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Why do I see weird things when I wake up?

It’s common to experience strange or nonsensical visions and sensations when transitioning between sleep and wakefulness. Hypnagogic hallucinations, as they are known, occur during the hypnagogic state – the transitional period between wakefulness and sleep. Let’s explore some of the reasons why these odd experiences happen.

The Hypnagogic State

The hypnagogic state is a transitional period of consciousness when someone is between being fully awake and fully asleep. It’s characterized by relaxed muscles but still active and imaginative thoughts. Many people experience vivid dream-like hallucinations during this stage. These can involve sights, sounds, smells, movement sensations and even complex dream-like scenarios. The hypnagogic state occurs as we are falling asleep, while the reverse transitional state from sleeping into wakefulness is called the hypnopompic state.

Characteristics of Hypnagogia

  • Vivid, dreamlike hallucinations
  • Relaxed body but active mind
  • Altered perceptions and sensations
  • Lasts for a short time, from seconds to minutes
  • Occurs as we transition from wakefulness to sleep (hypnagogic) or vice versa (hypnopompic)

Hypnagogic and hypnopompic states are similar. The main difference is whether they happen as we are falling asleep or waking up. The remainder of this article will refer to both states collectively as “hypnagogia”.

Common Hypnagogic Hallucinations

Some of the most common types of sensations and visions people experience during hypnagogia include:

Visual Hallucinations

  • Seeing shapes, colors, faces, landscapes or patterns
  • Seeing complete dream-like scenarios play out
  • Visual alterations like the room appearing larger

Auditory Hallucinations

  • Hearing noises, music, voices, or fragments of conversation
  • Altered perception of ambient sounds

Sensory Hallucinations

  • Tingling, vibrating, floating, or falling sensations
  • Feeling paralyzed or unable to move
  • Out of body experiences

Thought Hallucinations

  • Disjointed, illogical or bizarre thoughts
  • Vivid daydreams or fantasies
  • Sudden insights or creative ideas

Of course, the specific hallucinations can vary significantly from one person to another. But these categories cover some of the most common types of hypnagogic phenomena that people experience.

What Causes Hypnagogic Hallucinations?

Researchers aren’t entirely sure why these strange sensory experiences happen during the transition to sleep. But there are several theories about what might cause hypnagogic hallucinations:

The Brain Being Caught Between States

One idea is that when transitioning between wakefulness and sleep, the brain gets caught between operating in its “awake mode” and its “asleep mode”. So we experience dream-like visions and sensations while still partially awake and conscious. This may also explain why hypnagogia lasts only briefly before the brain fully transitions to sleep or wakefulness.

Activation of the Default Mode Network

Brain scans show that the default mode network – associated with imagination and mind-wandering – becomes highly active during hypnagogia. This may explain the vivid, imaginative hallucinations that can occur.

Reduced Inputs and Comeback Signals

As we fall asleep, the brain receives less external sensory input. But “comeback signals” that reinforce an organized perception of reality also weaken. This combination could trigger the brain to generate strange sensory impressions to fill the void.

Disconnect Between Brain Regions

During hypnagogia, parts of the brain that don’t normally interact may begin communicating. Researchers believe this dissociation between brain regions could play a role in generating bizarre hypnagogic hallucinations.

The underlying neurological causes are still being investigated. But factors like being caught between wakefulness and sleep, reduced sensory inputs, and unusual dissociated brain activity may all contribute to the common experiences of hypnagogic hallucinations.

Other Factors That Influence Hypnagogic Hallucinations

While the exact mechanisms are unknown, certain factors are believed to make a person more prone to experiencing vivid hypnagogic hallucinations. These include:

Sleep Deprivation

Not getting enough sleep appears to make people more likely to experience intense hypnagogic hallucinations. Sleep deprivation may extend the hypnagogic period.

Stress and Anxiety

Stress and anxiety can influence sleep transitions. People with high anxiety levels seem more likely to report bizarre hypnagogic experiences.

Substances and Medications

Drugs, alcohol, medications, and sleep aids can increase the likelihood of experiencing vivid hypnagogic phenomena.

Mental Health Conditions

Some mental health conditions like schizophrenia, psychosis, and mania may predispose people to intense hypnagogic hallucinations.

Genetics

Research hints at potential genetic links that make some people more prone to frequent and vivid hypnagogic experiences.

While anyone can experience hypnagogia occasionally, these factors appear to increase both the intensity and frequency of odd visions and sensations when falling asleep or waking up.

Are Hypnagogic Hallucinations Normal?

For most people, hypnagogic and hypnopompic hallucinations are a harmless part of the sleep cycle. It’s estimated over half of adults experience minor hypnagogic illusions like seeing abstract shapes or hearing music when falling asleep. Occasional, brief hypnagogic experiences are normal and nothing to worry about.

However, very frequent, vivid or frightening hypnagogic hallucinations can potentially be linked to underlying medical conditions or mental illness. Speak to a doctor if you have concerns about persistent, bothersome hypnagogic experiences.

When to Seek Help

You may want to speak to a medical professional if you regularly experience:

  • Intense, frequent hypnagogic hallucinations that disrupt sleep
  • Distressing or terrifying hallucinations
  • Hypnagogia combined with other unusual symptoms
  • Hallucinations that persist into wakefulness

While mildly bizarre sensations when falling asleep are normal for many people, consistent bothersome symptoms warrant a discussion with your doctor.

Fun Facts About Hypnagogia

While hypnagogic hallucinations can be troubling, many people find the strange sensations fascinating and even inspiring. Here are some fun facts about the hypnagogic state:

  • Hypnagogia may have inspired many surreal images in art, music and literature
  • The periodic limb movements of hypnagogia may be behind legends of “alien abductions”
  • Thomas Edison deliberately induced hypnagogia to access creativity and new ideas
  • Dreams and hypnagogic hallucinations activate similar regions of the brain
  • People can sometimes control and direct hypnagogic experiences through lucid dreaming techniques

While often bizarre, the dreamlike visions and sensations of hypnagogia have inspired artists and thinkers throughout history. Many people even enjoy experimenting with hypnagogia as a portal to enhance creativity.

Conclusion

Experiencing strange visions, sounds and bodily sensations when transitioning to sleep is surprisingly common. Known as hypnagogic hallucinations, these experiences occur during the hypnagogic state between wakefulness and sleep. While the exact neurological causes remain uncertain, factors like the brain being caught between states, reduced sensory input, and dissociated brain activity may play a role.

Occasional minor hypnagogic hallucinations are normal and usually harmless. But frequent or disturbing experiences, especially when combined with other symptoms, can indicate an underlying illness. Speak to your doctor if hypnagogia is consistently disruptive or distressing.

With an open mind, hypnagogia can also provide creative inspiration and fascinating insights into the sleeping brain. Our transitory inner worlds when falling asleep reveal the mind’s amazing capacity to generate experiences independent of external sensory input.