Hypnagogia and/or Hypnopompic

I didn’t realize these conditions had actual names. I always just said I was half awake and half asleep. I’m not sure if my hallucinations come as I fall asleep (hypnagogia) or as I wake up (hypnopompic). Either way it sucks.

I used to have this happen a lot when I was much younger. It happened off and on over the years, especially during periods of great stress. It hasn’t happened for a long time, but last night was terrible!

The most common hallucination I would have when younger was that I am in bed but not really asleep or awake. I am looking in my room and am aware I’m not really sleeping. But, I can’t move or make a sound. I feel someone/something crawl into my bed and hug me very tightly. I can barely breath and I actually smell this thing! I know it’s evil. I wake suddenly and it takes a long time to shake off the feeling. I had a lot of sleepless nights from this. Another one was a giant spider in my room, slowly advancing and I couldn’t do a thing about it.

Last night was different. I am not really able to move and I am staring towards the bedroom door. The room is pretty dark, but I can still see an outline of what looks like a skinny man. The shadow man is much darker than the room and it is clear. He/she/whatever slowly approaches me. The arms are so thin and the fingers are long with claws at the end. Suddenly, a blindingly bright light is flashing in my face and that startles me out of the trance. It happened three times between 12:30am and 3:00am. I tried to stay awake but would start to doze off and it would happen. I was so upset after the third time that I made myself get up and didn’t try to sleep again.

I am going to have to do whatever I can to not think too much about this or tonight might not be much better. I have a headache today and I am so tired. I am hoping for a better night tonight!

From Goatheads to Tonsil Stones

The never-ending battle has begun. The weather warmed up and instantly my mighty enemy, Goatheat Plant, has once again attacked!

Huge patches of these appeared almost overnight. They filled the irrigation ditch and have spread in large clumps into the front yard. They surround one of my driveways. Thankfully, I don’t park in that one, but if someone comes over they must navigate the mine field or their shoes will be covered in goathead thorns. I have been spending some time every day digging them up and have filled three garbage cans so far. They will come back but I will not give up this fight! It is slow going as using a shovel or hoe is hard on my lower back and shoulders. Still, I will fight on!

We try to check our shoes before going inside, but some still find their way in. When stepped on one instantly howls like a coyote and screams out every profane word one knows. I do not like them.

I developed a sore throat about a week ago that lasted a couple of days. No biggie as I get them from allergies sometimes. The sore throat came back, so I peeked at my throat to see if it looked okay. I found a small white dot on my tonsil. I was able to touch it and it feels like a small pebble. I am sure it’s a tonsil stone. It looks like this, but not as big.

I was reading that gargling with salt water can help with the sore throat and can actually dislodge a tonsil stone. It’s not a bad sore throat. Just enough to notice at this point. If it doesn’t help within a short time, I will need to see the doctor. I have been trying hard to not see a doctor until Medicare kicks in, but that isn’t until October. My old lady body is betraying me! It is falling apart!

That is all of the excitement I’ve had lately. Otherwise, I just stay home most of the time and just do everyday life things. I hope you all continue to have good health and are happy.