Hallucinating? And weird thoughts at night.

[latenightfrights]

Hi, I'm posting here as it seemed the best place.

Just lately I've been staying up to watch one of my favourite shows instead of going to bed at 8/9pm and reading until 10.30ish. I'm still in bed by 10.30 so am still getting the same hours of sleep more or less.

Occasionally at night I wake up to see a figure like silhouette near the bed, reach for the light, heart pounding and of course nothing is there. My bedroom door is in a recess and I often "see" something there too. The shadows seem to move. I also get the feeling something is there out of the corner of my eye.

Just lately it's got worse and I've had to sleep with the light on a couple of times recently as it really freaks me out. I feel like an idiot come the day light but I am genuinely scared at night.

I live with my three children and the youngest has just gone back in his own room after snuggling in with me for months. I quite miss him but am relieved he's happily settled in his own room (bribery-I've promised him a certain toy if he gets 10 star sticker rewards for sleeping all night in his own bed ).

I'm no more stressed than normal, no new medication, no changes to my life, no dietary changes, am not watching anything scary or reading anything scary.

I do have a history of anxiety and depression but I'm not on any medication for it now and tend to just get irritable like having daily PMT. I don't present as depressed even when I am but actually feel ok and have done for months now.

I'm also finding I "lose" my words when talking. Like I can't find the word I want in a sentence when speaking. Like when you have a dream and wake up but can't recall it at all and are just left with a shadow or vague impression that you can't articulate. It's annoying me a great deal. Threshold has been the word that has escaped me twice recently.

I'm single, 42, a SAHM and generally knackered but am fit and healthy, decent diet, lots of exercise and normally sleep well. I'm out like a light most nights and wake up about 10 minutes before my alarm most days 🙄

Has anyone else experienced similar? Did anything help you?

Anyone?

Hi,
I have he psychosis for a while and althoigh it's not the same as yours it is the same idea.
Go and see your doctor is the first thing to do.
And YOU ARE NOT GOING CRAZY?
Your body/mind gets tired if it is constantly active, hence the hallucinations.
Just go and talk to your doctor.

definitely speak to your GP. Could be something simple like a deficiency or something. Good luck op!

PM me if you want to talk x

It’s not a form of sleep paralysis? Usually you feel awake but can’t move but it’s very common to see a dark or menacing figure or presence in the room. I had it after having dc2 when I was completely knackered and had been very ill and it was completely terrifying. Since then I’ve also sometimes woken and felt that I can see a figure in the room, I think it’s almost just a bad memory of the sleep paralysis as I’m completely paranoid about getting it again. I won’t sleep on my back now as that increases the risk.

Sounds like sleep paralysis to me, not psychosis. Seeing things when half asleep and feeling a presence are symptoms of sleep paralysis.

The 'losing' words thing is separate though. I think that happens to everyone, but not see your gp if you're worried.

Hey hypnagogic (when going to sleep) and hyponopomic (when waking) hallucinations are normal but what you describe sounds more like illusions which are common in half light. Doesn’t sound like anything to worry about. You can see your GP if your concerned though xx

Thank you for the replies. I'm absolutely fine during the day, no issues at all, it's just when I get really tired at night. I'm going to try switching off before I get to that stage tonight and see if that helps. LO has asked to snuggle tonight so I might feel better too. I face away from the door when he's in with me.
It doesn't feel like I'm paralysed as I can reach for the light with no problem.

At one time I found if I went to sleep early I was then waking within half an hour after having a nightmare. That was last summer I think. I've read it can be linked to deficiencies but my bloods have come back fine.

I'm probably just knackered but it scares the life out of me

I've just had a read of the info on wiki about hypnagogia and I think I experience most things described so thank you.

One bizarre thing I get is I appear to be awake but falling asleep and whatever I'm thinking will be crystal clear then my level of consciousness changes and I'm suddenly wide awake and can't recall even a clue of what I was thinking yet it was so clear at the time.

I also experience a sudden shift from white noise to complete silence as though someone has flicked a switch.

It's fascinating to read about it, thank you so much.

I have been chronically 'afraid of the dark' since I was a child. I have an overactive imagination and can imagine seeing things or hearing them when I'm alone (not always in darkness) and become quite scared, I do know I didn't see them though, it's more a fear of seeing them. So I'll peer into the darkness at my bedroom door when left alone overnight and I can't just sleep because I'm looking at the space I'm imagining something will move/ happen. I'm not explaining this well but I've never voiced it before really. I'd keep a low level light on, not a full lamp or anything but maybe something battery operated in the hallway or in the doorway so you can see as soon as you wake up or want to without being kept awake. It's a horrible feeling of anticipation for me, like hearing the front door or a window being tried but I'd be up like a shot for either of them, I'm afraid of the unknown, not burglars or the like.

OP I get this too - I’m a bit of a troublesome sleeper at the best of times (talking, bruxism and occasional sleepwalking) sometimes will have weird semi-sleep hallucinations. My ex had a blue flashing light on his phone and I would regularly think there were police in the room. I’ve never felt paralysed but there’s nothing like the feeling of terror that there’s someone in the room. For me it’s made worse during stressful times but also is affected by medication (especially some malaria tablets) and alcohol. Do see your GP if you are worried of course.