DesireArmed Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 Ok, so I'm halfways through falling asleep the other night, and since I usually start "dreaming" before I'm fully asleep I think nothing of this weird sound I'm starting to hear. Well the sound gets louder and weirder/more intense similar to movie scores when something is about to happen in the movie, and suddenly I get this strange feeling in my arms and legs, things are crawling all over my body and I'm sure as f* not in my bedroom anymore, kind of have a panick attack in my sleep and wake up only to realise that I couldn't move for a few seconds. I've never had this thing happen to me before, I've never had this sort of dreaming before, any sort of hallucination I may have had while awake have never even come close to this. It's scared the living daylights out of me. I'm guessing it's sleep paralysis? Anyone ever had this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daisy Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 Ok, so I'm halfways through falling asleep the other night, and since I usually start "dreaming" before I'm fully asleep I think nothing of this weird sound I'm starting to hear. Well the sound gets louder and weirder/more intense similar to movie scores when something is about to happen in the movie, and suddenly I get this strange feeling in my arms and legs, things are crawling all over my body and I'm sure as f* not in my bedroom anymore, kind of have a panick attack in my sleep and wake up only to realise that I couldn't move for a few seconds. I've never had this thing happen to me before, I've never had this sort of dreaming before, any sort of hallucination I may have had while awake have never even come close to this. It's scared the living daylights out of me. I'm guessing it's sleep paralysis? Anyone ever had this? That sort of thing has happened to me. It used to happen almost every day, but it's pretty rare now. I have no idea what makes it happen. Usually I'm half awake and half asleep, but I feel like I'm asleep and I can't wake up. I try to move to wake myself up and I can't. I try to scream to wake myself up or to get my parents to come check on me but I can't. Then finally... I feel like I've woken up, but I really haven't. I realize I'm still "asleep" and I can't move or scream, so I do the same thing over again. It's a cycle. It's terrifying! I think I'm half awake and half asleep during those times. Last night was interesting, though. A new half aware-half asleep feeling. First I also felt like I had a panic attack in my sleep. I'm pretty sure I started actually screaming because I woke myself up completely. In my dream, I passed out right calling for help right before I woke up. Freaked me out so much! My heartbeat was racing when I woke up. What happened after that "dream" scared me even more. When I was half awake/half asleep, I thought I was awake. (I don't think I was, because I have never had any symptoms of the disorder I thought I had.) I started hearing voices. They wouldn't stop talking to me. I honest-to-God thought I was awake and wondered if I was having symptoms of schizophrenia. I tried to think logically about other things the voices could be, but I couldn't figure it out. I started thinking about all the facts of schizophrenia, and I was wondering if I should call my mom and tell her I needed to go to the hospital. I kept trying to figure out what to do, but the voices were confusing me. They told me I should kill myself because everybody hated me, and I started wondering if I should do that instead. Finally, they got so loud that I couldn't even have any logical thought process because I kept getting interrupted by the voices and sounds. I guess I fell asleep fully after that, because it stopped completely. These kinds of things usually happen to me when I've had poor sleep and am stressed out. I am pretty sure I'm half awake/half asleep when all of these kinds of things happen, because they tend to happen on nights when I'm having poor sleep and waking up every so often. I think my eyes may even be open, because I often am looking at the clock and around my room when they happen. I notice things out of place around my room that I wouldn't think of if it was a full dream state. I agree -- they are SO terrifying. I don't know how to prevent them, though. Edit to Add: I didn't think when I was typing this yesterday that it might be insensitive to those who are schizophrenic to assume that what I was going through in my dream was like their problems. Last night, I was thinking about it and was hoping that I made it clear that I know absolutely nothing about schizophrenia other than what I've read and I have no idea what their problems are like. I don't think what I posted would offend anybody, but I wanted to make sure I was clear that I wasn't trying to assume anything about the disorder, because I really don't understand it. I'm probably being overly paranoid about this, but I don't want to come off as rude in any way! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
