Doctors Answers (4)
No invisible world study going on that I know of at present, so you don't have to feel like a rat in a cage. If you are hearing sounds that awaken you from sleep and are zoning out I think you should see a neurologist to order a head scan and an EEG to rule out seizures. If this is negative then you can see a sleep specialist to rule out a sleep disorder.
From your history sounds like you could in addition to having a sleep disorder, also have a psychiatric condition. Consider evaluation by a psychiatrist and see if he/she recommends sleep consultation.
If you are imagining noises and recognize that they are not real then you have a different issue than if you considered them real. Regardless, you need to see a psychiatrist who can help you sort out what is real and not real. Then, your sleep should improve.
There are some sleep disorders that are associted with unusual symptoms. The experiences you are having may be representative of a sleep disorder, or perhaps another type of problem. For example, narcolepsy is known to be associated with hallucinatory events known as "hypnogogic hallucinations" just before sleep onset or upon awakening. It is important to talk with your primary care physician or a sleep specialist to assess the experiences you describe and determine if they warrant treatment.
