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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
i thought i was alone
so, this happened to me almost 5 years ago. my story is a scary one that, to me, proves that it is more then just a mental thing.
i was dating a girl that i thought was nice. it happened one night after talking to her about God. she told me she was a catholic when she was a Kid, but could not possible believe in it anymore since the world is so bad. She went on to explain that when she was a kid, she and her friend use to use Ouija board's.
She then told me that one night, the Ouija board went nuts, and a lot of really creepy stuff happened. She said she thought she was dreaming, and she said that things in the room were floating, but her friend remembered the same thing also. i forget what else happened, but basically some spooky stuff. They said that it was a different "spirit" then what they normally would talk to.
She then said about 3 months later, her friend never acted the same. she was always trying to find men on the internet to live with (3 times her age) (she was like 13 - 14) and she would try to run away.. she never acted the same, and was more violent and aggressive. my GF at the time tried to stop her a few times, even called the police on her. later, they stopped talking.
After she told me all that, and we shared some stories, I went to bed that night, to experience Sleep Paralysis. During that time, i could not move, and barley breath. Your body feels like it is tingling and sometimes feels like you are falling backwards. During that time, I hearing many things, and it def felt like someone was lying in bed next to me, but i could not turn over to see. i also heard loud barking (from a large dog) and basically, it scared the crap out of me. i finally kept trying to move, only to somehow pull out of it, and was able to move.. i got up, and nothing was there.
i thought "wow, that was one MESSED UP DREAM" I hope I never get that dream again, but when i started to go back to sleep, I started to feel my body become tingly again. I quick moved to stay out of it. i thought it was just my body falling asleep, but I was really just telling myself something to feel better. i couldn't sleep that night, every time I would try, I would start to "fall backwards" and my body would tingle. i did happen to get a little sleep again, only to have it happen again. paralysis from head to toe, and all i could see was my wall(i was on my side) then my arm started to shake like crazy, and move around and flop around like someone was pulling it and shaking it. Then I started to hear laughing and i could not stop it or anything, its hard to explain. i tried to pull out of it, but its defiantly not the same as a dream, you have to move your body to get out of it, and sometimes you can’t.
Anyway, I was so scared, I just did not sleep the rest of the night. I knew I couldn’t. I read the bible since I had no idea what else to do. I then went online to kill some time, and my GF at the time had a mobile phone that was on AIM. I asked her to get online so we could talk (like 2am now) and so she did.
I told her what happened, and the first thing she said was, “you heard barking?” I was like, yeah, barking, clear as day, outside my room, but very loud. She did not respond back for awhile, so I called her. She said that the sprite that she use to talk to when she was younger was somehow apart of a Dog (I do not know how to explain it) but basically he was like a Dog sprite person.
Knowing NOTHING about this before i heard the barking, it def spooked me. why would i "dream" a dog barking, only to find out later that it was related to something that happened 3 years ago to my GF. She basically could not figure out why he “the sprite” would go to me, or that it was even happening. I was so scared, because now I find out that some girls past is literally haunting me, and there was clear proof. And on top of it all, I was dating someone WITH this type of past. I let it go, and figured it was a one time thing. The next night, it happened again, almost the same thing, but a little different. I then broke up with her because of it, since I could not explain it was happening to me. I only ever told her, and my best friend (and now you all)
never told my parents or my other friends. i almost forgot about it, since it only happened maybe 10 times every 5 years or so. last-night it happened again, and today, someone on facebook shared a life changing story, where he happened to mention the same thing happened to him (which is what changed his life)
.... i think it might be deeper then what we think.. i really do not know if i fully believe i am awake in a dream.. and why can we only see SCARY Demon like things, and not fun things and happy things? my dreams are not this scary.. my dreams are normally pretty fun and pleasant, then i am awake for this "dream" i am not sure how i feel about that.
sleep paralysis ?
Hi All,
I have been through the same thing and during my sleep I would see a tall, black shadow pushing its weight on me and I would be so sooooo terrified that I would not turn in that direction while sleeping. I have never had sleep paralysis before, never...I am a healthy person and I got so scared....then I told my mom about it and she knew an Indian astrologer who suggested me a remedy and since then I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS EXPERIENCE OR SO CALLED SLEEP PARALYSIS. I was even told of who the black figure was but I would not disclose due to personal reasons. This is what happened to me, I don't know about others.So guys, don't believe science all the way...it itself is based on so many assumptions.....
Curious
I came across this site because my fiance has experienced this since she was about 15 or so. I am curious as to what the remedy was that the Indian Astrologer had for you, and who the black figure was? Also, why would you bring this up and claim to be cured, but not provide the remedy for other people who are going through similar situations?
