Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Hypnagogichallucinations are dream-like sensations that can involve any of your five senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, or touch). They arehallucinationsthat occur during the transitions between wakefulness and sleep and can feel very realistic and be vividly experienced.
Learn more about the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of hypnagogic hallucinations.
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Symptoms of Hypnagogic Hallucinations
Hypnagogic hallucinations andsleep paralysisoften co-occur in people with narcolepsy. Sleep paralysis, a transient paralysis, most often happens when a person is waking up (hypnopompia) rather than drifting off to sleep.During an episode, the person may struggle to breathe or feel muscle tightness. It may be difficult to recognize that the paralysis is fleeting.
Hypnagogic Hallucinations Causes
These episodes can occur sporadically and they may not be significant. However, sometimes, hypnagogic hallucinations can indicate a problem. If they occur frequently, they may be upsetting and the disturbed sleep may lead to insomnia. There are a handful of potential causes that should be ruled out, including:
Other causes of sleep fragmentation, including sleep deprivation, irregular sleep patterns, or other sleep disorders may also be considered. In particular, hypnagogic hallucinations are one of the cardinal symptoms of the sleep disordernarcolepsy.
Hypnagogic Hallucinations vs. DreamingHypnagogic hallucinations are typically brief images or sounds that are perceived as real. You may be unable to identify what is real and what isn’t for a few minutes. Dreaming generally involves a storyline and, when you wake up, you immediately understand that you have just been dreaming.
Hypnagogic Hallucinations vs. Dreaming
Hypnagogic hallucinations are typically brief images or sounds that are perceived as real. You may be unable to identify what is real and what isn’t for a few minutes. Dreaming generally involves a storyline and, when you wake up, you immediately understand that you have just been dreaming.
How Hypnagogic Hallucinations Are Diagnosed
If you think you are suffering from hypnagogic hallucinations (or your loved ones think you are), talk to your healthcare provider about the potential causes of these episodes. You may need to be referred to a board-certified sleep specialist or observed for further evaluation. Testing may require a diagnostic polysomnogram and multiplesleep latencytesting (MSLT), with a stay at a sleep center.
If these hallucinations don’t appear to be causing major disruptions to your life or sleep, no further action may need to be taken. However, it may be wise for you and your loved ones to familiarize yourselves with these hallucinations so that you all feel a greater sense of control over them when they do occur.
Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder that occurs when the brain fails to effectively regulate sleep-wake cycles. It may be associated with recurrent hypnagogic hallucinations. Narcolepsy can lead to a person feeling excessively sleepy during the day. It may cause an irresistible urge to fall asleep during typical waking hours. Accordingly, narcolepsy is commonly associated with “excessive uncontrollable daytime sleepiness.”
It may also be associated with other symptoms, includingcataplexy.Cataplexy is physical weakness associated with an emotion. For example, laughing, feeling scared, or telling a joke may prompt a sudden, transient weakness.
This weakness may manifest as knees buckling, head drooping forward, weakness in hands, or even slurring of speech. Some people may only have one or two attacks in a lifetime, while others may experience many attacks a day.Narcolepsy is a permanent condition and may require treatment with prescription medications for years.
Treatment for Hypnagogic Hallucinations
Infrequent hypnagogic hallucinations do not require treatment and simple reassurance may be enough. If a cause can be identified, eliminating it may be the most effective solution. The treatment of hypnagogic hallucinations may depend on behavioral changes and the use of medications that stabilize sleep.
It is important to keep a regular sleep-wake schedule with a consistent wake time and bedtime. There should be an adequate amount of time spent in bed to meet your sleep needs. Sleep deprivation should be avoided. In the case of narcolepsy, medications that enhance sleep stability such asXyrem(sodium oxybate) may be prescribed.
