Hypnagogic and hypnopompic hallucinations

[Faith_TX]

Do any of you get these? My psychiatrist told me they're common and normal but I don't know many people that get them.

Quite often I'm falling asleep on the couch and I'll wake up and think I see my husband sitting there but he looks all blurry. . . I'll blink a few times and the image goes away.

It used to scare the jeepers out of me and these days I'm more used to it but sometimes it still gives me the creeps. It's usually more when I'm stressed or overtired I guess.

Anyone else?

[Guest]

I think I can relate to some of that. When I think back on my anxiety I can remember times when I would glanze at something or see something out of the corner of my eye and think it's somebody or some thing that it's not. It would usually be the laundry I had hanging up or just my scarey thoughts making me believe in something that was not true. I think what you said is key...it usually happens when your stressed or overtired. Like Lucinda say's "we are creative people" but if your tired or stressed or full of anxiety(nervousness). That can be a powerful combination of things running thru your body that could turn negative. Instead of it being positive creativity.
I will tell you though it's not just us. One time my husband thought he heard something in the middle of the night so... he looked out our living room window out of the corner of his eye he thought he saw someone standing there beside him. He said he was about ready to fight until he realized It was a BALLOON!! I still laugh at that one. I am not trying to make light of what your saying. I have never heard of Hypnagogic or hypnopompic hallucinations. I was just sharing my thoughts. Take care!

[yuan]

It's a little different than that. Some people, especially those with narcolepsy. . ,.when they're falling asleep or waking up. . . dreams get mixed up and you can see part of your dream with your eyes. It's sort of weird but I've been told it's not a big deal. Just weird!

[jaimek]

Here was what the sleep expert from Allexperts told me:

Answer:
No this is normal phenomenon its when it happens so much during the night that your daytime alertness is affected. When it happens alot its narcolepsy, when it happens once in a while its normal. What happens is instead of our brains and bodies falling asleep or awakening the same time, either the body or brain lapse by a split second so you are awake and cant move, yet dreaming with your eyes open, dreams can be so real that even after you are up for a half hour you still might think the person or thing you saw is hiding. go to sleepnet.com click on narcolepsy, sleep paralysis and hypnongogic hallucinations, the reason is under narcolepsy these symptoms are described well, but when it happens now and then its normal phenomenon, you are not crazy. feel free to email again karel