sleep paralysis
i have only suffered with this twice so far over a 3 year period,both times were quite scary experiences.the first time it happened,i had been on a drinking bender with my friend and he got the last train home but i wanted to stay out longer because i was having a really good time.so i booked into a hotel so i didnt need to get the train early.i got into my room around 2 o clock am feeling not too drunk and chilled out reading a magazine id bought from the all night shop to wind down a bit.after about 20 minutes i finally turned the light off and tried to go to sleep.i could still hear the beat of the music from the bar downstairs and it felt like it took a while before i finally fell asleep.the next thing i remember is waking up with sweat all over me and the thin bed cover stuck to my body.it was completely quiet and i dont know what time it mus of been but in the pitch black, i could see the outline of an old craggy woman with scraggly long hair who seemed to be taunting me and coming close to me and then backing away to try and tease me.i remember feeling absolutely terrified and trying to scream hoping there would have been someone on the same floor as me in the hotel who would hear and come and help me.i couldnt move at all either and i felt powerless.this happened for the rest of the night it seemed.waking up with the same thing happening then drifting back to sleep then waking up and having to enjure it again.that was the first time it had ever happened to me and i thought id gone mad, it was 3 years ago now and i was 24.The second time,was only about 7 months ago when i was staying at a friend of mines who funnily enough is a psychic and medium.the night i stayed over she said her house had spirits.i nodded and seemed interestd although really im sceptical over all that kind of thing but dont want to offend her!we basically stayed in watching tv and ordered a pizza and had a few glasses of wine when about 2 o clock again, we went to bed. i stayed in a tiny box like room at the top of the staircase.it was small but cozy and i drifted to sleep quite easily.same as the first time, i woke up with hot sweats even though it was a freezing febuary night, to complete silence.i was aware of a dark male shadow which kept running around the bed.(dont ask me how the figure was running in a tiny room because i dont know,it was really weird)the figure didnt seem evil like the first but seemed to be a teenage boy in a dark tracksuit of some type of thing!(strange i know)!anyway i tried shouting for my friend who was in the next room but nothing came out.i must have been in this state for only about 1 minute but it was frightening enough then i went back to sleep and it never happened again.in the morning i asked my friend if she heard me shouting in the night and she said no so i explained what happened and how it happened a few years before and she told me id had a spiritual experience.i stopped myself from laughing as she would say this being a psychic.i find it odd how each time ive had one of these episodes,i have been sleeping somewhere different and not in my own bed and hope. i think personally its because i am a very homely person and love my own surroundings and never feel 100% comfortable anywhere else.i have to be at home to be able to feel really safe and relaxed so maybe because ive felt anxious and im in a different place its making me more supseptibe to these occurences!i dont know but its never happened since, like i said only twice in a 3 year period and i dont recall ever having them in my early childhood but they are frightening when they happen and very random too(why was the second spirit or whatever a teenager with a tracksuit on)!haha
Sleep Paralysis
The symptoms of sleep paralysis include sensations of noises, smells, levitation, paralysis, terror, and images of frightening intruders. Once considered very rare, about half of all people are now believed to experience sleep paralysis sometime during their life.
Sleep paralysis strikes as a person is moving into or out of REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, the deepest part of sleep. During REM sleep the body is largely disconnected from the brain leaving the body paralyzed. Sleep paralysis is the result of premature (or persistent) mind-body disconnection as one is about to enter into (or exit from) REM sleep.
Sleep paralysis occurs most often after jet lag or periods of sleeplessness that interrupt the normal REM patterns. It affects both sexes equally and occurs at all ages but is most common in teenagers. Sleep paralysis can be familial and may be genetic (inherited) in some cases.
An attack of sleep paralysis is usually harmless and self-limited. It tends to be over in a minute or two as soon as the brain and body re-establish connections and the person is able to move again. However, the memory of the terrifying sensations felt during sleep paralysis can long endure. (Some scholars believe that sleep paralysis may account for some of the old claims of attacks by witches and the more recent "reports" of nocturnal abduction by space aliens.)
Here are some tips to help avoid SP...
Don't stay up and move to the point of exhaustion, as this can increase the likelihood of sleep paralysis.
Reduce stress.
Eat healthy.
Avoid going to bed hungry. Avoid caffeine 5 hours before sleep.
Remember that, although it can feel dangerous, it isn't.
Some may find that the more they try to move, the worse it gets and the longer it goes on for. If so simply relax for a few seconds, stop trying to move and after a few seconds have passed, try moving an arm or leg, then you should be out of the paralysis.
Most episodes can be stopped by coughing the word 'cough' repeatedly. Although you may still go into another episode if you try to immediately go back to sleep. Coughing is both a voluntary and involuntary response, which such responses break the sleeping state.
Note: Some may not be able to speak under sleep paralysis, rendering this method useless.
Talk about it with others.
An improper sleeping schedule can be a cause of sleep paralysis. Try to get 8-10 hours of sleep every night at the same time of night every night, and sleep paralysis may go away.
Concentrating on trying to move or "shake" yourself may break you out of it in no time.
Sleep paralysis is most common while sleeping on your back.
Try to avoid sleeping this way
Try to avoid coffee or medications that affect your heart rate.
Consider having a sleep study to diagnose whether the cause of the sleep paralysis may be sleep apnea. With proper treatment of a diagnosed sleep apnea condition, the sleep paralysis events may subside and/or disappear.
If you find you are experiencing paralysis as you are falling asleep try sitting up and staring at a bright light for a minute or so before lying down again. No one is sure why, but this does help some people.
Always remember to relax because sleep paralysis last only a few seconds or minutes and will fade away momentarily.
Some people that frequently deal with sleep paralysis have found the following technique to be helpful. Take a moment each day to relax and imagine the sensations of your sleep paralysis. Focus on your breathing, then take a deep breath while picturing that breath lifting you up to consciousness as you open your eyes. Practicing your escape procedure when not experiencing the paralysis can greatly reduce the anxiety that can accompany an episode.
Make sure that you are actually awake. Sleep paralysis could very well be a dream, and you will likely be able to discern whether or not it is a dream by moving into the next room. Focus on moving into the next room, or in general, away from the location of paralysis.
Although you may feel that you are not able to move, you can try concentrating on moving one finger (or any small part of your body) - when this succeeds and you experience the small movement, the paralysis recedes. Of course, you need to be lucid to do this.
Inhale deeply then exhale forcefully (do not hyperventilate). Repeat this several times; most of the time this can get you out of sleep paralysis.
Low dosages of Zoloft has been proven to be successful.
Always remember that sleep paralysis is a medical phenomena and just that. Do not associate it with supernatural things like ghosts and evils. It will only make it worse. Keep reminding yourself that it's just a medical phenomena.
If you experience disassociation( "out of body" feelings), Try to "feel" the texture of your sheets, clothes, or furniture around you- you'll find that you wake up faster from tuning into a sense. Alternately, ignore the sense of paralysis, and allow yourself to follow the "out of body" feelings; you can turn an unpleasant surprise into an enjoyable lucid dream, which you may be able to control. Try visiting friends or pleasant spots you have visited. No harm can come to you, so don't be afraid.
