I’m curious to know what the difference between ‘normal’ dreams and hypnagogic/hypnopompic hallucinations are, or where the boundaries between one and the other lie.
Most definitions of h/hh that I’ve read describe them as incredibly vivid in detail, where one experiences things as though they were real including all sensory inputs (sights, sounds, tastes, etc.) usually frightening or disturbing and occur upon falling asleep or upon wakening and are remembered by the subject.
(Forgive me for sounding strange here, but h/hh are the only types of ‘dreams’ I have) Are ‘normal’ dreams not this vivid / detailed / realistic? Do ‘normal’ dreams not usually frighten or disturb? Do you not remember your ‘normal’ dreams? How do you know you’ve dreamt? Basically, what are ‘normal’ dreams like for you?
dreams happen when you are asleep. It’s defined as rapid eye movement, or REM sleep, as I’m sure you know.
Hallucinantions/visions happen, as far as I’m aware, with your eyes open.
Seems to me it’s something completely different. One happens in an unconscious state, the other in a conscious one. But both tap into the subconscious, and that’s where they meet.
I’m with you on the h/h all the time dreams. It’s possible that we just don’t understand the definition (I’m ready to admit it), but it sounds like the dreams I have all the time.
Sometimes I describe my dreams and people say “I wish I had dreams like yours!” I think to myself, “No, you really don’t.” But I just let it pass.
That’s exactly what I’m talking about! I understand the difference in that ‘dreams’ take place during REM sleep and h/h are upon waking or periods of consciousness, but it’s so difficult to define the start/end of sleep and waking for me. There’s a long period in between of hazy consciousness.
I’ve long since stopped telling other people about my dreams. I find I’m always met with strange stares. People think I’m crazy or on drugs. My dreams are always incredibly vivid and more like memories or things that are happening real-time. I’ve started to chronicle them on my journal but what I’m really interested in is how other people who presumably function normally when it comes to sleep would describe their dreams.