Ed Hypnagogic or Hypnopompic Hallucinations

[Arg9]

Thanks for this thread, btw. Now when these things happen to me, hopefully I can just think "Oh, it's just the hypnagogic hallucination thingie" and go right back to sleep.

You're welcome. I was curious how common it was and other experiences. I'm relieved myself. Of course we always think something's very wrong with us; nervous system, etc. But it seems way more common than I imagined...or we're all "screwed up" - so we can take comfort in that.

What's crazy though, is how many people are still convinced it's related to a supernatural or alien encounter. Like my hallucination I mentioned at the beginning of this thread about feeling sick, having sleep paralysis, presence next to me in bed, and then waking up and feeling great. It can be more wishful thinking to assume it was some sort of supernatural healer or angelic entity but it's more rational to assume it was my body in a state of relaxation/winding down that allowed me to feel better.

 

[Sunstar]

Auditory hallucinations are much more common than visual ones. These things happen in a lighter sleep state. In a deeper sleep state the visuals are clearer because the conscious mind is submerged.

I think sleep paralysis is linked with REM. If you stay up long and have a busy life and therefore don't get sound enough sleep you get REM atonia. The brain tries to make up for lack of REM later on.

What is interesting to me is how meditation is linked here. Lots of meditators believe that the OM sound is an internal vibration that is heard mentally. In fact, it may just be the strangeness of hypnagogia. People hear a humming vibrating noise that gets louder and louder. Some liken it to an airplane thundering close by. Some here bell sounds.

In the past when i meditated i would achieve a very light hypnagogic state and would hear my name internally. This is a strange experience. Also, if there was a sudden loud noise out on the street on within the house somewhere, i would suddenly seem to get some kind of electric shock in my brain. And the outside noises don't have to be very loud for this to happen either.

Some people deliberately try to induce sleep paralysis to have an out of body experience. Why some succeed in this and others don't i do not know but i feel it has to do with intention. And meditating regularly seems to increase the chances of having sleep paralysis occur more and more. It is due to the level of relaxation you can achieve cumulatively. I think therefore, that one of the solutions to the anxiety and fear that accompanies sleep paralysis is to familiarise yourself with that state by meditating in some way. Meditation isn't for everybody so you need to find out your own suitableness to it. But once the paralysis kicks in, if you remain calm and relaxed, less adrenaline will be released and you shouldn't feel fearful any more.