Huh! I figured at least 5 people would have had this experience. I have on numerous occasions. Like, I could have sworn my car has been stolen at least 3 times, but sort of suspect it was a dream.
Then again, I had nightmares and night terrors usually a couple of times a week beginning when I was around age 2 until my 40s. Or I’d wake myself from a sound sleep by bolting upright in bed and screaming my head off. I also walked and talked in my sleep on a regular basis, entertaining my ex to no end.
My favorite: One night I was apparently scrambling around at the foot of the bed, eyes wide open. My (then) husband had grown somewhat used to this type of thing and humored me by asking what I was doing. I said, “There’s a huge spider under that table!”, spreading my hands about a foot apart to show the size. He said, “There’s no table there.” I shot back indignantly, “Just because there’s no table doesn’t mean there’s not a spider under it!”