Baymule
Herd Master
Add more things to my list!
Canesister's 2025 journal - Bushel & Peck Farm
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SageHill
Herd Master
Then --- oh damn - where'd I put that list? as it goes through the wash in my jeans pocket.
Baymule
Herd Master
I marked things off my list today!
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canesisters
Herd Master
Have any of you ever heard of hypnopompic hallucinations?
For years I've occasionally been woken up by sounds that would be proven to not exist. Sometimes it would be one of my pets in distress.... only to search the house & find them asleep. Frequently it would be someone pounding on the door. Once I thought I also saw reflected red & blue lights on the trees in the very dark front yard... which convincing me for a few moments that the police were at my door. I eventuality learned to check the dogs 1st.... if they were still asleep, I would roll over & forget about it.
When I say occasionally I mean a few times a year. Maybe once a month for a few times, then nothing for months. But the first couple of times a new sound would happen, it would be so disturbing that I would be up for hours.
Thinking back... maybe this is why I started sleeping with an audio book or the TV on
It hasn't happened in a very long time. Or, if it has I've gotten so used to ignoring it that it doesn't bother me anymore.
But last night a new one really shook me up. I 'heard' my storm door open & slam. None of the cats were nearby, so after a few moments I crept through the dark house to peek out. Naturally there was no sign of anything outside. But I checked all the doors & looked out all the windows anyway. And Chaos was shortly at my side which convinced me it had been one of my 'in my head' sounds because he hides when anyone comes over.
As long as I was wide awake, I decided to Google & see if I was going crazy. Google found hypnopompic hallucinations and describes it as Auditory hallucinations that occur while waking up, also known as hypnopompic hallucinations, are generally considered normal and harmless. They often involve hearing sounds like ringing, voices, or other environmental sounds that are not actually present.
The articles I found described them as usually being sounds that were vague or hard to identify.... but the ones I've experienced are very specific. I 'knew' which animal was in distress, I 'knew' which door was being pounded on & could describe how many bangs I thought I had heard. They also often listed prolonged insomnia as a possible cause.... which has been particularly bad lately.
So... still being a little disturbed by it, I thought I'd ask if any of you have ever had something like this happen to you or knew someone who had.
For years I've occasionally been woken up by sounds that would be proven to not exist. Sometimes it would be one of my pets in distress.... only to search the house & find them asleep. Frequently it would be someone pounding on the door. Once I thought I also saw reflected red & blue lights on the trees in the very dark front yard... which convincing me for a few moments that the police were at my door. I eventuality learned to check the dogs 1st.... if they were still asleep, I would roll over & forget about it.
When I say occasionally I mean a few times a year. Maybe once a month for a few times, then nothing for months. But the first couple of times a new sound would happen, it would be so disturbing that I would be up for hours.
Thinking back... maybe this is why I started sleeping with an audio book or the TV on
It hasn't happened in a very long time. Or, if it has I've gotten so used to ignoring it that it doesn't bother me anymore.
But last night a new one really shook me up. I 'heard' my storm door open & slam. None of the cats were nearby, so after a few moments I crept through the dark house to peek out. Naturally there was no sign of anything outside. But I checked all the doors & looked out all the windows anyway. And Chaos was shortly at my side which convinced me it had been one of my 'in my head' sounds because he hides when anyone comes over.
As long as I was wide awake, I decided to Google & see if I was going crazy. Google found hypnopompic hallucinations and describes it as Auditory hallucinations that occur while waking up, also known as hypnopompic hallucinations, are generally considered normal and harmless. They often involve hearing sounds like ringing, voices, or other environmental sounds that are not actually present.
The articles I found described them as usually being sounds that were vague or hard to identify.... but the ones I've experienced are very specific. I 'knew' which animal was in distress, I 'knew' which door was being pounded on & could describe how many bangs I thought I had heard. They also often listed prolonged insomnia as a possible cause.... which has been particularly bad lately.
So... still being a little disturbed by it, I thought I'd ask if any of you have ever had something like this happen to you or knew someone who had.
SageHill
Herd Master
Never had that. Makes me wonder though if the sound came out of a dream because it was so clear as to what it was.
Interesting.
Interesting.
Not that I recall. Do you drink or eat or take anything before bed? I had weird dreams when I took melatonin, don't take it anymore.
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- #347
canesisters
Herd Master
Nothing unusual. Ibuprofen fairly regularly. DMSO topically when needed, but I didn't have this when I was using it daily - sometimes 2x daily.
I really wonder about the insomnia connection. The last week or so I rarely get more than 2hrs sleep at a time.
Maybe I should try melatonin, but I've always been super leery of being groggy after sleep aids.
Baymule
Herd Master
Ghosts?
frustratedearthmother
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I used to dream (or hallucinate) that I heard the doorbell. It would happen once or twice a month sometimes. I would do what you did - go look - but the dogs were always quiet so I had to finally admit that it was all in my head, lol. Rarely happens anymore...
Melatonin works for some, not aware of any groggy effects. I took a sleeping pill once, NEVER EVER AGAIN. I hated the "circling the drain" feeling.
