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Electric/Energy surge to brain when trying to fall asleep.

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GD10
GD10

Hi guys, I'm new to the site but glad I found somewhere to share my symptoms.

I'm getting a sort of electrical shock when trying to fall asleep. This electrical shock seems to be described on other sites as 'jumps' or 'zaps' or 'surges of energy'. It happens not when I'm sleeping but the moment I am about to fall asleep. Its like a sort of butterflies feeling in the stomach and then a rush/surge of energy to the brain which gives you a 'jump' and electrical feeling in the head and sometimes upper body. The more extreme they are sometimes produce a twitch in maybe the arm or leg. Its not painful but I guess is quite scary when it happens. These can happen numerous times a night.

Many friends/family I have spoken to say this is normal and they are familiar with the symptoms (I understand what they mean as it can be quite similar to when you suddenly wake from a bad dream) but mine seem to be a lot more often and extreme. I know my symptoms don't seem to be normal.

I've been having these for about 5-6 weeks now (some nights are worse than others) but generally its been more or less every night. This has turned into a vicious cycle because when you actually close your eyes at night to go to sleep you are actually waiting for the 'shock' to happen instead of trying to sleep. Obviously the less sleep you have, the less functional you are the next day and so on and so on. You then get sleep deprived which I believe also may trigger this.

The only other thing I can add to my symptoms is sometimes during the day I get a spaced out/empty/dizzy/cloudy feeling in the head (hard to explain). Sometimes this can turn into a sort of brain/head sensation where you feel you need to kind of 'shake it off'. Again, its hard to explain, something like if you have restless feet and you need to kick out of it but its in the head so you need to give yourself a shake to snap out of it.

I have read quite a bit about anxiety/stress and these symptoms may fall into this category but the issue I have with this, is that I have nothing to be anxious/stressful about! All is OK with job, money, house, relationship etc so I'm not sure how this all started. Could I be anxious about this illness? Again, a vicious cycle?

About me - I'm a fit and healthy 35 year old guy. I actually exercise quite a lot (go to gym/swim 4 times a week and have run numerous marathons over the past year). Although this fitness regime has stopped since I have started having these symptoms as I am feeling quite weak/tired due to not getting much sleep due to it. I have no major prior illnesses and I am not on any medication. I don't want to get in the habit of taking sleep medication.

I have been to the hospital and spent the night where they performed numerous blood tests/Heart ECG/X Rays/Urine and all came back OK. The only issue I had was slightly high blood pressure (but not high enough to be put on any medication). I have also been for an MRI scan and EEG epilepsy test. I will find the results with these in about 5 weeks time.

Anyway, that's my symptoms and hopefully someone might feel at ease that they are going through something similar.

Reading similar posts on the internet I don't think anyone has come to the conclusion on what in fact is causing these problems, even though a lot of the people actually been for tests and seen doctors. Has anyone experienced these issues?

Thanks guys, feel free to get in touch smile

27 likes, 695 replies

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  • FOA
    FOA GD10

    Posted

    Hello,

    Your symptoms are the same as mine. I have had them for 18 months.

    i have seen specialists and had CT scan, MRI and  electrode tests all showed nothing.

    Are you still suffering or have you found some solutions? I am not sleeping at all of a night. 

    Thanks 

    • sandra12738
      sandra12738 FOA

      Posted

      I am at the beginning of this horrible journey, I also am not sleeping at all through the night. Worry wont help I know, but it's impossible not to..

  • chandresh85882
    chandresh85882 GD10

    Posted

    Hey GD10,

    Yes join the club; I've felt similar sensations for a long time.  Right now have tinnitus, brain zaps, spaciness and more energy on one side of body and brain then the other.  This is nothing new; I"m 62 and have had these same feelings since my teens.  Best Wishes for your Health.

  • sandra12738
    sandra12738 GD10

    Posted

    I have just started with these symptoms and am absolutely beside myself with what to do to put it right. I wondered as you posted a while ago if you have had some luck in finding a solution at all. Mine started out of the blue and every night now I am awake, start to drift off to sleep, then pow. Hopefully you will still be participating in this blog.
    • carolyn40231
      carolyn40231 sandra12738

      Posted

      hi sandra.mine started shortly after i stopped my anti depresants about 8 years ago. i couldn't figure out what in the world it was...then i realized that it started when i stopped my prozac. .i never went to a dr. or even talked about it. i just knew it was a weird sound...mine are a few different sounds..i hear it during awake times to.. so i have read the only way to stop it is to get back on the meds..but im not in need of them. also i read on this site that it goes away. well mine hasn't ive just learned to deal with it. im sorry i dont have any solution.

