Sleep Paralysis

[Ziggy + Angel + Rain 11,298]

I have a sleep paralysis episode every so often, and I had another just this morning.  Just sharing / curious whether other people experience them.

 

This morning's episode involved staring down a dark, forbidding corridor or hallway.  As is always the case with sleep paralysis, I couldn't move.  I could kinda sorta wiggle (or attempt to wiggle - not sure if there was any actual movement) one of my legs, but that was about it.  I think there was some motion ahead of me...  Perhaps a curtain-like undulation.  And there's usually a sense of dread; this was no different.  I was SURE something terrible was waiting ahead of me, obscured by the darkness, and - being at least somewhat lucid - I egged on whatever the hay it was.  I imagined that I would be confronted by a disembodied, skull-faced head...  But none appeared.  I encouraged my sub-conscious (or whatever was in control) to throw whatever it had at me.  Nothing.  Then, the dream faded away...  And I realized that my eyes had in fact been open.  I had been staring ahead of me / angled somewhat towards the ceiling; this was where the hallucinatory episode had played out.

 

I've had several others.  One accompanied by an auditory hallucination (loud banging, as if someone were banging two metal objects together), one with a shadowy, vaguely-defined creature squatting at the end of where I slept (may have been the same one, don't recall), etc.  Has anyone else experienced something similar?

[Kel_Grym 1,917]

I hate sleep paralysis. Had that I lot when I was really paranoid of alien abduction.

 

I still have it every once in a while, but when I do, I get really angry about being immobile and fight like the dickens until I break  out of it.

Edited June 2, 2014 by Minister KelGrym

[Ribbonfree 2,383]

I get it like once a month, but usually it's just me struggling to move while avoiding opening my eyes because the one time my eyes were opened during an incident I saw some pretty creepy stuff. I can sort of feel it coming almost before it happens, like I'll feel my limbs all lock down before I'm actually fully paralyzed.

 

Once I felt like I was being dragged out of my bed, even when my eyes were closed. That one was pretty bad, I was alone in the house and conscious of that fact at the time too.

[Agent505 660]

Sleep paralysis is what happens while you're asleep so that you don't jerk in response to a dream and cause yourself any damage. 

I've never had, nor heard of a case of waking sleep paralysis. 

I suppose it's entirely possible if you're a regular lucid dreamer who's practiced the technique, but I have my doubts.

[Sunshower Raindrops 3,227]

Sleep paralysis is what happens while you're asleep so that you don't jerk in response to a dream and cause yourself any damage. 

I've never had, nor heard of a case of waking sleep paralysis. 

I suppose it's entirely possible if you're a regular lucid dreamer who's practiced the technique, but I have my doubts.

 

It's very possible, but worth overcoming. Lucid dreaming is the best thing to exist. It feels so real...

[ReverseFaller 2,483]

I've only ever had Sleep Paralysis once. I remember having tunnel vision, which made it hard to see. I also couldn't hear anything either. It was pretty strange. Luckily, I didn't see a demon or anything standing next to me bed like some sleep paralysis victims do.

[Nulln 754]

sleep paralysis is when you wake up during REM sleep and your brain pretty much hasn't switched to 'awake mode', so you can't move and sometimes hallucinate because you're still dreaming even though you're awake.

 

I used to get it a lot.  I'd get really bad hallucinations and it was crazy scary.

[Steve 290]

i had it real bad when i was real young. i couldnt move i saw a dark shadowy figure, i dont exactly remember the face. i think it had red eyes and sharp teeth.

 

had it once over a year ago. luckily i broke out of it as soon as i got into it, and saw no creatures

[Sunshower Raindrops 3,227]

i had it real bad when i was real young. i couldnt move i saw a dark shadowy figure, i dont exactly remember the face. i think it had red eyes and sharp teeth.

