Yes, I definitely agree on the role of muscle memory or "coaxing". What or how do agonists factor in?

I think I have been experiencing the same phenomenon as you. I was at first afraid it was freezing, and although freezing still comes into play, what we are experiencing is far different.

My episode usually begins with a winding down so usually it occurs in the evening. I feel a release or relaxation throughout my entire body that normally I would welcome. It can be accompanied by sleepiness but not always; frankly, if this all went down at bedtime, I would most likely just go with the flow. However, for me, the relaxed sense of being doesn't stop until I am so "relaxed" that I can barely stand or walk. I also end up with a sense of disequilibrium and compounded with my jelly legs it feels much like I am trying to find my sea legs, now add in a PD shuffle, and this is what I am like for a good 2 hours. Sinemet does not seem to touch it; therefore, I think that dopamine may not play a primary role- yes, I get the sludge and slow moving legs and arms, but I think it is something else. I do notice that sometimes when the Sinemet needs help that taking 1/2 a benadryl helps, but not always.

I feel more like this a profound deficit in our ability to regulate our "what"? For me, it feels like something sets my parasympathetic system into overdrive. It's not just arm and leg movement; I have noted that at the peak of these episodes, I weirdly have a sudden, urgent need to (sorry about this TMI) void the bladder, etc. That seems to be the turning point, if I a take a second dose of Sinemet, my body will slowly start to respond. Quite honestly, it 's like Frankenstein's monster on the table as he begins to sense he has limbs.

Could this be considered catatonia? It's as if nothing exists to stop the relaxation, or to say enough is enough-- we are entering hibernation mode. I noted in the past few days the reason I feel jelly legs or noodle legs is because I sense a profound absence of all muscle tone or contraction- when I realized how freaky that is, I welcome the dystonia instead. I would much rather deal with a recalcitrant foot that leaves me hobbling for a short time than the weird feeling of being entirely disconnected from my limbs.

Rick, or anyone else out there feel anything remotely similar? I have no idea where this comes from but a few possibilities are 1) I have been under a tremendous amount of pressure from a supervisor who has been railroading me 2) starting an SNRI which emphasize norepinephrine in system, interesting this is exact opposite of crash I have been experiencing 3) I operate largely on an excess of norepinephrine these days; is this my body's way of telling me to "knock it off" 4) some weird effect of Sinemet on other receptors and neurotransmitter imbalance? The first two also correlate to when this thing began to rear its ugly head about two months ago.

I wonder if this can happen as a result of too much another neurotransmitter and the loss of dopamine which normally regulates it?

Okay, how to get back to "normal" I think this experience may be somewhat
refractory to meds as when I really go deep, meds do no touch it. I sometimes have had to add in a 1/2 tablet of 25 m benadryl, but I noticed more it is a matter of timing. Just lying there doesn't seem to help me. I have to get up and gently stretch plus try to walk around as best I can. Eventually, it feels like my muscles wake up, rub their eyes, and all of sudden I am totally back to normal. Sometimes, it seems like my lower limbs and upper limbs compete to see who gets to relax longer. Others, I get to point where muscles start to come to life and then I sink back. It is all so disturbing and bizarre.

Well, I just wanted to share my particular variety of "What IS this? Hopefully I'm not the only freak of nature out there.

Laura