I hate when my morning alarm jolts me out of a good dream. But after reading some of the stories shared by people on Reddit, the annoying ringtone on my phone kind of feels like a lullaby in comparison.
Some people have been jolted awake by footsteps on their ceiling, a piano playing in the middle of the night or cats wreaking havoc.
While others have awoken to serious medical emergencies.
Read through some of these real-life bone-chilling incidents that will make you check under your bed, triple-lock your doors, and maybe even sleep with one eye open tonight.
#1
I was house sitting for my dad by myself. Around 2 am, the door to my room started rattling and it sounded like someone was pounding on the door. I was frozen in fear, when the door burst open. In saunters my dad's 30 lb cat who then hopped on the bed, sat on the top of my head, and began to eat my hair.
39points
#2
Woke up to my partner having a seizure in bed beside me.
Followed by another. And another. He stopped breathing after the third so I had to do compressions until the ambulance arrived. Regained consciousness, had another seizure as they were bringing him into the ambulance, had another and passed out again.
Septic meningitis attacked his brain stem, rendering him unconscious and unable to breathe unassisted for several days. His temperature shot up to *42°* and I was told that IF he woke up, he would most likely be in a wheelchair.
Cruelly, he actually came around for about three seconds, just as they were performing a lumbar puncture. I had to help hold him down which was... traumatic to say the least.
He woke up (sheer stubbornness I believe!) after several days and was left with speech issues, mobility issues, memory lapses, mood swings, depression, night terrors, insomnia and some other issues. I'm a small woman and he's a gigantic 16 stone man built like a garden shed, strong and broad, 6'3" so you can imagine how hard it was for me to help him up the stairs to the shower or to bed.
He couldn't remember the kids, he couldn't remember who I was, he couldn't talk properly, he couldn't feed himself, wash himself, use the bathroom by himself. He forgot that his dad had passed away and I had to tell him and watch him grieve all over again.
He would wake in a panic, choking, because he was convinced there were tubes wriggling down his throat, or he'd freak out if he woke up and saw me in bed because he had no idea who I was. He simply saw a strange woman in bed beside him. Once, he panicked and hit me because he didn't know who was in bed with him.
That was in 2019 and he's pretty much back to his old self thank goodness. He still gets some memory lapses, he's on a rake of meds, he sometimes finds it difficult to regulate his emotions, but he is walking, talking, independent again. He doesn't remember a thing about his sickness. He remembers us in bed and then he woke up with a machine breathing for him.
Unfortunately I remember everything, the seizures, the horrible noises he made as he woke up and began to panic, I remember the terror of hoping that I could keep doing compressions until help came. I couldn't sleep in our bed until he was home. I still have nightmares where I'm doing compressions but he's not breathing or he just doesn't wake up.
My heart stops anytime he snores or jerks or jumps in bed so my sleep isn't great. But he's here and alive and well, and I am so so grateful that he is.
Followed by another. And another. He stopped breathing after the third so I had to do compressions until the ambulance arrived. Regained consciousness, had another seizure as they were bringing him into the ambulance, had another and passed out again.
Septic meningitis attacked his brain stem, rendering him unconscious and unable to breathe unassisted for several days. His temperature shot up to *42°* and I was told that IF he woke up, he would most likely be in a wheelchair.
Cruelly, he actually came around for about three seconds, just as they were performing a lumbar puncture. I had to help hold him down which was... traumatic to say the least.
He woke up (sheer stubbornness I believe!) after several days and was left with speech issues, mobility issues, memory lapses, mood swings, depression, night terrors, insomnia and some other issues. I'm a small woman and he's a gigantic 16 stone man built like a garden shed, strong and broad, 6'3" so you can imagine how hard it was for me to help him up the stairs to the shower or to bed.
He couldn't remember the kids, he couldn't remember who I was, he couldn't talk properly, he couldn't feed himself, wash himself, use the bathroom by himself. He forgot that his dad had passed away and I had to tell him and watch him grieve all over again.
He would wake in a panic, choking, because he was convinced there were tubes wriggling down his throat, or he'd freak out if he woke up and saw me in bed because he had no idea who I was. He simply saw a strange woman in bed beside him. Once, he panicked and hit me because he didn't know who was in bed with him.
