Hallucinations

[Murdoughnut]

I've been experiencing occasional hallucinations since my freshman year of college (about 8 years ago). They always occur while I'm lying in bed, waiting to go to sleep - usually before I'm about to doze off. They usually take the form of spiders or spider webs floating over my head, and getting closer. Sometimes I get rats - the other night it was a balloon strangely enough.

Because I'm usually half awake, I typically respond by sitting up real fast and throwing my pillow at whatever it is I see. After about 5 seconds, I usually realize that what I was looking at wasn't real. It's strange, sometimes I'll be wide awake and looking at something that's obviously right in front of me, but isn't real. It's hard to explain I guess unless you've experienced them.

So what might be the deal? I'm 26, don't smoke, never used illegal drugs, and drink socially in moderation. I have no history of medical illness other than IBS which I manage quite well. The hallucinations aren't really that bothersome simply because I'm able to realize that they're not real, but when they first started it really had me spooked. Just thought I'd ask - thanks!

[Ian J]

We call those things "dreams."

I kid... but did you ever think that this:

Originally Posted by Murdoughnut

I'm 26, don't smoke, never used illegal drugs, and drink socially in moderation.

might be the problem?

[Murdoughnut]

Originally Posted by ChinookDriver

We call those things "dreams."

I kid... but did you ever think that this:


might be the problem?

Haha, yeah - it's been a boring, yet STD free life

[Chewie von Nubbins]

I'm definitely guilty of starting to doze off in church and have something similar. Except, it came in the form of being around a bunch of azaleas in full bloom and I see the bee flying around. Next thing I knew I jerk suddenly thinking I'm getting stung by the bee. Startled the whole church and even paused the Preacher. I wake back up and definitely got the bum rush look all over my face....like, what happened????

I believe this is like a pre-REM type of thing when your mind starts to cross-over into sleep but everything else is just not quite ready. Man, I am sure this type of thing happens to everyone.

However, I would worry if this condition thing that you speak of crosses paths with your IBS. Then, you will defiantly have a problem....just kidding.

[Murdoughnut]

That's interesting - maybe that's what I'm dealing with. But the strange thing about mine is that it will sometimes occur while I'm wide awake and lying in bed. They usually only last a few seconds, but I'm awake enough to be like "wow - I'm looking at a huge spider descending on me, but it's not real".

[scramjet]

That is odd. It almost does sound like some sort of sleep deprivation related effect or perhaps a predream state. When I don't get enough sleep, I swear I see an evil clown right behind my back with a mace... no seriously

But on a serious note, sleep deprivation can do some weird things. Is your schedule odd? Sometimes you don't even realize that you are not getting enough sleep. ie, you stay up until 2am surfing the net and then get up a 6:30 thinking you fell well rested, but when you get to nap, you nap, even if its a few moments at a meeting or lecture. I've had it and accordingly corrected my habits.

Another possibility is a predream state. I seem to get these a lot, even if I'm not that tired. I don't seem to adhere to the "normal" dream cycle. I can doze off for a nap and then immediately be dreaming about something in vivid detail. I can control it though.

Hope that helps! and watch out for that clown, i swear its gonna get me one of these days...

[Murdoughnut]

Originally Posted by scramjet

That is odd. It almost does sound like some sort of sleep deprivation related effect or perhaps a predream state. When I don't get enough sleep, I swear I see an evil clown right behind my back with a mace... no seriously

But on a serious note, sleep deprivation can do some weird things. Is your schedule odd? Sometimes you don't even realize that you are not getting enough sleep. ie, you stay up until 2am surfing the net and then get up a 6:30 thinking you fell well rested, but when you get to nap, you nap, even if its a few moments at a meeting or lecture. I've had it and accordingly corrected my habits.

Another possibility is a predream state. I seem to get these a lot, even if I'm not that tired. I don't seem to adhere to the "normal" dream cycle. I can doze off for a nap and then immediately be dreaming about something in vivid detail. I can control it though.

Hope that helps! and watch out for that clown, i swear its gonna get me one of these days...

Haha, I had this clown light switch cover in my room as a kid that still freaks me out to this day when I think about it.

I do feel tired most of the time, but the crazy thing is, I get 8-10 hours of sleep a night! I don't sleep particularly deeply, but I'm usually able to sleep all the way through the night. I'm easy to wake with sounds and what not. I told my doc (not my AME) and his solution was to put me on anti-depressants - I said no thanks - not depressed, and I'm not a big fan of medication. I do have trouble with a general lack of energy, though - I always thought that maybe it was because I don't drink coffee or sodas. Interesting, though - I wonder if they're related.

[My Flight Surgeon]

The word Hallucinations is a real RED FLAG with the FAA.

[Murdoughnut]

Originally Posted by My Flight Surgeon

The word Hallucinations is a real RED FLAG with the FAA.

I see - well in that case, Chinook's earlier point must have been correct - I must have been dreaming after all.

[anavalairman2]

I'm sorry bro but hallucinating and not knowing the cause of it is creepy. Maybe before you were conceived, your parents were acid trippin hippies and it screwed with the chromosome if that's at all possible. I think your flying asperations have been 86'd. Good Luck.

