Feel Like You’re Falling as You Fall Asleep? Here’s Why

That sudden sensation can feel remarkably real, even when your body has not moved from the bed. It may arrive with a jolt, a vivid image or the startling impression that the floor has disappeared.

The experience sits at the unusual boundary between wakefulness and sleep. Understanding what happens during that transition explains why it is normally harmless—and when a similar movement deserves closer attention.