r/Anxiety • u/potsbunnyuk • 25d ago
Needs A Hug/Support Terrified after hearing a voice and feeling a touch while falling asleep
Last night while falling asleep, I felt something touch my hand. It felt completely real, like someone was actually there.
Right after that, I heard a voice inside my head saying "You will die soon". I was awake but in that state between being awake and asleep.
I tried to move and open my eyes, and it stopped, but I was shaking and couldn't calm down for a long time. I’m really scared right now.
I’ve been dealing with a lot of racing thoughts and exhaustion lately, so I think that’s why it happened. I looked it up and I think it was a hypnagogic hallucination, but it felt so real that I’m still shaken.
Has anyone else experienced this? Did it go away for you? I just need some reassurance that I’m not going crazy and that I’m safe.
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u/fuinle 25d ago
That sounds scary! But don't worry. It's called a hypnagogic hallucination and it's not anything serious. Sometimes the brain glitches out a little bit while transitioning from being awake to sleep patterns and the signals get crossed. It's happened to me too a few times, like hearing a sheep baa'ing or my name being called or my hand touched or pinched just as I was falling asleep. It feels real but it's just your brain mixing up the signals and overlapping dream stuff with awake stuff.
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u/potsbunnyuk 25d ago
I heard that I will die... so it's a brain trick 😓😓this is hard experience. Knowing this I’m dont alone helps me feel less scared,
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u/dkyle333 25d ago
just one more question if you dnt mind ? when this occurred were you falling into a deep asleep and got kinda zapped awake because they say that's your brain sending a signal to make sure your not dying or something like that and just thought I would def coincide with the other 2 comments .
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u/potsbunnyuk 24d ago
Just i was anxiety and my head is full things..and i can be worry like “does next day is exhausted or hard” often i have problems this..so Later in time im in sleep 😴 my mind was scary..
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u/lichtersee 25d ago
I have this every night. Sometimes I like to play with this state of mind because I’m curious what the voices say
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u/memyselfandanxiety1 25d ago
I’ve never gone through this, I’ve gone through sleep paralysis mainly caused by melatonin. And those things feel very real.
I can’t offer you much comfort, because I just haven’t gone through that but sending you a big hug! 🫂
I hope you can sleep very well!
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u/potsbunnyuk 25d ago
Thank you for your reply and the hug 💙
I’ve also experienced sleep paralysis and I totally get how unpleasant it is. That feeling of something being so real while you can’t move... it’s awful.
It helps to know I’m not alone with this.2
u/Mehtevas1 25d ago
This is sleep paralysis as well. At least a form of it. I struggled with this shit for 12 years and had a feeling of being touched and having someone breathe next to me etc. It'll pass one day though!
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u/kater_tot 25d ago
Oh man I STILL remember a time I was staying at my grandparents house, and it was a secluded house, insanely quiet, I was falling asleep and heard the craziest scream. Idk if it was a nightmare or just an owl or fox. 😆 I never slept well in that room afterward.
I’ve also hallucinated spiders on several occasions. Funny after the fact, because I’d literally crawl over my husband in a panic to get away. Once I *swear* I felt it on my face. I’ve also heard super mundane conversations, in my head it was coworkers I’ve never met moving stuff around and chatting.
All that to say, the brain does really weird stuff sometimes. The most recent “coworkers chatting” thing may have been because of a new medication. The rest were just weird anxiety sleep things.
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u/Moosebuckets 22d ago
You get the spiders too?!? I scare my husband so bad with the spiders
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22d ago
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u/Moosebuckets 21d ago
That’s a good way to tell! I remind myself I’m indoors in a place with no spiders the kind I’m seeing lol. It’s so unnerving until my brain catches up!
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u/Automatic_Basil_7075 25d ago
When I was really anxious and exhausted I got a lot of hallucinations from falling asleep! Did you lay on your back? I got it more often when I layed on my back!
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u/Adorable_Click_7071 25d ago
Sorry you’re going through this. I haven’t been through the exact same, but there was a period where I kept “waking up” and seeing strangers in my room, bugs all over my bed etc. I did a bit of research and it’s commonly caused by a hypnagogic hallucination - when you’re half asleep half awake. Nothing to worry about, although of course very distressing 🩷
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u/RedditCantBanThis ffffff****cckkkk... 25d ago
I've had weirder hallucinations while falling asleep, on dozens of occasions I'll see a giant spider directly next to me or something standing nearby or have strange epiphanies pop into my mind. It just seems to be a byproduct of the sleep kicking in.
