Not enough sleep and seeing things that aren't there?

The hallucinations tend to be “simple” ones like seeing shadows out of the periphery of your eyes, seeing patterns or walls “move”, hearing your phone ping when it didn’t, seeing an insect moving when there isn’t one, or feeling that someone is in the room with you when you are alone.

- By DR Y. L. M.

Because you are sleep-deprived, you tend to be scared as well — some people think they are seeing ghosts! The good news is that these hallucinations can stop once you go to sleep and your brain gets a chance for proper rest.

I recently met a young man who had severe insomnia. He could only get two to three hours of sleep a night. It affected him so badly that he could not work properly and even had to quit his job. He says he also has been having hallucinations, seeing shadows of people in the periphery of his vision. He is not sure if they are ghosts! Can severe sleep deprivation cause hallucinations?

Yes, it can.

People who are too tired can start seeing shadows that move or hear things where no source has made any sound.

People who are extremely exhausted can get hallucinations.

Hallucinations become more likely when you have been awake for 48 to 72 hours straight.

What exactly are these hallucinations?

Hallucinations are false perceptions.

The important word here is “false”.

They can be:

Auditory (sound)

You may hear sounds that are not real, e.g. people calling your name, people speaking, music playing, a door shutting, or even footsteps.

Visual (sight)

These are less common than sound hallucinations, but can still happen.

You may glimpse things that are not real, like shadows, people, animals, lights and objects.

Tactile (touch)

You may “feel” bugs crawling on your skin or someone touching you.

You may even feel your internal organs moving around.

Olfactory (smell)

You may smell something no one else around you can.

Gustatory (taste)