Strange Sleep Thingy

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I love when that happens. I used to do this on my 15 minute break at work, and always be back on time. The best is when I can remain semi-conscious as the external stimuli become incorporated into a fabricated dream world. In my experience this does occur more frequently if I am not getting enough sleep. The best way to experience this is to get up really early. Eat breakfast , drink a little coffee, then sit down and relax.

It seems that the way our brains have developed, they have the ability to process information extremely fast, which is sometimes useful in the world if you are being attacked or something. But usually the world moves pretty slow like a bus ride. So when you drift into this sleep state, the mind can move at its own pace(independent of the external), and a few seconds of dozing can seem like an hour in terms of the information that is buzzing around in your head.

I do this everyday, like spacemonkey, to decompress/shutdown at work. It is more of a relaxation of focus to the point of sleeping with your eyes open. I see things, but they do not register. eventually I snap out of it and I feel much better. I find if I try to actually sleep, I get really groggy and it throws off my rythm so much that its not funny.

So, is there a name for this?

being. . .tired?

Don't know but I got a nickname from doing that... Space!

Seriously though if this is bothering you there could be something going on. I am not a doctor nor qualified to make any diagnosis. I found these two headings under sleep disorders in the Merck Manual of Medical Information, Home Edition 1997

The Merck Manual defines Narcolepsy:
"An uncommon sleep disorder, narcolepsy is marked by recurring, irrepressible attacks of sleep during normal waking hours, as well as by cataplexy, sleep paralysis, and hallucinations.
The cause of narcolepsy isn't known, but the disorder tends to run in families, suggesting a genetic predisposition. While narcolepsy has no serious medical consequences, it can be frightening and may increase the risk of accidents."

It goes on to say that symptoms begin in healthy adolescents or young adults and:
"The attacks are most likely to occur in monotonous situations such as boring meetings or long periods of highway driving. The person may feel regfreshed on awakening but may fall asleep again several minutes later."

The diagnosis has to be made in a sleep lab. (That reminds me, I am overdue for a sleep lab checkup myself.)

The second heading,
"Parasomnias are vivid dreams and physical activities that occur during sleep."

But these are all during regular sleep. Several subheadings here including sleepwalking, night terrors and nightmares. It says everyone has some of this some of the time.