Vivid hallucinations

I tend to have a lot of hallucinations that are very vivid, both auditory and visual. They sometimes happen when I am falling asleep and sometimes when I am waking up. And at times I may not even be tired and I still hallucinate. If it is a visual hallucination, it is usually me seeing someone that is not really there standing next to my bed or close to the door, or something else is in my room that shouldn't be there.

If it is auditory, I will hear random sounds that I know aren't there. Sometimes they are soft and neutral but other times they are loud and ominous. Like a persistent loud sound that just won't go away. Sometimes I will even hear whispering and if I am trying to fall asleep and I stop breathing, I will hear a voice tell me to open my eyes, call my name, or just shout hey. Some of these hallucinations, especially the voices talking to me, are my brain's attempt to wake me up once it realizes I stopped breathing for a certain amount of time.

The random sounds happen constantly even when I am alert and think it has to do with my hearing impairment. The visual hallucinations are always the worst. I may close my eyes and if I can't seem to far asleep, I will open them and see something or someone right there and at times it will appear to stay there for a bit before disappearing. It always disappears when I turn the light on though. Also I hallucinate when I am having an episode of sleep paralysis, which is common among people who have it.

Does anyone else have vivid hallucinations before or after sleep? What are your hallucinations like? I used to be very afraid of them when I was little but not really anymore since I am so used to it. I still get startled, especially when I hear voices, loud sudden sounds that I know aren't there, or visual hallucinations of people that aren't there. I believe part of it is from sleep apnea which is what I have, some of it is due to being in a foggy sleepy state, but the hallucinations that happen when I am fully alert, usually the auditory ones, are the ones I don't know what causes them. I am hearing impaired so most likely that is what it is, but most of them revolve around sleep, especially if I have a panic attack when waking up too.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321070.php

Thank you, this was informative.

Yeah I have these often. Last two nights I’ve run out of my room because I thought there was someone in there with me. I see a variety of characters from pop culture as well as family members. Dead or alive. It’s getting worse for me, and I’m really worried.

Yeah from what being sleep deprived and sleep disorders, as well as other problems can cause symptoms similar to Schizophrenia and Psychosis. I have done what you did too. I have also hid in my closet or beneath my bed in fear of being hurt. And in the case of loud auditory hallucinations, I have covered my ears and head, especially if it is loud voices or loud banging or explosive sounds. It is really annoying and frieghtning at times. I have sleep apnea and insomnia and sometimes I wonder if I have another sleep disorder I am unaware of. It doesn’t happen every night, but it happens a lot.

I probably have REM sleep behavior disorder. I physically act out my dreams. Last night I thought I saw a Scottish terrier trying to get out of my dresser. I do not have any type of dog let alone a Scottish terrier. I was yelling for someone to come in because “there’s a dog in here!” It looked like it was trying to get out of the dresser. I went to open the drawer and he disappeared. I was so frustrated. Then I got right into bed and fell asleep.

That incident was funny. I’ve had scary ones where I am locking an intruder into a room. I think this sleep disorder is pretty dangerous.

That dog however, was so cute.

Yeah what you experience is the exact same stuff I experience. Maybe I do have another sleep disorder like you mentioned as well. Yeah it can be frightning and dangerous.

Was In a hotel. One full blown night terror. I was lucky security wasn't called a couple hours later my mom woke me up right before I was about to walk out the door. I thought an intruder had locked me in there. It’s very bad to be having these in popular hotels.

I went to the store and got some fast dissolving melatonin. It’s supposed to work faster and help you sleep longer. I took some last night. It worked pretty well. I slept pretty much through the night. A slight incident where I asked my mom if she thought someone was in the room. But nothing bad.

So you might want to try that. It’s fast dissolving melatonin.

Oh cool, that may work and sorry you had that experience. I have a fear of stuff like that happening to me in public places.

I'm hearing impaired myself and for awhile I would hear things and then lose the sound. It would cause me to daydream a lot because of my own boredom. What I do know is based on my own experience with my family who has hallucinations? Have you check with your primary doctor for diabetes it your sugar is too high or too low it can cause hallucinations? I have a niece who has sleep apnea and I seen her experience hallucinate as well as other health problems. Have you have a physical done recently just to make sure that it not something physical? What about contacting a mental health professional and explain that you been hearing things and you want make sure that is not something mental? When was the last time you had your hearing tested because that can be a sign that your losing your hearing. At least for me. These are just suggestion and you don't have to do anything that make you feel uncomfortable.

That great advice! I wish that I had thought about that myself!

Sometimes grief can cause hallucinations! Especially those who suffer from complicated grief! Something I had experience myself! Grief can affect both physical health and mental health.

I agree! Sleep disorder and insomnia can cause hallucinations! So can schizophrenia which I have in my family can cause hallucinations!

I'm sorry that you are struggling right now! Dream can be scary! Have you thought about seeing a sleep disorder specialist someone who specializes in night terror?

It possible!

I never thought about that! I think I might have heard of melatonin.Great advice!

Yeah hearing impairment can cause those kinds of hallucinations. And it is possible my hearing could be getting worse. I know it could eventually get worse as I get older. I never had any problems with sugar or have Diabetes and didn't even know that could cause hallucinations. I do have sleep apnea and insomnia for sure so that probably plays a role in it too. I will definitely tell my doctor about it since I do tend to feel anxious and down a lot so that could also contribute to seeing and hearing things that are not there.

Yep who knows.

Yep exactly. And I hear that depression can cause hallucinations too although not as severe as Schizophrenia.

I see my Pdoc in September. I plan on asking for a referral for a sleep study. It’s really the first step in solving the issue.

I also am thinking of getting a sleep number bed. At least I’ll sleep better in it. Which might help with some of my issues.

Good idea.

Yes, I have hypnagogic hallucinations and they keep causing me to awaken, just as I'm falling asleep. I suspect they might be a side effect of medication.

I'm doing a sleep study next month.

Yeah medications can do that too. And good that you are getting a sleep test.

I wish I knew which med it might be. I can't recall exactly when the hypnagogic hallucinations began, but it's been going on since spring and really bothers me.

Yeah it can be very bothersome. Even after stopping the meds, they will probably still occur since it happens to everyone, but not as frequent or as vivid. Everyone experiences it at some point, it’s just that a lot will deny it due to a fear of being labled mentally ill or something even though it has nothing to do with mental illness.