Ep 87 Hypnagogic Highball: Sleep Paralysis, Night Terrors & the Science Behind Inception and The Nightmare

This week we're diving into the unsettling world of parasomnias — sleep paralysis, night terrors, sleepwalking, sexsomnia, sleep eating, and sleep talking — using Inception and the 2015 documentary The Nightmare as our jumping-off point. We break down what's actually happening in the brain during these episodes, why sleep paralysis so often comes paired with terrifying hallucinations (hello, incubus and succubus folklore), and how conditions like exploding head syndrome, hypnic jerks, and nightmare disorder differ from garden-variety bad dreams. Pour yourself a Hypnagogic Highball and settle in — just maybe don't listen to this one right before bed. Sources: Inception (Wikipedia) The Nightmare (2015 film) (Wikipedia) Sleep Paralysis (Wikipedia) Night Terror (Wikipedia) Exploding Head Syndrome (Wikipedia) Hypnic Jerk (Wikipedia) Nightmare Disorder (Wikipedia) Incubus (Wikipedia) Succubus (Wikipedia) Movies About Sleep-Wake Disorders (TherapyRoute) Related video Episodes every Monday ⭐️ Subscribe, Rate and Review! 🍸 Recipes drop on socials Discounts: 15% off Comfrt apparel Purple Carrot: 40% off your first box ClassPass: 2 weeks free 15% off non-alcoholic spirits at The Zero Proof 💳 Support us on Patreon | ☕️ Buy Me a Coffee Contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.