If you can 'fall asleep' in your dream, when you wake up, you will wake from your dream as well. Almost like falling asleep twice - except when you wake up in your dream, you wake up in real life.
Hope this helps you all....
Dr. Scott
Your advise and solution makes me hopeful
I have not tried your suggested method(s). I am at ease just thinking about going to sleep tonight with a solution that may very well be based on my sleep schedule. I had a horrible experience last night and my friend found this site because she is more clever than my mind state was today on the subject. I scared the s--- out of her. I have had these experiences in the past and now -- I recall all have been in some way or the other under stressful or sleepless days. Now that I am aware I will try some of your suggested remedies. I must admit it did feel like there was some other kind of presence in my bed with me. I'd like to believe it was me battling myself. Like I said I will certainly take your advise and keep you posted!
Thank you so much. Peace out.
Marguerite
Sleep paralysis
Well, this Sleep paralysis happened to my husband about one month ago. He woke me up scared out of his mind. He had the chills, cold sweat, the hairs on his left arm, only, were standing up, and rapid heartbeat. This happened around 1am we called the ambulance and they checked him out, ran an EKG (turned out normal), all vitals were fine and they said the symptoms did not check out (make sense). Again, the paramedics left because they found nothing wrong. Afterwards, he finally tried talking to me about what happened, he said he saw women around him calling demons upon him. He couldn’t even bring himself to talking about it to me because he would start with the chills and hair standing on end, again only on left arm. He calmed down and we went back to sleep he laid back to his side of the bed (right) and I went back to mine. Around 3am I heard him calling my name and struggling to do so, while I was trying to wake him out of his sleep I looked at his left arm and his hair was on end again. He said that it was starting to happen again but that this time he was finally able to call my name. So we decided that he should take my side of the bed because he was too scared on his. I then took the side of the bed he was sleeping on when it happened (right side) and he took mine. At 3:30am in the morning I awoke the same way, except, I only felt an evil presence, I couldn’t move my body, I was screaming and he couldn’t hear me, and the hair on my right arm was on end. I was finally able to wake up and so I woke him up because I was scared, we stayed up until there was sunlight. This kept happening for one week daily after that and it only happened to whomever slept on the right side of the bed and it happened at the same time every time 3am. We had no other explanation other than it was some evil spirits. All we did after a week, because it’s kind of weird to talk to people about I told my mom and she recommended we did a prayer before we go to bed and another in morning. I understand the Sleep Paralysis study but the fact that it happened to both of us and while sleeping on a certain side of the bed is just too weird.
I'm living in a horror movie
It happened again last night. My logical side wants to believe it is just a sleep disorder, but the side of me that has felt the evil in this presence feels differently. Last night it toyed with me a little. It would actually let me move my hand and then i would feel it push it back down. I have tried everything. All I have to use is my thoughts at the time so I go from thinking "I'm not scared of you" to "f@#k you!" to "in the name of Jesus". Trying so hard to scream my husbands name with everything I have, all I can get out is a moan. you get the point. I finally regained my motor skills and ran for my husband, who had fell asleep on the couch. This time I went into hysterics. It's a little different everytime. Last night even after I had regained control I could still hear a buzzing sound in the room. Like an electrical current running through the house. I've heard my dog growl at it. For all of you suffering with this, whatever it is, peace be with you.
being pulled off my bed
i have the worst dreams last night was on of the worst its always the same im being pulled of my bed towords the ceiling im always holding onto the bed and screaming for someone to help but i have no voice its feels so real and there are loud noises in the background just banging, its always around 1-3am its like im being possessed but i just keep holding on because i dont want to float in the air one of my hands was being pulled up into the air by this devil and i could feel it pulling my hand wen i woke up i had my hand wrapped around a cord attached to the wall so something must of been happening.. The first time it happened a year ago i was lying on my back and my jaw was locked open and somthing was trying to get through my mouth, its so scarey i cant even explain. Last night i yelled back a verse i have no fear the lord is here.. etc and this figure arose and started getting angry at me so i hit it and i woke up, my hand was out in front of me were i had attempted to hit this "object". anyway im over it, please stop
Oh gosh.. I'm not
Oh gosh.. I'm not alone...It's around 2 in the morning..i fell asleep and then I can hear different voices laughing at me.. and I can see someone in the window to..I can't move, trying to call my mom.. and there's no words coming out of my mouth.. I'm really scared. I'm trying to move my toes and my fingers and I can't. I'm like crying and saying what the hell is going on..am I gonna die or something?! I prayed..mention the lords name a lot of times... and then I woke up.. and I'm so afraid to go back to sleep.. So thankful I found this site as well. thank you guys for sharing your experiences.. (sorry bout my english )
RE: Being pulled off my bed
I have had this happen, too! I am so happy I found this site this morning!! I have been trying to find explainations for what has been happening to me; I am so happy to find I'm not the only one having these "episodes". Strength in numbers, right? I had this happen to me when I woke up from sleeping. I remember hearing voices and having my whole body completely paralyzed. It hurt like something awful, too. And no matter how hard I tried to scream for help all I could push out was barely a whisper. Complete helplessness. Then I was pulled off my bed (covers and all), floating through the air, into my closet! I don't know what was there, but I remember seeing the light of the morning come through my window before I got there, and then having a man who looked like Lurch from the Addams Family staring down at me as I glided to the floor! As I hit the wall by my closet POOF! I'm sitting up bed again, like nothing happened! As I caught my breath from it; told myself it was just a realistic dream. Then I began hearing the voices a second time, and then the weird noises and the paralyzing came again. I remember trying to force my head into my pillow, praying it to stop...and it did. That was almost four years ago now. No one had believed me when I told them about it. Then it started happening again last night. My wife believes me now, I'll tell you that. I am just glad I've found someplace to go when this occurs where I can share what happened without everyone telling me I'm nuts.
