Okay I have something stupid to get off my chest

[BitterlyAlive]

My brain has a way to torture me when I try to sleep. I've done this for years tbh, but it's been getting worse.

I'll be laying here at 1am, trying to sleep but can't. Then I get random, terrifying images and scenes in my head.

I imagine things like demons standing in my room, a creepy mutated animal walking down my hall and peeking into my room... I get so scared and it feels so real. Like, the animal is usually a deer for some reason, and it doesn't walk normally. It has crazy antlers, big eyes, and a creepy human grin. Its head doesn't move right either. I also imagine people standing outside my window watching me, trying to figure out how to get in to hurt me. I get more and more anxious then somehow convince myself that these things are happening and it makes me panic.

Sometimes it gets really bad and I get patterns in my head that just escalates the fear. I literally get so scared that I'll be frozen with my face down and a pillow over my head. I feel too afraid to even lift the pillow up and move my head, because that means I'll have to look at my room and I'm convinced that I'll see one of those fucking animals or demons. If I get this anxious I literally start to feel a bit lightheaded and sick.

If I can actually move and look into my dark room for a second, I rush to turn on the light by my bed. I either calm down a bit after that, or I see the squiggly patterns on my blanket and get super worked up again.

I don't know why this happens. I hate it so much. I feel really dumb but it's happening again. Figured maybe getting it out to someone would help.

 

[Life_and_Death]

I do that a lot. Have for years. For me I'd get scared and put my head under the blanket then I'd refuse to come out because I'd swear there was a big cat like a panther standing over me just waiting. I need a night light because of it. You should look into pseudohallucinations. It's like a hallucination but you know it isn't real. At least at this point that's the best answer I can come up with for them. For me they feel real but I can tell myself they arent. Whereas a hallucination everything about it seems real and you believe it.

 

[BitterlyAlive]

I do that a lot. Have for years. For me I'd get scared and put my head under the blanket then I'd refuse to come out because I'd swear there was a big cat like a panther standing over me just waiting. I need a night light because of it. You should look into pseudohallucinations. It's like a hallucination but you know it isn't real. At least at this point that's the best answer I can come up with for them. For me they feel real but I can tell myself they arent. Whereas a hallucination everything about it seems real and you believe it.

Yes, it feels very real. My eyes are literally open and I can feel this stupid deer outside my door. It's probably just anxiety and bad insomnia, and I know it's just in my head, but I'm just so worked up.

I wonder why our brains stick to certain animals. Me a deer and you a big cat.

 

[Life_and_Death]

I know it's just in my head

This is what makes it a pseudohallucination. Although I have hallucinations and pseudohalluctions. Where this is a more "in my head" thing then one of my actual visual hallucinations I actually wonder if this doesn't have its own name. It's nothing I ever see I just feel like I can see it.

 

[Lost in a Dream]

Damn, that is some freaky shit and I'm sorry you have to go through that. The worst thing I've experienced is closed eye hallucinations and sometimes will see some disturbing images, but I haven't had that for a while.

Do you experience sleep paralysis at all? I've heard of people seeing shadow people during episodes of sleep paralysis, but what you are describing sounds different. It sounds like you are awake, without the paralysis part. I wish I knew what was causing these pseudohallucinations so we could figure out a way to make them stop.

 

[BitterlyAlive]

This is what makes it a pseudohallucination. Although I have hallucinations and pseudohalluctions. Where this is a more "in my head" thing then one of my actual visual hallucinations I actually wonder if this doesn't have its own name. It's nothing I ever see I just feel like I can see it.

I'll look into it later today. These fake hallucinations are bad enough.... I can't imagine having "real" ones.

 

[esse_est_percipi]

I imagine things like demons standing in my room

also imagine people standing outside my window watching me

I'm convinced that I'll see one of those fucking animals or demons

It doesn't sound like hallucinations or even pseudohallucinations since you are imagining all this in your mind. You aren't actually seeing any of it with your eyes.

