Question
Please could you give me some idea of what is going on. I am totally freaked out and now too scared to go to sleep. At first I would start to see visions, silly and very random visions from rainbow drops floating through the air to animals to objects. I am awake defo not sleeping and I just want these visions to stop . I often get up during the night make a cup of tea and that stops them. My doctor not really concerned and says its quite normal. recently these night visions have been getting real scary. So bad I dont want to shut my eyes at all. Last night everything in my room was turning into horrible scary objects. I was so frightened. My husband tried to reassure me by putting out his hand but I just saw this covered in hairs and with big talons and screamed at him to get it away. My cupboards have faces and everything starts to come for me. I am so scared to sleep. Even if I sleep in the day it happens so the answer is do not sleep. But not really practicle answer. what is happening and why?
Answer
If you are seeing these visions either upon falling asleep or awakening there is a simple explanation. Sometimes our bodies and brain dont go to sleep together and awaken the same time, so there is a nano second of a lag, therefore one is dreaming with ones eyes open. Dreams can be so frightened and vivid. Its normal phenomenon. Now if these awakenings make your daytime wakefulness sleepy it could be a symptom of narcolepsy. What you are having if they happen just before dreaming or upon awakening are called hypnangogic hallucinations. 3 hours before bedtime stay away from, tea, coffee, caffeine, caramel colored soda, like coke, pepsi, ginger ale, chocolate and exercise , alcohol, all this make for restless sleep. Now if you are totally awake and see these visions, you might want to consult a therapist. There are also psychic phenomenon,but that im no expert on. If it persists ask your local hospital to refer you to a sleep center to monitor your sleeping pattern. Go to sleepnet.com click on narcolepsy, and read about its symptoms of hypnangogic hallucinations. feel free to email again karel
