Why do I panic when falling asleep?

I have this sporadically every week or so. I feel incredibly tired and ready for sleep with heavy eyes, but whenever I am drifting off my body suddenly jolts and I begin panicking and in a shock, I get anxious and am suddenly wide awake. Then I get tired again - begin to drift off - and then this sudden explosion of panic again. I jolt and sit up, looking around the room as if paranoid. I become really uncomfortable and sometimes see or hear strange things, especially in the dark, although this is probably a side-effect of the lack of sleep?

Doctors Answers (1)

SomnoDiagnostics, Inc.
Answered on: 12/26/2013

It's hard to determine this by internet. I would be glad to schedule you for an appointment with Dr. Gordon Gibson who is a Board Certified Sleep Specialist.