That was in 2019 and he's pretty much back to his old self thank goodness. He still gets some memory lapses, he's on a rake of meds, he sometimes finds it difficult to regulate his emotions, but he is walking, talking, independent again. He doesn't remember a thing about his sickness. He remembers us in bed and then he woke up with a machine breathing for him.
Unfortunately I remember everything, the seizures, the horrible noises he made as he woke up and began to panic, I remember the terror of hoping that I could keep doing compressions until help came. I couldn't sleep in our bed until he was home. I still have nightmares where I'm doing compressions but he's not breathing or he just doesn't wake up.
My heart stops anytime he snores or jerks or jumps in bed so my sleep isn't great. But he's here and alive and well, and I am so so grateful that he is.
39points
#3
The piano in the living room playing itself in the dark. I’ve never had bigger goosebumps. The neighbours cat had snuck in an open window.
35points
Our brains monitor our surroundings even when we’re sleeping.
Studies show that we still process sensory information — especially sound — and this can trigger awakening or responses.
People also respond to verbal stimuli, like someone calling their name, by contracting their facial muscles because the boundary between sleep and wakefulness isn’t absolute.
That’s why someone might wake to a child’s sudden cry, a pet causing chaos in the room, or an unusual noise in the house, even if nothing is immediately visible.
#4
A bear under my hammock. And a second one at my feet. And one by the truck. And one by the fire pit… there was five black bears in camp.
Edit: I forgot to include the best part of this story. Before I went to bed I’d put my husky in the backseat of the truck on her blanket. Once the bears moved on I got out of that hammock and into the driver seat. I look back and that dog is just waking up like “did I miss much?”.
Edit: I forgot to include the best part of this story. Before I went to bed I’d put my husky in the backseat of the truck on her blanket. Once the bears moved on I got out of that hammock and into the driver seat. I look back and that dog is just waking up like “did I miss much?”.
27points
#5
1. An artillery shell landed on my roof.
2. A powerful earthquake destroyed the entire area except for my tent.
2. A powerful earthquake destroyed the entire area except for my tent.
26points
#6
Kid woke up screaming. My body got me out of bed and moving into her room before my brain came online, so I actually woke up to the sight of a rumpled kindergartener sitting up in bed, shrieking "It's her! It's her!!" and pointing... over my shoulder, behind me, deeper into the room.
There was no one behind me. But I had to turn around and look, which took probably 5 years off my life.
There was no one behind me. But I had to turn around and look, which took probably 5 years off my life.
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25points
Another reason seemingly normal or logical things at night can still scare us — like a cat jumping on a piano or trees tapping at a window — is that our brains are already wired to interpret night and darkness as threatening.
It’s because our ancestors faced more danger from predators in the dark, and this might be why night itself makes fear responses stronger across senses.
Our brains fill in the blanks when we can’t see clearly, making ordinary shadows or sounds seem more ominous than they are.
#7
A woman I didn’t know standing over me
Turned out my uncle brought a girl home and she walked into the wrong room but wow that was terrifying.
Turned out my uncle brought a girl home and she walked into the wrong room but wow that was terrifying.
25points
#8
Two cats fighting on my stomach, one of them wasnt mine 🤣.
24points
#9
About 8 years ago, I was in the navy at the time on a US Submarine. I woke up to the 1MC (Ship wide announcing circuit) and the Pilot (guy driving the boat) yelling "JAM DIVE! JAM DIVE!". Which translates to "The boat is uncontrollably nosediving towards the sea floor." We were in the Pacific, so keel to bottom was about 14,000 ft or so.
I felt the boat take a steep downward angle and I rolled against the forward bulkhead in my rack because of it, so I knew it was real. A lot went through my head, but I kind of just accepted that this was happening and there wasn't anything I could do about it. So I just cuddled my blanket, closed my eyes, and waited for the implosion.
Luckily, they were able to pull us out of the dive and leveled off deeper than im allowed to say. And we lived. But, yeah, have had trouble sleeping ever since.
I felt the boat take a steep downward angle and I rolled against the forward bulkhead in my rack because of it, so I knew it was real. A lot went through my head, but I kind of just accepted that this was happening and there wasn't anything I could do about it. So I just cuddled my blanket, closed my eyes, and waited for the implosion.
Luckily, they were able to pull us out of the dive and leveled off deeper than im allowed to say. And we lived. But, yeah, have had trouble sleeping ever since.
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24points
Nighttime has also been linked with supernatural and frightening themes for centuries.
