Hypnagogic hallucinations

[SantosLHalper]

I have posted about this before but am freaking out again.

My dd (6) hears noises when she is falling asleep. It makes her terrified and freaks me out completely. We are having to sit with her whilst she goes to sleep now. dh copes with it much better than me and is not worried, saying its childhood imagination etc etc.

I however, keep worrying that she has psychosis, or a brain tumour. Looked on internet and its called hypnogogic hallucinations but still properly freaked out.

I came across these as part of my doctorate and understood them to be common, more so in children. Most people experience them but to varying degrees of intensity and most only remember them if woken by them as they're part of dropping off to sleep.
If they persist and trouble her, I would recommend assessment at a specialist multi-disciplinary sleep clinic rather than local services or CAMHS psychology. They can video her overnight and monitor sleep patterns electronically at home.

I have had these since a teenager and because I've had them so long I actually quite enjoy them now. Were very frightening at first though.

Given her young age I would be inclined to do what eclipse says and see if you can get her assessed by a sleep specialist. That would at least put your mind at rest.

Hypnogogic hallucinations are really common,
if you look here it details a study where 37% of people have had them , and that is the people who remember thaving them, a lot of people might forget or not necessarily realise that what they heard was a hallucination.

On a practical level would it help her to listen to rainforest type music via headphones as she drops off?

Wow, thanks all. All comments very reassuring. I have made an appointment to discuss it with GP next week, by which time will see if they have settled somewhat as the excitement of Xmas passes etc etc.

I really appreciate your comments, I really do

I did think a sleep specialist would be more appropriate as in my rational state i recognise its a sleep issue. When I am stressed I convince myself she has a brain tumour or MH issues.

My DN had these for years. Stopped once she had her tonsils out. Twas very strange. Does your DD still have her tonsils?

She does, although struggling to see the link!?

We are just trying to under react to them at the moment, and sitting with her while she nods off. Seeing GP next week to discuss need for tests/referral to sleep clinic.

I mot sure of the link either, but I remember my DB mentioned that the doc siad it is not uncommon.

Maybe something else to mention to your doc. Hope she gets better soon.

I remember regularly hearing "elves" (as in little fairy type creatures) when trying to get to sleep when I was younger. I don't know if it's something you grow out of as I can't remember it happening, at least regularly, since I turned about 10 or 11. It was very strange and I used to get very upset.

Hope you're dr takes it seriously and gives you any help there is. I agree the with the headphone suggestion. It's easy to get that sort of white noise from places like itunes.

• your. Oh dear.

Had an awful night as she was up and down all night and couldn't get back to sleep because of the noises. Ended up with her in bed with me and she fell asleep immediately with no noises! I think she has got her serself so scared and worried about them that she cannot relax on her own.

I have agreed with dh that she can sleep in our bed - and him in hers - until we see the doctor and take it from there.

She's started with a cold which doesn't help as that effects her sleep too.

I feel sick every time bed time approaches now