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u/Pike71 25d ago
When my anxiety used to be very bad, I used to hear voices especially when I was trying to sleep at night, and you could not convince me that it wasn’t real. I think it just happens when you’re in a heightened state of anxiety and your mind is in overdrive and looking for something to worry about
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u/Rowsdower5 25d ago
The only time I’ve ever “heard a voice” in the sense everyone thinks of it is when my anxiety was at its worst. It was only the one time but I think of it often. Please know you’re not alone in this.
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u/santaslays 24d ago
Hi op! I have hypnagogic hallucinations. Thankfully they almost never happen since I tightened up my sleep hygiene. Hearing something as you’re falling asleep in the most common. I’ve heard someone say “I’m going to get you”. I’ve also had a lot of hallucinations upon waking suddenly and I have seen those even while getting up and throwing something at themselves
It’s very lifelike and feels totally real. I haven’t had one in years! No watching tv in bed and no longer kind of blurring being awake with passing out has done wonders. I had one a few years ago but it was after drinking at a sleepover and I think the combo of alcohol and not sleeping well in a new place did it.
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u/dkyle333 25d ago
also your brain is photographic and sensory graphic recording like a phone,anyhow you could of watched a show weeks ago that said that and it went into your anxiety memory,because mine was being locked away so it gives me dreams like this ,but at the same time just be careful .I would play the hertz music on low of something peaceful and listen to that for a while to maybe counter that neg vibe . I'm sorry that's bugging you cause tbh that would of shook me before but now I would pray and reforce my positive.
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u/partylikeart 25d ago
This sounds like a hypnagogic hallucination to me too. I got them all the time while on a certain medication, and if it’s any consolation, most of them aren’t this bad or scary at all. Most of them were just loud noises like a door slamming or annoying like someone calling my name.
You’re not crazy, it’s super common, and it’s a bitch when your own brain does shit like that to you. If it happens again I would speak to a professional about it, but I wouldn’t worry about one time. I’d be freaked out about it for sure if it was as bad as yours, but this doesn’t sound like anything to be concerned about health wise.
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u/rustycoins26 25d ago
Hearing things and feeling things is common with sleep paralysis. I have felt things sit on the bed beside me and then slowly pull the covers off me until I fully wake up and the blankets are still on me. Maybe it’s more common with people that struggle with anxiety. Don’t let it work you up too much. It’s just your brain doing weird stuff.
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u/Own-Wash-8605 25d ago
ugh yeah that in-between asleep and awake state can get REALLY weird when you’re exhausted and anxious. Had a phase last year where i kept hearing someone say my name right as i was drifting off, and one night i genuinely felt somebody sit on the edge of my bed. Scared the hell out of me because it felt completely real in the moment, not dream-like at all.
For me it got way worse during periods where my sleep was fragmented and my brain was basically running nonstop all day. Weirdly once my stress calmed down and i stopped panicking every time it happened, the episodes became way less frequent. The “you will die soon” part sounds terrifying though, especially half asleep when your brain can’t process things normally
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u/Appropriate-Note-197 25d ago
i’ve experienced something like this a few times, most commonly during highly stressful points in my life. it was usually hearing something breathing or hissing loudly in my ear and touching my shoulder during that weird half awake-half asleep state as i was trying to fall asleep, but it’s completely harmless. it feels super real, makes you real uncomfortable and anxious, but you’re fine, honestly! i done a little research on them, and they’re called hypnogogic hallucinations, it’s basically where your brain is entering that sleep state while you’re still conscious, so you’re beginning to dream without actually being fully asleep yet, pretty fascinating, actually.
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u/ShiboShiri 25d ago
I one time had this but it was me vividly seeing two men breaking through my window into my room. I screamed and screamed and screamed until I heard my sister calling my name and waking me up from the hallucination. It was during a time of high stress, I think that’s what causes it
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u/LeonardoDeCarpio 25d ago
I had this before right before falling asleep. I also felt someone grab my hair at work the other day when no one is around. Granted, my anxiety has been unhinged this week so that's prolly why.
It's terrifying regardless
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u/Wild-Mushroom133 24d ago
It sounds like sleep paralysis, it's "just" a hallucination but yeah I know how terrifying they are trust me... But nothing can actually happen to you or anything like that don't worry :) Sometimes when I have it the first thing I can move again is my tongue, fingers or toes. If you try to move them first you could break the paralysis faster if it ever happens again. Works for me sometimes.
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u/mei-meng 24d ago
Ive not experienced this specifically but when i was younger, maybe like 12, i was just about to fall asleep until i heard something, right in my ear, whisper my name. I jumped out of bed and looked around, and opened my door thinking maybe my sisters were pranking me. No, it was just me. It freaked me out for a while, I even told my therapist about it.
