Sometimes I Wake Up In The Middle Of The Night...

[Guest]

And get flooded with these thoughts immediately upon waking up of how old and huge the universe/s is/are. My mind can't even begin to comprehend it. These thoughts are really extreme and immediately upon waking up. Almost nightmarish and I'm guessing possibly from Satan. I have to turn a light on sometimes to be able to go back to sleep. I know the Bible compares us to dust but these thoughts make me question God's existence and it happens always in the middle of the night upon waking up. It's like I'm flooded with these intense thoughts as soon as I wake up not something I wake up and start gradually thinking about. Not sure where I'm going with this thread but just wanted to share. Thanks.

Edited April 6, 2016 by Guest

[Nihil Obstat]

Have you ever been evaluated for anxiety disorders or anything of the sort?

[Gabriela]

This could be some kind of hypnapompic experience. A hypnapompic experience is one that occurs in that weird, liminal state between sleeping and waking up. Usually it's a hallucination of sorts (but a normal kind, not the kind that means you're schizophrenic). I've had them before, one very similar to the one you describe—but only one. And the fact that it wakes you in the middle of the night is worrisome.

I would suggest this:

1. For a few weeks, keep a food diary and an activity diary. Always note in these diaries when you have one of these experiences. After you've had a few, go back into the diaries and see if there's anything you're eating or doing that's always linked to the experiences. If there is, stop eating/doing that immediately.

2. If there's no link between diet/activity and the experiences, go see a doctor. Nihil is right: It may be stress or anxiety related.

3. If doctors say there's nothing wrong, find a priest. Tell him about your experiences and the diaries and the doctors' conclusions. Absolute worst case scenario: You need an exorcism.

But probably you're fine. So start with diaries!  

[Seven77]

Wow… it's funny that you shared this because 2 years ago I had the same problem. It wasn't keeping me up at night but during the day the thought of how immense the universe is would scare me… pretty soon the thoughts went away and I found peace. God sent me some lights or signs along the way to confirm that the grand scale of things don't disprove his existence but it actually confirms it. The scale exists to show us that we are like dust but God loves us… the universe is so vast because he wants to drive the point home to us.

 As far as actual science goes, I wouldn't put too much stock into the multi-verse Idea.

4 minutes ago, Gabriela said:

This could be some kind of hypnapompic experience. A hypnapompic experience is one that occurs in that weird, liminal state between sleeping and waking up. Usually it's a hallucination of sorts (but a normal kind, not the kind that means you're schizophrenic). I've had them before, one very similar to the one you describe—but only one. And the fact that it wakes you in the middle of the night is worrisome.

I would suggest this:

1. For a few weeks, keep a food diary and an activity diary. Always note in these diaries when you have one of these experiences. After you've had a few, go back into the diaries and see if there's anything you're eating or doing that's always linked to the experiences. If there is, stop eating/doing that immediately.

2. If there's no link between diet/activity and the experiences, go see a doctor. Nihil is right: It may be stress or anxiety related.

3. If doctors say there's nothing wrong, find a priest. Tell him about your experiences and the diaries and the doctors' conclusions. Absolute worst case scenario: You need an exorcism.

But probably you're fine. So start with diaries!  

 Yeah, I'm pretty sure it is simpler than that… but  in my experience talking about it, or writing it out in a journal or even posting it here helps a lot.

[Norseman82]

For a second I was expecting a Huey Lewis song...

[Swami Mommy]

Josh, you said that sometimes your thoughts of the size and age of the universe makes you question God's existence.  Perhaps your mind is psychologically displacing your real question of whether YOU exist.  I mean, when you consider the enormity and impersonality of deep space, we are nothing more than a dust mote in that endless vastness.  It's easier to question God's existence than to face the groundlessness and significance of our own in the grand scheme of things!

[MIKolbe]

When I wake up in the middle of the night... MULTIPLE TIMES MIND YOU... it's to go to the bathroom.  but my mind does wander.

[Gabriela]

3 hours ago, jcorsetti said:

When I wake up in the middle of the night... MULTIPLE TIMES MIND YOU... it's to go to the bathroom.  but my mind does wander.

Great. Now I can't get the image of that guy in your avatar trudging to the potty in his pyjamas out of my head.

[MIKolbe]

your welcome

[Era Might]

The universe is only huge if you use man as the measuring stick. Man is huge from the ant's perspective, yet here we are talking about how man is dust. But the ant still lives in fear of dust.

[Swami Mommy]

I think the universe would be huge from the ANT'S perspective too!  LOL!

[Guest]

On 4/6/2016 11:58:25, Nihil Obstat said:

Have you ever been evaluated for anxiety disorders or anything of the sort?

No I haven't but I'm pretty sure I have anxiety disorder to some extent. I was actually talking to my dad a couple weeks ago and he was saying that he has suffered from it as well as my grandpa. He said my grandpa used to drink heavily to deal with it. That's how I used to deal with it before aa. Although my anxiety is not near as bad as it used to be. It's been pretty non existent lately except in this case and a few other times when I get hit with it big time. But it passes fairly quickly and I'm good. 

