Why does my tremor vanish when I'm fallin... - Cure Parkinson's

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Why does my tremor vanish when I'm falling asleep?

sarasummer profile image
12 Replies

Can anyone please explain to me why theres a certain point just before I fall asleep that my body is completely still and feels normal with no tremor or rigidity. Its in that drifting off stage. Also happens just when I wake up....but as soon as I recognise it, and am conscious, then the tremor begins again. Is it something to do with the a beta/delta waves of sleep? Its so frustrating that I can't extend that feeling. Just curious what is happening here.

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sarasummer profile image
sarasummer
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12 Replies
MissRita profile image
MissRita

I am curious about that too. I go through the same thing but my doctor seems to think that we still tremor but maybe not enough to wake us up.

firefly0780 profile image
firefly0780

I experience that as well. I am of the opinion that when we drift off to sleep and go from beta to alpha brainwaves, our chemistry changes and we relax and let go of the conscious mind. It happens during meditation as well but the moment I acknowledge it I often slip back into beta again. I think it's a skill that can be developed. Dr Joe Dispenza explains the brainwaves really well and trains you to work with them.

sarasummer profile image
sarasummer in reply to firefly0780

Yes, I've just started to listen to Joe Dizpenza. Very interesting! I love to meditate, but find my tremor is sometimes so distracting when I'm trying to be still

firefly0780 profile image
firefly0780 in reply to sarasummer

Yes that happens and it can be very demoralizing but I persist as I'm overcoming the body. After 10 years of PD any moments of stillness are precious. I'm sure the joy of achieving some peace, even momentarily, releases some dopamine for me.

Smittybear7 profile image
Smittybear7 in reply to sarasummer

I have that same problem when trying to meditate. It's so frustrating. Sometimes I am able go for a short time without tremors and usually fall asleep.

AaronS profile image
AaronS

Good question 😀My thoughts are around stress and body tension, or potential muscular load and the concious state of your brain.

To explain:

Many people, myself included with PD have noticed if they lay down or sit comfortably can consciously get the tremors to stop for a short period. But you have to tell your brain through conciousness to relax.....give it a go.

When your awake the lack of dopamine production affects your natural ability to self regulate this relaxation in our brain.

Hence with stiffness from PD puts your body under a considerately large amount of consistent muscular tension or stress, hence we tremor.

I believe that our brain will put itself into that relaxed state to enter sleep and subsequent REM, hence your shakes will abate.

Have you ever noticed on a poor night's sleep you can often feel worse in the morning due to your brain not shutting off or going into that relaxed state, however when you do sleep well you feel refreshed and relaxed...until you become concious in the morning and the tremors start up again.

I got absolutely no way to back this up other than my own journey with PD. That's why it's suggested PWP try activities such as yoga, qigung or meditation or tai chi to relax their body and mind

Hope that makes sense

sarasummer profile image
sarasummer in reply to AaronS

Definitely find my symptoms worse after a bad sleep. Yoga and meditation very helpful and I try to practice these often

Smittybear7 profile image
Smittybear7 in reply to AaronS

Thanks for sharing

Astra7 profile image
Astra7

Apparently your tremor stops when anaesthetised. Handy if your having surgery!

ion_ion profile image
ion_ion

I feel the same way. Plus, even when I'm awake, my tremor stops when my focus gets away (do something and forget about PD).

Smittybear7 profile image
Smittybear7

I have similar experiences with tremors diminishing as I fall asleep. If I get up to go to the bathroom still no tremors. But if I don't get right back in bed and fall back asleep, tremors come back. I also notice stress really exacerbates the tremors.

honeycombe3 profile image
honeycombe3

Hi there,I am a 73yr old UK female diagnosed for 17 yrs. i have always taken a holistic approach to treatment and it was my hypnotherapist who first told me ab out stillness during hypnotic trance. Since then I have used it repeatedly to help prepare for stressful events such as MRI scans or dentistry.

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