[Murdoughnut]

Originally Posted by anavalairman2

I'm sorry bro but hallucinating and not knowing the cause of it is creepy. Maybe before you were conceived, your parents were acid trippin hippies and it screwed with the chromosome if that's at all possible. I think your flying asperations have been 86'd. Good Luck.

I experience them maybe once every couple of months - and I've never experienced one when I wasn't laying in bed, about to fall asleep. It's not really something that has ever been a problem when I was doing anything but trying to sleep.

[Skalar]

Those are Hypnagogic Hallucinations... Some people think they're Shadow People, Ghosts, Aliens or whatever. My opinion is that I think you're so tired your mind starts to dream before you fall asleep.

I know it cause I have em' too. Except, mine occur when I wakeup in the middle of the night. I can see the fuzzy shadows of bats, birds, and spiders that are ridiculously large and appear for a second or two and then fade away into nothing. They can be quite frightening at times. With one I woke up to see a person walking toward me , I started screaming uncontrollably..then if faded away. it was an experience so frightening I couldn't go back to sleep until the sun came up that morning. I talk about it in more detail here.

I find that I can reduce my chances of it happening by making the room completely dark or getting a nightlight that makes the room brighter. I think its your brain playing tricks on you with the hard to see ambient light and makes the air vent into a spider on the ceiling and the space heater into a person sitting next to your bed in your room.

I dont talk about it anymore unless someone brings it up. Probably cause some people think I'm nuts. I dont think I'm crazy, though. Do I occasionally Still see that stuff? Yes. but now it no longer scares me, and I know what it is. I'm just dreaming.

[falconvalley]

I get that, too. And occassionly, I'm guilty of tossing something at whatever is "there". When I was in highschool, on a senior trip one of my friends woke us all up in the middle of the night screaming and starting a fist fight with noone in particular. It was hilarious!

[frog_flyer]

dude that's hardcore.


I once dreamed that I got shot in the face. yeah. I always wake up in a near-death situations, but this time was different. 'Twas kinda cool. I woke up after I expired (2 seconds after the gun went off).

[Murdoughnut]

Originally Posted by Skalar

Those are Hypnagogic Hallucinations... Some people think they're Shadow People, Ghosts, Aliens or whatever. My opinion is that I think you're so tired your mind starts to dream before you fall asleep.

I know it cause I have em' too. Except, mine occur when I wakeup in the middle of the night. I can see the fuzzy shadows of bats, birds, and spiders that are ridiculously large and appear for a second or two and then fade away into nothing. They can be quite frightening at times. With one I woke up to see a person walking toward me , I started screaming uncontrollably..then if faded away. it was an experience so frightening I couldn't go back to sleep until the sun came up that morning. I talk about it in more detail here.

I find that I can reduce my chances of it happening by making the room completely dark or getting a nightlight that makes the room brighter. I think its your brain playing tricks on you with the hard to see ambient light and makes the air vent into a spider on the ceiling and the space heater into a person sitting next to your bed in your room.

I dont talk about it anymore unless someone brings it up. Probably cause some people think I'm nuts. I dont think I'm crazy, though. Do I occasionally Still see that stuff? Yes. but now it no longer scares me, and I know what it is. I'm just dreaming.

Thanks - that sounds exactly like what I experience - glad to know I'm not the only one. I'm in the same boat as you - used to freak me out (and whoever was sleeping next to me) but now I'm usually able to figure it out before it freaks me out. Thanks for sharing!

[Murdoughnut]

Originally Posted by Skalar

Those are Hypnagogic Hallucinations... Some people think they're Shadow People, Ghosts, Aliens or whatever. My opinion is that I think you're so tired your mind starts to dream before you fall asleep.

I know it cause I have em' too. Except, mine occur when I wakeup in the middle of the night. I can see the fuzzy shadows of bats, birds, and spiders that are ridiculously large and appear for a second or two and then fade away into nothing. They can be quite frightening at times. With one I woke up to see a person walking toward me , I started screaming uncontrollably..then if faded away. it was an experience so frightening I couldn't go back to sleep until the sun came up that morning. I talk about it in more detail here.

I find that I can reduce my chances of it happening by making the room completely dark or getting a nightlight that makes the room brighter. I think its your brain playing tricks on you with the hard to see ambient light and makes the air vent into a spider on the ceiling and the space heater into a person sitting next to your bed in your room.

I dont talk about it anymore unless someone brings it up. Probably cause some people think I'm nuts. I dont think I'm crazy, though. Do I occasionally Still see that stuff? Yes. but now it no longer scares me, and I know what it is. I'm just dreaming.

Oh, and by the way, I see you're in Bradenton - I live up in St. Pete - if you're ever in town, we should grab a beer and we can trade hallucination stories

[Skalar]

Cool, I'm up for it, sounds like fun. Add me on IM me or send me a PM on here.

[PGT]

2 words...Acid Flashbacks

reminds me of The Big Lebowski
Maude Lebowski: What do you do for recreation?
The Dude: Oh, the usual. I bowl. Drive around. The occasional acid flashback.