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Published on: 8/18/2026
Why might I see things that aren't there upon waking up?
Seeing things that aren't there when you wake up is often caused by hypnopompic hallucinations—brief, dream-like visual experiences that occur during the transition from sleep to wakefulness. These waking hallucinations happen because your brain is still partially in REM sleep while you regain consciousness, blending dream imagery with your real surroundings.
Common causes include:
- Sleep deprivation or irregular sleep schedules
- Stress, anxiety, or high fatigue
- Sleep disorders like narcolepsy or sleep paralysis
- Certain medications or substances
- Underlying neurological or mental health conditions
While occasional episodes are usually harmless, frequent or distressing hallucinations may signal a treatable sleep or health issue worth investigating. Because symptoms like these can stem from many different causes—some benign, others requiring care—the fastest way to understand what's driving your experience is to take a free, AI-powered symptom check. In just a few minutes, you'll get personalized insights and clear guidance on your next steps—no signup, no cost, no waiting room.
Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/14/2026
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Explanation
Upon waking up, some people might see things that aren't there due to different sleep-related experiences. These can be visual hallucinations or out-of-body experiences that occur when transitioning between sleep and wakefulness.
- Visual Hallucinations: According to research, these can happen because of the way the brain processes visual information. Sometimes, the brain creates geometric patterns or other images when in a state between sleep and being fully awake.
- Out-of-Body Experiences: Another study suggests that out-of-body experiences can occur spontaneously or be induced during sleep transitions. These experiences might make you feel like you're seeing things from outside your body.
- Dissociated Sleep: Sometimes, acute psychosis can be linked to dissociated sleep states, where the brain is not fully awake or asleep, leading to seeing things that aren't there.
If you're concerned about these experiences, it's important to talk to a healthcare provider. To help identify what might be causing your symptoms, you can take a free AI symptom checker test to better understand your condition before speaking with a medical professional.
(References)
Bressloff PC, Cowan JD, Golubitsky M, Thomas PJ, & Wiener MC. (2002). What geometric visual hallucinations tell us about the .... Neural computation, 11860679.
Herrero NL, Gallo FT, Gasca-Rolín M, Gleiser PM, & Forcato C. (2023). Spontaneous and induced out-of-body experiences during .... Journal of sleep research, 36053735.
Felthous AR, Wenger PJ, & Hoevet R. (2010). Acute psychosis associated with dissociated sleep- .... Pharmacotherapy, 20334466.
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