Help Need help regarding sleep. Please.

[kilowatt]

I want to start off by apologising this might not be the best place to ask this but it's really affecting me and I don't know what to do. If anyone has any clue about a field more specialised in this, please redirect me.
I've been having sleeping problems for a while now. I could say maybe an entire year. It is NOT the type where you can simply not fall asleep or you fall asleep really slowly, after a lot of struggling. I start hallucinating before I fall asleep. Before I'm fully unconscious I will start, from time to time, to hallucinate both visuals and sounds, even touches to an extent, to the point I can no longer distinct reality from a dream or hallucinations. I just spin back and forth between being awake and passed out, not knowing when is which one. This happens every other day now, while, in the beginning, it was every few weeks, maybe once a month. For a very long time I ignored it, even if the hallucinations had a strong impact on me. One of the first times it happened I relived, in a pretty graphic dream, intercourse without consent. Other times I'd see myself begging for someone to stay next to me, grabbing their hand. I obviously woke up on the floor. Some milder times it was just my alarm going on and off for what felt like a million times, but again, I did not know if I was only hearing it in a dream or it was reality. I could not wake up to check, even if I could, I most definitely wouldn't be aware if I'm still in a dream. Either way I see something traumatizing or not I cannot do anything about it once I'm deep into the cycle.
I do not know what this is. I tried seeking help online and I didn't find much, no one knew how to help or just refused. I don't have the possibility to visit a doctor unless its the ER. This doesn't seem like an emergency so I doubt I'd be helped, I don't want to waste their time.
However, I did try over the count medicine and one prescription for these strong sedatives but I didn't need more than 2 weeks and a half to realize none of it helps my sleep, instead I just woke up more tired and had a fuzzier memory.
I don't know if this is on a psychological level but I'm certain it has nothing to do with stuff like schizophrenia or dementia. Or at least I doubt it.

Please, if anyone has any clue what it is or how I can help it just let me know, here or PM's. I greatly appreciate any kind of help.

 

[tiger b]

I have some tentative ideas on this that may or may not help. I hope others can add their thoughts.

 

[Rhizomorph1]

What you're describing are hypnagogic hallucinations. They are relatively common and usually not of major concern unless they are distressing such as in your case. I would focus on treating the stress associated with it and maybe consider trying a different medication; it often just takes experimenting with a few before you find the one that works.

I'm sorry to hear you can't access a doctor. It sounds like this is what you need so you can access different medication or perhaps treatment for a trauma/stress-related disorder.

In the meantime stress-reduction practices before bed like progressive muscle relaxation, drinking uncaffeinated tea, mindfulness exercises, butterfly hugs, or holding a pillow can help. Meditation exercises may also be useful. The less stressed you are when you go to bed, the less likely you will have them, or if you do they will be less likely to be distressing.

Hope this helps. If there's any way to see a doctor, I recommend it

 

[kilowatt]

What you're describing are hypnagogic hallucinations. They are relatively common and usually not of major concern unless they are distressing such as in your case. I would focus on treating the stress associated with it and maybe consider trying a different medication; it often just takes experimenting with a few before you find the one that works.

I'm sorry to hear you can't access a doctor. It sounds like this is what you need so you can access different medication or perhaps treatment for a trauma/stress-related disorder.

In the meantime stress-reduction practices before bed like progressive muscle relaxation, drinking uncaffeinated tea, mindfulness exercises, butterfly hugs, or holding a pillow can help. Meditation exercises may also be useful. The less stressed you are when you go to bed, the less likely you will have them, or if you do they will be less likely to be distressing.

Hope this helps. If there's any way to see a doctor, I recommend it

Thank you very much! I will do my best and consider those methods.

 

[Forever Sleep]

This sounds terrifying! I'm so sorry. I was expecting it to be difficulty in getting to sleep. I don't know much about it but it sounds similar to a documentary I once watched on 'night terrors'. This poor guy would have such vivid nightmares that he would have to tie himself down to stop himself from acting out on stuff and hurting himself. He was drinking inordinate amounts of coffee and energy drinks by the way. Do you consume a lot of stimulants? He ended up going to a sleep clinic who annalysed all this and (unsurprisingly) identified the stimulants as a problem- basically, his brain was too hyped to even go to sleep. But- there are such things out there. I think it's perfectly reasonable to talk to your doctor about. It's bound to be severely impacting your quality of life. Sleep is so important. Maybe they will be able to refer you to someone. Good luck.

 

[ForgottenAgain]

Oh my god that is incredibly distressing... I also thought the post would be about difficulty sleeping. I don't have experience with this sort of thing but I really think you should see a sleep doctor. I know you can even sleep at the hospital and they can analise your sleep cycle and see what's wrong.

Are you eating or drinking well? Such intense experiences makes me think of caffeine or just being too active to fall asleep.

I hope you can find some way to go to a doctor, that is such a horrible experience, you really deserve several good nights of sleep...