Sleep Paralysis

Idris · April 2011

eeriepadave wrote:

bump (luckily i searched this)

I had this happen to me last night and twice before that.

First time was about 4-5 years ago. I pretty just remembered seeing a black shadow above me and not being able to move or talk for about a minute.

Second time was probably the weirdest and it happened 2-3 years ago. Had my cats for a few months, closed my bedroom door cause they were always coming in and waking me up and it was getting annoying. Now I leave it open though. Anywho I was dreaming I was sharing a place with someone, but they only had access to the kitchen and for some reason they could see me and what I was doing and I could see their place and what they were doing. Now I'm remembering stuff before that but only bits and pieces and nothing that would help. Well anyway this guy went to the kitchen ans was watching me watch tv. I had some groceries on the floor and asked him if he wanted me to move them. I had them on the floor because I was only staying at this place for a few more days. almost positive after that I was awake, but I couldn't really move or open my eyes all the way. i was sleeping on an angle towards my fan when I see a woman. Least I think it is because the only part I saw was a dress. Something from the 50's or 60's. It was pink with black trim. I tried to open my eyes all the way but they wouldn't open. Also tried to say something but just gasps came out. Although not sure who would have heard me. Then I started to shiver and I could move and talk. Just weird.

After that one I mentioned it to some people and they told me about sleep paralysis. I thought I had heard of it before but forgot the name.

And the third time happened last night. Had a weird/eerie dream involving ghosts or something. Woke up and thought that there was something holding my blankets and sheets down so I couldn't move. I tried calling one of my cats, Kali, but just gasps of air came out and couldn't move.

Were you sleeping on on your back?

Jearlpam0925 · April 2011

I've had it quite a good amount of times. It's crazy. PM me if you wanna know anything....

And I love this painting from Henry Fuseli that sums it up perfectly, 'The Nightmare'...

Thoughts_Arrive · April 2011

Yeah I get this, I can't get out of my bed on cold winter mornings.

eeriepadave · April 2011

MrAbraham wrote:

eeriepadave wrote:

bump (luckily i searched this)

I had this happen to me last night and twice before that.

First time was about 4-5 years ago. I pretty just remembered seeing a black shadow above me and not being able to move or talk for about a minute.

Second time was probably the weirdest and it happened 2-3 years ago. Had my cats for a few months, closed my bedroom door cause they were always coming in and waking me up and it was getting annoying. Now I leave it open though. Anywho I was dreaming I was sharing a place with someone, but they only had access to the kitchen and for some reason they could see me and what I was doing and I could see their place and what they were doing. Now I'm remembering stuff before that but only bits and pieces and nothing that would help. Well anyway this guy went to the kitchen ans was watching me watch tv. I had some groceries on the floor and asked him if he wanted me to move them. I had them on the floor because I was only staying at this place for a few more days. almost positive after that I was awake, but I couldn't really move or open my eyes all the way. i was sleeping on an angle towards my fan when I see a woman. Least I think it is because the only part I saw was a dress. Something from the 50's or 60's. It was pink with black trim. I tried to open my eyes all the way but they wouldn't open. Also tried to say something but just gasps came out. Although not sure who would have heard me. Then I started to shiver and I could move and talk. Just weird.

After that one I mentioned it to some people and they told me about sleep paralysis. I thought I had heard of it before but forgot the name.

And the third time happened last night. Had a weird/eerie dream involving ghosts or something. Woke up and thought that there was something holding my blankets and sheets down so I couldn't move. I tried calling one of my cats, Kali, but just gasps of air came out and couldn't move.

Were you sleeping on on your back?

the first and third time i was. Second time i was on my side, why?

moemoe · April 2011

I've experienced this on a reasonably regular basis since I was about 12 years old. Used to happen a lot more in my teen years, maybe once every month or so. Still happens on occassion now.

For me, it starts with a vague awareness that it is happening. I sort of feel myself get heavier, as though I am sinking through the bed. Then I get this buzzing sensation through my body, kind of like the tingle of pins and needles without the numbness. This buzzing intensifies until it's practically unbearable. Over the years, during different episodes, I have tried ignoring it, fighting it, letting myself try and go with it......... most of the time I feel the panic rising though and it gets too much and I try and fight it, wrestle myself awake. I remember one night, years ago.......... I managed to lift myself up, and was thrashing from one side of the bed to the other, trying to slam it out of me. This wasnt physically happening of course, but I was completely awake. Every time it's happened, I am awake, and aware of everything in the room, the sounds, shadows, shapes that I am familiar with. On some occassions I have felt someone in the room with me, mostly not.

