Between Sleep

​In my last post I used the term hypnogogic to refer to the state before falling asleep when a person is between awake and asleep. In this state people can often hear or see things that they may not have if they were fully in either state (awake or asleep). People commonly report seeing movement, shadows, or even full entities/apparitions, hearing unexplained noises like voices or sounds like their name being called, footsteps, or a ringing phone. Some even report a feeling of falling. While not everyone knows the term for this, approximately 37% of people (asked) have experienced it.
There is, however, another term that is used to describe the same phenomenon in the “opposite” state. The term “hypnopompic“ is used to describe that same sleepy state that happens upon first waking, when the person is not quite fully awake and aware, but not actually sleeping. Approximately 12% of people (asked) have also reported to see and hear the same paranormal-like events during this time as well. The difference between the two is really about timing, but it does seem that less people experience these auditory or visual perceptions during the hypnopompic state. IN this case these experiences are sometimes attributed to the continuation of a dream sequence.
Another sleep related phenomenon is sleep paralysis. During REM sleep the body is rendered paralyzed so that the dreamer does not act out their dreams, which could lead to serious harm. This condition could happen in either of the above-mentioned states. This has happened enough that there is even myth/lore related to it. Stories of the paralysis demon, the Night Hag, succubi/incubi, or even divine punishment/tests of faith have been used to explain sleep paralysis. Such creatures could visit in the night to feed off one’s emotions/energies. Perhaps they even controlled one’s dreams in order to facilitate the proper response so they could feed.
While I have not personally experienced sleep paralysis (that I can remember), I have experienced seeing apparitions, hearing voices (like my name being called or what sounds like a tv is on) in both states, and have many times felt like I was suddenly falling during a hypnogogic state (which I read once is also often attributed to astral projection).
Of course, while it cannot fully explain these phenomena, science does offer an explanation involving brain function, or rather a disruption of proper function, during REM sleep. While this is a very plausible explanation, it is neither concrete nor does it really explain some of the more interesting/mysterious paranormal-like occurrences. At least, not for me.
So what do you believe? Have you ever experienced physical, auditory, or visual events during either of these states? Have you experienced sleep paralysis? Did you see or feel anything seemingly unexplainable at the time? Does the scientific explanation make the most sense to you or do you feel it comes up a bit short?