Sleep paralysis

[lynnalb15]

So the past few nights I haven't told anyone because I didn't wana be considered mentally unstable but once I finally fall asleep its the crAziest thing. I lay there and my body goes numb and I am awake seemingly. And I have been seeing shadow figures that creep way too close to me. I cannot see their faces or make out what they are but I have looked it up and it is a sleep disorder called sleep paralysis. It is when your body falls asleep before your
Mind and you are physically unable to move your in rem part of sleep and your able to dream and also half awake. It is scaring me terribly. I will lay there unable to move or
Wake myself and all I can think is god please help me someone come wake me up. Last night was the worst a shadow sat down on my bed and had the had over my face. I prayed to god to make it stop and next thing I knew I was awake. I'm deathly afraid to sleep tonight. Here is An article on the disorder.


Physiologically, sleep paralysis is closely related to REM atonia, the paralysis that occurs as a natural part of REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. Sleep paralysis occurs either when falling asleep, or when awakening. When it occurs upon falling asleep, the person remains aware while the body shuts down for REM sleep, and it is called hypnagogic or predormital sleep paralysis. When it occurs upon awakening, the person becomes aware before the REM cycle is complete, and it is called hypnopompic or postdormital.[5] The paralysis can last from several seconds to several minutes, with some rare cases being hours, "by which the individual may experience panic symptoms"[6] (described below). As the correlation with REM sleep suggests, the paralysis is not entirely complete; use of EOG traces shows that eye movement is still possible during such episodes.[7] When there is an absence of narcolepsy, sleep paralysis is referred to as isolated sleep paralysis (ISP).[8]
accompanied by terrifying hallucinations (hypnopompic or hypnagogic), perceived deafening loud noise and an acute sense of danger.[9] Sleep paralysis is particularly frightening to the individual because of the vividness of such hallucinations.[8] The hallucinatory element to sleep paralysis makes it even more likely that someone will interpret the experience as a dream, since completely fanciful or dream-like objects may appear in the room alongside one's normal vision. Some scientists have proposed this condition as an explanation for reports of alien abductions and ghostly encounters


You wake up, but you can’t move a muscle. Lying in bed, you’re totally conscious, and you realize that strange things are happening. There’s a crushing weight on your chest that’s humanoid. And it’s evil.


You’ve awakened into the dream world.

This is not the conceit for a new horror movie starring a ragged middle-aged Freddie Prinze Jr., it’s a standard description of the experience of a real medical condition: sleep paralysis. It’s a strange phenomenon that seems to happen to about half the population at least once.

People who experience it find themselves awake in the dream world for anywhere from a few seconds to 10 minutes, often experiencing hallucinations with dark undertones. Cultures from everywhere from Newfoundland to the Caribbean to Japan have come up with spiritual explanations for the phenomenon. Now, a new article in The Psychologist suggests sleep researchers are finally figuring out the neurological basis of the condition.



It's the scariest thing ever. I don't know what to do. Should I talk to my counselor and has anyone experienced this. Please I need help.

[MikeInFrance]

That's wild! I have never even heard of that until now. And to think so many of you have experienced it. I can't even imagine it. Is this like being awake with your eyes open as normal but you can't move or react  but you are cognizant of everything happening around you? But what's happening around you is not even real? So you are living in your dream,  in a sense. Or if someone did walk into the room for real would you see them? Sorry i am just trying to understand this. I will try to look it up online.  And Lynn....I think you are doing a fantastic job! Keep it up! And I'd definately speak to your counsellor about this.

[wysteria17]

Wow, this happens to a lot more people than I thought!  Lynn, this happened to me too but as a child so I never associated it with using either.  Once I actually started walking to the bathroom and ended up on the floor.  I don't know how I even got on the floor but it felt like something was holding my chest down so I couldn't get up and i could barely move.  Yes, it is terrifying and I totally get how scared you are.  Nothing has happened to me in a very long time, but I am still very anxious about going to sleep when no one else is in the house and I've stayed awake until the sun comes up as well because I feel safer.  I feel like an idiot and never told anyone that because I was afraid being called crazy too.  I truly don't think there's anything supernatural about it but I'm still terrified that something will happen that I can't handle.  Fear of the unknown I think.  Yes, talk to your counselor, I'm sure they will be able to ease your fears some by helping you understand it more.  You are strong enough to handle anything that comes your way.  Good luck and I hope you get to sleep peacefully soon.

[sharlola35]

Lynn, I was 16 when it first happened.  I awoke in the middle of the night and saw a shadowy fugure watching me from the corner of my room..scared me to death.  I quickly turned around to turn the light on, spun back around and it was gone.  A few weeks later I was sleeping, opened my eyes and there it was again about one inch in front of my face staring at me.  Again I spun around to turn the light on, turned back around and it was gone.  Similar instances occured throughout high school.  There were a few at college as well.  I have not seen the figure for over 15 years now, but there are still nights where I am afraid to go to sleep.  I know what you are going through.  We can talk more about this, I can message you or vice versa.  Sharon :)

[ricart70]

I also do not believe that there is anything supernatural at work here.I was studying something about alien abduction theory and this guy took all of these electrodes and attatched them to a motorcycle helmet and he called it an  "abduction helmet" because when you put it on it would throw your brain into that half sleep state and then the figures would enter the room and you feel the fear and are paralyzed.It was really crazy watching these people wear that thing and describe their experience.It depends upon your psyche what you see during this half sleep state.Some people see demonic figures,some see aliens,others just see shadows and so forth.

[IBKleen]

This happens to me more often than I would like and since it has been going on so long I am not as scared as I was in the beginning. I learned it is a form of sleep paralysis and since I accepted that I am not as frightened. Don't get me wrong, it still scares me but putting a name to it has helped.

I do not feel, or ever will feel it necessary to bath in holy water and cast the demons out before bed. I do not believe it is the devil at work. Really!

For your own peace of mind hun, please speak with your counselor. I know it is easy for me to say but try not to be scared. Your counselor may be able to help you with some techniques before bed that may help you. I am sure you now have anxiety about sleeping. Let us know what the counselor says and please hang in there. It will be okay.

[LostNoMore]

Lynn I agree with you about getting some help from God. Pray before bed,
and read and sleep with a bible. I would strongly recommend saying the Lord's prayer as often as necessary. I believe that we are spiritually sick as
well as physically and emotionally. I've had what you're experiencing happen to me. I thought it was DT's as I had been drinking for several years every day and abruptly stopped.  It was sheer terror and even though it happened 15 years ago, i remember everything about the room, the furniture, etc.
I Prayed, and I was also terrified to go to sleep. I laid down on the couch
(I didn't want to go back to that room!) and slept with a bible in my arms.
God can and will help us if we ask.