[Karen W. (OP)]

 This has happened about 6 times tonight! Every time I think I am going to make it to sleep...I am jolted awake, by the feeling of falling backwards with a jerk because my feet got all tangled up and rapidly racing heart beat!

What is with this?

[techmind]

It's well-known and has some fancy name... but someone else will have to fill in the details  []

[Chemistry4me]

Hypnagogic Hallucinations?

http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/Hypnagogic-Hallucinations.htm

[Madidus_Scientia]

This tends to happen to me most when i'm sleeping somewhere unusual, like sitting down in a chair or something. I had a thought that maybe it's a reflex inherited from when we were tree-dwellers to ensure we're sleeping in a secure position and not likely to fall out of a dirty great tree in our sleep :p

[Karen W. (OP)]

Thats funny you say that because I was dozing in my recliner semi erect! (sitting up that is!) LOL... It is unnerving cause my ankles were crossed and really struggling to get loose from each other when that tangled up dreamy thing happened...

[Karen W. (OP)]

interest

Hypnagogic Hallucinations?

http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/Hypnagogic-Hallucinations.htm

ing C4M That fits whats been happening alot..

I also had night terrors as a child...
Thanks for the link!