You wake up and don't know where you are... Is that normal or worrying?

It is not uncommon for some people to wake up completely unaware of where they are, even if they are in their beds inside their homes.

This sudden feeling of confusion can be alarming, but in many cases it is a normal phenomenon related to the brain's mechanism of action during the transition from sleep to wakefulness.

Zoe Goetz, a consultant in clinical psychology, explains that waking up with a temporary feeling of not knowing where you are can be unsettling, but is "often harmless."

She explains that this condition occurs during what is known as "sleep inactivity," which is the transitional phase that separates deep sleep from full wakefulness.

When waking up from deep sleep or lucid dreams, the brain needs a short time to reorganize itself, resulting in an immediate mismatch between memory, context, and spatial perception

Sleep consultant Marianne Taylor adds that this confusion occurs because the brain "awakens in stages".

Basic perception returns first, while the areas responsible for orientation, memory, and context take a little longer, leaving the person conscious but not fully adapted to their surroundings for a few seconds.

It indicates that there are factors that increase the likelihood of waking up in a state of confusion, including interrupted or poor sleep, stress and anxiety, alcohol consumption, illness, or waking up suddenly to the sound of the alarm.

These factors combined make it difficult for the brain to quickly rearrange the sense of place, leaving the person in a state of temporary anxiety.

Gotts explains that when the nervous system is under stress, the brain may find it difficult to change its state quickly, leading to moments of confusion before things return to normal.

This condition is also more common when sleeping away from home, as unfamiliar environments lack the cues that usually help the brain reorient itself.

Goetz adds that waking up in the dark or at an unusual time may be enough to temporarily confuse one's sense of place.

In most cases, she confirms that this is nothing to worry about, and advises simply taking a moment to restore balance and then continuing the day normally.

However, she emphasizes that if these episodes recur, last for longer periods, or are accompanied by memory problems or daytime confusion, it is best to consult a health professional to rule out sleep disorders or other health problems.