The folklore concept of the witching hour or the devil’s hour shows how deeply darkness is woven into stories of the eerie and the unexplained.
Even horror movies tap into that exact same vibe — linking darkness to mischief, spirits, and general unease.
It’s no wonder then that our brains unknowingly associate the dark with supernatural or scary activities.
#10
Salmonella. Dined out with friends, then had to go home because I wasn't feeling well, things went South quickly. Had some vile stomach cramps and ran a slight fever, then mercifully fell asleep. My sleeping body couldn't handle things, so in the middle of night it just randomly goes "Congratulations, you're conscious. Also, you're gonna start diarrhea right about NOW!"
I made it out of bed and two steps towards the door. It may have been a better choice to not get out of bed. My boxers did not stop much.
You know how, when you're roused from sleep suddenly, you don't think straight? I bravely soldiered on to the toilet. As I was sitting there, realization hit. I had left a trail.
I lived alone at the time. I was nauseous and weak. I cleaned myself up. I cleaned the floor. I didn't count how many breaks I had to take due to violent bouts of diarrhea. Despite everything, I didn't barf. That night is easily in the top 3 worst experiences of my life.
I made it out of bed and two steps towards the door. It may have been a better choice to not get out of bed. My boxers did not stop much.
You know how, when you're roused from sleep suddenly, you don't think straight? I bravely soldiered on to the toilet. As I was sitting there, realization hit. I had left a trail.
I lived alone at the time. I was nauseous and weak. I cleaned myself up. I cleaned the floor. I didn't count how many breaks I had to take due to violent bouts of diarrhea. Despite everything, I didn't barf. That night is easily in the top 3 worst experiences of my life.
22points
#11
Woke up to a velvet curtain billowing across my ceiling. It was really quite beautiful for a few seconds until I realised my house was on fire.
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22points
#12
When my son was a baby, he always snored across the house (he needed his tonsils out since birth). One night when he was sick and we were treating him for a fever, I woke up to no snoring. I fearfully ran across the house and found him weak like a rag doll. That was the night I ran him to the ER and he needed IV fluids. I’ve never been more scared in my parenting life, but he was fine. Just dehydrated and a bad viral fever.
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21points
Waking up in the middle of the night is not unusual.
A recent survey found that 89% of people wake up at least once during a typical night, with only 11% sleeping straight through without any interruptions.
Many people said they experienced frightening or unusual disturbances.
At least 13% reported frightening dreams, nightmares, or night terrors that disturb sleep, and 6% said they have heard a voice or seen things while falling asleep or waking up. About 5% of people reported sleep paralysis.
#13
Low battery Christmas ornament.
It had been on my bedroom shelf as an ornament (was just a cool looking Penguin) and I'd tried to see if it had any power left by flicking the switch on its base, but it didn't respond.
Well, I completely forgot that I left it "on" and then in the middle of the night it decided to awake with the most demonic low-battery version of what should've been a Christmas song. Sounded straight out of a horror movie lol.
It had been on my bedroom shelf as an ornament (was just a cool looking Penguin) and I'd tried to see if it had any power left by flicking the switch on its base, but it didn't respond.
Well, I completely forgot that I left it "on" and then in the middle of the night it decided to awake with the most demonic low-battery version of what should've been a Christmas song. Sounded straight out of a horror movie lol.
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20points
#14
I woke up to an icy cold hand gently being placed on my throat. It was my 3 year old who had woken up from a bad dream. I just about peed my pants.
19points
#15
Something (or someone?) moving some sort of paper in the other room and then dropping it along with another heavy item, hitting furniture during its fall. Then silence.
Both of my cats were in the room with me and had been sleeping. All three of us literally slow-crawled into the hallway to try and listen, who and what is in the other room. I am not making this up, I was crawling as quietly and alert as I could, heart racing, out of my bedroom to investigate. A cat on each side, both on the same mission as me. The cats were on full alert, too.
Long story short, the Ikea blinds on the window came unglued and fell down. There was no intruder.
Both of my cats were in the room with me and had been sleeping. All three of us literally slow-crawled into the hallway to try and listen, who and what is in the other room. I am not making this up, I was crawling as quietly and alert as I could, heart racing, out of my bedroom to investigate. A cat on each side, both on the same mission as me. The cats were on full alert, too.
Long story short, the Ikea blinds on the window came unglued and fell down. There was no intruder.