I've done this too, where I'm not in a great mental state and I imagine all sorts of things as I lay there in the dark. Ghosts, evil forces, stuff from horror movies like the blair with project etc.
But ultimately I think it's all an over-active imagination together with low mood/depression/anxiety.
Are you on any medication?

 

[Life_and_Death]

I'll look into it later today. These fake hallucinations are bad enough.... I can't imagine having "real" ones.

Once it's over I can breath and say "ok it's not real" but during it's not a lot of fun lol thankfully it's rare and I mostly have psuedohallucinations

 

[BitterlyAlive]

Damn, that is some freaky shit and I'm sorry you have to go through that. The worst thing I've experienced is closed eye hallucinations and sometimes will see some disturbing images, but I haven't had that for a while.

Do you experience sleep paralysis at all? I've heard of people seeing shadow people during episodes of sleep paralysis, but what you are describing sounds different. It sounds like you are awake, without the paralysis part. I wish I knew what was causing these pseudohallucinations so we could figure out a way to make them stop.

It is freaky lol. I've actually never had sleep paralysis. Tbh that would probably break me mentally if I'm already this anxious.

I really think this is my GAD in overdrive or something.

It doesn't sound like hallucinations or even pseudohallucinations since you are imagining all this in your mind. You aren't actually seeing any of it with your eyes.

I've done this too, where I'm not in a great mental state and I imagine all sorts of things as I lay there in the dark. Ghosts, evil forces, stuff from horror movies like the blair with project etc.
But ultimately I think it's all an over-active imagination together with low mood/depression/anxiety.
Are you on any medication?

Good points. Uh, I just stopped my meds a week ago, I think.

 

[Life_and_Death]

imagining all this in your mind.

It's more then just an imagination though. It's like hearing someone coming down the hall. You can't see them there but that doesn't mean someone isn't walking down the hall. It's difficult to explain. Plus I did say they might have their own name

 

[esse_est_percipi]

It's more then just an imagination though. It's like hearing someone coming down the hall. You can't see them there but that doesn't mean someone isn't walking down the hall. It's difficult to explain. Plus I did say they might have their own name

Yes, sorry. I think I understand now.

 

[Life_and_Death]

Yes, sorry. I think I understand now.

No need to be sorry you can't be expected to understand everything. It is kinda like what you explained though it just feels more real
I also have this one where in certain rooms I'll think there's aliens waiting to kill me or something so I have to turn the light on quick. Where I live now that's the spare room. I avoid it like the plague lol

 

[almost_dead]

My brain has a way to torture me when I try to sleep. I've done this for years tbh, but it's been getting worse.

I'll be laying here at 1am, trying to sleep but can't. Then I get random, terrifying images and scenes in my head.

I imagine things like demons standing in my room, a creepy mutated animal walking down my hall and peeking into my room... I get so scared and it feels so real. Like, the animal is usually a deer for some reason, and it doesn't walk normally. It has crazy antlers, big eyes, and a creepy human grin. Its head doesn't move right either. I also imagine people standing outside my window watching me, trying to figure out how to get in to hurt me. I get more and more anxious then somehow convince myself that these things are happening and it makes me panic.

Sometimes it gets really bad and I get patterns in my head that just escalates the fear. I literally get so scared that I'll be frozen with my face down and a pillow over my head. I feel too afraid to even lift the pillow up and move my head, because that means I'll have to look at my room and I'm convinced that I'll see one of those fucking animals or demons. If I get this anxious I literally start to feel a bit lightheaded and sick.

If I can actually move and look into my dark room for a second, I rush to turn on the light by my bed. I either calm down a bit after that, or I see the squiggly patterns on my blanket and get super worked up again.

I don't know why this happens. I hate it so much. I feel really dumb but it's happening again. Figured maybe getting it out to someone would help.

umm tbh i dont think anyone can help you in this matter . You are unique and so are your problems . SOLVE THEM ON YOUR OWN !