Not alone
I had an episode of sleep paralysis a few years back that has haunted me ever since. I fell asleep on the couch one night and woke to a knocking sound in the room, almost like loud ticking. I was on my back and tried to turn my head to see what it was, but I could not move. Suddenly I got a prickly hot feeling all over, and from the corner of my eye I saw a black shadow form lean over me and stare at me. It had no face, just black. It scared me to death as it felt evil. I closed my eyes and prayed it would go away. Then I heard an electrical buzzing sound. I struggled to move something, any part of my body, and finally felt my big toe move. Then I was able to raise one hand. When that happened, I opened my eyes and the black creature was gone. It took me a while to get all the feeling back in my body but when it came back I got up and ran crying into the bedroom and snuggled up to my husband in fear. He finally calmed me down. I was shaking and hysterical. I had never heard of sleep paralysis but that must have been it. I hope I never experience it again.
not alone
the same thing happend to me it was the summer time and i was up in minnesota visting my cousin i stayed up 18hours with my cousins and i finally went to sleep now i was the only 1 in my room and i turned off the lights all the lights were off in my house but any-ways i was laying in my bed and i had my room door open and my computer was sitting on the computer desk i could hear footsteps coming inside my room i though it was just my brother so i didnt get up then after that i felt like something was stading over me and i saw this man he was black 6ft tall 4inches wide and weight about a good 175LB he was standing over me suffcating me and i could breath or i could move at all i tried to call 4 help but not a single word got out i tried to move my legs or arms just to try and make a sound to know that HELP!!!! but i could move at all after a good may-so 15 to 20 seconds it was over i could feel the blood flow back into my veins and i rain up-stairs screaming and yelling and my cousin had the excat same thing happend to him before
I understand!
I have been reading many of your peoples' blogs and it scares me to know that the same things have happened to me numerous times in the last 4-5 years. I just turned 25 this month and this has happened to me a handfull of times since I have been around 20 years old. I can remember becoming aware that i am awake but i can't breathe or move any part of my body! It is very uncomforting because I struggle with every inch of my body and it feels as if I can barely move a toe or fingertip. This never happens everynight but when it does it usually follows a very bad nightmare! I live in a small town right next to a Catholic church. I still live in this house it is my parents house. There is a house almost identical to mine right across the street and the church is right behind that. My dad said that nuns used to live in our house and the one across the street a long time ago and the priests that come and go still live in a small building attached to the church. You would think that my house would be blessed since nuns had lived there and I am not for sure if that has anything to do with what happens to me. My family are all irish Catholics, so I am a religious person. I do take drugs time to time and am a regular drinker. Like I said I haven't had the paralyzed hallucentions since 3 or 4 months ago but I often have very bad nightmares! Just the other night I had a bad nightmare and woke up with a small scratch on my nose that seemed to deep to do with my short nails. I wouldn't think anything of it, but I have had unmistakeanble feelings of something there with me, sometimes I feel like it is an evil presence and sometimes I feel like its just something trying to communicate with me. Also I had a very good friend pass away around 4 years ago who was also one of my neighbors, he died from a drug overdose at the age of 18. I hope nobody thinks what I'm saying is crazy I too think it is very strange, but if anyone can relate and help me out i would appreciate it very much. Thankyou and Godbless!!
Sleep paralysis
Hi there.
First of all I'm so sorry to hear about all of you undergoing this traumatic state of sleep.
Personally I've been troubled with sleep paralysis for the last three years or so.
It has never been any auditory or visual stimuli incorporated into my experiences, but still
the sensation drifts me apart from reality. It really scars me.
I just woke up forty minutes ago after an enormous chain of SP's. The worst part of it (to me) is
that once I'm able to break the layer of immobility I set off to another one. My eyes are heavy,
like they haven't been closed for many days, they want to close and as I realize that the current state
I'm in will likely guide me into another session of sleep paralysis, there are often times I cannot
prevent myself from falling asleep again. The struggle is not only within the experience, but also when
I've reached consciousness. Once I'm induced with this feeling of "helplessness", I usually manage to
rapidly move my shoulders from one side to another (in a small motion) that eventually leads me to awaken.
However, for me this experience isn't that haunting (not of the same caliber as some of you experience it)
for the reason being that I recognize what is happening and that my "gut feeling" isn't related to any
unexplainable events or incoming forces. It might be that one cannot completely deny the possibility that
something besides chemical and neuron related interactions influence the experience, but to me I feel in my stomach
that something might be slightly out of balance yet still within logical boundaries.
I guess this is what has rescued me from being overwhelmed by these events, still the sensation of being immobilized
with the wires between the brain and muscles being amputated creates a dark atmosphere and ghostlike event.
I've come to my own subjective conclusion (until I decided to search this phenomenon up), that what I'm
experiencing is my mind evaluating the bodily state as I'm dreaming, to avoid me from moving in sync with
my dream or making any movement for that matter. This gray zone within the transition from dreaming to awakening
shouldn't really be a phase for my consciousness to observe. Still it reflects itself clearly and at
the same time uncontrollable. It has really never occurred to me that there's any non-evident supernatural
"model" intruding my experiences. After reading up on it here on this site, I feel I can further
manifest my own conclusion (which gives me some inner peace).
As many of you are sensing, a presence in the shape of visual and/or auditory
character are playing a big role. It sounds extremely disturbing and horrifying.
I really feel for all of you and hope that you some day find a solution to the horror and pain that lies
within.
PS! I'm suffering from extreme anxiety and deep periodic depressions in my life, as this article and studying of this behavior
tells, could very well be a cause for my sleep paralysis. I guess in regards of any visual and auditory content, anxiety
is a huge factor.
I must add that it is consolidating finding a few words around this subject based on scientific proof.
And at least if not being a total salvation to ones horrifying sleep paralysis, it hopefully is an easing component.
Also maybe it will gradually fade into awareness while one's experiencing sleep paralysis, making the ride less frightening
and more overcoming.
Thank you so much for writing this article!
Best of luck to you all!
Warmest regards,
Tor Erik
i don't understand whats with me
when i am drifting off to sleep and i seemingly wake and see a big shadow leaning over my bed it really scares me but i can't make any sound i usually try to bang my arm against something but everything seems to be in slow motion and i wake up usually screaming
help please!!
its happened tome as well,
its happened tome as well, don't worry it happens when ur body is tired and asleep and your mind is awake and in relation your mind tries to wake your body up that's why you feel like moving or screaming but nothing happens. its very common.
i don't understand whats with me
i feel for you my friend i've been suffering this ordeal since i was a kid and until now when i'm 30! No doctor found any sollution, what i would do once i'm in this state is to move a finger or a toe and eventually the whole body will follow. Evil? yes, because it always finds a way to make you think you can't breath.
try not to worry with it.
I have had this condition since my father died 6 years ago. it happens usualy once per month. at first it was VERY frightning, I had to know what was happening to me so I did some research and found it is caused by anxiety.
mine is always the same. I wake up on my back, my arms above my head as if pinned unable to move, unable to breath, My eyes are fixated on the large black figure (about adult male size) perched (as if ready to lunge at me) on the end of my bed. I try shouting hoping to wake my wife but am only able to make gurgled throat noises. the noise in my ears is shuffling and foreboding. The figure on my bed seems to be getting increasingly ready to pounce and just when I am sure it will or my oxygen is running out I pass back into sleep and then immiedatley back to awake where I can move and speak and wake my wife for a hug.
NOW, This will always be a frightning event for me but I think I have the hang of it. I now know that its anxiety which i am manifesting as this sleed disorder. now when it happens yes i am frightened but now I know i wont die and it will pass. I try not to look at the figure. I try to keep my eyes closed now and i dont dare open them until i know i AM awake.
thank you for reading, i apologise for my punctuation its never been my strong point.
silent scream
I had just got done having a bad dream that would make one cry or wanna cry from the pain feeling so real. As the pain hurt more, I slowly woke up and realized it was my right arm that was in pain. It felt heavy and burning. I tried to get up and stretch it around, but i couldn't move. It was so dark in my room, I couldn't see a thing. I'm not sure, but i heard a soft voice buy at the same time it was like nothing at all. I mean, it was saying something, but i couldn't understand it. I tried to move, but couldn't raise my leg, arm, or even my head. It was so dark, i don't even know if my eyes were open or not. I tried to cry for help, but i couldn't speak. I was so scared. And all i could think about is 'somebody help me' and 'i need help' all at the same time. I think i fell back asleep from fright cause when i awoke again, I was back to sqare one, but there was a lil bit of light. And when i finally did cry out, I don't even know if it was my real voice, or just my voice in my head. And when I did finally move, my right arm was still hurting. If i remember, I was laying on my back with my face staring at the ceiling. Thanks for your explanations. A part of me really thought it was a spirit or some presence in my room. it wouldn't be the first time, but sadly I don't think it'll be my last.
Had this since I was a kid....used to think I was nuts!
I've had this "condition" I remember since I was 5 years old. Sometimes I hear whispers, sometimes I hear children laughing, once I thought for sure I was talking on the phone and actually woke with the phone in my hand. Always struggle to shake myself awake, sometimes think I HAVE woken but am still in state of sleep, and others I feel as though my chest is being sat on or I am being pulled up out of my body. I always fight it. I'm 31 now and just awoke from such a state. F'ing messes me up. I feel a bit better coming to this forum.... I knew there HAD to be a reasonable explanation other than supernatural. Maybe next time it happens I'll just let it go, see what happens? Glad y'all are here. :) Also, sorry y'all are here lol.
Help Me.
This is the worst thing I have ever experienced. Ever. 30 minutes ago. I was trying to go to sleep. And I was looking up at the ceiling. I started dosing off. And as soon as my eyes shut. I woke up. Because I couldn't breath. I then tried to move. And I couldn't. At all. And so I tried to scream thinking I was dreaming. And I couldn't. All I could do was stare at the ceiling. Hoping that I wasn't about to overdose on all these medications for AD/HD, depression, anxiety, and what not. I then re-gained ability to move and breath properly again. I thought it was nothing. So, I tried to go to sleep again. And it was worse the second time. It felt like someone was literally killing me in my sleep. Just, slowly suffocating me. I really don't want to go back to sleep. And I can't get my mother to take me to the doctor until Monday. I'm 14. I honestly don't know what the hell is going on or what I should do. And no, I'm not experimenting with drugs or anything like that. I barely like taking my prescribed medicines. Anyways, please help. Immediately. ):
replyn to kyle
I've had this experience eversince i was a kid now that I'm 30 it still scares me, I've been trying to find a solution from doctors to priest but to no avail, instead it's gotten worst.Sometimes a chain of these events would occur it would last for 30 min. Since I'm used to this "sleep paralysis" what I'd do is to move my toes or my fingers and eventually the whole body will follow. Don't try to scream or you'll lose your strength and you'll find it very difficult to breath. for years I've been trying to find a solution to this problem hopefully with your testimonies I can find a solution, you may email me at .
sleep paralysis
I feel the same I feel like I'm going to die sometimes, because the cover would slightly be over my nose and I can't move it causing me to strangle myself.
bout 2 lose my mind!
I am about 2 lose my mind .I have been suffering wit this 4 five months now . the weird thing is if im absolutely drunk i dont get it . but i cand drink every day . well i was raised in a very religeouse back ground and 2 make it worse i live in a 3 bedroom apartment by myself ! I am freaked out I dont thik this is science ., I feel like jumpin out the window . is this scytsophrenia ,iss my house demonized i cant take this anymore ,do i take sleeping pills do i go 2 a shrink ? Please helpm me !!!!!
Hey, there's no need to be
Hey, there's no need to be afraid of this. I had it for the first time today and now I know I might be having more of them soon in the near future.
All you have to do is tank through them, because you know - when you wake up, you'll be alright. Don't turn to alcohol to shield you from this - It works but it numbs your mind. There is NOTHING in your house, it is all in your head.
When you wake up, all the people you love and all the people who love you will still be there - Don't be afraid,
And as you are a religious person, no matter how far you are from God or how close you are - God will not allow evil to penetrate your mind/soul
reply to bout 2 lose my mind
My friend you're not alone been suffering from this ordeal everyday even until now I'm already 30. The same as you do, when I'm drunk this doesn't occur to me but hey I can't be drunk everyday I got to go to work. Don't panic or you'll find it very difficult to breath, try moving your fingers or your toes and eventually the whole body will follow,once you can move, stand up, try to shake it off then after 10 minutes or so go back to sleep.Been searching for a cure to this occurrence but to no avail, my parents think I'm nutts, but i did visit the doctor gave me a bunch of useless crap tried the priest they prayed me over. Still this thing never stops. I won't give up, you may email me .
My S.P. began as a small
My S.P. began as a small child, I have been in several sleep clinics and so on, the reason I'm replying to you is, your schzisophrenia remark, I had to ask myself the same question many years ago, as long as your not hearing voices while your awake during the day, your not schziso or crazy. I will say this, if your having late onset S.P., I believe it could be caused by a very popular sleep medication namely, Ambien.
TV and Sleep Paralysis
My bouts of sleep paralysis usually occur when I'm watching tv in bed or on my couch. I'll unknowingly fall asleep and think I'm still concious. This phenomenon has happened to me many times but only two episodes are remarkable to me, coincedentally the first two times it happened. I fell asleep while watching a movie with my girlfriend. In my paralysis i was still watching the movie when a hellish scene came on screen. There was fire and extreme heat that slowly spread throughout my room. Next, a demonic creature came out of the screen and began talking to me. This is when I started to feel fear. I attempted to stand up and fight this creature, my fight or flight instinct is usually fight. I was stuck and this creature just kept talking until finally i was able to yell, "Fuck off!". I guess I actually yelled this because my girlfriend woke me up looking all concerned.The other incident occured several months later. I was skipping school relaxing on the couch watching some good ol' History Channel about UFOs. I slipped into sleep unknowingly. Once again I thought I was still awake. I looked out the front window and saw a bright, blinding light penetrate into my house. My body began to feel as if it was floating and i heard a strange language. I saw crazy looking creatures, I assume they were aliens. They began to cut me and probe me. I tried to resist but I was unable to move. I felt intense pain and pressure all while blinded by this intense white light. I woke up about 45 minutes later thinking I was truly abducted by aliens. This is when i began to research this phenomenon. I am a 19 year old dude, if anybody's wondering.
Hi, what you described aboved
Hi, what you described aboved reminded me of a movie I watched. I dont know if you have heard of it or not or maybe even watched it, but it sounds kinda what you described above. the name of the movie is The Fourth Kind. Maybe you should check it out and see if it sounds anything like that movie. Good luck
10 years of this scary sh!t
My incidents are pretty similar..i wake up to find a pitch black figure standing over me and it seems like he uses some kind of force to hold me down and right when i get real close to getting up it uses more force to hold me down! but every time i gain mor stregnth to get up.meaning i am able to get up or move more everytime. this last one i had was yesterday. i woke up to being sock in my face! i could feel the pain in my tooth. i thought it was a burgler that was trying to rob me and i tryed to get up as usual and i couldnt. and in this particlar incident i could not c a thing but i could hear my son snoring as usual. then i socked me again and i was so angry and tried to get up but i could only half way. and i noticed when i laid there and just let it do its thing it passed but i started cursing and it and i felt i get stronger and come back which i think is wierd. i would say on a scale 1 to 10 on fear afterwards its a 8 8 1/2. freaks me out less but in the beginning it was a 10!!! i was grown but i wanted some one to sleep w me.lol crazy stuff
Had another one
I fought a shadow one time, but I have never cussed one out. I remmber seeing a spirit rise from my husband and he told me I was stupid and I told him he was going to hell but I have never cussed one out.
I had another one two nights ago and remembered this site and just wanted to talk about it. I guess it had been 3 months since I had one and I started to think it was gone when it happened again. It always happens when My husband leaves for work or when I sleep on the couch alone. It went like this; I wake up and look around to realize the night light is not on and then I immediately realize what is going on, for some reason lights are my first clue to what is going on, if there is no lights on or if I can't turn a light on then I know that I am having a sp episode and I start to freak out. Well I was laying on the couch and I couldn't move or yell, I try so hard to pray, it takes everything I have to even say a few things. I remember praising God over and over and I came out of it. I didn't see anything, just felt fear and panic. Once I woke up I ran to my room and got in bed with my husband. I was pretty tired the night it happend so I am sure that could of triggered it. For those of you who have to sleep in a house alone, I really feel for you. These dreams can turn me into a scared little girl. It seems like I might have them several times in month and then they are gone for a few months. I had no idea what causes them to appear out of the blue. My dad has had them, my mom and my sisters. I am really glad I am not alone, I am glad to be able to share my sp episodes with those that truly understand. Great my husband is a sleep on the floor as I write, I wonder if I can wake him up or if I should just sleep on the couch next to him? I am really tired and fear being so tired could trigger another one. I was sleeping just fine for a few months and then it hits and now I am scared again.
