Felt someone hug me while sleeping. Why?

Question

Hello doctor,

I would share one of my experiences. Could you please help me to know what happened to me.

This happened a week ago. I slept at 11 in the night and I woke up at 3:19 am. I remember the time I woke up because I woke up usually at 3 am every day. Then I think I slept. I was lying and I feel like someone was hugging me from my back, I really felt that. I do not remember it was real or not but I feel like a real person. I tried to hold his hand tightly but he just disappeared like a cloud. Then I jumped from my bed and cried like anything for a long time and the time was around 3:30 am. And I was too afraid to go somewhere, then I went to my mother's room. ‌That was not like a dream, and after that, I was too afraid to sleep alone. I really want to know what is this and want to overcome this. That person was not trying to attack me but I am afraid. Is that ghost or something? Please give me some advice.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Watching unusual things just before going to sleep, and just while waking up from sleep are quite normal experiences and are called hypnagogic and hypnopompic phenomenon. It just feels like odd to the person, however, everyone can experience it as our brain changes frequencies and adjusts to the deep sleep cycle in layers. You do not need to worry at all as it is limited to just waking or going to sleep. However, if you experience the same thing any other time than sleeping or waking up cycles, then you must consult a psychologist for better treatment.

I hope this helps.