 

had it once over a year ago. luckily i broke out of it as soon as i got into it, and saw no creatures

 

Glad too not have it, but dont let this setback stop the lucid dreaming

[Steve 290]

Glad too not have it, but dont let this setback stop the lucid dreaming

nope i let it stop

 

its not worth it

[Noire Panzer 3,526]

I get Sleep Paralysis every so often. It's evil, no matter how much I want to struggle I can't break out of becase... paralysis. I usually keep my eyes shut but that didn't help with my last one. It felt like someone broke into my room and was trying to strangle me.. I saw a bit of a face but I closed my eyes when it happened. There is some creepy stuff you can end up seeing which I am sure a good amount of you know of. I had like an episode of it consisting of my room turning into some horror setting with all sorts of crawling disturbing hell spawns, that strangling thing, and just the feeling of terror just looking around my room.

 

I don't like the fact I can only move my eyes around. Just makes it all the more worse. Feel so helpless and can only watch whatever happens. *shudders* Yeah I despise getting sleep paralysis.

[Sunshower Raindrops 3,227]

Maybe this will help with you. (By the way sleep Paralysis will possible getting from lucid dreaming, is still rare) http://dreamstudies.org/2010/04/29/9-ways-to-wake-up-from-sleep-paralysis/

[SeraphStar 398]

It used to happen to me when I was younger, only very briefly though: I wouldn't see creatures or experience any weird(er) sensation other than not being able to move for like 3-6 seconds (luckily I didn't see anything, would've been scarred for life probably). I only ever experienced it while sleeping on my back (cursed Night Hag), so now I sleep on my side — much more comfy IMO.

[Sunshower Raindrops 3,227]

It used to happen to me when I was younger, only very briefly though: I wouldn't see creatures or experience any weird(er) sensation other than not being able to move for like 3-6 seconds (luckily I didn't see anything, would've been scarred for life probably). I only ever experienced it while sleeping on my back (cursed Night Hag), so now I sleep on my side — much more comfy IMO.

 

Good to hear . If I got sleep Paralysis I'd probably sh** my pants.

[Noire Panzer 3,526]

Maybe this will help with you. (By the way sleep Paralysis will possible getting from lucid dreaming, is still rare) http://dreamstudies.org/2010/04/29/9-ways-to-wake-up-from-sleep-paralysis/

Well at least wiggling my toe, clenching my fist, and "The Ultimate Method" seem useful to me. Being able to jump out of sleep paralysis immediately would be quite helpful. It's even worse when it feels like forever but it's like equivalent to a 30 minute nap. Ugh. I could go on about this really.

[Sunshower Raindrops 3,227]

Well at least wiggling my toe, clenching my fist, and "The Ultimate Method" seem useful to me. Being able to jump out of sleep paralysis immediately would be quite helpful. It's even worse when it feels like forever but it's like equivalent to a 30 minute nap. Ugh. I could go on about this really.

 

Another method I was told by my friend who purposely put himself into sleep Paralysis to feel halutionations told me to try and swallow. Me being the good Pony I am did not try and do this just for halutionations, or just in general, or tried anthing similar to that . If you could not tell, my friend is crazy .

[Justin_Case001 4,857]

sleep paralysis is when you wake up during REM sleep and your brain pretty much hasn't switched to 'awake mode', so you can't move and sometimes hallucinate because you're still dreaming even though you're awake.

Is that what it is?  I've had this happen occassionally, but didn't know what it was.  The worst instance was when I showed up for an early work shift, and for some reason (I don't even remember why), my boss said they didn't need me until the later shift, so he said come back in two hours.  I was pretty tired anyway from getting up so early, so I just decided to take a nap in my car until my shift.  I fell asleep, then woke up later, but it was like you described.  I wasn't fully awake, and was paralyzed.  It was actually one of the most terrifying experiences of my life.  It had never happend before.  I opened my eyes, but everything was hazy and a little tunnel vision.  I could hear, but everything was muffled and far away.  I could feel my body, but it was a little numb.  I knew I was awake, and I could think, but my thoughts were a little muddy.  I knew I needed to wake up all the way, and I could sense myself slipping in and out of dreams.  I tried as hard as I could to move, but couldn't.  I was screaming inside my head to wake up and move.  I can't describe how frustrating and frightening it felt.  I finally snapped awake all the way and shot up with a shout, pouring in sweat.  It's happened a few other times at home in bed, but not nearly as severe as that.

