What Actually Happens in Liminal States
The threshold between waking and sleep is not random. It is a mixed layer where body, mind, and spirit are all doing different things at the same time.
- The brain begins to shut down motor output so you do not act out dreams.
- The mind loosens its grip on sensory logic and allows symbols and impressions to surface.
- The spirit becomes more perceptive as external noise drops and internal atmosphere comes forward.
- Physical sensations (pressure, blankets, pillows, sounds) continue and can bleed into the dream imagery.
In this mixed layer, your system is still looking for coherence. It will use whatever raw material is available — memories, fears, recent conversations, sounds in the room — to build a scene that “makes sense” for a few seconds.
Understanding the mechanics removes a large portion of fear. You are not “out of control”; you are in a transitional state where different parts of you are doing different jobs.