Is this happening to just me? Does this happen to other people?
I get woken up all of a sudden in the middle of the night every day. I feel like someone is watching me.I am very scared because of this.
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ArishMell · 70-79, M
It's something like a recurring nightmare: I used to be prone to them though in a different form.
You are doing the waking, all by your own subconscious efforts. Nothing or no-one else is waking you. No-one is watching you. It is just a sort of bad dream.
I think the more you worry about it the more likely it is to recur.
This might help:
How dark is your room when you awaken? Can you see the sky through the window, from your bed, or is there any light such as from street-lamps coming in? If you can, that may help you. It need only be a very faint grey but enough to contrast with the much darker wall next to it.
I found seeing even the faintest definition of the basic rectangle of the window was enough to orientate myself; but if I woke without that cue I struggled to overcome the bad dream.
Alternatively, try one of those electric night-lights that plug into the wall socket, and emit a very low level of red-tinted light.
The trick is simply to have something to concentrate on that is enough to orientate yourself by but not enough to keep you awake. I face the window but also have a combined radio / alarm clock next to the bed, with an illuminated display.
You are doing the waking, all by your own subconscious efforts. Nothing or no-one else is waking you. No-one is watching you. It is just a sort of bad dream.
I think the more you worry about it the more likely it is to recur.
This might help:
How dark is your room when you awaken? Can you see the sky through the window, from your bed, or is there any light such as from street-lamps coming in? If you can, that may help you. It need only be a very faint grey but enough to contrast with the much darker wall next to it.
I found seeing even the faintest definition of the basic rectangle of the window was enough to orientate myself; but if I woke without that cue I struggled to overcome the bad dream.
Alternatively, try one of those electric night-lights that plug into the wall socket, and emit a very low level of red-tinted light.
The trick is simply to have something to concentrate on that is enough to orientate yourself by but not enough to keep you awake. I face the window but also have a combined radio / alarm clock next to the bed, with an illuminated display.
LamontCranston · M
@ArishMell A night light is a very good idea. i prefer a regular rather than red-tinted. Helps avoid stubbed toes at night as well.
ArishMell · 70-79, M
@LamontCranston Thankyou!
I have one of those lamps, and have just paused to try it as I don't normally use it. It has a pale red glow but emits very little light, just enough to illuminate the floor near it.
There is a reason for the red tint: it is less disturbing than other colours, or white light. It is used in night-time hours in submarines to give some semblance of day and night cycles, and for the instruments on the bridges of ships so it does not reduce the watch-keepers' night vision. It is also common in car instruments, for the same reason.
With being a male of Certain Age, little nocturnal expeditions around the house are a fact of life. For that I use a small wind-up lantern as it gives enough light without making it difficult to go back to sleep.
I have one of those lamps, and have just paused to try it as I don't normally use it. It has a pale red glow but emits very little light, just enough to illuminate the floor near it.
There is a reason for the red tint: it is less disturbing than other colours, or white light. It is used in night-time hours in submarines to give some semblance of day and night cycles, and for the instruments on the bridges of ships so it does not reduce the watch-keepers' night vision. It is also common in car instruments, for the same reason.
With being a male of Certain Age, little nocturnal expeditions around the house are a fact of life. For that I use a small wind-up lantern as it gives enough light without making it difficult to go back to sleep.