 

I've only had one other really strange sleeping experience.  I've never been prone to sleep walking, but one night I went to sleep in my bed like normal, wearing a shirt and shorts like always.  Then I woke up on the floor next to my bed, completely naked, with my clothes laid out next to me.  After sitting there just feeling horribly disoriented for a few minutes, I looked around as if to make sure no one saw me, then put my clothes back on and slipped back into bed.  Nothing even remotely like that has happened before or since.  It made for a good story, though.

 

Now my friend, he's a big time sleep walker, and has been known to regularly run outside in his underwear at night, brandishing a samurai sword, attempting to fight off hordes of zombies, then not remembering a bit of it the next day.  His wife has some hilarious stories to tell.

[Ziggy + Angel + Rain 11,298]

I get Sleep Paralysis every so often. It's evil, no matter how much I want to struggle I can't break out of becase... paralysis. I usually keep my eyes shut but that didn't help with my last one. It felt like someone broke into my room and was trying to strangle me.. I saw a bit of a face but I closed my eyes when it happened. There is some creepy stuff you can end up seeing which I am sure a good amount of you know of. I had like an episode of it consisting of my room turning into some horror setting with all sorts of crawling disturbing hell spawns, that strangling thing, and just the feeling of terror just looking around my room.

 

I don't like the fact I can only move my eyes around. Just makes it all the more worse. Feel so helpless and can only watch whatever happens. *shudders* Yeah I despise getting sleep paralysis.

Wow, that one sounds particularly bad; mine are never that elaborate or frightening.  No wonder you despise them!

[Noire Panzer 3,526]

Wow, that one sounds particularly bad; mine are never that elaborate or frightening.  No wonder you despise them!

My brain is too active for it's own good when it comes to sleep paralysis xD.. 

[LeafFerret 3,382]

I use to have it sometimes back in the day, but ever since I started getting more sleep and sleeping on time. I rarely get it now, don't think I ever got it this year because of it.

[John 793]

I have a sleep paralysis episode every so often, and I had another just this morning.  Just sharing / curious whether other people experience them.

 

This morning's episode involved staring down a dark, forbidding corridor or hallway.  As is always the case with sleep paralysis, I couldn't move.  I could kinda sorta wiggle (or attempt to wiggle - not sure if there was any actual movement) one of my legs, but that was about it.  I think there was some motion ahead of me...  Perhaps a curtain-like undulation.  And there's usually a sense of dread; this was no different.  I was SURE something terrible was waiting ahead of me, obscured by the darkness, and - being at least somewhat lucid - I egged on whatever the hay it was.  I imagined that I would be confronted by a disembodied, skull-faced head...  But none appeared.  I encouraged my sub-conscious (or whatever was in control) to throw whatever it had at me.  Nothing.  Then, the dream faded away...  And I realized that my eyes had in fact been open.  I had been staring ahead of me / angled somewhat towards the ceiling; this was where the hallucinatory episode had played out.

 

I've had several others.  One accompanied by an auditory hallucination (loud banging, as if someone were banging two metal objects together), one with a shadowy, vaguely-defined creature squatting at the end of where I slept (may have been the same one, don't recall), etc.  Has anyone else experienced something similar?

 

I ALWAYS get them, but usually only when I take naps during the day.  Luckily, in college I am able to make "struggling noises" during episodes.  I instructed my roommates to shake me and wake me up whenever it happens and they always do  It's like being saved.

