Hypnagogic Hallucinations: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Hypnagogic hallucinations occur as you’re transitioning from wakefulness to sleep and involve seeing, hearing, or feeling things that aren’t there. These experiences are usually vivid and may include visual images of patterns, shapes, or scenes, auditory hallucinations like voices or sounds, or somatic sensations such as falling or flying.

While they can be unsettling, hypnagogic hallucinations are common and generally not a cause for concern unless they severely impact your sleep or wellness. These hallucinations are often brought on by sleep deprivation, stress, or changes in your sleep schedule.

It can be easy to confuse a hypnagogic hallucination for a dream. To distinguish between the two, you should keep in mind that dreams usually have a storyline, while hypnagogic hallucinations often manifest as brief images or sounds.

For most people, hypnagogic hallucinations are not caused by an underlying condition. However, hypnagogic hallucinations are more common in people with certain conditions, such as:

● Insomnia – As difficulty falling asleep can lead to sleep deprivation, insomnia can trigger hypnagogic hallucinations.

● Narcolepsy – This sleep disorder is characterized by excessive, uncontrollable daytime sleepiness and sudden sleep attacks. People with narcolepsy often experience disturbed nighttime sleep as well as hypnagogic hallucinations due to disruptions in the sleep-wake cycle.

● Excessive daytime sleepiness – You may experience excessive daytime sleepiness due to a variety of sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea. Excessive daytime sleepiness is a sign of poor-quality sleep, which can trigger hypnagogic hallucinations.

● Mental health conditions – Stress, anxiety, and other mental health issues can significantly impact sleep quality and are associated with increased occurrences of hallucinations.

● Certain medications – Hypnagogic hallucinations are more common in people who use tricyclic antidepressants.

While, in most cases, hypnagogic hallucinations are harmless, it’s strongly recommended to see a sleep expert if they persist or begin to interfere with your sleep quality or general wellness.

If you wake up during the night and see things that aren’t really there, it’s likely due to a hypnagogic hallucination. This type of hallucination can involve seeing, hearing, or feeling things that do not exist, and they can be particularly vivid and unsettling. You may see shapes, shadows, or figures, hear noises or voices, or sense an unusual presence in the room.

Hypnagogic hallucinations are typically brief and harmless. However, they can be distressing, especially if they involve disturbing images or the sensation of a presence. It’s important to understand that while these experiences can be alarming, they are not typically indicative of serious mental health disorders, such as schizophrenia.

If you’ve experienced a hypnagogic hallucination, you are likely wondering why it occurred. Sleep deprivation, anxiety, and changes in your sleep habits can all contribute to these occurrences. It’s recommended to prioritize getting enough sleep, practice good sleep hygiene, manage stress and anxiety, and see a professional to reduce the frequency of hypnagogic hallucinations.

When treating hypnagogic hallucinations, healthcare professionals focus on improving sleep hygiene and addressing underlying sleep disorders to minimize the frequency of episodes. In most cases, hypnagogic hallucinations are not caused by underlying conditions and are generally harmless.

Your healthcare provider will create a personalized management plan to help you get enough quality sleep consistently and manage your stress levels to improve your wellness and reduce hypnagogic hallucinations. This may include creating a comfortable sleep environment, following a regular sleep schedule and routine, and limiting caffeine and alcohol intake.

In some cases, your doctor may prescribe medications or make adjustments to your current medications to prevent hypnagogic hallucinations or alleviate anxiety caused by them. If an underlying condition is causing hypnagogic hallucinations, such as insomnia or narcolepsy, your healthcare provider will create a comprehensive treatment plan to manage your symptoms. To receive top-quality care for sleep conditions, such as hypnagogic hallucinations, visit the team at Koala® Center For Sleep & TMJ Disorders.