Sleep Paralysis

[Magi]

I had a sleep paralysis attack yesterday.

For those who don't know, this is what sleep paralysis is:

Sleep paralysis is a condition in which someone, most often lying in a supine position, about to drop of to sleep, or just upon waking from sleep realizes that s/he is unable to move, or speak, or cry out. This may last a few seconds or several moments, occasionally longer. People frequently report feeling a "presence" that is often described as malevolent, threatening, or evil. An intense sense of dread and terror is very common. The presence is likely to be vaguely felt or sensed just out of sight but thought to be watching or monitoring, often with intense interest, sometimes standing by, or sitting on, the bed. On some occasions the presence may attack, strangling and exerting crushing pressure on the chest. People also report auditory, visual, proprioceptive, and tactile hallucinations, as well as floating sensations and out-of-body experiences (Hufford, 1982).

I had just finished lunch at home, and I'm now lying on the couch. Tired from a combo of lack of sleep and a hard day at the school/gym, I promptly collapsed just as my sister was heading out, leaving me in the house all alone, and I quickly nod off with the TV on.

I'm not sure of how long I was asleep for, but all of a sudden I remember being "conscious". I was awake, yet not awake. I could hear the TV, but it was all hazy. I fully remember not being able to move, I couldn't even turn my head, all I could do is rotate my eyeballs back and forth. I tried to yell out, no go. I tried to "will" my limbs to move, that did shit. I started panicking. I thought I kept hearing "footsteps", and I remembered that my sister left me all alone, so I got all these images of aliens, home invaders...

I finally awoke, and 4 hours had elapsed from when I first dozed off to when I woke up, so I'm not sure at what time the attack happened, how long it lasted, or how it ended. All I remember was I was scared as fuck. Not being able to move at all is the worst feeling in the world. Add to that your panicking mind, and it could drive anyone mad.

When I woke up I didn't make much of it. It was only later on at 1:30am when I was about to hop into bed that I realized what had happened that afternoon, and I freaked out and didn't want to go to sleep anymore because I didn't want to experience that nightmare again. It was bad, really bad.

I think it may have to do something with my super fucked up irregular sleep pattern, so I'll have to correct that.

Anyone have any similar experiences?

[Sariel]

I have attacks of sleep paralysis on average of once a month.... they can be pretty freaky things.

Never really done me any harm though, and I am usually able to go back to sleep with no problems within a short period of time.

[Veni*C]

yikes. that sounds pretty fucked up and scary.... this has never happened to me before...but i could see something like it happening to me .. i have really bad sleep patterns.

[Dead Mike]

lol i wake up with my legs paralyzed everyday....oh wait i AM paralyzed hahaha..lol but sometimes ill sleep with my arm above my head, and i wake up and my arm is completely paralyzed i have to throw it down so the blood comes back, thats funny shit.

[Veni*C]

Originally Posted by Dead Mike

sometimes ill sleep with my arm above my head, and i wake up and my arm is completely paralyzed i have to throw it down so the blood comes back, thats funny shit.

i get that all the time... i gotta like hit my arm.. smack it against the wall and shit... the feeling lasts for like 10 mintues.. its annoying.

[shorerider]

I've had it a few times, but it's not a big enough deal for me to start a thread over it :imeanwell:

[Dead Mike]

Good Times!

[Rhianna]

That kinda sounds like when I'm trying to wake myself up from a bad dream. I try to move or open my eyes but I can't even though I'm kind of awake. I can usually get my eyes open and then a few seconds later I can move. The only freaky part is the dream I'm trying to get out of as fast as I can.

But what happened to you sounds insane. I hope I never have to go through that.

[~Sc@ndelu$~]

that would scare me.. ive never heard of anything like this before

[Jumbo1]

That sounds freaky! You sure you're not sleeping and think you're awake? ya know in one of those half there, half not there moments? I've had dreams like that though.

[Sariel]

When it happens to me, I am pretty much with it... I know what is happening, but cannot move, no matter how much or how hard I try....

At the most, my muscles twitch as I try with all possible effort to move....

[Jumbo1]

Well if you're just twitching maybe we should bring out behind the barn and give you the old Yeller treatment?

[Sariel]

Originally Posted by Jumbo1

Well if you're just twitching maybe we should bring out behind the barn and give you the old Yeller treatment?

Well.... after a period of time, usually between 5-15 min, I regain control over my body...

Getting shot behind the barn might be exciting and all, but an experience I would rather do without at this time...

Give me 60 or so years, and ya got yourself a deal.

[Jumbo1]

60 years, it's a date. Meet you behind the barn for one last roll in the hay! If I can still get it up...the shotgun I mean.

[Sariel]

lol.... that sounds like it could be interesting...

[miss.myra]

This happens to me a lot...


usually only when I have naps during the day, it's sooo fucked up.

and it only happens if I sleep alone? If I'm sleeping in the same bed as someone, it doesn't seem to happen.

It's so terrifying.