Awake and Dreaming
I had the oddest experience last night while I was sleeping-I was awake! It sounds so confusing to say, much less understand. It was 1:30 in the morning, the lights were out, I was asleep and dreaming (I wish I could remember what I dreamt about; it might make this sound more plausible), and Aly and Kaileigh were awake. I remember, despite my supposedly unconscious state, whispers drawing me out of sleep and then being able to understand what they were saying. I wasn’t fully awake; I was still dreaming while this was happening. Kaileigh and Aly were having some kind of conversation about something they thought was funny because I could hear the laughter in their voices. All while I’m still in the middle of my dream. Can’t forget that detail. Then, I heard part of something Kaileigh whispered because my name was involved: “…tag Jana…” That’s all I heard. Well, hearing my name snapped me out of whatever dream I was having, and I became more alert: fully awake rather than half conscious. And I said, “Why are we tagging me?” Just imagine the shock that rippled through the both of them at that moment. Naturally, neither of them knew I was awake and listening (I’m not even sure I was at first). Once the shock passed, they started laughing uproariously to dispel whatever fear the surprise of hearing my voice produced in them.
Needless to say, it was an interesting experience and one that I don’t understand. Maybe it was the whispers; they’re more likely to draw me out of sleep than soft talk. But maybe someone could explaing to me how I was awake and dreaming at the same time?
Posted in Random Thoughts | 9 Comments »
January 18th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Oh I’ve had entire conversations with people while I was asleep. Arguments, even.
I call it being “half-in half-out.”
Some of the best conversations I’ve had. haha. (Or at least the most interesting to talk about the next day.)
I’m not sure how it happens, except that with me I was dreaming about something and whatever I thought I was dreaming about I thought was reality, and so I would have a conversation that made PERFECT sense in my head, but that sounded like nonsense to the other, fully awake person. haha
January 18th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
It was really weird for me! I’ve never done that before. My roommate is usually the one who talks in her sleep!
January 18th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
haha! My boyfriend does that. I always ask him really random questions to see what answer he comes up with. He talks absolute nonsense. Once he told me I was from Patagonia and when I ask him what he’s talking about, he turns around and says, “If you can’t keep up with the conversation don’t talk at all” – It’s rather funny. I even recorded him on my dictaphone once… the next day I replayed it for him and he had no recollection of saying that or any idea why he would be talking about Patagonia!
January 21st, 2008 at 12:28 pm
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March 9th, 2008 at 3:42 am
I’ve done that sooo much in my life.
March 9th, 2008 at 3:43 am
I’ve done that soooo much in my life.
April 10th, 2008 at 7:26 am
No offense to the other people who have responded, but I don’t think they get what you are referring to. Either that, or I’m misinterpreting. I have had this happen frequently, most often when I am over tired. It is a state where you are dreaming and aware that you are dreaming, while at the same time you are able to hear and interpret what you are hearing around you. Is that what you are experiencing? I believe mine may relate to the need for more sleep. Aside from that thought, I do not know why I all of a sudden developed the ability to do this. In addition, I have been able to tell myself something specific to dream about and begin doing so when in this state. I can also go back to a dream and pick up where I left off. Pretty strange huh?
September 16th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
I do this all of the time. I also dream all of the time but in the mornings I can be awake (listening to what is aruond me) and also dreaming; like I am watching a movie. I am completely aware of the fact that I am dreaming and awake at the same time. I am never NOT dreaming which I suppose may mean that I am never in a deep sleep (which can’t be good.) I have done that all of my life.
January 8th, 2009 at 9:22 pm
I have been experiencing this strange dreaming while awake phenomena also. I am actually searching the net now trying to understand it because it is very bothersome to me. I am waking every night around 4ish in the am and yet I am still asleep somehow. I know what time it is because I can see the clock. I can look around the room. Actually, I can move in any way if I want. Mostly I don’t want to movef because I am trying to get back to sleep. THen I mostly dream without ever really falling back to sleep. I am aware of my dream (often it’s very frightening) and my real circumstances at the same time and it’s not restful. I usually just give up in the morning and fully wake myself up and feel short-changed on rest. THis has happened every night in a row now since a couple days before Christmas. I have been under a lot more stress and was unemployed for a while. Maybe stress can cause this and it will get better soon. I have not found too many other people writing about this. Must not be as common as thought it would be. tina