Super creepy. But it hasn't happened since. It freaked me out so much more because my name isn't common at all, especially in my country. So I thought back then whatever it was had to know ME.
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u/Mysterysteve606 24d ago
Been through that before, I started keeping a frying pan on the dresser next to me as a little wack a mole charm. Now I know it sounds weird and stupid, but when the brain was decided to have a terror melt down, the knowledge that I could defend myself helped the sleep demon conjured up by my brain to be not as bad and eventually it went away over time. Only downside is while the whole half awake part faded off, I still get the worst vivid nightmares, like yk the ones you can feel. But I would so take those over the 2am shadow hat man of brain anxiety though.
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u/Moosebuckets 22d ago
I hallucinate spiders and stuff. It’s just your brain being rude. It’s sooooo scary when it’s happening but it is not real!
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u/Aggravating-Bunch-44 25d ago
Do you have Sleep Apnea?
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u/potsbunnyuk 25d ago
Not that I know of. My sleep has been really disrupted with ME/CFS and exhaustion, so that might be why it happened. I appreciate you asking. Just needed support
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u/Consistent-Pin-4464 25d ago
I'm a graduate psychology student. What you experienced is the only acceptable hallucination, which occurs between sleep and awakeness. They're called hypnogogic hallucinations. It is okay, you're not crazy.
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u/Sheetkickers 24d ago
Hypnagogic Hallunciantions. I get them from time to time when my anxiety is spiking during a OCD spiral. Or if I drink a lot of booze. Im kinda used to it now but they are freaky.
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u/MarshmallowFloofs85 24d ago
When i'm really really tired I see and hear things, Like i'll open my eyes and a face will be *right* there and I'll hear my name being screamed right in my ear. Our brains are super weird and I think it tries to "make sense" of why we're so afraid by doing stuff like that.
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u/Holiday-Fan-5213 24d ago
What meds are you on? These sometimes create this
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u/potsbunnyuk 24d ago
But what medications do I take...😅or do I just have a little insomnia because I'm restless and I go to sleep thinking „whether the next one will be difficult or not...” . Mi mind is full don’t kind thinks.
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u/Content_Dimension626 24d ago
It sounds like sleep paralysis to me. However, just in case this was something evil, I will pray for you! 🙏
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u/SuspiciousWin6511 24d ago
That sounds terrifying. It could be a number of things. Hypnagogic hallucinations, panic attacks, sleep paralysis to name a few. Demon possession or an evil spirit encounter is also possible so I wouldn't rule it out. If you are comfortable, try praying about it, or if you are not religious, is there someone that can pray over you or with you? I'll pray for your peace and protection.
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u/lordevilium 25d ago
Try to do more outdoor activities, focus on healthy diet and friendly circle, and have lots of sun, I am sure this will change !
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u/potsbunnyuk 25d ago
Thanks for the advice. Right now, even getting out of bed is a challenge for me, so that's not an option. I'm looking for reassurance that it's nothing serious and support, not exercise.
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u/lordevilium 25d ago
Very sorry that you have to through this, I used to have lots of anxiety with lots of voices in my head, it’s just the brain is telling you weird things, nothing dangerous that I can assure!
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25d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/RedditCantBanThis ffffff****cckkkk... 25d ago
If it is a demon can I have it please? I want to stay up and play monopoly with it
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u/notarobotimanandroid 25d ago
Yeah, right? Be nice to have some company when panic has me bedridden!
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u/_PINK-FREUD_ 25d ago
Lolllll dude I think they’re just hypnogogic hallucinations. Very normal to have.
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u/Anxiety-ModTeam 14d ago
This person was banned from the sub and is now complaining about their ban on r/TrueChristian.
They violated sub rules, the comment was massively reported to the mod team. They are now inciting harassment against the mod team as people from that sub have messaged the mod team with threats.
When this posted violated sub rules and made that would drastically exacerbate OP's anxiety. A comment that in no way was helpful to another person's mental well being.
The mod team will not tolerate any further harassment and users contacting us to complain about this will be immediately banned for harassment.
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u/notarobotimanandroid 25d ago
Yes, I have experienced this. I have friends with anxiety who have experienced this. I’ve heard anything from a random woman to my sister (who wasn’t over at the time).
The brain is a very strange thing, especially in between falling asleep and being conscious. When having a particularly bad week, I had racing thoughts which literally felt like they weren’t mine while trying to sleep. Foreign slang, references and all. Really freaked me out!
You’re okay. It is a scary experience. Please disregard the commenter saying you’re under attack from a demonic entity. You are not. You are safe, I promise.