Has this ever happened to you?

[Wishful1983]

This morning I woke up thinking my fiance was standing next to my bed when he wasn't. It only lasted a few seconds until I was fully awake and the figure/vision vanished away. It really scared me. I've been under a lot of stress lately and was wondering if anyone has experienced something similiar or can relate to? Scared to go to bed tonight in case it happens again Can this be anxiety related?

Almost definitely anxiety related. Distraction is the best idea together with not panicking. It'll be fine, we live in strange and stressful times. You'll be fine OP

I had it with my dog. I felt her jump up on the bed and lay down with me, saw her shadow as she jumped up, reached down to stroke her and she wasnt there. Really freaked me out as I actually felt her weight on my legs.

Hello. My anxiety has been strong lately and I'd say I've experienced pretty much everything, including what you describe. Sometimes in the night I wake up thinking Ive gone blind, others I think I can see things that aren't there. It's frightening. Maybe call your GP and explain? They are there to help x

Thank you for your replies. Will discuss with my doctor. I have anxiety and on an antidepressant. The past few nights I think I've been hearing things too when trying to sleep. Do you think this is just stress and anxiety related too? I'm really stressed and anxious at present. Anyone have any experience of this? X

Sure it’s not a sleep paralysis type thing?

It could have just been a stressful dream similar to a night terror. Please don’t be too frightened by it. Some anti depressants do have side effects of very vivid dreams and disturbed sleep.

Hope you’re ok.

@Samcarpy92 I hope not. The visual thing only happened this morning for the first time.

Thank you @TeaSoakedDisasterMagnet hoping it does not happen again and I'm not the only one who has experienced this x

It’s sleep paralysis probably linked to stress. I see all sorts and hear things too. It can be scary. Look after yourself.

You might not have been fully awake. I sometimes wake up in the morning, go through my usual routine then come downstairs to find my dad there, or my dog who died 11 years ago. Everything up to that point feels totally real.

Yes I used to get night terrors couple of years ago when I went through a great deal of stress. I would experience someone be either stood over me or come rushing towards me and then I would wake myself up screaming and shaking with fear.

During exam stress in uni, I would see figures when I first woke up then they would kind of float or dissipate into nothing. I spoke to my gp, they were not worried due to the fact it only happened upon waking and also when I was stressed.

Thank you for sharing @MsChatterbox

Stress is a well known trigger for this sort of thing. Have you tried listening to sleep meditations while falling asleep? They're surprisingly soothing. Pretty much anything by Jason Stephenson can knock me straight out.

@nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut thank you. I will try that.

I sometimes have hallucinations as I have schizoaffective disorder.
They are very realistic. But since increasing my anti psychotic I've only had one visual hallucination & the audible hallucinations are not so bad.
I think tiredness & stress make them worse!
Obviously not suggesting that you have schizoaffective disorder.

Once, and I don’t believe in ghosts or any such thing.

And it was thirty years ago, I was having a nap after college in my room at the halls of residence ( as you do) , I woke up, it was semi light, I was on my side, I stretched and rolled onto my back , and there was a shadow of a man sitting on my bed, reaching out to touch me. Like he was checking I was ok, looking concerned.

I got a real fright and would swear to god I was awake. Even now thirty years later I can picture him. I know it was a dream or just my mind logically, but it was so odd and so real it has always stayed with me.

I have hallucinations frequently with anxiety, I can either think I've seen someone stood in a door way, or see smoke when there's no smoke. It's a horrible symptom of it but it's not uncommon! Hope you're feeling better soon

I had this Monday and Tuesday night. On Monday night I actually said to DP “are you ok why are you stood by the bed?” which woke him up as he was actually asleep next to me! I was worried it would happen again last night but I slept through normally other than some vivid dreams. I think like others said it’s due to anxiety.

Thanks for the replies. Has anyone experienced auditory hallucinations with their anxiety?

There’s something called hypnopompic (coming awake) and hypnagogic (falling asleep) hallucinations which can happen to people, they are quite common. It is not necessarily a sign that anything is wrong or a persons unwell, and can happen to anyone anytime. Sleep and our brains are funny things and okay tricks on us, especially when we’re under stress. Take care of yourself op whilst you’re feeling like this.

*play

I used to get this alot, haven't had it for months up until the lock down!
Its scary stuff, it's stress related

Yes to auditory! Especially bangs, high pitched tinnitus, thinking DP has said something when he hasn’t. It’s very scary but normal x

The audible hallucinations I get with my disorder are basically hearing someone else's voice coming out of my mouth when I speak instead of my own voice.
It's very unpleasant & makes me stop wanting to speak at all when it happens. It has happened at work unfortunately.
Much better now ive increased my meds.