Hey there Kindertrauma,
Long time listener, first time caller.
I remember from my youth, probably when I was 8 or 9, which would make it 1978 or 9 a rerun of a '50s or '60s anthology series. I don't remember which one, I don't think it was the Outer Limits but I DO remember my mother warning me not to watch lest I be scared, but of course I did anyway.
I recall it being black and white, about a group of disparate passengers on some sort of spacecraft in the near future and an alien sort of life form represented as a what looked like a slug made of light beamed upon people as it brought back traumatic feelings from their past.
Sound familiar anyone?
-Greg of the THE TROUTCHIVES.
I really think that is the episode "Counterweight" from The Outer Limits.
The alien presence is a small forked pattern of light, projected on walls and it seems to evoke disturbing memories and psychological vulnerabilities as it touches the sleeping passengers in their beds.
Thingmaker~
You are absolutely right. For some reason the past two times I went through lists of Outer Limits episodes that failed to jump out at me. Thanks for clearing it up!!