      carolyn

  • emma92137
    emma92137 GD10

    Posted

    Hi Sandra, the same thing also has been happening with me and all began in December. I am sure it's stress related. I know it's hard to believe but it will go away slowly but surely. Mine began after a period of increased stress, just out of the blue. I have been seeing a psychologist and she says its from stress. I am being teated with cbt and its helping. Now most nights I fall asleep fine, although I am waking at 5am now with a similar feeling on trying to get back to sleep. Try to do everything you can to relax in the day. Practice basic breathing exercises, take magnesium citrate, vitamin D and try to change your attitude about it. Don;t worry (easier said then done I know) about it because the more you focus and worry about it the more chance that it will happen. I am not fully there yet and have good days and bad days but I am trying my best to believe that this will pass. I have searched forums etc and scared myself half to death over this but its really best to focus on only the positive stories. And I also have two friends who have had similar issues. I would never have known this had I not opened up to them. I am certain you will be ok! Just really focus on healthy eating, relaxation skills and CBT if you can see someone or else buy a CBT workbook. The worst thing to do is fret all day about the coming night's sleep. I know how hard it is. The other thing I do now is to go with the feeling and just try to sit it out and do my breathing excerices when it happens. This often helps too. Sorry for rambling, hope this helps a little. Soon you will be looking back on this a stronger person smile

    • sandra12738
      sandra12738 emma92137

      Posted

      Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. Am feeling frazzled, no sleep, doc has given me sleeping pills to try first and try to break the cycle and let me get some sleep, being deprived of sleep for days is taking its toll. I have also read other forums and with nobody finding an out and out way to stop all this I was going crazy, I will take everything you say on board, very helpful. What I need is a good laugh, I retired in July and miss the camaraderie from the people I worked with, so maybe I am depressed / stressed but not accepting the fact. time to take stock of my innermost feelings. Will definitely look in to CBT. Hope you continue to make good progress. 
    • desmond74976
      desmond74976 sandra12738

      Posted

      Well laugher is the best medicine. I had these shocks .had mri .ct scans .all clear. So nothing to worry about .try and chill and not worry all the best
    • emma92137
      emma92137 sandra12738

      Posted

      Hi Sandra and all who have this issue, how are you doing? Any updates? Mine started in December. With better healthy lifestyle, iron, magnesium citrate and vitamin d I have seen a lot of improvement. I strongly believe its due to stress and is a panic attack of sorts which of course happens the first time because we were stressed and the next times its because we have become kind

      Of conditioned and hypersensitive to it. So we are worrying that iT will happen again and then because we get so stressed we actually cause it to happen. If I go to sleep reading a book or my phone (i know not ideal before bed) then i dont get it. If I stay up too late it does take me longer to get to sleep and I do feel stressed/anxious. However I think thats because I am more aware of my transition from wakwfulness to sleep. This is because When you are stressed you are hyperaroused and more worried about every little thing. Try not to worry about iT. Try to relax a bit. You will be fine. I am also trying CBT which is helping. If you cant afford a therapist, google CBT as there are good resources online as Well as books on Amazon. Do not read the scare stories and apply them to yourself! This will Pass. Mine is passing already to a large extent and believe me I have had several nights of NO sleep with this thing and was terrified in the beginning. I would really encourage people to report back on any helpful techniques etc.

  • brittany50180
    brittany50180 GD10

    Posted

    Hi there, I'm a 24 year old female and I have the exact same symptoms. I was recently in hospital for a serious stomach bug and on my last night there I started having these symptoms again. I asked the nurse what it could be and she immediately wanted to send me to ICU to be monitored for neuroligical problems and as you could imagine I was extremely worried! I did not end up going into ICU and the doctor just stopped the medication I was on for the stomach bug, thinking that it was the cause however, I explained that I experience these gilts and shortness of breath very often but he couldn't give me any information and put it down to anxiety. I am on anxiety medication and have been for a while but never used to experience these symptoms until recently. I am going to try yoga in order to learn some breathing techniques in the hopes that it will relax my body and reduce the symptoms. I have no idea what else to do, everyone keeps saying that I'm fine but I don't feel it. Also another alarming symptom to add is that I tend to go numb in my hands or feet sometimes which I know is not normal! I have also had all the above tests done on me.

    Thank you for your post, it has put me at ease knowing that others are experiencing the same thing

  • Gobanna
    Gobanna GD10

    Posted

    These are actually types of seizures. miclonic jerks i believe??
  • gentryside
    gentryside GD10

    Posted

    OMG!!!! You described EXACTLY what I go through when I accidentally MISS a dose of Cymbalta!!!  It's those weird brain synapse flashes!!!  It's a loud flash in your brain!  But I only experience them when I miss a dose, fortunately.  I've been on 120mg/day of Cymbalta successfully for years (I know, I'm one of the fortunate few). 

    Cymbalta isn't anything you want to mess with.  I'll probably have to take it till I die, because getting off of it isn't something I care to go through either.  I'm a 62 year old retired lady who is active, but doesn't regularly exercise.  Go figure.........

  • Himoteph
    Himoteph GD10

    Posted

    I have the same thing. I want to die. Don't know what to do.

  • Himoteph
    Himoteph GD10

    Posted

    28 year old male. Fit, healthy diet. Can't sleep for the life of me. I just wish I could sleep. Have exactly what you described. Brain fog all day. Can't articulate thoughts anymore. Walking zombie. Really need help.

  • stephanie99209
    stephanie99209 GD10

    Posted

    I'm struggling with the exact same thing . its keeping me from sleeping. Starts in my stomach andnibget this tingley current through my body and the longer I lay still the worse it gets. Its really only Jen in try to sleep

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