Violently jerked from sleep and can not breath or move.

[adamburdette]

i have a sleeping/breathing probelm its quite violent. But what will happen on ocassion to me is i will be laying in the bed in the stage where your not asleep but your brain has pretty much shut down and in a milisecond i am jerked out of it my heart starts thumping and i can not breath and i have no control over my muscles they just lock up i think from the shock of me being jerked out of sleep so fast and not being able to breath. but it goes away in about 5 seconds. but happens again everytime im almost asleep after that until i get up and go do something and lay back down. it doesn't happen all the time though only once a week maybe twice. i've never had any medical problems before. i dont ever get sick. i've only been sick enough to puke 3 times in my whole life and i am 20. can anyone tell me anything?

[adamburdette]

it happens any way that i sleep,  and even sometimes when im not asleep i cant breath well and my heart beat is wired, not really faster but i can feel it thumping alot harder.

[Steven Y Park, MD]

From what you describe, it could either be a sleep-wake transition disorder (sleep paralysis), or an obstruction from breathing that makes you wake up violently. Does it happen when you're on your back? If so, try sleeping on your side or stomach. Are you waking up refreshed? Are you having problems with focus, energy or memory during the day as a result of these episodes? Do you suffer from anxiety or panic disorders? If the problem continues, you should see a sleep doctor in your area.