Full Version: Seeing sparks while falling asleep
Unexplained Mysteries Discussion Forums > Unexplained Mysteries > Metaphysics, Psychology & Psychic Phenomena
Oftentimes I see a bright spark go off in my head just milli-seconds before I fall asleep. At first I thought they were lightning flashes but then when these occur many times after that I realized I was seeing these sparks in my head. Very often these sparks wake me up just as I am falling asleep. I wonder if anyone else experiences these sparks?
I've never seen them but rather than start a new thread, this may relate -
I, very often, feel like I'm awake but paralyzed. I cannot move my arms and body but I really try to. Sometimes I succeed and at that point, I become fully awake. It's really bizarre sometimes. I now understand this to be the effect of a hormone that is released upon sleep that keeps us from sleepwalking.
Sometimes I jerk violently right before falling to sleep but that is common.
If I stare at a white wall I can see dark pulses in a small tight circular pattern - not revolving but shooting forward.
I actually enjoy the sleep paralysis and it happens very often. I know what it is but it's never this scary and I always challenge it -
I, very often, feel like I'm awake but paralyzed. I cannot move my arms and body but I really try to. Sometimes I succeed and at that point, I become fully awake. It's really bizarre sometimes. I now understand this to be the effect of a hormone that is released upon sleep that keeps us from sleepwalking.
Sometimes I jerk violently right before falling to sleep but that is common.
If I stare at a white wall I can see dark pulses in a small tight circular pattern - not revolving but shooting forward.
I actually enjoy the sleep paralysis and it happens very often. I know what it is but it's never this scary and I always challenge it -
QUOTE
Sleep paralysis is often accompanied by vivid hallucinations. There may be a sense someone is in the room, or even hovering over you. At other times, there seems to be pressure on the chest, as though someone or something perched there. There may even be sexual attacks associated with the hallucinations. The sound of footsteps, doors opening and closing, voices, all can be a very frightening part of sleep paralysis. These are known as Hypnagogic and Hypnopompic Experiences and they are what make people dread an episode of sleep paralysis.
These episodes are often equated with things like possession by evil spirits or sometimes Alien Abduction experiences, so vivid are some of the hallucinations. sometimes there is a sensation of rising above the bed, of floating, and this can move into a full-blown OBE (Out of body Experience. )
These episodes are often equated with things like possession by evil spirits or sometimes Alien Abduction experiences, so vivid are some of the hallucinations. sometimes there is a sensation of rising above the bed, of floating, and this can move into a full-blown OBE (Out of body Experience. )
QUOTE(Ashiene @ Apr 7 2007, 10:45 PM) [snapback]1618473[/snapback]
Oftentimes I see a bright spark go off in my head just milli-seconds before I fall asleep. At first I thought they were lightning flashes but then when these occur many times after that I realized I was seeing these sparks in my head. Very often these sparks wake me up just as I am falling asleep. I wonder if anyone else experiences these sparks?
When i look outside my window, and look at a certain spot between 2 trees i can see little flecks of white that look like sparks going off of the tree up into the sky
i did NOT have sleep paralysis when i noticed the sparks and these sparks are like FLASHBANGS going off in my head (one at a time). and they are NOT the tiny spots of white light u see when u stare into the brightly-lit sky. this happens at night, when my eyes are closed and the room is in near-darkness.
Watch your eyes. I had diabetic retinopathy last year and I used to get what you've described. Might be worth going to get your eyes checked as some problems are only apparent in the dark. if you have a tear in your retina your brain will register it as a flash or sparks.
I would have to agree with stoneage on this one, the flashes you are seeing have nothing to do with the paranormal.
What you are experiencing are called "flashers"and are most commonly seen in a dark room or at night, which is why you only seem to notice them when you close your eyes. Flashes are caused when the vitreous, the gel like substance in the eye, tugs on the retina. While this is not a major cause of concern in most people, there is always the possibility that these flashes are precursers to a more serious problem of retinal detachment which will eventually end in blindness if left untreated. You should consult your Optometrist straught away as only they can determine the severity of your situation.
What you are experiencing are called "flashers"and are most commonly seen in a dark room or at night, which is why you only seem to notice them when you close your eyes. Flashes are caused when the vitreous, the gel like substance in the eye, tugs on the retina. While this is not a major cause of concern in most people, there is always the possibility that these flashes are precursers to a more serious problem of retinal detachment which will eventually end in blindness if left untreated. You should consult your Optometrist straught away as only they can determine the severity of your situation.
I also agree with the above posts. See: http://www.google.com/search?q=white+flashes+in+vision
Not sure if its the same thing, but sometimes when i am almost asleep, i get sparks in my head aswell, often in series, i can feel, see and hear these sparks. Been a while since it happened, but i clearly remember the feeling, one time it was about 12 sparks i guess, between the first and second there was probably 10 seconds, and then they just came faster and faster, i must admit i was a bit freaked out.