 

Also, try not to sleep on your back and try not to lay on your arm.  It helps me prevent episodes.  If you're trying to wake up from one, speed up your breathing, move your tongue rapidly, make noise and try to move any muscles you can.  DO NOT CLOSE YOUR EYES.  If you find yourself waking up on your back and your head is flat, try as hard as possible to turn it on the side.  It's so much easier to wake when you're on your side.  I've heard someone say "bite your lip until you feel pain," but i've never done it and it sounds kind of risky.. O.o

 

I don't really hallucinate when I get them, and I only sometimes feel the "dread" associated with it.  It's a terrible feeling.  O.o

I usually know where I am and that I am having sleep paralysis though, and usually if its during the day (which it usually is) I can make out my roommate's everyday conversations.

Edited June 3, 2014 by John

[Ziggy + Angel + Rain 11,298]

I ALWAYS get them, but usually only when I take naps during the day.  Luckily, in college I am able to make "struggling noises" during episodes.  I instructed my roommates to shake me and wake me up whenever it happens and they always do  It's like being saved.

 

Also, try not to sleep on your back and try not to lay on your arm.  It helps me prevent episodes.  If you're trying to wake up from one, speed up your breathing, move your tongue rapidly, make noise and try to move any muscles you can.  DO NOT CLOSE YOUR EYES.  If you find yourself waking up on your back and your head is flat, try as hard as possible to turn it on the side.  It's so much easier to wake when you're on your side.  I've heard someone say "bite your lip until you feel pain," but i've never done it and it sounds kind of risky.. O.o

 

I don't really hallucinate when I get them, and I only sometimes feel the "dread" associated with it.  It's a terrible feeling.  O.o

I usually know where I am and that I am having sleep paralysis though, and usually if its during the day (which it usually is) I can make out my roommate's everyday conversations.

I didn't know there were all these methods for "escaping" them!  I just assumed you had to ride them out; hence my "come at me, bro!" attitude during them lol.  I've escaped nightmares (full-on dream) by trying to move my head, and that usually bothers me even more.

[Creamy Arty 6,251]

Sleep paralysis has plagued me for years. Episodes are infrequent enough, however, that I'm not afraid to go to sleep or anything. It's quite rare. Twice a year, typically.

 

After waking up, I could be in various states of lucidity. There were some times where I would be fully awake, and other times my vision would be blurry and it felt like my mind was trying to drag itself back to unconsciousness. In the case of the latter, it was hard to fight the urge to go back to sleep, yet I did because I knew quite keenly that if I allowed myself to go back to sleep, things would only be worse the next time I woke up. Breathing was often difficult, and could feel nearly impossible depending on my position.

 

Opening my eyes and looking around with them was all I could do. Couldn't even open my mouth or groan. None of my limbs would cooperate at all. After a great deal of effort I could eventually wiggle a finger or bend my feet at the ankles. Eventually I would get an entire limb, but by that point I was already feeling exhausted from the effort. After sluggishly swinging said limb enough, my upper body would loosen up ever so slightly, and I'd keep it up until eventually rolling myself out of bed or off the couch. After that I'd stay on my feet for a while and shake it off.

 

 

Unlike some of you guys, I've never had any hallucinations. The room looks perfectly normal to me, if blurry from having just woken up. Auditory hallucinations don't happen either. In that sense I count myself fortunate.

[Jammo 986]

I can see why historically sleep paralysis was seen as demonic possessions. It does feel like forces unseen are warping your perception into a twisted nightmare dimension. If there wasn't a scientific explanation I'd buy "demon".

[DubWolf 16,619]

This happens to me as frequent as you do (around every 2 to 3 weeks).

 

Usually I can tell I'm about to experience it if I feel like I'm sinking into my bed, or feel like I'm falling asleep...heheh, I should know that that's not the case (falling asleep). The moment I know it's about to happen, I try my best to sit up so I don't experience it. Otherwise, it feels terrible like you said; like something dreadful is near you, and you can't move or scream for help. Thankfully it goes away after a while. I sometimes forget that it's only sleep paralysis and lay in bed there freaking out.

 

And other times, it just happens and there's nothing I could have done to prevent it. My advice is not to lay on your back when sleeping if you don't want to get it.

Edited June 4, 2014 by Super80 Wolf