There was one episode that I wish I could have again though. I had fallen asleep on the couch and started feeling it, and decided.... no bugger it, I am gonna ride this out and see where I go. The buzzing got so intense I felt I HAD to get out of myself......... and wrestled myself free of my body, with a lot of effort. Once I was "out", my movements were fluid and easy. I was able to look back at my sleeping self as I moved away....... very strange feeling indeed. I started heading towards the front door, through it, and down our driveway towards the forest I lived across the road from at the time. I got about half way down the driveway and had this vague thought in my head " what if I cant get back?".......... immediately I thought that, I was right back in my body, in an instant. I've never been able to achieve this since, but I wish I could.

For the most part, its a damn scary thing to feel, at times I cant breathe and that is the worst. Luckily, it doesnt seem to happen very often these days, perhaps a couple of times a year. In the past, especially as a teen and in my early 20's, I'd only have to think about it during the day, and it would happen that night. So, basically I try not to think about it. As someone else said though, I am probably doomed tonight........ :P

sandgroper · April 2011

Yes i get it on ocassions but it hasn't happened recently, and don't worry you're not going crazy. When i get it i'm usually on my back, sometimes on my side and it's during the waking up (hypnopompic) stage of sleep. When it happens i try not to panic because i know my body is becoming aware whilst it's still in REM mode.

illegal pants · April 2011

i used to get this a lot a couple years back, hasn't happened in awhile thank god

i put it down to stress.. and it would only happen when i slept on my back (which i rarely do)

so scary, when i finally 'came to' i was all sweaty and clammy, heart racing :( such a horrific experience :(

rick1zoo2 · April 2011

I've had it a few times. Seems like I am awake, but my body is sleeping and I can't move a thing. I remember it happening when I was napping on the sofa and trying to wake my body thinking that if I could only make one movement it would snap me out of it. The wife and kids were also in the room, I could hear them. I tried to make a sound, tried to yell, anything so that one of them would at least come over and touch me, thinking that would wake me, but I could not get the sound out.

Was very scary, sense of panic. But once I understood what it was it didn't bother me too much. Normally I think I would just fall back to sleep and wake normally later.

Luckily it hasn't happened for a long time.

unlost dogs · April 2011

I've had this, most recently a couple of years ago.

I wonder... the people who have experienced this, do they also have particularly vivid dreams? I do, and they're not infrequently nightmares.

Last night I dreamed I was driving my car and the brakes stopped working. I couldn't depress the pedal. It felt so real, even to the amount of pressure I was trying to put on the pedal. I tried the emergency brake, tried shifting into neutral, nothing worked. I was driving down a busy road in the next town. I was thinking, "I wonder if the dogs are in the back seat, if they are, I'm glad they have their seat belt harnesses on."

The last sleep paralysis dream happened when I was home, napping on the living room couch. Dreamed that two figures all dressed in black had come into the house and were roaming around from room to room, and I couldn't move or speak. They knew I was there. I woke up in a cold sweat, with my heart racing, on the couch. It took a few seconds to realize that it was just a dream and there were no intruders in the house.

Idris · April 2011

eeriepadave wrote:

MrAbraham wrote:

eeriepadave wrote:

bump (luckily i searched this)

I had this happen to me last night and twice before that.

First time was about 4-5 years ago. I pretty just remembered seeing a black shadow above me and not being able to move or talk for about a minute.

Second time was probably the weirdest and it happened 2-3 years ago. Had my cats for a few months, closed my bedroom door cause they were always coming in and waking me up and it was getting annoying. Now I leave it open though. Anywho I was dreaming I was sharing a place with someone, but they only had access to the kitchen and for some reason they could see me and what I was doing and I could see their place and what they were doing. Now I'm remembering stuff before that but only bits and pieces and nothing that would help. Well anyway this guy went to the kitchen ans was watching me watch tv. I had some groceries on the floor and asked him if he wanted me to move them. I had them on the floor because I was only staying at this place for a few more days. almost positive after that I was awake, but I couldn't really move or open my eyes all the way. i was sleeping on an angle towards my fan when I see a woman. Least I think it is because the only part I saw was a dress. Something from the 50's or 60's. It was pink with black trim. I tried to open my eyes all the way but they wouldn't open. Also tried to say something but just gasps came out. Although not sure who would have heard me. Then I started to shiver and I could move and talk. Just weird.

After that one I mentioned it to some people and they told me about sleep paralysis. I thought I had heard of it before but forgot the name.

