Strange Sleeping Experiences

Falling onto the bed

How it feels: Sometimes we feel like we’ve been thrown onto our bed from high up. We flinch and wake up. Sometimes before that, we dream that we are flying or stumbling and falling — a rather unpleasant feeling.

Why it happens: Sleeping is similar to dying — the heartbeat and breathing slow down, muscle tone is reduced. The brain "gets frightened," perceives this as a real death, and checks whether the person is alive, sending impulses to the muscles.