Poll: Hypnogogia

[Ancalagon]

So, I was discussing hallucinations on another thread, and I got to thinking about hypnogogia. For those who don't know, this is a state that many people go in to just before they go to sleep. They're still essentially awake, but can often see patterns of light, or hear voices, or see complex objects and interact with them. I've always been curious about it, but when I discussed it with other people, they either seemed to think that it was something completely normal that everybody did, or thought I was crazy. So I was excited to learn recently that it was a real state, and had a name.

A common part of hypnogogia is the 'Tetris effect'. This is when you've been performing a repetitive activity, you see that activity when you're falling asleep. So, you play Tetris for a few hours before bed, and as you're falling asleep, you see the blocks still falling in to place, and perhaps try to manipulate them. I get it when I've been working and it's been busy, and I can hear the customers ordering drinks as I'm falling asleep. So if you've got my bartenders' hypnogogia, I'd be particularly keen to hear what you have to say.

So, have you experienced hypnogogia, and if so, how does it manifest itself? Do you enjoy it?

If you need a better description of it, try:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypnagogia

And I've used the search button.

 

[Zayren]

Well, I've never really had any of the effects of it, except the Tetris effect, which was only once or twice.

 

[The Infamous Scamola]

No, never.

 

[Major_Sam]

I do kind of "feel" myself knit when I'm going to sleep after I've been knitting for a while.

 

[hardlymotivated]

I tend to get that 'Tetris' effect after playing a few too many video games before going to sleep.

 

[AdmiralWolverineLightningbolt]

im kinda jealous i must admit

 

[Cpt_Oblivious]

A combination of voices and patterns. It's really weird and takes me ages to fall asleep.

 

[SmilingKitsune]

I sometimes see incredibly vivid images as I fall asleep, they look like pencil drawings in motion.

 

[bodyklok]

No, never.

This. To the best of my knowledge.

 

[EMFCRACKSHOT]

A lot of the time i can faintly hear people screaming in pain. Its really quitedisturbing, especially as its usually followed up with what sounds like this really deep throaty sort of voice saying something i can't understand. Sometimes i hear what sounds like heavy breathing from under my bed and then it starts to feel like its rocking.
I once felt a hand come from under my bed and try and grab my leg and i see indistinct faces coming out of the posters on my wall or in reflections on the window. Its really wierd and quite frightening. Needless to say, i spend as little time in there as possible

 

[Ancalagon]

A combination of voices and patterns. It's really weird and takes me ages to fall asleep.

I sometimes see incredibly vivid images as I fall asleep, they look like pencil drawings in motion.

These are what sound most similar to mine. Do you enjoy the sensation? I find it incredibly relaxing, although when I get the 'Tetris effect' I can find that frustrating. But when it's just random images just floating around and interacting with one another, or colour patterns moving around, it just feels amazing.

 

[Tonimata]

When I want to try and sleep and I can't, I usually see circles of converging light in fron of my pupils.
It is enragingly annoying.
I assume that is due to way too many computer hours?

 

[Zac_Dai]

I get the Tetris effect for at least a few nights after playing a new game.

The repetitiveness drives me insane.

I never knew it was an actual "thing" as it were.

 

[Monkfish Acc.]

Okay, I get all four effects.
Where's that option?
You didn't make one.
Yeah. That's what I thought.

Note: I am being silly

 

[Fronken]

I once experienced this back in high school when i was playing Stepmania (DDR emulator) on my computer to much and i fell asleep during a movie in school, i couldnt explain it back then but for some reason i played my favourite song in my head, saw the arrows, and played it out on my desk as i was falling asleep, my mates laughed at me and said i was a psycho but now i know why i did it, Thanks!

 

[ThreeWords]

I've had it, I think

Sort of like you can hear your dreams before you're in them, yes?

 

[Mezrev]

I quite often see light patterns moving when I feel like I'm close to falling asleep.

 

[Rigs83]

If I buy a good game or get a new job I will relive the experience of playing the game or working at the job. I use it as my own personal strategy session. It's rare though.

 

[Abedeus]

Yes, pretty often, some or all of these things. I think it's pretty often ;p

 

[Korial]

I usually get a combination of voices and images, but if I try to interact with them or manipulate them I wind up fully awake. I sometimes get the Tetris effect as well.