On 4/6/2016 5:59:55, Gabriela said:

This could be some kind of hypnapompic experience. A hypnapompic experience is one that occurs in that weird, liminal state between sleeping and waking up. Usually it's a hallucination of sorts (but a normal kind, not the kind that means you're schizophrenic). I've had them before, one very similar to the one you describe—but only one. And the fact that it wakes you in the middle of the night is worrisome.

I would suggest this:

1. For a few weeks, keep a food diary and an activity diary. Always note in these diaries when you have one of these experiences. After you've had a few, go back into the diaries and see if there's anything you're eating or doing that's always linked to the experiences. If there is, stop eating/doing that immediately.

2. If there's no link between diet/activity and the experiences, go see a doctor. Nihil is right: It may be stress or anxiety related.

3. If doctors say there's nothing wrong, find a priest. Tell him about your experiences and the diaries and the doctors' conclusions. Absolute worst case scenario: You need an exorcism.

But probably you're fine. So start with diaries!  

Interesting and good advice. Thanks. And I hope I don't need an exorcism but honestly........Who knows...

On 4/6/2016 6:01:42, Seven77 said:

Wow… it's funny that you shared this because 2 years ago I had the same problem. It wasn't keeping me up at night but during the day the thought of how immense the universe is would scare me… pretty soon the thoughts went away and I found peace. God sent me some lights or signs along the way to confirm that the grand scale of things don't disprove his existence but it actually confirms it. The scale exists to show us that we are like dust but God loves us… the universe is so vast because he wants to drive the point home to us.

 As far as actual science goes, I wouldn't put too much stock into the multi-verse Idea.

 

Interesting you shared the same experience. The size of the universe is frightening to me to be completely honest. It's bizarre. I try not to think about it that much. I've seen some cool videos on Facebook that have illustrations to show how big it is. It's mind blowing.

On 4/8/2016 8:54:16, Swami Mommy said:

Josh, you said that sometimes your thoughts of the size and age of the universe makes you question God's existence.  Perhaps your mind is psychologically displacing your real question of whether YOU exist.  I mean, when you consider the enormity and impersonality of deep space, we are nothing more than a dust mote in that endless vastness.  It's easier to question God's existence than to face the groundlessness and significance of our own in the grand scheme of things!

It makes me question God's existence in that moment from transitioning from dream state to consciousness. I wake up in a panic and despair. It's nightmarish but it fades away and I go back to sleep and it's fine. I actually have a really strong faith in God and am sure that He exist. Although there is always lingering thoughts. You make a good point about our existence and the inpersonality of deep space. It's weird to think about. 

On 4/8/2016 4:08:14, jcorsetti said:

When I wake up in the middle of the night... MULTIPLE TIMES MIND YOU... it's to go to the bathroom.  but my mind does wander.

Yeah I understand. This experience is happening transitioning from the dream state to consciousness. Like what Gabriela described. It's not something I wake up about and start pondering. It's nightmarish.

Edited April 12, 2016 by Guest

[Guest]

22 hours ago, Era Might said:

The universe is only huge if you use man as the measuring stick. Man is huge from the ant's perspective, yet here we are talking about how man is dust. But the ant still lives in fear of dust.

I don't know lol The universe seems mind bending huge no matter who's perspective you're looking at it from. Although I see what you're saying and it's interesting. For the ant the universe doesn't even exist. There are theories that the "universe" is a construct of the human mind and humans wear it like a turtle wears it's shell. That each human "carries" their own universe.

Edited April 12, 2016 by Guest

[Gabriela]

2 hours ago, Josh said:

It makes me question God's existence in that moment from transitioning from dream state to consciousness. I wake up in a panic and despair. It's nightmarish but it fades away and I go back to sleep and it's fine. I actually have a really strong faith in God and am sure that He exist. Although there is always lingering thoughts. You make a good point about our existence and the inpersonality of deep space. It's weird to think about. 

It could be that you're being spiritually attacked at a weak moment: when you're barely conscious. The fact that it makes you question God's existence suggests that. If you regularly read about the size of the universe and whatnot, as you mention you do with Facebook videos, then the stoopid devil might be using that stuff to get at you "when you're down".

Stop looking at that stuff. Or at least, keep the diaries to see if there's a link between watching that stuff and these experiences.

[Anomaly]

I used to worry about mattering in a cosmic level, whether God loves or hates me, etc.   The acceptance of reality that we only can matter to the people around us and have very limited lingering influence once we are gone is both a relief and a burden.  

We can't rework yesterday and can't really change tomorrow (when we may no longer exist) so you might just as well make the best of right now, just like all the mortals around us.   The fact you've learned to value sobriety sorta indicates you know that.