Strange visual effect

[Chickenmales]

Here’s an experience I’d like to share quietly.

One day in 2005 or 2006 I lay down in bed after lunch to relax. After a little, with my eyes closed, I felt/heard a rattle in my forehead, and saw a red image/light/shape in the black of my vision to my right. When I opened my eyes, I saw a snail where the red had been. It was about 10 cm [4 inches] long and had spirals on its shell. I watched it as it crawled up the wall, and as I thought ‘is it really there?’ it began to disappear until it was gone altogether.

Of course I’m not sure whether this has anything to do with the activation of the pineal gland, I can only be sure of what I got from my senses. In hindsight, however, I think it might have had something to do with gobbling melatonin. I’m interested in knowing if anyone else has had similar experiences with or without melatonin?

 

[Laura]

Re: Activating the pineal gland

It probably has nothing to do with the pineal gland, indeed, and so I will change the thread title. Please try to be accurate and considerate of others in your posting.

 

[HowToBe]

Here’s an experience I’d like to share quietly.

One day in 2005 or 2006 I lay down in bed after lunch to relax. After a little, with my eyes closed, I felt/heard a rattle in my forehead, and saw a red image/light/shape in the black of my vision to my right. When I opened my eyes, I saw a snail where the red had been. It was about 10 cm [4 inches] long and had spirals on its shell. I watched it as it crawled up the wall, and as I thought ‘is it really there?’ it began to disappear until it was gone altogether.

Of course I’m not sure whether this has anything to do with the activation of the pineal gland, I can only be sure of what I got from my senses. In hindsight, however, I think it might have had something to do with gobbling melatonin. I’m interested in knowing if anyone else has had similar experiences with or without melatonin?

Maybe something energetic occurred, or maybe it was a hallucination caused by some sort of imbalance you had at the time. Maybe diet, sleep, or something else like the melatonin you mentioned (although I don't know whether melatonin could cause a hallucination - were you taking a very large dose?).

 

[Ðekel]

Chickenmales,

first of all, the effects you describe would normally only manifest through Melatonin consumption at high dosages and even then, vivid & complex hallucinations would be rare.
it depends on the dosage you took at the time.

things you should consider:
what was the dosage ?
did you take any other medication/supplement at the time ?
what was your mental/emotional state like ?

in most cases of Melatonin induced hallucinogenic effects, the most common phenomena tend to be more mild than what you have described.
Melatonin triggers Hypnagogia, which is a threshold-consciousness state that is thought to be a prelude to dreaming.
the effects are most often "hearing sounds" or voices and seeing flashes of light with the eyes open or closed.

 

[HowToBe]

As a follow-up to transientP's post, I'll quote the following article by doctor Mercola. I'm not assuming that you actually DID overdose, just posting relevant information that's relevant. I've bolded the relevant part.

I personally believe that melatonin is one of the best options available, as far as supplemental sleep aids are concerned. Melatonin is a hormone produced by a pea-sized gland in the middle of your brain called the pineal gland, which is affected by light and dark. At night, when it gets dark, your pineal gland switches "on" and begins producing melatonin to be released into your blood, which makes you feel sleepy. When functioning normally, your melatonin levels will stay elevated for about 12 hours (usually between 9 pm and 9 am). Then, as the sun rises, your pineal gland turns "off" and the melatonin levels in your blood decrease.

The pineal gland's sensitivity to light and dark explains why the use of light emitting electronic gadgets should be avoided before going bed, and why something as simple as turning on a light in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom can interfere with your sleep for the rest of the night. Interestingly enough, studies have shown that when you're taking melatonin as a supplement, lower doses are more effective, so do not make the mistake of thinking that more is better.

Unfortunately, he doesn't provide a source for that particular claim.

 

[sludgeco]

i had an experience similar to this about 3 years ago. i may have been taking melatonin to help me sleep at the time. it was the first, and only time i have ever visually hallucinated while sober.. i was laying down, taking a nap, then suddenly i was above myself, sort of. i saw straight through the window and saw these 3 huge batlike things hanging down on.. something.., looking directly at me.. woke up and i was back laying down.. still not sure what exactly that was about, but it was a very strange experience. seemed very real at the time.