Have you ever sat in bed and just starting to sleep, only to suddenly, you're able to experience vivid dreamlike visions or feelings, even though you're actually awake? It's a phenomenon that's quite common and is both intriguing as well as difficult to understand. In this blog we'll discuss why this happens, the research of it and if there's a reason to be worried about.
What's this "Dreaming Before Sleep" Experience?
This type of experience is usually described as hallucinations that are hypnagogic (or"hypnagogia"). It is a sensory experience that can be visual as well as auditory or tactile that occur as you shift from sleep to wakefulness (the hypnagogic state).
Common Hypnagogic Experiments:
Visual seeing flashes lights, patterns or full-on dreamlike images while closed your eyes.
Auditory Listening to music, voices or high-pitched sounds (like doors slamming, or someone calling your number).
Physical sensations It's like falling, floating or getting felt.
Sleep paralysis Inability for a short time to move. Sometimes, it is accompanied by terrifying hallucinations.
How come this happens?
The Brain Transitions Between States
If you are asleep the brain isn't switched off as if it was a lamp; instead, it is in a variety of levels. The state of hypnagogy is the point between sleep and wakefulness when your brain starts to withdraw from reality and transition into a dream state.
In this phase:
The Thalamus (the brain's sensor) begins blocking signals from outside.
It is likely that your brain's visual cortex is active and creating spontaneous pictures.
The prefrontal cortex (responsible for reasoning) decreases in speed, causing these illusions feel more real.
Sleep Intrusion During REM
Most dreams happen in REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep However, sometimes the parts of REM could "leak" into waking. It is more prevalent for people who suffer from:
Narcolepsy (a sleeping disorder that causes REM is almost instantly after falling asleep).
Sleep lack (your brain attempts to get into REM more quickly to catch up on your lost sleep).
Irregular sleep schedules (jet lag, shift work).
Higher Creativity or stress
Certain people, particularly writers, artists and highly creative individuals -- report greater vivid experiences of hypnagogia. Stress and anxiety may cause these hallucinations to become more intense.
Do you think this is normal or Is It a Medical Issue?
Most people find that the hallucinations of hypnagogy are benign and are merely a niggle of the way their brains transition to sleep. In some instances they could be connected to:
Medical Conditions associating with Hypnagogia
Narcolepsy (sudden insomnia attacks, bright hallucinations).
Sleep lack (lack in sleep ) increases the pressure on the REM).
Anxiety and the PTSD (heightened brain activity prior to the bed).
Migraines (some sufferers have visual auras that are similar to the condition known as hypnagogia).
Parkinson's disease, or Lewy body dementia (in very rare instances).
What is the best time to see an X-Ray doctor:
Hallucinations can be terrifying or disruptive to rest, it is best.
If you suffer from an increase in muscle strength (cataplexy) alongside them (a indication of Narcolepsy).
When they're accompanied by any other neurological signs.
How to manage Hypnagogic hallucinations
If the experiences you're experiencing bother you If you are experiencing these issues, consider: Improving sleep hygiene (consistent sleep time, a darkness in the room with no screens prior to the bed).
Stress reduction (meditation and deep breathing).
Reducing sleep loss (aim to sleep for 7 to 9 hours).
A dream journal (helps to track patterns).
Treat by Modalert 200 mg.
Final thoughts
The ability to dream even before you're asleep offers a fascinating look of how the brain moves between conscious and sleeping. It's usually an unintentional, harmless occurrence. But if it's making a difference to your daily routine, you should talking to a sleep expert.
Have you experienced any the hypnagogic effects of hallucinations? Tell us about it in the remarks!
References:
American Academy of Sleep Medicine. (2023). Hypnagogic hallucinations as well as sleep Disorders.
Nielsen, T. (2000).An overview of mentation REM as well as NREM sleeping. Sleep Medicine Reviews.
Scammell, T. E. (2015). Narcolepsy as well as Hypnagogic hallucinations. New England Journal of Medicine.