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19points
Many adults also never really outgrow their fear of the dark.
In a survey, nearly 3 in 10 Americans said they still feel uneasy at night, and about one in 10 sleep with a stuffed animal or a comfort item to feel safe.
A quarter of respondents said they sleep with a nightlight, while 10% keep the lights on throughout the night. Men were twice as likely as women to sleep with the lights fully on (15% versus 7%).
#16
Was in the Army doing desert training out at Ft. Irwin. I woke up to a coyote licking my hand, of course I instinctively slapped it. I heard it yelp, so I bolted up from my cot. Watching it running away towards a bunch of other coyotes.
18points
#17
My husband went into cardiac arrest at 5am and he woke me with agonal gasps that I thought was just him snoring. Told him to roll over because he woke me up.
I eventually pulled out of my sleep long enough to realize this was different and called 911. We were on a cruise and the medical staff were there in 2 mins.
They shocked him back to sinus rhythm and he's alright .. somehow. We're watching the hockey game currently.
I almost lost my whole world at 5am off the coast of Greece.
I eventually pulled out of my sleep long enough to realize this was different and called 911. We were on a cruise and the medical staff were there in 2 mins.
They shocked him back to sinus rhythm and he's alright .. somehow. We're watching the hockey game currently.
I almost lost my whole world at 5am off the coast of Greece.
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17points
#18
Around ten years ago, my family and I were in the middle of a big move and my mom, my baby brother and I were sharing a room at my eldest brother's house for a couple of weeks during the transition.
One night I was about to fall asleep in our pitch black room when suddenly I hear whispering, like someone chanting. I couldn't make out the exact words but I definitely heard "demon" a few times.
I was paralyzed from fear, couldn't move, couldn't speak, scream, cry. Never felt that scared before (or since) and it took all my strength to call out to my mom, who's bed was across the room from mine. That's when the chanting stopped. Turned out my mom was having a nightmare and was trying to "expel the demons"
One night I was about to fall asleep in our pitch black room when suddenly I hear whispering, like someone chanting. I couldn't make out the exact words but I definitely heard "demon" a few times.
I was paralyzed from fear, couldn't move, couldn't speak, scream, cry. Never felt that scared before (or since) and it took all my strength to call out to my mom, who's bed was across the room from mine. That's when the chanting stopped. Turned out my mom was having a nightmare and was trying to "expel the demons"
16points
Early morning or late-night medical emergencies are also not that rare. They happen often enough that health researchers study them.
Studies show that heart attacks that occur in the early morning are often more catastrophic, with 20% more damage to the heart muscle.
Of the approximately 350,000 people affected by cardiac arrests each year in the US, roughly 17% to 41% of cases occur during the nighttime hours of 10 pm to 6 am.
#19
Cops in my kitchen. I was like 14 and the electricity had gone off and they let themselves in the back door because our security alarm had gone off earlier that night and no one answered when they knocked on the door. My mom and my stepdad were blackout drunk and my mom had broken a glass or something in the kitchen before she went to bed so they were freaked out that something was amiss. I had the pleasure of explaining while standing in my underwear that everything was fine and that my parents were wasted. They tried to get me to wake them but I couldn’t so yea. That was a lovely night.
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16points
#20
I have two.
When I was a teenager, I was asleep with the covers over my head. I heard a huge crash and then my dad shouting at me angrily, so I woke up to find that the windowpane had somehow popped out and shattered all over me. My dad was screaming, asking what I did to cause that, all the while I was marveling at the fact that no glass had touched me. It was weird.
When I was in my mid 20s, I awoke to my roommate screaming in pain downstairs. I ran down to find him collapsed on the couch, crying and screaming about his eyes. I called emergency services, he threw up all over the place, and he was eventually carried away on a stretcher. It turns out he was having some kind of stroke. .
When I was a teenager, I was asleep with the covers over my head. I heard a huge crash and then my dad shouting at me angrily, so I woke up to find that the windowpane had somehow popped out and shattered all over me. My dad was screaming, asking what I did to cause that, all the while I was marveling at the fact that no glass had touched me. It was weird.
When I was in my mid 20s, I awoke to my roommate screaming in pain downstairs. I ran down to find him collapsed on the couch, crying and screaming about his eyes. I called emergency services, he threw up all over the place, and he was eventually carried away on a stretcher. It turns out he was having some kind of stroke. .
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14points