successful_workthru Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 I get these, but alas, have not yet found a cause that I can relate to. Interesting thread though. Someons bound to come along who has had them, and knows the whys? hows? and what's? of it all. I look forward to finding out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AirMarshall Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 These questions come repeatedly, and repeaatedly on the boards. Hypnopompic and Hypnogogic 'hallucinations" are dreams/sounds that occur the transtion between sleep/awake/sleep and often appear to be real. Sleep paralaysis too occurs during this transition. These occur when teh brain does not make a clean break between wakefulness and sleep. These are extremely common across the normal population and have nothing to do with MI. They do not count as true hallucinations, since they are actually dreams. Your pdoc will not be particularly concerned. I recommend a little self programming before bedtime, telling yourself that when this occurs that it is nothing to be afraid of and that you will either wake up or dream of somthing pleasant. There is a ton of good info on the web. a.m. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daisy Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 These are extremely common across the normal population and have nothing to do with MI. They do not count as true hallucinations, since they are actually dreams. Your pdoc will not be particularly concerned. I recommend a little self programming before bedtime, telling yourself that when this occurs that it is nothing to be afraid of and that you will either wake up or dream of somthing pleasant. Just to add to how to prevent them, they happen less for me when I've had a regular sleep pattern and am being healthy (eating well, working out, etc). They tend to happen more when depressed, anxious, or I'm under a lot of stress. It's been one BIG incentive to sleep regularly because, like I said, I used to have them every night. So if it's at all possible -- be as healthy as you can. Try to control depression, anxiety, and stress to the best of your ability (which is obviously going to be difficult considering we're on crazyboards). I haven't been able to self-program, though I've tried to! When I'm in that half awake/half asleep state, I always think I'm awake, no matter how many times it has happened! That doesn't mean it wouldn't work for other people, though, so definitely try it out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lysergia Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 I haven't been able to self-program, though I've tried to! When I'm in that half awake/half asleep state, I always think I'm awake, no matter how many times it has happened! That doesn't mean it wouldn't work for other people, though, so definitely try it out! me neither, daisy. like you, i think i am awake EVERY time, so of course i'm not going to remember to try to redirect what i think is reality... you can only practice directed dreaming if you know you're dreaming! however i've heard people say before that it's helped them. i guess they can tell the difference between dreaming and hallucinating when it's happening. "i am asleep" is the last thing that comes to my mind. usually because i am so focused on the boogeyman that is revealing itself in front of me, while my legs weigh 3000 pounds and i cannot move them. i'm too terrified to think rationally at all. weird stuff huh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
successful_workthru Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 My sleep paralysis can be a friend sometimes, as once I had it, it taught me about patience and panic. When it came to me, on waking, I was to relax, and not panic, in its 'presence' Like a self help lesson in personal issues, mine being panic. It did help. Some are really scary though, especially the tactile hallucination element. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DesireArmed Posted April 1, 2009 Author Share Posted April 1, 2009 These questions come repeatedly, and repeaatedly on the boards. Hypnopompic and Hypnogogic 'hallucinations" are dreams/sounds that occur the transtion between sleep/awake/sleep and often appear to be real. Sleep paralaysis too occurs during this transition. These occur when teh brain does not make a clean break between wakefulness and sleep. These are extremely common across the normal population and have nothing to do with MI. They do not count as true hallucinations, since they are actually dreams. Your pdoc will not be particularly concerned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grousemouse Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 ooh, ooh, my chance for a spot of trivia. vivid dreams associated with sleep paralysis used to be thought to be caused by a demon sitting on your chest. its sitting on your chest meant you couldn't get up and its presence screwed with your mind to produce the dreams. this is the origin of the word 'nightmare', with the 'mare' being an old word for demon rather than referring to a horse. given the scenario this is something to be rather glad of. grouse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lysergia Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 given the scenario this is something to be rather glad of. i have read that before, and wondered if that was related to the whole thing about cats stealing your breath while you sleep. because to do that they'd be sitting on your chest too i would think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubeng Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 This is likely a case of sleep paralysis. My normal "hallucination" is a shadow figure that I'm sure is male quietly coming into my room and sitting down next to me on my bed, sometimes doing stuff to me (touching my arm, pressing my chest, molesting me ) but once I gain movement everything is fine. On two occasions I've found that my digestive system was really going at it where you can actually hear stuff going throughout your belly. Maybe your body is still doing "waking stuff" while you're asleep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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