more active up until it's time to sleep, but that only works sometimes and doesn't work very well

I have no idea. It seems like it's actually moving, as having something heavy on my body, placing a sweater under my legs (provides more traction than the sheets), or bracing myself against the wall helps a certain amount, but the effects of doing those things could pretty easily be a placebo

This sounds to me like something I had as a child and a young woman, and still get now on occasion. I see you're only 20, which is a common age for experiencing this kind of thing.

It's a kind of hallucination which only occurs when you're in bed and quite sleepy. Another variant I used to get was waking up - really waking up, I mean - in the night and feeling the mattress breathing! I had that one as recently as a month ago, and I'm in my 70s now.

It's not a symptom of brain damage or neurodegenerative disease. (I happen to be a former neuro nurse btw.) And it's not a psychiatric illness either. It's just something that happens to some of us, and which we more or less grow out of over time.

The best thing to do is simply accept it and ignore it. Many people have all kinds of weird glitches associated with sleep, and they're perfectly harmless. As with anything of this kind, the more anxious you get about it, the more you'll notice it, and it becomes a vicious circle.

You're actually doing the right thing in occasionally taking an antihistamine, to give yourself a decent night's sleep. I used to do this myself. Sometimes if you take it two or three nights in a row, it can reset your anxiety levels and get you sleeping normally again for a few weeks. But a word of caution: don't take antihistamines more than three nights in a row, and leave at least a week before you take them again. When taken as a sleep aid, antihistamines can cause dependency, just like sleeping pills.

Antihistamines won't cure the condition, but they'll give you short periods of respite. The feelings will return again, but as you go through life you'll get used to them, and they'll cease to bother you as much.

The other alternative is to see a doctor, who will prescribe anti-anxiety meds and maybe even sleeping pills. This is a viable option too, but don't forget most of these medications are habit-forming and can have serious withdrawal effects if you try to stop taking them.

Thank you so much for your reply, it's great to know I'm not alone with this problem. I used to get the mattress breathing thing all the time when I was a kid, that's crazy! I've tried just accepting it and if I don't readjust and I just let my body slide, it just gets worse. Do you think a weighted blanket would help at all? It's something I've been considering for a while, but it's much too expensive to buy if it won't help. As for taking the Benadryl occasionally, I really only take it when my brain is awake but my body is asleep, not nice versa. It doesn't make me physically tired at all, so I still slide around. I do have extreme anxiety, but I've been very mellow lately and it's still happening

Hi Sarah,

If a weighted blanket helps at all it would only be a psychological aid, to give you a feeling of security, as it's fairly clear from what you say that you're not really sliding around at all. You could try it. Anything that helps to calm you down a bit could help. I don't think this is a symptom of anxiety, but obviously getting anxious about it going to make you notice it more.

Have you considered addressing your anxiety? I'm not really in favour of medication, though some find it works. The treatment of choice for anxiety is CBT, though you need to find a properly trained practitioner, and one you can connect with. Too many inadequately trained people have jumped on that particular bandwagon since it became "fashionable".

If you don't focus too much attention on this problem, I'm sure it will fade quite soon. The phenomenon is mainly linked with childhood and early adult life, and tends to fade quite quickly with age. I think it was more or less over by my mid-twenties, though that was so long ago I can barely remember now! It still very occasionally plagues me, usually on nights when I get a bit too warm in bed. It might be worth trying to keep your bedroom a bit cooler. I also find I can't sleep under a duvet (or quilt, or comforter, or whatever you call it in your part of the world) as I get far too warm.

The main thing is not to worry about it. I know it's irritating, but it won't harm you and it's not a symptom of any neurological disease.

I haven't seen any doctors about it yet, but if it persists like this I guess I will have to. It shouldn't be caused by brain damage, as the only health issue I've had that would cause brain damage (Rocky mountain spotted fever) happened long after this sleep issue started

Cool reply, I like the idea of using Chinese medicine! Unfortunately, I already do everything you've suggested, I'm more of a night owl so I usually end up cleaning before bed, laugh with friends a lot, and my job is moderately physical. Are there any herbal remedies maybe? The feng shui also might be off in my room as I have the bed pushed against the wall and close to a few doors, not sure if that's Chinese medicine or not but it could be a factor

Cool reply, I like the idea of using Chinese medicine! Unfortunately, I already do everything you've suggested, I'm more of a night owl so I usually end up cleaning before bed, laugh with friends a lot, and my job is moderately physical. Are there any herbal remedies maybe? The feng shui also might be off in my room as I have the bed pushed against the wall and close to a few doors, not sure if that's Chinese medicine or not but it could be a factor