Hypnagogic Hallucinations are not Scary
Hypnagogia is the transitional state between waking and sleeping. As you might guess, a hypgnagogic hallucination is when you start hearing or seeing something as you're falling asleep.
In popular culture, hypnagogic hallucinations are usually presented as something frightening. But, having had them all my life, this has rarely been my experience. I might see simple geometric figures or feel myself floating. Sometimes, I see noise take over my visual field, or I see an asortment of indistinct objects. I often hear a person call my name, usually my mother. Apparently, many people see faces, but I never have.1
Rarely — very rarely — I have had scary ones. I've seen shadow people a few times. Once, I met the Hat Man in the flesh.2 I have no doubt that such experiences explain a number of supposed hauntings. But, for me, they are the exception rather than the rule. If they have any valence at all, my hypnagogic hallucinations are usually relaxing. Even as a child, they rarely unnerved me, I just assumed I was starting to dream.
I'm also mildly faceblind, so I suspect my brain is less likely to plaster Face Imagery all over the place. I also don't tend to remember faces in dreams.↩
That is to say, once when I was not playing that Weird PS1 Game where he occasionally propositions you. He looks much the same in real life. I like to imagine his name is Eugene.↩