Has this been observed in the literature - cases of people causing concussions from punching your own head?


I accidentally uppercutted myself in the chin/jaw - with either my fist or the side of the hand - after a bad dream. I'm unsure if it was in a 'punching' motion or a hammer fist strike.

As I was awaking, it appeared that I tossed in bed right after the nightmare and afterwards uppercutted myself in the chin as I was attempting to pull the covers upward. It was a really bad dream, probably my worst in years, and so my hand motion was very quick.

I was not in a flat lying down position and my body was either at around a 45 degree angle or was upright at the time of the strike. Since I was half-asleep I of course didn't anticipate it coming.

My jaw was probably sore for about 20 minutes; no damage to the teeth. Moderate headache still throughout the day and mild discomfort while chewing food.


What kind of force would an episode of this likely generate? I'm around 150 lbs, male. No LOC and remember both the dream and the events after the strike.