And the third time happened last night. Had a weird/eerie dream involving ghosts or something. Woke up and thought that there was something holding my blankets and sheets down so I couldn't move. I tried calling one of my cats, Kali, but just gasps of air came out and couldn't move.

Were you sleeping on on your back?

the first and third time i was. Second time i was on my side, why?

It tends to happen most/often when people are sleeping on their backs, the best position to sleep? Right side of the body. It's the best position for health of the body and mind.

So when you rest at night, try to keep your body angled to the right as much as you can.

Idris · April 2011

moemoe wrote:

I've experienced this on a reasonably regular basis since I was about 12 years old. Used to happen a lot more in my teen years, maybe once every month or so. Still happens on occassion now.

There was one episode that I wish I could have again though. I had fallen asleep on the couch and started feeling it, and decided.... no bugger it, I am gonna ride this out and see where I go. The buzzing got so intense I felt I HAD to get out of myself......... and wrestled myself free of my body, with a lot of effort. Once I was "out", my movements were fluid and easy. I was able to look back at my sleeping self as I moved away....... very strange feeling indeed. I started heading towards the front door, through it, and down our driveway towards the forest I lived across the road from at the time. I got about half way down the driveway and had this vague thought in my head " what if I cant get back?".......... immediately I thought that, I was right back in my body, in an instant. I've never been able to achieve this since, but I wish I could.

You know the moment you had that 'vague thought'? That thought is the act of 'coming to a realization', that is how you were able to wake up. You had a clear mind. You did not get lost in your situation. Like most do, but rather you were able to question your situation.

megatron · April 2011

ahhh my thread lives on.

i've actually been free of this problem for the past few months. its kind of nice. so weird when it happens though

eeriepadave · April 2011

MrAbraham wrote:

eeriepadave wrote:

MrAbraham wrote:

the first and third time i was. Second time i was on my side, why?

It tends to happen most/often when people are sleeping on their backs, the best position to sleep? Right side of the body. It's the best position for health of the body and mind.

So when you rest at night, try to keep your body angled to the right as much as you can.

I prefer sleeping on my back than on my side. One reason is for me it's more comfortable. The other is if i sleep on my side i usually tend to drool :oops:

afroannnie · April 2011

BinFrog wrote:

Riverrunner wrote:

Ive had it happen several times and it is terrifying. However, in my case I think that I am awake and someone is in the room or coming up the stairs after me. One time I could have sworn there was a figure in the door looking at me. And I couldn't move or scream or anything. Then all of a sudden I can move, but I am still scared because it seemed to happen when I was awake. In other words I don't feel like I had been asleep. It has been a while since one, and I hope I never have such an episode again.

I've had the "person in the room" AND the "person coming up the stairs" situation. Ugh.

I've had this happen to me too..It's scary..but the majority of the time I know I'm dreaming..so I actually "scream" to myself in my dream to "wake up"...but since I'm in rem, i don't wake up right away and "person coming up the stairs" continues to get closer..one time in my dream they were just inches from my bed and then I finally woke up..
But I've gotten pretty good at controlling my dreams so sometimes I just "fix" the situation instead of waking myself up. Crazy stuff...but true.

Riverrunner · April 2011

It has been quite a while since I've had one. But yes, I know what you mean by controlling your dreams/thoughts. But the times I've had the sleep paralysis I was in a panic - as much as you can be in a panic when you're paralyzed. : )

eeriepadave · May 2015

this looks pretty interesting. This is the same guy who directed Room 237

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoPsjWqvwT4

Jearlpam0925 · May 2015

eeriepadave said:
this looks pretty interesting. This is the same guy who directed Room 237

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoPsjWqvwT4

Oh, man. This better not suck. I can relate to too much of this.

nostackedvinyl · May 2015

I used to have similar feelings/dreams as a kid but it hasn't happened since then. Although I still remember the dreams and feelings I had at the time very vividly. How I felt in the dream, the sensations, what was going on and how scared it made me. People always told me/tell me that they were night terrors. This adds a different perspective though.

On a side note, as a marijuana smoker I rarely have dreams. Ever. I know this because when I stop smoking for even a day I dream again and they are typically very vivid and bizarre. When smoking, I don't typically remember them at all or the memory fades very quickly after waking. I'm wondering if this might help people who deal with this a lot. I also sleep on my stomach.

PJ_Soul · May 2015

I had this only once, I think last year or the year before. It was horrifying!! One of the scariest moments of my life.

badbrains · May 2015

PJ_Soul said:
I had this only once, I think last year or the year before. It was horrifying!! One of the scariest moments of my life.

Lucky you. Been having these since I can remember all the way back to being super young. Shit sux

Sleep Paralysis

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