Hypnagogic Hallucinations

Hi @januaryjane, I can understand why it would be confusing when you have something wrong or questions and can't get any answers. I did find an article on Medical News Today that may provide some helpful information.

What are hypnagogic hallucinations? -- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321070.php#causes

@ambien1711 has mentioned hypnagogic hallucinations in another discussion and may have some thoughts to share with you.

Thank you, I actually already have that link bookmarked!

Hi, @januaryjane - as you try and decipher your sleep symptoms and get some answers, I think that @crstyday40 @jakedduck1 @jenniferhunter @sirgalahad may have some thoughts on the heavy hypnagogic hallucinations and the fact that nothing remarkable has been found in your two sleep studies.

You said you have had sleep problems most of your life and some narcolepsy symptoms. Will you share more about those?

Hello @januaryjane -- I have dreams quite often but have not had the Hypnagogic hallucinations that you described. Here's some information I found that may be helpful.

Medical News Today -- Hypnagogic hallucinations: Causes, symptoms, and treatment
-- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321070

SleepFoundation.org -- Hallucinations and Sleep Paralysis:
-- https://www.sleepfoundation.org/narcolepsy/symptoms/hallucinations-and-sleep-paralysis

NCBI -- What Is the Link Between Hallucinations, Dreams, and Hypnagogic–Hypnopompic Experiences?
-- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4988750/

Have your sleep medicine doctors suggested any possible cause?

Interested to see if anyone else has this phenomenon. Or has any good info on it. Im not really diagnosed with anything other than insomnia. In the past ive had 2 unremarkable sleep studies but have been on sleep meds for years. A year or two ago the hallucinations started, seem to come in clusters. It mainly happened while falling asleep, now they are also active while waking. Its something id like to learn more about. Have you had Hypnagogic Hallucinations??

Hi, @januaryjane - the hypnagogic hallucinations you are describing sound challenging, especially with the time they are occurring expanding. I can understand your desire to connect with others who are also experiencing these. I also appreciate @johnbishop's pointing to some resources about this type of hallucination.

I've moved your post to where you started a similar discussion on hypnagogic hallucinations previously, just to consolidate the information on this topic for members and others looking for it.

I also hope more members will join in this discussion if they have been affected by hypnagogic hallucinations.

januaryjane - will you share a little about what these hallucinations are like?

When im tired and close my eyes, images will pop up, some disturbing or that do not make sense. Then i will open my eyes and they are gone, then i close them and they continue. Sometimes i fall asleep this way, waking several times. Sometimes i just nod off and maybe get a restless nap. Its very odd. Happens day or night.

Thank you, i will check these out.

Wow, they describe my symptoms exactly. Except the cataplexy, but ive woken to inner vibrations, feels like the bed shaking.i ignore it now. The vivid dreams are the worst. There have been some so real that i didnt realize they were just dreams til later that day or two. I was furious with someone for a day then realized it wasnt real. Thank goodness i didnt run into them and say anything!!

I am a person who can capture a thought and I fall asleep pronto. But, since I have had restless leg (physical) leg jerks, my meds sometime screw up this normal cycle. I am a 90 yr old retired Physical Therapist who qualified each year in Psychology instead of PT. I studied under Les Femhi PH.D.at Princeston. He was one of the 1st Presidents of Biofeedback Society of America. I mention this because, he was famous for his work in "Visualization" You look inward at your body and visualize what you want it to do. This is opposite of zoning out with meditation relaxation, reading, chewing gum, listening to waves. etc. His Olympic athletes, were taught to drop prone from skis and fire their rifles between beats of the heart and breathing. Some of his cancer patients visualized "packmen" chewing up their cancer and had some documented success when all else failed.Years later (30 years +) I recognized the " Navy Seals" had used his technique to teach their service people how to fall asleep under combat conditions(stress). I AM GOING TO TEACH YOU. BUT, YOU MUST HAVE An
OPEN MIND. Ready, (SLEEP ON YOUR LEFT SIDE IS BEST, BUT DO YOUR BEST POSITION. Clear your thoughts.) Can you take 5 diaphragm breaths(stomach) breath out deep. After 5, breath until normal. Can you imagine the distants and content between your left shoulder and elbow? between your left elbow and wrist, your left thumb, index, middle, ring and small finger, (Repeat sequence on right upper extremity). Can you imagine the distance and content between your left hip and left knee?, your left knee and ankle, your great toe, next, middle, 4th, 5th?(Repeat on your right side?)(My addition) Can you imagine closing and relaxing the sphinter of the rectum, (Fitchgerald version) can you imagine your pelvic floor is like an alka-selzer and the fizzing is filling the area in front, in back , sides of the intestines and moving upward . Visualize the filling of the trunk like water on a glass moving upward to the neck inside your head to the top. Is there any tension anywhere? Go to it with your mind and visualize it relaxing.If still awake (My version) (breath in) "I am calm",breath out) "I am very very relaxed". (Do this 3 times. The breathing out is longer and will get rid of excess carbon dioxide) Go to your normal breathing back and try to increase to 5 times over 3 attempts. Breath normal. Have a new topple off dream that is pleaseant. If you are young, don't be afraid to have this sexual. If still awake(I doubt it) take your covers off and get chilled out. Put them back on, Direct your self back to deeper but pleasant breathing, Focus back into the body.Please do not eat a heavy dinner. Nothing past 6:00PM. ( you may wish a cup full of boiled bananas Cut in chucks with skin on 20 minutes in sauce pan.) Take 1 hour before Navy Seal method.No sleeping pills. This is control over your body. Good Luck. You fall asleep faster in the technique with practice. During the day, periodically look at an object and give yourself permission to enlarge the frame of vision to see more on the enlarged frame. THIS IS OPEN FOCUS. Close you vison and get stressed out in CLOSED FOCUS. Good luck towards self control physically. bill54321 O(h! you may over sleep your alarm.