Sleep Paralysis

[gpfm]

Here in the Lucid Dreaming Forum, I'm sure many readers of this post can relate to the experience that I'm about to describe.

You wake up; eyes half open, likely laying on your back, and feeling like you've under/over slept. All is normal, until you try to move and realise you can't. You're paralysed. No matter how hard you try, all you can do is look around (maybe) and perhaps let out a distressed moan. For the next minute or so, your body sleeps while you wait. Then, it's over, and you get up wondering what the hell just happened.

Sometimes during paralysis, you are accompanied by creatures (usually threatening) produced by the half-sleeping mind. Though these creatures are said to be hallucinations, you can still feel terror as they approach your defenseless body.

Please respond with your own experiences with this phenomena. It's more common than some of you may think.

[Ramza]

yes this happens to me a lot. it's very scary. i've heard noises too and seen some messed up stuff too. it's not a nice thing and happens to me frequently

[raincarlove]

I haven't had a full-on experience with sleep paralysis but I woke up one morning when my alarm went off and shot up out of bed much quicker than usual except the second I tried to stand up, I fell back down. My leg was still completely asleep and I wasn't able to use it at all. It wasn't even the tingly kind of asleep, just completely paralyzed asleep. I couldn't do anything with it. I tried to stand up again, but fell to the floor once more. Then I had to wait a couple more seconds, then it was all fine and dandy.

[gpfm]

That almost sounds like a mild, tip-of-the-iceberg episode of sleep paralysis. Thanks for the interesting responses so far.

Ramza, maybe you can recognise some of the sounds recreated virtually in this video:

YouTube - Sleep Paralysis Sound

[inphanta]

I used to get these a lot, but I rarely do anymore.

I came to a point in my spiritual development recently where I learned how to work though these hypnagogic phases. When these occur, people naturally tend to panic and freak out, particularly as it feels as though something beyond yourself is trying to get you. However, I have come to realise that this is not necessarily the case, and what is happening, however unsettling is a part of YOU, which means you can control or work though it without fear.

When these happen, try and focus your mind and your energy. Simply knowing that what you experience comes from you makes it a lot less scary.

[XxfabzxX]

One time I had a nightmare (while I was still awake, I knew I was dreaming but I could't move or anyting) were this fat lady was chasing me at my old home and she pushed me off a cliff and right when she pushed me it felt like someone actually pushed me.

[swedishguy]

Today I had this kinda of dream, And this is not the first time it happens.

I can say that I'm a very easy Lucid Dreamer, i Often got em'. I dream in color and always have the five senses. