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Sleep Paralysis: Awake But Still Asleep
Biology 202
2000 First Web Report
On Serendip
Sleep Paralysis: Awake But Still Asleep
Hiro Takahashi
A person may wake up and find himself unable to move or speak as if he is frozen. He also may hear footsteps, see a ghost-like creature, or feel someone sitting on his chest. Throughout the history, people considered this phenomenon as work done by evil spirits. However, the modern science can explain the terrifying event as a Sleep Paralysis.
A Sleep Paralysis is possibly a hereditary disorder in which one experiences very frightening seconds or minutes of total body paralysis with little respiration and eye movements (1). A victim in this state feels awake, but he cannot move or speak (2). In addition to the immobility, the common symptoms include feeling choked or suffocated, hearing strange noises like footsteps and voices, seeing beings or dark shadows, and feeling an existance of someone in the room (1). Although these symptoms often direct the victims to believe in ghosts, mistransmission of neural signals in the brain causes Sleep Paralysis. When a person sleeps, his brain sends signals to inhibit any muscle contraction (3). If he comes into consciousness before the brain sends signals to activate muscle contraction, he cannot move his body, and consequently, become "paralyzed"(2).
In order to understand how a body becomes paralyzed while the person is awake, it is necessary to understand sleep cycles. In a mammalian sleep, the brain activity undergoes two different states called non-REM (NREM) sleep and REM sleep, which differ very much from wakefulness (3). NREM and REM sleep alternate cyclically through the night; in human, about 80 minutes of NREM sleep starts a night of sleep, about 10 minutes of REM sleep follows, and this 90 minute cycle is repeated about 3 to 6 times during the night (3). During NREM sleep, a body produces few movement, but the body has capability of tossing about in bed and producing some other motor events, such as sleepwalking and sleeptalking (3). The cardiac-muscle contraction and breathing occur at a uniform rate, and the eyes move slowly (2). During REM sleep, on the other hand, heart rate, respiration rate, and blood pressure vary (3). The eyes move rapidly because most dreaming takes place in this period, and the sleeper probably "look" at the moving objects in a dream (2).
The brain's control over muscles during REM sleep points out that in this period, a body is normally in the state of total paralysis, called a "nonreciprocal flaccid paralysis" (3). Probably to prevent a person from "acting out" a dream, the brain sends signals to inhibit any muscle contractions (2). Although some peripheral muscles, such as the muscles of the fingers and face, still twitch, the large skeletal muscles become relaxed, or "paralyzed" as a result (3). Some evidence supports that the motor paralysis of REM sleep protect against the acting out of one's dreams. A patient who suffers from rare syndrome called REM Sleep Behavior Disorder lacks the normal nonreciprocal flaccid paralysis, and he acts out violent dreams during REM sleep, often with injurious consequences (4). For example, a 60-year-old surgeon dreamt that he was attacked "by criminals, terrorists, and monsters who always tried to kill [him]" and fighting against them in the nightmare, he was actually punching and kicking his wife who slept in the same bed (4).
A nonreciprocal flaccid paralysis during REM sleep is accomplished actively by postsynaptic inhibition of motorneurons (3). Although the exact process of motor inhibition is not clear, some neurotransmitters and hormones are known to generate the many components of REM sleep. Aministering physostigmine, an inhibitor of the catabolic enzyme, increases the concentration of acetylcholine within the neurons in the pons, making it possible to artificially generate and start REM sleep in the middle of NREM sleep (3). Carbachol, the cholinergic agonist, produces a period of REM sleep in cat when directly injected into the pontine tegmentum (3). The hormone melatonin, a "master hormone" (5) that mainly controls circadian rhythms, also seems to play an important role in enhancing the REM state; the level of melatonin secretion by the pineal gland reaches its lowest during REM sleep (5). Such neurotransmitters and hormones probably activate or inhibit the activity of second messengers, which then activate or inhibit the third messengers, and so on till the last messenger inhibit the synaptic transmission or cause hyperpolarization of the motorneurons. And if, for some reason, the nervous or endocrine system continues to release the neural inhibitors, a person may experience Sleep Paralysis as he enters awakefully into or awakens directly from REM period (2).
While the modern neuroscience can describe the state of Sleep Paralysis as some errors of the neural transmission in the brain during REM sleep, a person who has seen or heard ghost-like figures/voices may easily believe that eveil spirits fully controlled his entire body. However, the images or noises, which the victim believes that he has seen or heard, are most likely hallucinations; and hallucinations, too, can result from the brain activity. In the 1960's, the Canadian neurologist W. Penfield introduced that electrical stimulation of the temporal lobe can cause the auditory hallucinations in the wake state (5). The buzzing or ringing sounds in the ears and other auditory hallucinations are closely associated with the activity of the auditory cortex and involves the temporal lobe (5). During the early period of sleep paralysis, the activity of the temporal lobe increases significantly, sometimes inducing hallucinatory sense (5). Similarly, the visual cortex generates internal visual stimuli, causing the victim to "see" terrifying figures during the paralysis (5).
How an episode of Sleep Paralysis induces visual or auditory hallucinations is still not clear, but it seems to have a significant relationship with anxiety (5). For anxiety is a neurocognitive event closely related to both psychological and physical processes, the extreme anxiety or panic may cause the release of several different signal molecules that trigger all kinds of physical events (5). A person experiencing Sleep Paralysis feels mortal fear or extreme panic, and hence, the brain generates and releases internal visual or auditory stimuli, producing hallucinations.
Also, hallucinations during Sleep Paralysis may happen, for one keeps dreaming even after some parts of his brain wakes up directly from REM sleep. Since the nervous and endocrine systems continue to release the neural inhibitors which sustain the paralysis, it may be possible that those systems keep releasing the neural activators that stimulate dreaming. Thus, a person continues to "see" the images and "hear" the noises produced in the dream that he has just had in REM sleep from which he has awaken.
Understanding more neural concepts of Sleep Paralysis, some researchers now hypothesize that a very rare condition called Sudden Unexplained Nocturnal Death Syndrome (SUNDS) may closely relate to Sleep Paralysis (1). Upon the death, a SUNDS victim produces no body movement even though he experiences a myocardial infarction and strong breathing difficulties and should straggle in agony (5). The death may be caused by the extreme muscle atonia during Sleep Paralysis, which is so severe that even the cardiac muscles and the diaghragm paralyze (5).
Until I started researching on this subject, I have believed that the total paralysis of a body is due to an evil taking absolute control over the body. However, the interactions between neurons in the brain can explain this seemingly mysterious phenomenon in a scientific way. Although the explanation is not complete yet, for there are many unclear processes about Sleep Paralysis, the current hypothesis appears to reject the possibility of ghosts on this matter. Of course, it is impossible to completely disprove the existence of "spirits", "minds", or "God" affecting one's behavior. Nevertheless, like Sleep Paralysis and SUNDS, many or the mysterious conditions and behaviors which are only explained in supernatural terms probably result from brain.
WWW Sources
1)The Evil's of Sleep Paralysis
4)REM Sleep Behavior Disorder: A Neurologic Dissociative Sleep Disorder
5)Recurrent Isolated Sleep Paralysis
Comments made prior to 2007
I have been trying to figure out what was going on in my sleep untill i read this.Now i am happy to know what my body was expeiencing. It's quite scary your first couple experiences of sleep paralysis but now i'm gonna stay calm when it is happening to me and try to get my own understanding of the experience ... Jeremy, 21 March 2006
I have had sleep paralyisis at least once per month for the last 8 years. I am 29 as of this writing. I just had the experience about 1 hour ago and thus has caused me to do reasearch about it on the net. I noticed that many Dr.'s contribute this to anxiety, stress and other factors. My question is ... why is there always an evil presence in that concious yet body is still asleep phase? Today I heard a loud static sound, and opened my eyes to a spider crawling all over my arm. When I prayed to God, or said His name (Jehovah) the spider would start to disappear. I finally went thru my mental prayer when I awoke. This leads me to believe that it is more of a spiritual occurence, because I never have positive images while in this paralized state. I know there are many things in which our ancestors thought it was demonic rather than scientific, only to find there was a scientific explanation. However, I think this is different and cannot be simply written off as "scientific". There is not enough proof to show that it is scientific.
About a month ago I had another episode of sleep paralysis and I saw a small presence in the room with me. It was dark, and I could not see it's face (I am getting chills typing about it right now). My question is, why is there always an evil presence not only associated with my episodes, but so many others I have read about? ... Abel, 24 August 2006
i was thinking it is evil who do that during night but now i find out why. I am suffering from sleep paralyze possibly every nigh spicily when i have dinar ... Salah Nasser, 28 January 2007
I used to have this sleeping disorder when I was a child. It has come back once or twice with adulthood, but otherwise, it is in the past. I used to, with great effort, move my hand to my face and pull an eye open, which would wake me up, but sometimes the struggle was too much and I would go on into a deeper sleep.
Since the brain can do this to me, can it also cause me to get migraines just as I am about to wake up?
It seems, as I have discovered, if I get less than 4 hours sleep a night, I do not get migraines. If I get 6 hours or more, it's about a 90% chance I will wake with a migraine. Later in the day, I get an hour or two nap and that is the routine as it works. Doctors just sort of treat the migraine and don't get into the sleep thing I have. I take MaxAult for the migraines when they do get me.
I woke one time, and just as I woke, I felt this white-hot needle going into my head... bingo. A migraine in 5 seconds. That is how they can occur. I wake with them otherwise. I figure it my brain doing things it shouldn't. I have a clean bill of health otherwise.
Thanks for your time. Have a good day ... Jay, 11 February 2007
I have a question, and hope someone out there has an answer, it has been months and I have thus far failed to find one. Has there ever been a record of anyone receiving the effects of sleep paralysis without having been asleep? The reason I ask this, is a while ago, having not slept in a few hours, I was sitting at my computer, and it seemed to have happened to me. Within seconds I was too tired to hold up my own head, and my breathing got very difficult. Then I began to feel a sort of dizziness as my limbs lost feeling, and dropped to my side. after this, the dizziness turned to near blindness. I could see, but nothing would focus, and everything I tried to look at seemed to dart around like a mosquito. By this time I had no feeling in my entire body, could move nothing without quite a bit of concentration, and I could barely breath. My mother heard me try and make out some kind of cry for help, and found me there spilled into my computer chair. She rolled me to my bed, and poured me into it. Within about 10-15 minutes I had regained everything I once had, but my sea legs did not ware off for another ten or so minutes. I went to the emergency soon after. I had an E.K.G. and a C.A.T. scan, with no results, and I piss less in a week then the amount of blood they took that night. After basically telling me I was lying, the doctor told me that my symptoms did not fit anything at all. What I do know, is I have been researching the issue ever since, and can only base my problem on Sleep Paralysis. All the symptoms match. And again, my question....Has there ever been a record of someone under the effects of sleep paralysis without ever having gone to sleep? I hope you can shed some sort of light on this subject, as it,...well, it freaked me the hell out, and no one has been able to answer me! Thank you for your time ... Mitchel Henderson, 7 December 2007
I used get this "evil paralysed me" feeling when i was paralysed and usually saw a ghost. i tried to shout or move but no sound escaped my mouth and couldn't move at all. it happened again yesterday and was almost convinced that ghosts/evil spirits were getting the better of me. But, me being a practical and logical guy, erjected this theory and started researching on this phenomenon. I came across this research paper on Sleep Paralysis. This greatly helped me in alleviating my fears. And next time i "see" a ghost during sleep paralyses, ill just laugh at it ;-) Thanks for the research ... Siddarth, 10 December 2007
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| This paper reflects the research and thoughts of a student at the time the paper was written for a course at Bryn Mawr College. Like other materials on Serendip, it is not intended to be "authoritative" but rather to help others further develop their own explorations. Web links were active as of the time the paper was posted but are not updated. |
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Comments
wow!! really? thats crazy! I
wow!! really? thats crazy! I always feel like I have no physical presence and I am constantly plagued with bad but weird dreams. Anyone help? It is really affecting my day to day life, because of these dreams, im becoming depressed and my whole life is turning upside down and it truly feels as if my time is coming to an end, i know it sounds stupid and over dramatic but if someone can give me advice or an explanation id be forever in your debt.
questions
Thats some scary stuff there!!! Do this things just happen or can you control sleep paralysis?
I'm trying to learn how to stay in sleep paralysis but every time I enter in that state I can stand it because its like a really strong vibrations in my head and I cant stand it for long.
SP
I've experience all these symptoms and I believe it's more than a hallucination. At first I would awake to this when I'm lying on my stomach and had the feeling someone was standing over me and I would use every bit of my energy to awake. This happen multiple time a week. Then one night I awoke and just stared at my wall only to see his huge dark figure to jump down and throw thing and bang the floor, I instantly hid under my covers til it stopped. I could move though. I then decided if someones in my room I'm going to die so I turned theblghtbon and checked everywhere to scared to actually leave my room. Items from my dresser were on the ground and my deoderant was completly shattered. Possibly a week after this happened I started sleeping in another room, but only because my room was in the process of bein painted. One day at school a fridbof mine shared a similar experience and we ended up talking about it. Bad idea. Later that night I awoke to ligh flashing through my door and a black figure opening it. I then couldn't move as it walked and hovered over me. I tried with all my energy to say in the name of Jesus Christ I command you to leave, bu it wouldn't come out. I felt as if I was caving into myself and vanishing. But I want going to give up. Right when I was able to splur the words out of my mouth the figure vanished and I ran to my parents room. The time was 4 20 and I stayed up the rest of the night. Another eerie thin is my sister who is in collee across the states that night had a horrid feeling around 2 20 which is the same time because of he time difference. And not to mention that was her room.So I think it's more than some scientific explanation.
Wow, I get sleep paralysis
Wow, I get sleep paralysis all the time but nothing like what you experienced( at least not that scary) I also think that its more than the explinations scientist tell us because one time I saw a weird skinny goblin like thing that was staring at me but for me time was extremely slow, I had my alarm clock next to me so I could see the time. I saw the eternity that it took my brother to walk through my room to wake me up. Since that time I became very interested with sleep pararysis and learned to cause it and also learned how get out of it just in case it could get out of control.
How exactly?
Re: "wow, i get sleep paralysis" writer
How exactly did you learn to cause the sleep paralysis? Please let me know as I am not afraid and would like to explore this ability.
Thank you
jennaQ- overtired, very
jennaQ-
overtired, very very
then lay down thinking
that should do it
Tip
Yesterday I went to bed very early (8:30 pm to be exact), and after an hour or so, I experienced SP again after 7 years without having a single episode. I assume it happened because the day before I took a Lunesta pill, who knows why.
I was scared not because of the paralysis per se, but of the possible hallucinations my brain could possibly invent. What was really strange is that I could move my legs, but not my arms. I could open and close my eyes, and see the wall in my room, but still I could see added items in the wall that are not there in reality.What's really scary is the noises my brain produces. It's like being in steel factory, a rhythmic metallic noise, or music I want to control, but the brain wouldn't let me.
For those who don't believe Jesus can save you, counting slowly until 3 really helps to wake up. It takes a little while after you count to 3 to wake up (maybe 3 seconds), but it works.
I believe it is a spiritual encounter.
I began to have these encounters frequently around the age of 12 or 13. The earliest i remember was around 6 or 7 years of age but it wasn't as terrifying and only happened that once but around puberty is when these encounters became more and more frequent. I am very pleased that others like yourselves have had run ins with this it lets me know that I'm not alone. I wanted to explain to you all why I believe that these are spiritual encounters. All of the times I have be in a sleep like state and awake to find that I have absolutely no mobility in my body, I also am found with this horrible feeling of fear and dread. Never once has there been a positive feeling to have occurred. In these events I have been laying in almost every position possible, belly, back, and sides, one leg up, on leg down, arm under head, arm outstretched; you get the idea. Its these things that happen in the encounters that lead me to believe it is a spiritual thing. I read that some of you have experienced hearing footsteps, or someones hands on your throat or your chest or back, and that some of you see shadow people. Some hear a buzzing beeping sound but everyone is almost in agreement that it is almost always and evil feeling. I have numerous times and experiences from the early age of 12 to my current age of 21 and they are never good ones. I want to share this with you because to some of you I believe it will help fight these "things". I am a follower of Christ Jesus and have read my bible extensively, having grown up in a spiritual in tune family... Here is my story because I feel I need to tell you and if you don't care about it thats fine, or you think its a to christiany outlook then your intitled to your opinoion. I know that someone will read this and it will help them so for the one person this will speak to here you go.
When I was in the 8th grade i was reading my bible at night because I had recently gone to a youth camp and was on fire for the lord. Later that same night i woke up after having a horrible nightmare of Satan tempting me when I awoke i was totally imobolized and at the foot of my bed there was a solid black silhouette of a what appeared to be mans body. It stood there and I was filled with fear and it took what seemed like and eternity but I mumbled out the word "Jesus" and the black figure (which I believe was a manifestation of Satan) vanished right before my eyes. The next time it happened I wasn't able to see a form but heard voices while I was paralyzied. Which told me I was worthless and how much they hated me I believe that Satan wasn't there this time but fellow demonic forces. Again my only ability of power over these visitors was what I had used the last time. I spoke "Jesus" it took forever to say it but i got it out and was able to rid myself of them. I used the word Jesus many times against these things because I had read how many things were associated with the power in the name of "Jesus" so over the years I have used it. Recently tho I went to a friends house who happens to be a Latter day saint (Mormon). We often speak about our spiritual views and I have made him question his own views many times. He has asked me to show him scriptures that would help prove my views which I have and he then says he will read more causing him to research and comeback to me to discuss more spiritual view points. A few weeks ago we had a lengthy discussion on Christ and his role in our lives and he responded positively to what I said. Which he hadn't till then adding things like yeah I agree with you. As this discussion ended he went to sleep in his room and I retreated to the couch for the night. Hours later I was awoke paralyzed lying on my back with my head propped up on the arm of the couch. My eyes facing the love seat. My vision was blurred and I saw a black shadow man sitting on the love seat looking at me and tho it had no mouth which I could see it spoke to out to me saying "Your pathetic, you can't save his soul. Your wasting your time he is lost." And I struggled to move any of my limbs. I was in total fear but I felt 2 cold hands push me back down. Something which had never happened until then. I was in mortal terror and it continued to insult me and tell me how insignificant I was. This second visitor was holding me down all the while giggling. I was terrified. I fought with everything I had but with no luck was I able to move. After a few try's I finally muttered "Jesus" threw clenched teeth and the cold hands lessened and the voices became more angry. Again I said it louder and to the same effect the hands were retreating from my chest. Then i spoke "JESUS!" which came out as a wisper and they both left. I went to the bathroom and splashed some water on my face and convinced myself I was just dreaming. I looked at my phone and checked the time. Then after a long prayer fell asleep. Only to be woke up again by these same things. I checked my phone and only 10mins had passed since i had last checked my phone. I stayed awake the rest of the night to scared to sleep or even drive home. I didn't return to his house in a month for fear of his place having a few demonic residents. Its Important to note that at this time I started to question my faith. I mean I hadn't actually seen Jesus or his actions on the cross... I began to start becoming angry at the lord for many reasons. At the same time during my preaching to this Mormon friend. My reasons for questioning my faith were because here I am a 21 year old man of God never having been drunk, never having abused any substance, and never having engaged in premarital sex because I felt morally obligated to follow in Christs footsteps. Now don't get me wrong I have had the same temptations as the rest of you but threw some miracle have stayed this way. I have had to watch as all my friends and others attain great relationships in all aspects of life and here I am the to "morally bound" kid watching this and feeling cheated. So you can see why I was questioning my faith. Tho after experiencing this new terror I had never been more spiritually excited. I decided God must be real because of this experience and decided to brave this friends house to keep sowing seed of Christ. Upon my return we had yet another discussion and I prayed over his house and slept well. I then left the next morning. I returned to the house again a few days later and the usual conversation went the way of Christ. Later that night I prayed and feel asleep and woke up to hearing several voices more than I had ever heard before but didn't see any forms. They were giggling at me and I tryed to move and felt hands go around my ankles, wrists, and chest forcing me down. More scared than ever I tried to say Jesus but instantly found what felt like hands squeeze my throat shutting the air to my lungs. A voice by my ear said "He can't help you now." I kept trying and couldn't do anything feeling helpless. I finally pushed up and said "Jesus" and nothing happened. The voices got louder and more angry and the paralyzed feeling stayed as well as the many hands on my body. Then I said it again and they started to ease off. I said it about 20 times before they left me. I awoke and prayed non stop till the next morning for safety and protection for my friends and I.
The connection I'm trying to point out to you all that may read this is that your under spiritual attack because you are doing righteous things before the lord and Satan, in his hatred of you is trying to scare the living hell out of you so that you will lose sight of what ministries you are active in whatever good deeds it may be. This goes for the people who are of all religions and walks of life. Satan and his fallen angles hate any good deed and use this sleep paralysis to attack you and make your fear out weigh your want to do righteousness. Some of you associate this with a hereditary disorder or a scientific answer. Its the perfect guise don't you see if we ignore it as spiritual encounter and deem it scientific then we won't really worry about it as much. Another thing that I want to share with you is the next time this happens to any of you I want you to say the word "Jesus" even if your a non-believer because there is so much power in it. Just try it once I believe it will help you in your struggle. It has me and I will continue to use it as long as I am able.
It happened to me again this morning not as sever as the last time because I am familiar with this attack and instinctively say "Jesus". I realize now that God allowed them to attack me so I could look up this website to share my experiences with you and to know that I am not the only one that this happens too.
Thank U
I would really like to thank u for ur insightfull story and as i read it, it sent chills down my spine. im 25 & i have had these experiances ever since i can remember. more recently yesterday. before i even fall asleep i can already feel that there is something that is wrong. The room is cold & i get the feeling that as soon as i close my eyes someone or something is trying to hurt me. this one time this figure came from under the bed& was trying to pull me under & by the grace of God i was able to get free. the next morning my shoulder was so painful its was scary. the thing is im not a really religious person so i cant really think of why these things would think my soul to be valuable. i really do think that i was ment to read your story and have a better understanding on what is happening to me& for that i will be eternally greatful.
I agree and believe what you
I agree and believe what you experienced and also myself I've been through same types of spiritual state. I've been calling on Jesus during these experiences and my mouth was held, but I believe in all my heart that they kno Jesus and fear him. They leave at the sound of his name. So I thank you for sharing that with me and may the blood of Jesus be marked on u.
I do not want to start a
I do not want to start a religious debate, nor do I want to belittle your experience, but several people have this issue, myself including, and all of us do not have a consistent experience. When my paralysis occurs (usually within 1 hour of going to sleep, although rare, and more commonly as I'm awaking from a nap or early morning waking) I feel like I am suffocating, and cannot move, and I simply attempt to struggle to ask for help via yelling the name of someone who may be in my house with me, or was in my dream with me, but i simply cannot yell, its a very frustrating experience. But I, and many others, do not have this "demonic" attack. I think this greatly has to do with your disposition and real life perspective of reality and how things are. I dont think yelling Jesus is gonna fix the chemical issue that induces this phenomenon. And by the way, Jesus wasnt even his name if he did exist, it was Yeshua, the Hewbrew translation to his theoretical name of the time. I simply think you allow your religious views to manifest themselves in your dreams, and in your attacks, as they are clearly tied close to your personal beliefs and way of life. But dont let that skew you from the truth of how these attacks actually occur, and why they occur. Its a chemical issue, not a demon/god issue.
I don't have a point but perhaps it will get you thinking...
I might be just a tad biased but there is no concrete evidence on the matter proving demons/ghost's as a hallucination. There also is no concrete evidence proving that demons/ghost are real.
your theory, and a good one at that.... is logical. The mind is a powerful enough to create "hallucinations" based on their personal beliefs...perhaps.. It's always good to hear that some one has a scientific answer.. out of everything I've read... its good to hear both sides.
but....touching on this subject also means talking about religon.. "Jesus" is huge, religion...religion is part of culture.. and culture is a scientific artifact... therefore maybe you should seriously start questioning other aspects in life too... religious or not.
and welll I guess my biased response to all of this irony:
Hell!! demons exist!! We are the demons! We people who are destroying the planet and who are killing each other!!
Sleep paralysis
I am so happy to hear im not alone in this. I dont get the experience of demons or anything like that... I am fully aware of what is going on around me but cant move, talk or breathe. Its very scary. Ive had the experience with S.P. up to 5-6 times in one night and i have to take quick shallow breaths starting by trying to push my stomach in and out. Sometimes i can and other times im afraid im going to die because i cant get myself to start breathing.... Does anyone know how to stop it? Im afraid to go to sleep sometimes.
I agree
I would have to agree with you that this is definintely a spiritual thing. I am a soldier currently deployed and I have had these experiences for a long time as well. My spiritual background is alot similar to yours as well. I was raised in a pentecostal church pretty much all of my life. Most of my childhood and Young adult days were spent centered around church. During my teenage years I did stray from the word of God, because I wanted to "fit in" wit all the things that all the other guys were into. The partying, drinking, smoking, girls... everything that I knew was wrong I joined in on trying to find my identity. Well, After I realized that I didnt have to be like everyone else, and that I was made to be different.. I started to search for my faith in God again. So after high school, i went on to college and tried to work thru school and things got really hard. and I was left feeling depressed, confused, and very much out of contact with God. SO at that point in my life, I would constantly have this situation happen to me at night. I would go to bed in different positions only to awake and not be able to move, or open my eyes. all I could do was hear things around me. Sometimes, during this times, I would feel bright lights being shined on me and then i could feel people walking around me. Currently, I am now married with a beautiful wife and 14 month old son. And being away from them is hard, and sometimes we have issues within our marriage that are typical.. But since I have recently been trying to re-establish my faith with God, I feel like I have been encountering this situations alot more frequently. Sometimes, I dont know what to make of it, but more times than other I know that it is spiritual no doubt. I am definitely going to try to use ur remedy of callin the name of jesus.. I think that would definitely work for me.. the way I usually do is just talk to myself and try to stay calm, and when I cant find the strength to speak (in most cases) I just try to think about jesus, and sometimes i go into like a trance of some sort and I could hear or feel Gods presence as if he is with me to get over the fear I have and i eventually fall back asleep... or wake up in a cold cold sweat. either way I thank you for your testimony because It has truely helped me today as it is 337pm in iraq and I was awakened out of my sleep because of this situation, and i figured I would google it to see what i could come up with.
help im only 16!
well.. im having trouble with sleeping, aND SEEING THINGS IN MY SLEEP. I belive I may have this but im not sure, I dont understand..
I went to a mental health doctor and they put me on meds. to help my thougths of wanting to kill myself, but soon after I began to get worse. I have No clue how to feel or what to do.
When I sleep i see dark things. It's beging to scare me even more.. Help?im depressed and scared..
and ofteeen feel as if someones watching me.
This happens to me to dear,
This happens to me to dear, and I'm only 15. But You have to just get through it. just keep your eyes closed, that helps. When, "Doug" (the man that watches me during them) comes, I keep my eyes closed, and he can't get to me.
Sleep Paralysis / Astral Projection - Out of Body Experiences
I don't think the scientific response is the answer to all of these cases. Case in point - Me. I have had the sleep paralysis in conjunction with other symptoms, i.e., high pitch noise, a passing wave sound of some sort (hard to describe) and a feeling of being pulled into myself, followed by a 'popping' sound. That was followed by an astral projection all over the place which I didn't know how to control then a return to my body. This was all without being in a REM sleep, but upon waking up and feeling very relaxed. It was very prominent with me between the ages of 21 and 32 then it dwindled and it hasn't happened that I'm aware of in a few years. The symptoms that I described are similar and coincide with documented cases of astral projection.
So, in a nutshell, a lot of these people's posts are actually astral projection or out of body experiences and can actually learn to be controlled. I got better with it as I got older but I could never initiate it myself. What I could do is recreate the relaxation techniques that my body had responded.
Happy to share!!
hi all! i experience this
hi all! i experience this since im 5yrs old and now im 29. its just an out of body experience lol. the good news is that its a gift cause some people has to practice a lot to achieve it and you need to try to master the techniques of OBE but the bad thing is that during that state it may happen we encounter other soul though evil but surely unharmful for our body. the scietific explanation is bulshit. its genetic as its usually experience by some same family members.
Nightmares
I have had this since I was a little girl. Although, it has never been this bad. I would have it maybe once a year, now it happens at least twice a year and it happens 3-5 times a night, if not more. It sucks because I feel like I can sense everying thing around me, but my bodies completly numb and I can't open my eyes. Once I thought I was actually paralizyed for life.
Sometimes it happens just like out of no where, like when I do not rememeber my dream. And other times its my dream that triggers it, or I feel like it does. Like last night it happened in my dream when this guy just turned and looked at me, I felt his eyes on me even when I wasen't dreaming. It was creepy. I hate this...is there anyway to cure it???
Last nights SP episodes
Last night if happened again so I feel the need to get on here and talk about it. It always makes me feel better to get it off my shoulders. Last night my back started to hurt so i decided to go sleep on the couch. I looked at the microwave as I was headed to the couch and the clock said 12am. I started to have a SP episode but was able to wake up. I wanted to go back to sleep on the couch but was afraid it would happen again so I decided to go back to my bed where I knew my back would start hurting again. As soon as I got into bed and closed my eyes I started to see yellow objects and after seeing them for a few seconds it hit me that something was trying to tell me I was a coward for not staying on the couch and as soon as I thought that the yellow objects vanished. I am sure my mind was not fully awake and messing up. I had many bad dreams but no SP dreams until my husband left for work. For the first time in my life I felt pressure on the left side of my head each time I was going into a SP episode, I never felt that before from all the other times. I would wind up paralyzed and the blankets would be over my head to where I couldn't breathe and I would call out for Jesus to help me, after a few times of asking Jesus to help me I would be able to move but not wake up, you think you woke up but later you realize you didn't. I had that happen over and over it seemed before I finally woke up. I even saw my 4 year old son get into bed with me, I even felt him laying there beside me but when I woke up he wasn't there. I know that I wanted my kids to come get in bed with me because I knew the SP would go away if they did and I am sure my mind dreamed it since it was on my mind. I usually always wake up around 5am or a little later but usually always wake up before 5:30am. When I woke up I saw lights on my ceiling like the curtains were moving and letting light come in. You know how hard it is to focus on anything when you first come out of the SP dream. I am so tired now, and have decided to go to bed real early so if it starts to happen again when my husband leaves for work that I will be able to get up and start my day without feeling so tired. I also had bad thoughts before I went to sleep last night, my mind was dragging up sad and depressing thoughts and I am sure that had something to do with it. I am so glad for this site, it makes me feel like I am in a group and am able to listen to others just like me and talk about it too. I am sure I will be thinking about it most of the day and wondering what caused it and how to stop it. Hopefully going to bed early and keeping my mind out of the gutter will help.
Hi, I get what you're saying.
Hi, I get what you're saying. I've been getting SP since I was a kid. Lately like you, my dreams been triggering it putting me in that state. If I was dreaming and it was a nasty or bad dream, I can hear it coming in my dream and and I'll try to wake myself up. It sounds like some kind of evil force entering my sleep. So I try to wake myself up before it enters my dream and it be too late. I wake in a Sp state. But I feel the presence of something evil, same thing that interrupted my sleep or dream. The more I try to remain calm the longer it feels like this presence stays. So I call apon the name of Jesus and it stops.I tried everything for years, but only when I call Jesus does this entity leaves. So that's why I believe its spiritual.
This always happen to me
This always happen to me about 4 times a month and I'm so sick of it. It's scary cause when I finally get out of it I'm all out of breath it make me don't even want to got to sleep but I had found a bit of a way to fight it. Befor I got to bed I set a alarm to wale me up and it work it's just the days when I forget to set the alarm I got trough that so my lil advice that really work for me is to set an alarm a lil Before u know u wake up and see what happens email me if u did it and it worked
I don't think the scientific
I don't think the scientific response is the answer to all of these cases. Case in point - Me. I have had the sleep paralysis in conjunction with other symptoms, i.e., high pitch noise, a passing wave sound of some sort (hard to describe) and a feeling of being pulled into myself, followed by a 'popping' sound. That was followed by an astral projection all over the place which I didn't know how to control then a return to my body. This was all without being in a REM sleep, but upon waking up and feeling very relaxed. It was very prominent with me between the ages of 21 and 32 then it dwindled and it hasn't happened that I'm aware of in a few years. The symptoms that I described are similar and coincide with documented cases of astral projection.
So, in a nutshell, a lot of these people's posts are actually astral projection or out of body experiences and can actually learn to be controlled. I got better with it as I got older but I could never initiate it myself. What I could do is recreate the relaxation techniques that my body had responded.
I had dis going on for years
I had dis going on for years in still scared I wish it would stop. When I wale up I'm all out of breath from fighting it its so scary
there's something more
I experienced this two days ago. It cant be a sleeping disorder because I wasn't sleeping I was fully awake. I know for sure it was something evil or unknown. I feel ghosts, spirits, things that you can't see in daily life. First time it happened to me was two days ago. I was laying on my left side facing the wall and I couldn't sleep, then it happened. I felt my body being pushed down, heavy pressure. I felt paralyzed, My eyes were half open and I couldn't close nor open them. Then my radio turned on by itself and I heard a song start playing. I kept trying to move, make this force get off me. It felt evil, dark, but It wouldn't let me move. Then I swear I thought I could move so I turned over (the thing is I don't know if I did anymore) But when I did turn on my back I kept trying to fall off the bed thinking I would be able to move. It was as if my brain was making me think that I was moving when I really wasn't. My rooms pitch-black though but I saw something smile or trying to at least. I couldn't scream, talk, nothing. It was as if I wasn't in my body but my brain was still in function. Finally, I can't explain it but whatever it was let go and I ran to my moms room to go sleep with her. I was terrified. I slept with her last night also because I didn't want it to happen again. Tonight I'm sleeping in my room and I want it to happen so I can be for sure that i'm not going crazy. I feel like that would at least be the logical answer. sigh* My dad said he has had this happen to him and also my uncle. So it is hereditary. But its not normal. I think it could be used for something though and thats what i'm gonna see if I can find out.
Seriously!!
I get all the fucking time it's annoying and you feel helpless. but it really annoys me even more to see this shit saying we are proving science wrong there's no suck thing as fucking ghosts people!!. I learned to deal with it by remaining cam! make yourself understand whats going on! don't panic! and relax! then you'l slowly drift into proper sleep.
Another thing!! when your asleep and go into a dream state and believe you can fly it will happen! if you think there's a ghost in the room your sleeping in has a ghost(Boooo) imagine a sexy super model to kick it's ass! then ***** ***** ***** (censored for parental control! ha ha.
Sorry but it really annoys me when I hear ridiculous thoughts or bullshit on ghost or becoming possessed :P
Wow! I respect your views on
Wow! I respect your views on your experience, but all people feel and experience different episodes.If I may, with all do respect some people in their natural life's probably never been around an evil person. Yet alone felt the presence of an evil person or a person
wit a bad spirit. Now on the other hand you may have.
And dealt with it accordingly. That's why when your in sp state you may not feel the presence because you're probably always around the presence when you're up, so it doesn't effect you when you're in the SP state.
Now a person who is not around it can't recognize it when they are up, but in the SP state it overwhelms them. They feel and see and it makes them believe. Like my question to everyone is "why isn't ever positive when we're in the SP state? "It's always gloomy and horrible. No matter what state we are in in our lives, when ever you feels as though you can't move or breathe and see and feel things that makes you paralyzed and have no control is scary. And something wants you to feel that. To be scared wit no way of talking or moving. Just laying down there knowing he's there and not being able to do anything. That's scary!
have been and or seen and probably know these types of spirits and people and it doesn't effect you. Even when your in the SP state and can't move or breathe your in control but you say there's no presence of demon nor ghost and you lay there until you fall into another sleep.
We are special.. to have this experience..
It has been almost 2 years now, I did not even thought of it being a disorder! As a science believer, i knew it was something wrong with my sleeping habits.
The first time it happened to me, I seriously felt someone pulling me out of my body. I tried to struggle a lot, but unable to move my body, it was a deadly experience. I could feel the presence of everything around me, but was unable move even a fingertip. Some how I was successful in screaming and that too in a very different manner than we normally scream! Within few seconds I was perfectly fine.. This happened to me within some minutes after going to bed..
From many days i was waiting for this thing to happen again, as I decided that not to struggle while this happens and wanted to see the consequences. I already knew that its my sleep, which is pulling me towards itself. So as per my prediction, making no struggle will result me going into deeper sleep.
The day came Day Before Yesterday (5th Feb, 2011), I again experienced this with me, this time when i tried to struggle, I recollected that I was about to follow my decision (this proves it was not a dream), I stopped struggling and experienced that My body was being pulled into my body itself.. I scared the hell out of me.. I was not able to bear that and tried struggling again to get out of it, tried to cry for help and was successful in making voice as always, my dad was sleeping beside me, he shaken me up and then I was perfectly normal.... Now this thing made me compelled to research over it.. Today after reading this page I'm feeling much better, Seeing this that I'm not alone..
I don't know why this happens to me, I am purely a happy-go-lucky kind of person and don't feel any stress in my life, may be my sleep timings would have been a reason..
I will try to cure this, of course with the help of science.. I found this link while googling may this helps you, as I am going to follow this:
I wud not take any medicines but will try to control my sleeping habits..
I used to get this a lot when
I used to get this a lot when I was younger and it would scare me. I just got it last night, and it made me want to research it. The incident lead me to this page. I can recall seeing shadows, but that is rare. Also, I have had really bad and weird dreams about loved ones and dying right before I have an episode. My eyes are sometimes closed and I just sit there unable to move, but awake in my mind. I developed a technique. I will share it with you, and I hope that it helps some of you that have SP. DO NOT PANIC. As soon as you realize that you are having an episode, start counting. I usually count to three. Plan on moving on a number. In your head, count "one, two, three". Then try to just move your entire body. Jerk it your arms, legs, head or what not. Once you gain an ounce of mobility, just keep moving around and you will finally wake completely up. This procedure has worked with me for years. I do not know how it will work with others, but it is the only way that I have coped with SP. I do not know if my disorder is a gift, a spiritual experience, a curse, or just some sleeping disorder, but I have learned to accept it. it is what it is. I hope that this helps. I am happy that I found this page and know that I am not alone and can discuss the topic with others. God Bless all.
Sleep study
Hi! This all looks very interesting, I had no idea sleep paralysis was this common. If you’re reading this and are interested in sleep/wake cycles and how this interacts with the kind of person you are, it would be fantastic if you could fill out my survey for my university dissertation. Just click on this link:
http://nclpsych.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_5psPFoW3aEnPA1u Or, if this doesn’t work, copy and paste it into your address bar. If you know anyone else/any other forums that are interested in this kind of thing it would be great if you could pass it on to them. Thank you so much! :)
i had this for a few weeks .
i had this for a few weeks . very scary ... used to see shadows of people outside my room and outside the window . for sufferers ,try not to panic when experiencing this... and it helps a lot ( trust me , it helped me )to try and concentrating on your little finger , will yourself to move it.
TO PROOF SCIENTIST ARE WRONG
TO PROOF SCIENTIST ARE WRONG TO STOP IT PERIODICALLY GET A CLEAR GLASS FILL IT WITH WATER DON'T HAS TO BE FULL GET A BIBLE WITH YOUR HAND OVER THE GLASS OF WATER READ PSALMS 21 THEN 91 THEN REPEAT THIS IS THE WORD OF THE LORD THANKS BE TO GOD. SPRINKLE SOME OF THE HOLY WATER AROUND YOUR ROOM AND PLACE THE GLASS OFF WATER UNDER YOUR BED IN THE CENTER OR NEAR YOU ON A NIGHT STAND. THE WATER GOES DOWN EACH NIGHT WHEN ITS AT ITS LOWEST YOU SPRINKLE IT ALL OVER YOUR ROOM THEN REFILL WITH THE SAME PROCEDURE. (READ THE PSALMS BEFORE GOING TO BED.
I did this and science is
I did this and science is always trying to prove things otherwise. Had these since I was 17 years old. Psalm 91 has been my favorite when I prayed to God way back then wondering why I had these terrors. I wake up when I pray in jesus name. I just had one now and Im 34. its been a good half hour and I still feel exhausted with the feeling it leaves you afterwards you wake up. you really have to wake up if not it will take you back to sleep and you will be taken where you left off..like to be continued? let science explain that one.
Ahhh, too bad not everyone
Ahhh, too bad not everyone believe in superstition! I've had this problem for 15 years, at first it was as scary as everyone describes it, but since I have never believed in anything supernatural I started paying attention to the external factors that could cause my sleep paralysis. I soon realized that I get it most when I'm stressed out, or haven't slept enough, or have slept too much. Then as I kept speaking with my father about it, who happens to be a rational physician and a science-believer, he helped me control those external factors thru years. To stress less, to get an adequate amount of sleep, and regularize my sleeping and even eating habits and to work out. As a result I not only experience WAY less cases of sleep paralysis, I also no longer hallucinate either!!! All that happens (if it happens) is I wake up as soon as my muscles get paralyzed and I start feelig heavy, KNOWING what's happening to me. I close my eyes again and force myself to relax. And it goes away immediately! It's a neurological malfunctionig of your brain during a stage of your sleep. Get over it! Science is doing it's job amazingly and that is proving people like you wrong. Have shame and grow up!
Oh, I forgot to mention; my mother is the same way! Which means it's hereditary! But since you probably don't understand that, I'll ask you a question in your language: how can the evil creature be possessing my body when he's busy doing the same thing to my mom 3000 miles away at the same time?
thank you very much for
thank you very much for asking that question. i think that saying things about evil sprits and demonds mean you have watched way to many movies! i think everything can be explained with science.
and on top of that, these people need to think about the litle kids who come on here looking for answers to what just happened to them. and they dont need to read that it could be that they are be freaking possesed.
LUCID DREAMING
The psychic phenomenon known as a lucid dream is where the dreamer is aware of the fact that they are dreaming. Lucid dreams occur during REM (rapid-eye-movement) stages, and nearly everyone has at least one lucid dream in their lifetime, and very few people dream lucidly often.
Aristotle in the fourth century B.C. mentioned lucid dreaming. The earliest extant written account of a lucid dream is contained in a letter written in 415 by St. Augustine, who described the lucid dream of a Carthaginian physician, Gennadius.
Lucid dreams have been ignored by many dream researchers, or dismissed as impossible. Some researcher’s feel, however, lucid dreams hold great potential as creativity and healing tools.
There are varying degrees of lucidity in dreams.
At the lowest level of Lucidity, one awakes from a realistic dream and realizes it was a dream and not reality.
At the highest level of Lucidity, one is aware as the dream takes place and can influence its source and outcome.
The form taken by a lucid dream seems to mirror the dreamer’s mental state of mind and the dreamer may develop strong psychic energy. The initiation of awareness of dreaming can be triggered by various factors, such as the stress of the nightmare, incongruous elements, or a spontaneous recognition that the reality is different from the waking reality.
Generally, lucid dreams are characterized by bright light, intense emotions, heightened colors and images, flying or levitation, and a sense of liberation or exhilaration. Some are almost mystical in nature. Sex plays a prominent role in lucid dreams, especially for women.
The applicability of lucid dreams is controversial. Advocates believe that controlled lucid dreaming can be applied to creativity, problem solving, relationships, health, and the riddance of nightmares.
I CAN LUCID DREAM AT A HIGH DEGREE ITS NOT THE SAME
I’m 13 years old. This little
I’m 13 years old. This little sleeping thing started happening about nine months ago. The first time this happened was when I was trying to go to sleep one night. I recall having my eyes open looking at my wall. I had thought I was asleep because I started hearing this beeping sound; like the heart monitors at the hospital. I was wondering what it was because I could still see my wall and my tv flashing light. The beeping got louder and louder. I tried to move but I couldn’t every time it was like a force pushing down. And every time I tried to move the beeping got louder. I thought I was having a heart attack because that’s what the beeping reminded me of; and there was presser on me. I stopped trying to move and just waited it out. And the beeping got slower and so did the presser; it stopped after a couple of minutes. I’ve had this happen to me many times but it was during the night every single time, and it was in between my dreams. I thought it was just me dreaming about the first time this happened. Something like when a person gets in a car accident and they dream about it (like it traumatizing).But then about a month ago it happened again but it was in the morning (just a little different, instead of beeping it was a ringing that still scares the crap out of me right now).And i could hear my mom’s boyfriend talking to his daughter in front of my door (because her room is right across mine). And i could see perfectly fine. I was terrified, i tried to move my legs up and i managed to with a lot of effort. But when I tried to lift my head up; I felt I was going to be crushed under the presser and the ringing increased. I have always stayed calm when this happened; just waited it out. It scared me afterwards because I didn’t know what was going on. And like I said I’m only 13 so I don’t really a know so much about things like this. I thought i was going crazy or having some type of seizure. I’m so happy it has nothing to do with either one of them. I’m glad i no what is going on, and I’m not alone. I just don’t understand why it’s happening to me. Nobody in my family has sleeping problems. Or has this problem. I never saw anything. And I’m really glad i didn’t at least before i looked this up. I don’t believe in ghost or demons or anything like that. I believe in science, but if i did see something before this i would be questioning it. I probably would have thought I was being haunted. I never told my mom this, and kind of glade. I’m very thankful to the person who had made this research. No if it happens again and if I see something I’ll know what is going on.
reply to comment
I am 12 years old and it was a smooth night but it wasn't smooth in the morning. When i woke up i heard my 22 year old sister saying that something was on top of her preventing her from breathing.We were all scared. We were 4 sisters. We decided to sleep in my 15 year old sisters room so we could watch for each other. I prayed and fell asleep but then in the middle of the night i felt someone closing my eyes with their cold hand and choking me as though it wanted to kill me. I didn't think of screaming but i couldn't move at all. A few years after that we moved houses. But nothing had happened to us ever since. In our new home after a few months my 15 year old sister told us she heard someone opening her knob to her door and she heard footsteps. She said she felt someone on top of her preventing her from moving and she too, didn't think of screaming. She said that she started praying and suddenly everything was back to normal. Now although nothing has happened we of course aren't prepared for it but next time it happens we will no that it's not normal but it happens.
hi dear. i live in the island
hi dear. i live in the island of mauritius and me too experienced the same thing since i am 5yrs old now im 29 and im used to it. well ive seen lots of things like seeings shadows,hearing voices,being struggle,and lot more. well im not convinced with the scientific explanation and don't thnk its possession too cause ive saw a lot of different form @ different times. well if u want it to stop the moment your experiencing it just shake ur head from left 2 right as fast as you can until you wake up. you will feel a bit dizzy a while.dnt try 2 shout or get up you'll tired urself. whats happening is out of body experience! hpe ive help. contact me on facebook kalidin vicky
this happens to me at my mothers place
im a 26 year old man and i have had this experience about 20 times at my mothers house back home. It first happened when i was 14 it was very frightening and it happened just as i was going to bed, moments after closing my eyes, my eyes would open feeling a presence of something and that my body was completely frozen, i could still hear my uncle and cousin watching the hockey game in the living room and looking around in my dark room only can see my alarm clock lit, i tried to yell and call my uncle's name but i was paralized to a point where my yells/screams were like a tiny tiny groan. It lasted for about 30 seconds then it just went away, i shot up out of bed turned the light on and went straight to my bed and looked under thinking it was a ghost because my house has had weird ghostly phenomena. after looking under my bed i opened my bedroom door and ran to the living room to explain to my uncle and cousin what had happened to me, when i got there they had this scared look on there face and i asked whats wrong, they said a 2 liter of pepsi bottle had flowen off the counter as i ran out of my bedroom. I then had told them my experience. This only happens at my mothers place and it has happened to not only me but my mother once when she was in her early twenties and it has happened to my 3 sisters all same experiences and frightening ones. Last year when i was 25 i had went to my mothers for a weekend to visit, i had to sleep on the couch that night since i had no bed there anymore, anyways at around 1am i had the same frozen body paralized feeling and it was scary once again, its more like the presence im getting is evil and it feels like it, this time i had called out for Jesus's name and on the 3rd time i called apon his name the presence had lifted and left and i was able to get up but my body was very very weak like as if i was drained of energy. I had gone to my mothers room to explain that that feeling had happened again, not 3 seconds after telling my mother what happened my sister had walked in and told me at around 12:30am the same thing happened to her only she was reading a book in her bedroom and she went directly into a frozen body state and only her eyes could move but she felt the presence. So this big SCIENTIFIC explaination of this so called sleep disorder is upright ridiculous and it is MORE OF A SPIRITUAL OR somekind of experience that only happens to me at my mothers place and has happened to 3 of my sisters and mother and also happened to my sister when she was AWAKE. Wow im getting so into this its not even funny, the people who said they have a scientific explaination for this and call it a certain sleep disorder obviously havn't had this experiance and only want to sit inside there egg shell and tell it how they want to tell it.
Yea I feel you, I believe
Yea I feel you, I believe this can be caused by an evil spirit, and at the same time it can be described in scientific view, I remember when I had continous experiences of this, I said to me, the next time it happens, I'll call for God, and then I had it, I remember I couln't breathe nor move but I remember I could notice some day light and my eyes not open, it lasted like 10 seconds or so and it was like my mind fully awaken, thinking I must move! and I said into myself "Oh Yaweh, please!" And then I moved my body hard and breathed deeply once. "Thanks God" I said.
Another time after that, I remember it was more like I could see, and the thing began to happen, and I started to see a big dark figure, it bothered me, and I thought it was responsible for it. So I struggled to move on my knees on my bed, and reached with my left hand over the neck of the huge figure but dissipated at the reach, and then it ended!
I usually pray to God to bless my house, and one must do the right things, so you won't attract those evil beings, one is also less vulnerable when you are tired, might because of been doing stuff that kept me busy from doing wrong actions.
I try to be sincere and more frequent on nightly prayers to God.
Lately I haven't experienced any sleep paralysis.
Cheers!
you can beat it
ok I have had this for atleast awhile it happened to me 4 times. At first I heard the voices and couldnt move it was scary, I couldnt move and i coudltn yell loud just soft and scratchy. The other times it has happened I was once agian scred but I told my self to clam down. The thrid time i was as frightened becaus eI knew nothing can harm phyiscally and that the trick. i learned to move my right hand a little and of course my feet I know its not alot. The fourth time it happened I can move my left leg up to my knee which is good in most cases but agian cant move at all. This thing can be beaten. You have to be clam. try and yell if you can also concentrate and try and move remember nothing can hurt you physically and tell yourself there is nothing to fear. Thats what i am doing and soon it will be a just a little wake up in the night then sleep agian!
I understand your theory in
I understand your theory in the physical, but with me it seems more like something trying to take more then my body. More like my soul. I become to realize that as I lay there not able to move that something wants to pull my soul away from my body. Im more afraid of not being able to move away from whatevers trying to hurt my soul.
Some reading for you all scared about SP
I am a veteran SP sufferer :).
Me being very analytical wanted more out of these experiences. I went to the Book Store and bought a book on Out of Body Experiences(OBE). Astral Dynamics by Robert Bruce. In the book he calls these episodes, "Spontaneous OBE's" The book also goes through trying to have one consciously. I have yet to master this technique, however but have come close. I will add that after reading the book it has come to my belief that sometimes these SP episodes are me having a spontaneous OBE. Mr. Bruce believes when people have an OBE their soul gets copied and projected to the "other side". This prevents you from dying in real life. This "copy" may be the man in the corner or small woman on your chest.
This is only one theory, and I just wanted to share.
Live long and Sleep Well.
THIS IS NOT REGULAR GUYS
THIS IS NOT REGULAR GUYS PLEASE DON'T TAKE IT LIGHTLY ITS 6:45AM AND IT JUST HAPPENS TO ME IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR 4 YEARS NOW AM 19. ITS A GIFT, YOU JUST HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO USE IT, BUT SOMETIMES IT CAN BE DANGEROUS. SCIENTIST KNOW NOTHING, IT DON'T ALWAYS HAPPENS AT NIGHT, IT CAN BE DAY ALSO WHETHER A SLEEPING OR A WAKE, DON'T HAS TO BE LYING DOWN EITHER. IT COMES IN MANY DIFFERENT STAGES SUCH AS SOUL TRAVEL, VISIONS, ETC. PLEASE GUYS STOP LISTENING SCIENTIST OR ELSE YOU CAN END UP LIKE PARANORMAL ACTIVITIES YEA THE TV SHOW.
ive gotten use to it.
I've been having this happen to me since I was about 13 or 14 I am not 19 years old and in the beginning I was always afraid I would panic but the more I panic the more I couldn't breath and I have bad asthma so I just count or pray. Praying really does help me I am no longer afraid I try to think about good things before I sleep. I had an experience this afternoon when I was napping I could hear everyone around me my niece was right next to me but I couldn't move a bit. I've only had one experience where I've actually seen a black shadow in front of the television I assumed it was my grandfather I wasn't scared though on a little shaken up but I looked uit up & it was said dark shadows are evil spirits & I continue to hear that but Im over it I can deal with it now.
A Thrilling Dream/Waking Experience
I have had such sleep Paralysis many times. My Eyes would be half open, but I would not be able to move the body. Yesterday (01-FEB-2011)I had a Dream/Waking experience. The Dream was so fantastic. The Music which I heard in my Dream was absolutely Brilliant Like a Symphony, it went Flawless. It was just Real Music. I was half awake and recalling my earlier Sleep Paralysis, I was telling within me ' I am not afraid of Death. I feel Happy to Die.' Somehow I kicked me out of the bed and got up only to find the Dream was so Real and Unforgettable. Oh! what a Brilliant Symphony! How it is inside my Head? Very Mysterious. The subconscious mind contains unfathomable Information.
I dont know whats real anymore...
Im 15 years old, and I've been having this for about a year. Im scared out of my mind and I don't know what to do anymore. When this is happining I can feel it before starts, and I try to wake myself up but its hard. Your body feels traped, for me its like somthing is holding me down and im so scared I try to fight but I cant move I have to scream in my head to wake up. I dont know what it is, and I dont know if its just a sleeping disodor or something evil but this website makes me feel beter it shows me that im not alone.
I had my latest experience on
I had my latest experience on Friday. I only have sleep paralysis when I sleep during the day time because I guess it out of habit and only happens twice a week maybe?! So when I have them I'm always face up. They usually start out when I wake up in another dream but the dream is always me trying to wake up properly. So it happens 3 or 4 times before I actually wake up for real and this usually happens by me recognising I'm in a dream and jolting myself awake or I will make myself fall in my dream and when I get that sensation of falling I wake up. I know this is linked to lucid dreaming because I can control what's happening. When I'm having my experience I can see the room that I am in and sometimes I can see faces or things moving. I also feel like I am awake and try to kick of a blanket or something so I can wake up. It's absolutely horrible but when I realise I'm in the dream I can control my feeling to calm myself down. Just thought I would share my experience :)
I Need it to Stop
Today I had an 'episode'. It freaked me out because it seems like its getting worse. I had the usual can't move, can't breath, hearing things and seeing things, but this time it felt as if my spirit floated out of me and took on a snake like form and slithered/floated around the room. When I 'came to' I immediately came to the computer. I've had this since I was about 14. It was really bad at first because i would totally stop breathing and i would have to sleep with my mom so she could shake me and force me up. I've had it consistently and I was getting 'used' to it, but then it happened when i was fully awake. My vision became blurry, my breathing slowed and my body went limp. I was just sitting at the table in thought them BAM I couldn't do anything. It scared the hell out of me. I was screaming with all my might but only a peep came out. I eventually 'shook/vibrated' my self of it. I need this to stop. I feel like I'm going crazy. It happens now about 2 or 3 times a week. Going to sleep, waking up and wide awake. Doctors think I'm loony and a mental hypochondriac. or put me in sleep studies. Is there any real way to get rid of this or manage it. I'm an insomniac now, I fear sleep, and I try not to get to deep in thought because that's when it happens when I'm awake. I don't know what to do..