:(
This happens to me a lot too, especially when I sleep alone in my parents' room. (No idea why)
Sometimes I can hear sounds, or I can even hear myself breathing. Then I freak myself out and try to move but can't. Sometimes I can't even tell if I'm dreaming of sleep paralysis or if it's real sleep paralysis. :/
OMG! I thought i was the only
OMG! I thought i was the only person having this experience..Every time this happened there would be a figure or dark weird shadow hovering over me. I can feel myself fighting to open my eyes but can't only when i scream out a prayer then i'm able to wake up.
dreams of evil spirits
It has happened to me for the first time, I'm awake, dose off for a minute, and then I'm am paralysed, the evil spirit is moving near me my hands are hanging over my bed I can feel him, I can see my window, the light coming in threw my blinds, I look at the end of my feet and 2 black shadows are staring at me, I pray for god, Jesus, lord, and pray scriptures until I wake up. I'm yelling and yelling, I can hear myself asking for help, I can feel myself awake, looking at everything.
I get them too
Well, I havent had one of these episodes in 5 or more years (I'm 32, male) but they used to happen with some regularity. Also around this time was when I would have a companion phenomenon: I used to lay down in bed at night, and then get the feeling that my feet were VERY close to my head, and that my hands where the size of cars, and that the far wall was right in my face. I would maybe have some sense of tilting, but it wouldnt affect me going to sleep. I dont get these anymore, and the sleep paralysees havent occured either. Mine were not much more than me finding my eyes open , and having the urge to wiggle myself awake. I'd try to buck and shake myself, but I think I was sometimes able to rouse myself awake. Other wise I'd just fall back asleep. Fortunately I didnt get the sensory, visual, and auditory hallucinations as described in other posts. No black clouds or ringing sounds. Who knows?? It's been 5 or more years, and these things would happen every so often since my teen years until my mid 20s. Oh well. If any of you ever got the tilting feeling, and the sensory (now this is with the lights off and in bed mind you) of large limbs and distance distortion, contact me! Best of luck to those of you who experience this issue.
I too get the feeling that my
I too get the feeling that my hands are huge, not the tilting feeling or distance distortion though. I sometimes hear bells or buzzing and always try to scream the word "help" in hopes that my roommate will hear me but I can't figure out if I actually can scream or just think i'm screaming... when I was younger I would try to scream for my mom in the other room. She never mentioned hearing me and I knew she would think i'm crazy if I told her about it. I recently have been put on Zoloft (not for sleep paralysis but for depression) and have since not experienced an episode of sleep parlysis, however, I now experience extremely vivid dreams...so vivid that I think they actually happened when I wake and have to sort out my dreams from reality each morning. I am not saying Zoloft is the cure for sleep paralysis, because there are times when years would pass and I wouldn't have a SP episode and then all of a sudden I would have them for a few weeks straight, some nights they would happen over and over and over until I got out of bed, did something, anything, outside of the room my bed is in and then went back to sleep. This is probably the most frightening experience anyone can ever have. I thought I was crazy.
Room Temperature
Whenever the sleep paralysis happens to me, I'm in my small, dark room and its hot because my ac isnt on that summer night (I live in Texas its hot ALL THE TIME) So its stuffy and no air is circulating in the room and thats when it happens. So when I break out of it I get up and turn my AC on and it doesn't happen anymore. I like this article because it explains why this happens. But when its hot and stuffy it happens more often.
my doubts
If what you see or hear are "hallucinations" then why is it always something from the "spiritual world" why is it not a normal hallucination. There is not one time that when this happens to me I experience something that is spiritual related. Another thing I want to point out. People are pointing out that some believe that this is a demonic thing that is paralyzing you. I have had this with something spiritual that was not an evil spirit/ I have seen good good spirits and even felt love from one of them (my granpa RIP). I believe this is not scientific.
I have had a few good
I have had a few good experiences too, after a number of unexpected illnesses and deaths in my family, I was tucked into bed so tenderly it felt like it had to be my Dad or one of my Grandmothers, it was so specific and wonderful, I don't know if my mind conjured it or not, but either way it was an amazing comfort. No fear whatsoever, only love.
Happens all the time....
Ok, Sleep Paralysis as it is named, I have experienced in a long time now and at the most it has happened up to 5 times in one night. Sometimes I can actually predict when it happens when I get a strange feeling in the room. But it usually comes without that I can predict it. The time it happens is between 0:00 am and 5:00 am. Never rest of the day if I would sleep a couple hours. What happens when I wake up is that I can not move me or shout for some, the only thing I'm getting ahead is a faint whispering voice. I have recently tried to move my arms and legs when this happens and I have managed to move the foot a bit and my arm, but ended with his arm went back and forth in front of my face for some strange reason. Often I see something in the dark, but can not explain what I see... Sounds can be weird sounds like screaming ladies or something. I did not like very much. Tonight I woke up in the same position as always as I fall asleep I woke up and could not move me and as usual I tried to shout for help, but also heard the wind blow hard once like strong wind "hardly any wind outside just now", a crow and some whiz sounds ... It's probably the closest I get an explanation of the sounds. I always try to look for things that move when this happens to actually see that I see the room. Im trying to look for things when this happens to compare to when I get my control back to confirm that I see what I see and its not a dream. And tonight the TV was on and I saw what was on tv and until I got control back and be able to move me again it kind of confirmed that. I have always had a feeling that it might be a connection between this and that has happened in the house which I have no explanation on. In the staircase area, there is much activity. A couple of footsteps on the deck on the outside with something white around the entire footprint. Someone who takes you in the face. Someone standing on the stairs in the dark. Outer door closes shut and then someone who runs into the gravel on the outside. Someone who walks in the hall just outside the room. And many many more episodes like this, but perhaps the most frightening for me. I woke up once more of those Sleep Paralysis and could not sleep again after that. I went down and tryed to sleep without success so I went upstairs again. Halfway up the stairs I hear the TV turns on automatically and I can hear a lot of sound from the TV. I kept on walking up and 15 minutes later I hear a loud bang noise and check what it could be and the mirror had fallen down from the wall... And guess what, the TV was switched off again ...
No one else has been down at this time some of these occasions and its only me who experience this.