Summary
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Waters F, Blom JD, Dang-vu TT, et al.What Is the Link Between Hallucinations, Dreams, and Hypnagogic-Hypnopompic Experiences?.Schizophr Bull. 2016;42(5):1098-109. doi:10.1093/schbul/sbw076American Academy of Sleep Medicine.What are sleep hallucinations?Hanin C, Arnulf I, Maranci JB, et al.Narcolepsy and psychosis: A systematic review.Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2021;144(1):28-41. doi:10.1111/acps.13300Muza R, Lykouras D, Rees K.The utility of a 5(th) nap in multiple sleep latency test.J Thorac Dis. 2016;8(2):282-6. doi:10.3978/j.issn.2072-1439.2015.12.66Dauvilliers Y, Siegel JM, Lopez R, Torontali ZA, Peever JH.Cataplexy–clinical aspects, pathophysiology and management strategy.Nat Rev Neurol. 2014;10(7):386-95. doi:10.1038/nrneurol.2014.97National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Narcolepsy fact sheet.Additional ReadingAmerican Academy of Sleep Medicine.International classification of sleep disorders, 3rd ed. Darien, IL: American Academy of Sleep Medicine.Kryger, MHet al. “Principles and Practice of Sleep Medicine.“ExpertConsult, 6th edition.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Waters F, Blom JD, Dang-vu TT, et al.What Is the Link Between Hallucinations, Dreams, and Hypnagogic-Hypnopompic Experiences?.Schizophr Bull. 2016;42(5):1098-109. doi:10.1093/schbul/sbw076American Academy of Sleep Medicine.What are sleep hallucinations?Hanin C, Arnulf I, Maranci JB, et al.Narcolepsy and psychosis: A systematic review.Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2021;144(1):28-41. doi:10.1111/acps.13300Muza R, Lykouras D, Rees K.The utility of a 5(th) nap in multiple sleep latency test.J Thorac Dis. 2016;8(2):282-6. doi:10.3978/j.issn.2072-1439.2015.12.66Dauvilliers Y, Siegel JM, Lopez R, Torontali ZA, Peever JH.Cataplexy–clinical aspects, pathophysiology and management strategy.Nat Rev Neurol. 2014;10(7):386-95. doi:10.1038/nrneurol.2014.97National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Narcolepsy fact sheet.Additional ReadingAmerican Academy of Sleep Medicine.International classification of sleep disorders, 3rd ed. Darien, IL: American Academy of Sleep Medicine.Kryger, MHet al. “Principles and Practice of Sleep Medicine.“ExpertConsult, 6th edition.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Waters F, Blom JD, Dang-vu TT, et al.What Is the Link Between Hallucinations, Dreams, and Hypnagogic-Hypnopompic Experiences?.Schizophr Bull. 2016;42(5):1098-109. doi:10.1093/schbul/sbw076American Academy of Sleep Medicine.What are sleep hallucinations?Hanin C, Arnulf I, Maranci JB, et al.Narcolepsy and psychosis: A systematic review.Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2021;144(1):28-41. doi:10.1111/acps.13300Muza R, Lykouras D, Rees K.The utility of a 5(th) nap in multiple sleep latency test.J Thorac Dis. 2016;8(2):282-6. doi:10.3978/j.issn.2072-1439.2015.12.66Dauvilliers Y, Siegel JM, Lopez R, Torontali ZA, Peever JH.Cataplexy–clinical aspects, pathophysiology and management strategy.Nat Rev Neurol. 2014;10(7):386-95. doi:10.1038/nrneurol.2014.97National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Narcolepsy fact sheet.
Waters F, Blom JD, Dang-vu TT, et al.What Is the Link Between Hallucinations, Dreams, and Hypnagogic-Hypnopompic Experiences?.Schizophr Bull. 2016;42(5):1098-109. doi:10.1093/schbul/sbw076
American Academy of Sleep Medicine.What are sleep hallucinations?
Hanin C, Arnulf I, Maranci JB, et al.Narcolepsy and psychosis: A systematic review.Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2021;144(1):28-41. doi:10.1111/acps.13300
Muza R, Lykouras D, Rees K.The utility of a 5(th) nap in multiple sleep latency test.J Thorac Dis. 2016;8(2):282-6. doi:10.3978/j.issn.2072-1439.2015.12.66
Dauvilliers Y, Siegel JM, Lopez R, Torontali ZA, Peever JH.Cataplexy–clinical aspects, pathophysiology and management strategy.Nat Rev Neurol. 2014;10(7):386-95. doi:10.1038/nrneurol.2014.97
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Narcolepsy fact sheet.
American Academy of Sleep Medicine.International classification of sleep disorders, 3rd ed. Darien, IL: American Academy of Sleep Medicine.Kryger, MHet al. “Principles and Practice of Sleep Medicine.“ExpertConsult, 6th edition.
American Academy of Sleep Medicine.International classification of sleep disorders, 3rd ed. Darien, IL: American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
Kryger, MHet al. “Principles and Practice of Sleep Medicine.“ExpertConsult, 6th edition.
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