🔞5EX🔞

Hypnagogia

Laura pov

"It's been three days Doctor! She isn't engaging at all. She's almost catatonic, and when she does appear to sleep it is anything but restful. She hasn't eaten. What's wrong with her? Is she going to recover?" I question.

Mr Martin, Sydney's consultant is standing directly opposite me, arms folded across his chest, theatre hat and scrubs hanging loosely on his tall wiry frame, nodding as I speak.

"She's suffered some serious trauma, both physical and emotional, and her body and mind need rest. Trauma can cause your brain to remain in a state of hyper vigilance, suppressing your memory and impulse control and trapping you in a constant state of strong emotional reactivity.
I believe she is experiencing Hypnagogia, which is a medical term for wakeful dreaming. Some mental phenomena that may occur during this phase include auditory and visual hallucinations and physical sensations. Perhaps the most common experience of this kind is the falling sensation encountered by many people, at least occasionally, while drifting off to sleep.
Sleep is important to allow her mind to process recent events and for her body to heal, but these disturbances can be incredibly vivid and distressing. We have to be gentle with her, encouraging and supportive, but I think it's best we only talk about the subjects she brings up with us, so as not to overwhelm her" he tells me.

"So does that explain the screaming in her sleep, the thrashing around and crying? Is she really reliving everything over and over again?" I ask, my heart shattering at the thought.

He continues to explain a little more about how the brain processes information. I imagine he is a very good mentor and teacher, he is clearly passionate about his specialty and seems keen for me to fully understand what's going on with Syd.
Just as he reaches for a pad and pen from his pocket and makes the first few strokes of a diagram on the page she begins to whimper, her limbs twitching, her head shaking from side to side.
I look to the Dr for reassurance and he gestures towards her and nods, suggesting I try to gently coax her from this episode with some soothing words and soft touches.

Nerves overwhelm me and I'm shocked to find that I am actually scared to touch her, concern obviously clear on my face as Mr Martin smiles encouragingly at me and again suggests I try soothing her.

Reaching out towards her, her brow wet with perspiration, I begin to move damp tendrils of hair back from her face, softly repeating her name and continue to stroke her head.
She becomes less rigid, and even smiles despite her eyes remaining closed.
I relax a little and pull a chair up closer to her side, continuing to stroke her hair and pacify her, feeling more confident in my ability to help.
Watching her face carefully for any clues as to what she is experiencing I feel compelled to lean forward and kiss her head.
Immediately she squeezes her eyes tightly shut, her breath coming in short sharp gasps as she throws her arms out ahead of her, sheer terror written across her bruised face.

She kicks her legs strongly and with intent, screaming incoherent nonsense in the main, although some words are clear. She is calling for her mum and dad....... and Yanni. Over and over again she calls for him, tears sliding down her face onto the pillow under her sweat soaked head.

Mr Martin reaches over and places his hands softly on her upper arms in an attempt to limit her movements, worried she may do some physical harm to herself in this state.
She again begins to still and I release a breath that I didn't even realise I was holding.

"SYDDIE!! Syd.... it's ok, it's me, Laura! You're safe..... it's ok, you're in the hospital....... sssshhhhhhh, calm down Syd, open your eyes......."

She remains silent and still, her breathing slowing down to a more sustainable and regular rate.