I dont know anyone elses other than reading here that experience as much as I do and the Sleep Paralysis is a nightmare itself... if its that:P
The end. 04:01 am
scary stuff
Sleep paralysis sucks. I'm 23 and have had this happen to me off and on for as long as I can remember. I've always felt like it was the devil or some other type of evil being trying to attack me in my sleep. Praying used to help..now it just seems to make things worse. I'm glad there are so many others who can relate to me though. Last night was the worst episode I've ever had :(
reply to scary stuff
It does suck, I'm 30 and been suffering from this ordeal since I was a kid, used to pray to get rid of it but to no avail instead a voice tried to continue my prayer of the Hail Mary with a very scary sound. Tried to ask for help from doctors and priests but to no avail. What I'd do is try to move my fngers and toes and eventually the body will follow. experience wise I've seen a lot and heard a lot from this experience but they gave me no solution. You can email me maybe we can get rid of this if we help each other because it always scares the shit out of me.
Hello so I just experienced
Hello so I just experienced something some what similar to everyones..this was my first experience and reading everyones comments I've started to gather a common correlation:alot of these experiences occur from 3-530 am.this happens to be the "demon hour" as displayed in horror films but also on ghostly encounter shows on tv,such as paranormal state.so I'll start my story now.I was sleeping in my grandmas room with my mom,and randomly woke up at three in the morning.I couldn't sleep for awhile,I was just thinking and after an hour and a half I finally fell asleep,dreamed but then woke up again...or at least I thought I was awake.so in this dream like state,I saw my mom get up out of bed and she pointed to the corner of the room and there was a black cloud type thing.I immediately could tell it was bad.then,my mom started speaking mumbo jumbo,her words were incoherent and it freaked me out .she then climbed right into bed beside me and went back to sleep.but I was of course still terrified of what she did so I was talkin to her saying "mom,mom wake up" and she wouldn't budge.then after awhile I started to panic she wasn't waking up so I started yelling MOM at the top of my lungs,screaming almost.but what was strange was that whenever I opened my mouth to scream her name,nothing audible came out.it was like a whisper that would come out no matter how loud I screamed.it has left me anxious.I hope I never experience anything like this again .
Happens all the time
This is exactly what happens to me all the time at first it was frightening, but sense it happened so often I got used to it. I am awake but I cant open my eyes. I try and try to move with all my might but it doesnt work. Alot of the times I cant breath after im "awake" and then I start to hyperventilate thinking that I wont ever wake up but I have to repeat in my head over and over "breath, breath, breath-It will be over in a minute or 2". And then when I wake up its like Im surfacing from underwater. Im not having a bad dream or anything Im just consious and cant move. thanks for putting a name to it. Im 19 and its been happening since I was a child. Its not bad right? Theres not a possibility my heart will stop right?
i dont understand im scared
i dont understand im scared to death. i beg my husband to hold me when i wake from these incidents and right as i close my eyes it happens again. i scream help and kick and grab his hands but he says he feels or hears nothing. i dont see objects or anything of such matter, i just feel completley paralized. why is it so scary????its the scariest feeling in the world and i wake up soon after hyperventilating dead tired, but as soon as i close my eyes again it happens again, i end up forcing myself to watch tv or go on the computer, so tonight i decided to research. my husband says im overly tired but i thought it was like something evil taking over me! i dont know what to do anymore:(
reply to i dont understand im scared
Been having these paralysis ever since I was 4 and now I'm 30 my parents think Im crazy, we tried visiting the doctor and a priest but to no avail, so what i normally do when I'm in this state, is to move my fingers or my toes and eventually the whole body will follow, try to get up after this happening and 10 minutes later go back to sleep. That's what I usually do, been trying to find a cure for this illness or whatever this is. I can see and hear strange objects sometimes even tweeting of birds sometimes I would hear an evil laugh, but sometimes I don't see or hear anything I just freeze and I could only move my eyes. My email , I need to gather info because maybe I can find the remedy and we all could sleep soundly.
Sleep paralisys
Hi,
I'm writing this comment to you because I have had this kind of symptom since I was around 14 years old and still I have it time by time. Now I'm 55 years old.
When I was young I was very scared like you. Actually, I used to be very scared of the darkness or being alone, believing in bad spirits and etc..., so it was hard to close the eyes to sleep and was always in guard fearing that a bad spirit could appear in front of me.
But now I'm really sure that it is just a problem of breathing.
If you are in a position that you do not breath confortably when sleeping, you may feel this kind of symptom when you are awakening.
When that happen, just be calm and confortable; try to breath as best as possible and try to move your hand fngers first.
Everything will b e fine. It is a normal thing for a lot of people.
Try to have physical exercises to improve your lung capacity and be relaxed when sleeping.
Good luck.
Hi Liberty: I feel your
Hi Liberty:
I feel your fright. I've been going through this since I was about 4 or 5 and I am now 48, will be 49 next month. One thing I have noticed is if you get pulled out of an eppasode, get up, set up for a little while, and when you go back to bed, usually you can get through the night with out no more.at least I can. I've studied and read so much stuff online about it and one thing I do know that it is passed on from one person to another. My father had it, several of my cousins on my dad's side does, my oldest daughter has it. For years I thought it was a demon or the devil after me, but think it is where the brain get ahead of it's self and paralyses your body for dream state before you are there yet, or you awake too soon from a dream state and it hasn't worn off. And like you, when the epasodes come, they come one right after another. last night I had one and when I did finally get pulled out of it I just got up and got on the computer for a while and then after I felt like the grogginess had worn off I went back to bed and slept the rest of the night. I have learned over the years to actually make loud noises, my husband can actually hear me and wake me from it. Took many years to learn to do this, even my 10 year old grand daughter has slept with me before and can tell any one that she has had to wake me from my spells. Hang in there, If this new for you? or have you had them for a long time? Let me know if I can help you find any answers. Take care
SP
I thoght I was the only one that did that. I always had my gf wake when I was able to make noises.