The Curious Case of the Sleepless Mind
Are you someone like me who struggles with sleep sometimes?
What issues do you face and how do you manage them?
I have empathy for those I know who have difficulty falling asleep or who wake up in the middle of the night, struggling to drift back off because I have experienced it firsthand.
1. Why can't I sleep well?
There are moments when I can't fall asleep despite being extremely tired or having sore eyes. As I lay waiting for sleep to envelop me, my mind tends to wander. By wander, I mean it often dwells on past events that I have tried to forget but somehow, they keep resurfacing. Just when I think I am about to sleep, these thoughts start swirling in my mind, preventing me from sleeping. They evoke a myriad of emotions, which further keeps me awake.
It seems stress and anxiety are major contributors to my inability to fall asleep promptly.
2. Falling asleep before 10 PM and waking up between 12 AM-3 AM and then being unable to sleep again.
I really can't explain why I tend to wake up at these hours, quite often at 3 AM, and why I can't resume my sleep thereafter.
It's not like I wake up due to a strong urge to urinate or use the restroom, or any discernible reason like that. I just somehow find myself wide awake, regardless of the room temperature.
Some suggest that waking up at these odd hours means someone from a different dimension is observing you. But who can prove that?
Intrigued and seeking answers, I decided to do some research and made the following discovery:
- Waking up at odd hours and feeling like someone from another dimension is watching you is likely a hypnagogic hallucination. These are common hallucinations that occur during the transition between wakefulness and sleep. They can be vivid and may feel very real, but they are not actually happening.
Source #1: MedicalNewsToday
(https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321070)
“Hypnagogic hallucinations are imaginary images or sensations that seem real and occur as a person is falling asleep. These are different from dreams, which a person experiences while fully asleep.
The term hypnopompic describes the period when a person wakes up. Hypnagogic defines the period when a person falls asleep. A hallucination is anything that can be sensed but is not real.”
Symptoms
A person will experience vivid hallucinations as they fall asleep or just before falling asleep. These can be images, smells, tastes, tactile sensations, or sounds.
A person may also feel as though they are moving while their body is still. This sensation could be a feeling of falling or flying.
Other symptoms
During a hypnagogic hallucination, a person knows that they are awake. The images, sounds, or other sensations may last a number of minutes. They may prevent a person from falling asleep.
These hallucinations may happen at the same time as sleep paralysis.
Other sleep conditions
During sleep, many parts of the brain are still active. Processes such as breathing and circulation continue to function.
Sleepwalking, nightmares, sleep paralysis, and similar experiences are known as parasomnia. Often there is no known cause, but parasomnia can run in families.
As a person falls asleep or wakes up, they will usually enter a period of lighter sleep. Narcolepsy can cause a person to enter directly into a period of deeper sleep or wake up in the middle of one. This may cause dreams or hallucinations to feel more real.
From reading, I learned and finally came to understand that if we experience hallucinations and if they're not frequently the result of an underlying condition, they generally do not lead to long-term complications. As we all are aware, their most common effects are disturbed sleep and stress or anxiety, which I experience on a regular basis. Nonetheless, numerous issues can jeopardize health and well-being, just like hypnagogic hallucinations which might cause a person to awaken in terror, screaming or shouting, potentially disturbing a partner or roommate. Additionally, an individual experiencing a hallucination might fall out of bed or suffer other injuries. If this persists, consulting a specialist would be advisable.
Source #2: Times of India
Based on what I have read from this source, there are various spiritual interpretations associated with awakening at what some might refer to as "ungodly hours". Here they are:
Waking up at 1 AM
“For those who sleep on time, 1 AM is a deep sleep phase and you are completely relaxed. But if you wake up at this hour, it means that you have too much worry in your heart and mind. And those troubles and resentments are now testing you.”
I find this somewhat resonant because, from my own experience, when I would wake up at 1am, my thoughts would be shrouded in negativity. Everything would seem negative. Despite my most strenuous efforts to dispel these unwanted thoughts, I found myself unable to control them, or my mind.
Waking up at 2 AM
“If you often wake up at this time then it means that your body is tired and it needs a massage or some routine. Your body has toiled too much, hence, the muscles need a break.”
I can't be sure if I woke up at 2 AM for this particular reason, as all I can recall is that, despite being physically drained, I still woke up around 3am with thoughts crowding my mind.
Waking up at 3 AM
“Waking up at 3 AM is not considered good as it is also known as the Devil’s hour. It is believed that at this time strange things happen which includes free passage of two dimensions. This is believed to be the time when the line between the living and the dead thins down. If you wake up for no reason, it means that the Devil paid you a visit in your dreams. However, if you go with the positive theory, it contradicts the above belief. As per researchers, if you sleep early in the evening, then waking up at 3 am is good and it is also the perfect time to meditate.”
As previously mentioned, I've come across various accounts and narratives suggesting that waking up at 3 AM may be connected to the presence of an entity from another dimension observing you. When I, in particular, wake up at precisely this time (which I come to know about, as my phone with its time display is always next to me), I experience a profound sense of unease. It's as if something is out of place.
Waking up at 3:30 AM
“If you happen to wake up at this time to be precise, it means your guardian angel paid you a visit. Angel number 333 stands for spiritual awakening and this becomes a message that you should keep going forward on this path of personal development.”
Woah, this is truly noteworthy. I suppose someone should feel fortunate having awakened at this hour. Even if it's an interruption in sleep, at least there's a positive spiritual significance behind it.
Waking up at 4 AM
“You may be waking up at this time because you have trouble breathing. Another belief is that you are probably having a hard time in life and there are some disappointments marring your peace. You could also be in depression so take care of your health and wear light clothes when sleeping.”
Hmm, this resonates with me as well. As someone who has faced, and continues to grapple with struggles, even in sleep, I can't find tranquility. I make sure to wear light clothes to bed so as not to have that be the reason for waking up at such an hour.
Waking up at 5 AM
“If wake up at 5 AM, you probably have digestion issues. Not eating proper food in the evening could be a major cause. Try not to have heavy meals too late and also time your dinner around 7 PM or so.”
This has happened to me previously. I typically wake up between 6 AM and 6:30 AM. If I awaken around 5am, it is typically to use the restroom. This is due to my ulcer, as I often have my dinner between 9 PM and 12 AM. My apologies, stomach!
While sleep issues are quite common and can be quite distressing, we can take certain measures to enhance our sleep. This includes practicing relaxation methods, establishing a soothing bedtime routine, or seeking professional assistance. It is through writing this article that I have gained a better understanding of my own sleep problems, and I hope it will prove helpful to someone else out there as well.
You've come this far. May the Divine Grace be upon you. ♥
References:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321070
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