Author

Subject: Dreaming While Awake

guest

11:28 08/01/2003 

I was standing outside my house waiting for my dad to open the door. I turned around and mumbled "It's so quiet" and right away I realized that I was awake, in my room. It was the middle of the night, and my eyes were open.

Even though I realized this I still was seeing the outside of my house during the middle of the night. So I just stared at the door and slowly the outside of the house faded back into my room and I went back to sleep.

Note:

Seven years ago when I was in first grade I had a similar experience. I was awake and in my room when suddenly a little girl walked in wearing a black skirt, white stockings, and black shoes. Following her my room filled with lots of different people from soldiers to nutcrackers to one big moose. Later I realized that I had seen my dream while I was awake and with my eyes open.

Dream edited for easier reading - JT, 2005

Jane Teresa Anderson

13:29 13/01/2003 

Hi,

What you were experiencing were hypnopompic images.

When you open your eyes your brain decides that the dream action must be happening on the outside - it decides, for example, that since your optic nerves are transmitting 'awake and looking' signals to your brain, and since your brain is experiencing a dream, that the two events must be linked. Your brain solves the puzzle by superimposing your dream on your waking life surroundings.

In your most recent experience you awoke enough to realise your brain was mis-interpreting and, by focussing on the door, you managed to banish the dream images.

As to why it is just starting again now .... some people feel that they experience more hypnopompic images (visions) when they are stressed.

This kind of experience can really get you questioning reality - and that is always good!

If you get a bit freaked out by the experience it can be very grounding to interpret the experience as a dream (as, indeed, it is). Once you become good at interpreting you begin to notice how accurately the hypnopompic images apply to your inner world, which helps to convince you of their dream reality. Of course you can then use the information you learn about yourself through these dreams to improve your waking life.

Hope this helps,

Jane Teresa Anderson