There could be a number of causes of hypnagogic hallucinations, including side effects of drug addiction, ingesting or inhaling various toxic substances, and sometimes prescription or over the counter medications. Most commonly these hallucinations are experienced by individuals who are victims of various sleep disorders, or have some psychological problems, in the past or at present. Sleep paralysis could also be the reason for the hypnagogic hallucinations, which might occur simultaneously or separately. Sleep paralysis is the state where the mind awakens, preventing the person from falling into a deep enough of a sleep to actually dream.
Hypnagogic hallucinations are referred to as the hallucinations that occur either right before going to sleep or just before waking up. These can be regarded as the problems that people feel or experience between sleeping and waking. They include vivid sensations, jerking of the body to suddenly wake up, seeing large or indifferent images that seem unreal, and hearing voices just before going to sleep. These hallucinations are more common in young people, especially in children, and they might cause serious problems if they persist for a long period of time so a consultation with a medical provider should be scheduled.
As with many other types of mental problems, drug addictions can cause these hallucinations to occur. Prescription drugs, as well as ingesting or inhaling toxic substances, are also included in this section because they all cause changes to the brain and how it functions. The chemicals that are used by the brain are altered into such a state as to cause these types of hallucinations. There are also various types of mental disorders that can cause the same types of reactions within the brain, which is why it is imperative to seek professional help when hypnagogic hallucinations occur. Whether it is a drug problem or a mental health issue, the cause of the chemical changes needs to be found and corrected.
The final cause for these hallucinations can be as simple as head or back injuries that are impinging the nerves that lead into the brain. A head or spinal injury can also cause the chemicals within the brain to stop functioning properly, especially if specific nerves are pinched. As stated before, that is why a medical provider must be consulted when hypnagogic hallucinations become a problem. Even though the basic symptoms may be nothing more than a nuisance, the underlying problem may be more serious and it should be isolated and eliminated.