Whenever I take a nap, the first hour upon waking up is always such a
strange state of mind. It is impossible to describe, but I imagine it is
somewhat like what drugs feel like. I lack a standard of comparison,
consequently this experience is entirely unique.
This has always happened to me, for as long as I can remember. The more
tired I am prior to the nap the more vivid, strange and memorable the
encounter is. For instance, the first really fantastic experience
happened after a 24 hour scavenger hunt. I had been awake for something
like 36 hours when I fell asleep. I know not what my mind processed
while asleep, but when I awoke I the feeling that I knew that I did not
exist. It just felt like this was the case. It took about 45 minutes of
interaction and contact after I awoke to convince me otherwise. There
was no reason why I would ever have this thought, and quite clearly, as
Descartes said, cogito ergo sum. But I would have none of that.
The second intensely vivid time happened after a particularly difficult
trip between Ottawa and Waterloo. Weather and reality were against me so
the adventure ended up taking 30 hours. I slept, but not well. Upon
arriving at my girlfriend’s place in Waterloo I passed out for a few
hours. I must have dreamed of engines because I woke up convinced that I
was an internal combustion engine. Again, entirely absurd, but quite
interesting.
This brings me to an hour ago. I do not know what I was this time, but I
know that I still feel like I am it. It renders you entirely incapable
of function, even typing is intensely difficult. It never happens with
regular sleep.
Further Reading:
Hypnopompic
Hypnagogia
