Hypnagogic hallucinations are episodes when you see and hear things in sleep either during the day or at night. The hallucinations can be visual, auditory or touchable sensations and they can occur usually at the onset of sleep or between waking and sleeping. Hypnagogic hallucinations can be frightening to a lot of people that it causes a sudden jerk or cataleptic attack. It also happens in certain conditions such as narcolepsy.
Causes
Some of the common causes of hypnagogic hallucinations include:
- Sleep deprivation / Prolonged stress – physical and emotional stress can disturb the thought process and trigger hallucinations.
- Sensory deprivation – this is normally found in blind and deaf people. If the brain cannot form perceptions due to lack of external stimulus, it will compensate by creating hallucinations.
- Seizures or Epilepsy – onset of epileptic or seizure attacks are associated to hallucinatory sensations due to involvement of auras such as smell and touch tactiles.
- Drugs – abused drugs such as marijuana have hallucinatory effects as well as certain prescription medications.
- Brain damage / Disease – injuries to the brain may alter the brain’s functions and produce hallucinations.
- Mental Illness – mentally-ill persons usually manifest hallucinations.
Treatment
Hallucinations manifested by normal sleeping and waking are not really a serious concern. But it is important to thoroughly evaluate the person’s condition to determine if the underlying cause is medical or not. People with hallucinations should not be left alone as they may become frightened, nervous and even paranoid which can lead to harmful acts.
The treatment may depend on the underlying disorder. Medication may include anticonvulsant, antidepressant or antipsychotic drugs. Psychotherapy is also a helpful alternative to teach patients cope and deal if the hallucinations persist. The main idea about psychotherapy will be to concentrate on a certain limb and trying to move it. Once you get control back on a small part of your body the hallucinations will dissapear.