I have epilepsy(no seizures anymore), but i am not sure these sparks are related to this, since i havent asked a doctor(though that might be a good idea lol), but my guess is, that it might be related. I "suffer" from sleep paralysis aswell(yes, my brain is f'ed up lol), but have never had these 2 things happen at the same time, so i dont really think these have anything to do with eachother.
I have epilepsy(no seizures anymore), but i am not sure these sparks are related to this, since i havent asked a doctor(though that might be a good idea lol), but my guess is, that it might be related. I "suffer" from sleep paralysis aswell(yes, my brain is f'ed up lol), but have never had these 2 things happen at the same time, so i dont really think these have anything to do with eachother.
QUOTE(mutationman @ Apr 9 2007, 06:38 AM) [snapback]1619201[/snapback]
Not sure if its the same thing, but sometimes when i am almost asleep, i get sparks in my head aswell, often in series, i can feel, see and hear these sparks. Been a while since it happened, but i clearly remember the feeling, one time it was about 12 sparks i guess, between the first and second there was probably 10 seconds, and then they just came faster and faster, i must admit i was a bit freaked out.
I have epilepsy(no seizures anymore), but i am not sure these sparks are related to this, since i havent asked a doctor(though that might be a good idea lol), but my guess is, that it might be related. I "suffer" from sleep paralysis aswell(yes, my brain is f'ed up lol), but have never had these 2 things happen at the same time, so i dont really think these have anything to do with eachother.
I have epilepsy(no seizures anymore), but i am not sure these sparks are related to this, since i havent asked a doctor(though that might be a good idea lol), but my guess is, that it might be related. I "suffer" from sleep paralysis aswell(yes, my brain is f'ed up lol), but have never had these 2 things happen at the same time, so i dont really think these have anything to do with eachother.
i only see one spark each night and very rarely now. each spark is accompanied by a pop sound, i think this happens when i enter the hypnagogic state.
QUOTE(obsidian_purple @ Apr 8 2007, 11:45 PM) [snapback]1618811[/snapback]
I would have to agree with stoneage on this one, the flashes you are seeing have nothing to do with the paranormal.
What you are experiencing are called "flashers"and are most commonly seen in a dark room or at night, which is why you only seem to notice them when you close your eyes. Flashes are caused when the vitreous, the gel like substance in the eye, tugs on the retina. While this is not a major cause of concern in most people, there is always the possibility that these flashes are precursers to a more serious problem of retinal detachment which will eventually end in blindness if left untreated. You should consult your Optometrist straught away as only they can determine the severity of your situation.
What you are experiencing are called "flashers"and are most commonly seen in a dark room or at night, which is why you only seem to notice them when you close your eyes. Flashes are caused when the vitreous, the gel like substance in the eye, tugs on the retina. While this is not a major cause of concern in most people, there is always the possibility that these flashes are precursers to a more serious problem of retinal detachment which will eventually end in blindness if left untreated. You should consult your Optometrist straught away as only they can determine the severity of your situation.
i see flashes too but they're not spread across my entire vision field. these flashes only occur one at a time and once every few days or weeks. each flash is a tiny concentrated point about 1-2 milimeters across and it darts around for a few milliseconds at the side of my vision field. i also realized that these flashes are only occuring when i stare without blinking for a long time at an intense bright light such as my TV or my LCD monitor of my PC. since i have turned down the brightness of my LCD monitor to low levels i havent seen these flashes anymore (or i dont remember seeing em in the past few weeks).
i have this from time to time as well, though for me its a brilliant flash of light rather than sparks as you said. when it happens its as if its happening in my eyes rather than in front of me. its usually at night too. noise, for me, can trigger this too but it has to be perfectly silent.
im starting to think that maybe i didnt see these sparks at all. it could've been the pop sounds triggering a dream reaction in my brain making me imagine that i am seeing the sparks but im not, since both the image and sound are closely tied to each other.
QUOTE(Ashiene @ Apr 9 2007, 10:06 AM) [snapback]1619862[/snapback]
im starting to think that maybe i didnt see these sparks at all. it could've been the pop sounds triggering a dream reaction in my brain making me imagine that i am seeing the sparks but im not, since both the image and sound are closely tied to each other.
Ive had these 'sparks' all my life. Quite infrequent but can remember them from a very early age. Ive always described it as like someone is taking a picture with a flash! My eyes are always closed and im nearly asleep. I have asked loads of people, friends, family etc..if they get them and they just think im weird. Im glad im not the only one who gets this !!
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