My SIL has this from time to time. It used to scare him, but now he he knows to stay calm, doze back off even if briefly, and it will go away.
How long has it been since you had a sleep study? Was one done by the doctor who said your symptoms are from sleep deprivation? (I was reading your other post.) Getting to the root of your sleep problems is preferable to treating the symptoms.
I get them from time to time. Usually without the visual hallucinations, but sometimes I get auditory ones with it. It used to terrify the heck out of me until I learned what it is and what causes it. (the scientific cause, not the paranormal sites...) Somehow that has taken a lot of the fear from it. I still may get frightening scenes, but so far I've managed to be lucid enough to just disregard the site... A couple years ago I saw a zombie arm.. Probably would have scared the hell out of a lot of people, but I knew it was SP acting up... As far as waking up, I've found struggling to move a limb, maybe a toe, my mouth, soemthing, and eventually I come out. To stay out, I have to wake up completely. I can't just continue laying down with my eyes closed (or with my eyes open for that matter) Leaving my eyes open seems to lead me more prone to hallucinations than closed. I have to sit up, get up, go to the bathroom, whatever. IThen I stay awake from about 10-30 minutes. it seems after that I can go back to sleep.
I've found some warning signs that I'll be ready for an SP attack: Feeling a slight tingling in my head upon laying down, a change in auditory or kind of a slight yawn like sensation/sound with mouth closed, seems to indicate that an SP episode will occur if I continue to lay there...
I mean disregard what I see... Sometimes I don't notice my typos...
Ok folks I am sure this will be funny to many, however it truly occurs. I have what feels like I have been electrocuted. Then fully awake and it even happens if I go to the potty, and no I'm not asleep then any. But now that I have read the above comments I am thankful I am not alone with the visual hallucinations....now this is the scary part...they meaning children, adults, animals and even people from other countries wearing attire I have never encountered actually look back at me and smile or o can see them walk in my direction or with their hand motion for me to come to them. They have made funny faces as children including sticking out their tongue at me and giggle. The colors then are unbelievably vivid and bright! They act very friendly and they seem to attempt to communicate with me. WHAT THE HECK? NO DRUGS HERE EVER, NO ALCOHOL OR CIGARETTES......NOTHING! THIS IS WITHOUT A DOUBT ABSOLUTELY INSANE! I am not into the paranormal, or any unusual activity that would be possibly a residual of such. BUT THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD I WAS AFRAID I HAD LOST MY MIND COMPLETELY AND TO EMBARRASSED TO SAY ANYTHING TO ANYONE UNTIL NOW! BLESSINGS TO ALL WHO COMMENTED! YOU JUST SAVED MY SANITY!