Your Chances Of Hallucinating Before Falling Asleep Are Surprisingly High

For a lot of people, being able to immediately fall asleep the second their head hits the pillow is just a dream. Living during these turbulent times with our minds racing a mile a minute, trying to find that sweet spot where we get to drift off into dreamland can be extremely trying. But, in news you might find quite interesting, sometimes, before you fall asleep, you might hallucinate.

These hallucinations, called hypnagogic hallucinations, occur right before you fall asleep. They can be so intense that trying to discern them from reality can be difficult. According to the Cleveland Clinic, as many as 70% of people will experience hypnagogic hallucinations at least once in their lifetime. How they affect us can vary, but in each situation, they're playing with our five senses.

For the majority of people (86%), their hallucinations come in the form of seeing things that aren't there. This can include actual images, like specific people, or colors, patterns, and flashing lights. Not as common are somatic hallucinations, with 25% to 44% of people experiencing the feeling or sensation of something that isn't there. For example, you might be falling asleep and suddenly feel a presence, or your body might tense up because you are hallucinating that you're falling. The third type of hallucination is when you hear something that's not real. This one, of course, can be unnerving as you're trying to fall asleep, so thankfully, it's the least common, with 8% to 34% experiencing this particular type of hypnagogic hallucination. In some rare cases, people also report smelling things that aren't there.

Like anything, there's no one reason why someone might experience hypnagogic hallucinations, but certain conditions can increase your chances of having them. According to a 2021 study published in Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavia, those with narcolepsy, in which someone falls asleep suddenly, and cataplexy, a sudden muscle weakness often linked to narcolepsy, have a higher chance of experiencing hypnagogic hallucinations. A 2015 study published in the Indian Journal of Psychiatry also found a link between hypnagogic hallucinations and schizophrenia.

But those aren't the only reasons why someone might experience hypnagogic hallucinations. People with Parkinson's disease may also have an increased chance of having them, as well as those with insomnia, anxiety, or a history of drug and alcohol use (per Medical News Today). Also, sometimes the hallucinations happen without any identifiable reason — it's just our brain getting a little wacky before bed.

For the most part, hypnagogic hallucinations are harmless. Of course, if they continue and become more frequent, you may want to see your doctor to confirm they're not the result of something serious like a neurological condition. If you've never had hypnagogic hallucinations and now you're experiencing an onslaught of them, it just might be your body letting you know something isn't right (per Medical News Today).

If you've been checked out and know, for a fact, that your hallucinations aren't the result of more serious problems, then it comes down to trying to manage them and, of course, limit them. The best way to do that is to avoid drugs and alcohol, implement a sleep routine (here's how much sleep you should get each night), and make sure your bedroom is a place that is solely associated with rest — yes, that means keeping your phone in the other room. Make sure it's dark enough, the room is a comfortable temperature, and focus on one thing only: getting a good night's sleep (per Sleep Foundation). If you find you're a little too wound up before bed, then take steps to slow down and meditate, so you're getting into bed with the best frame of mind possible to keep any hallucinations at bay.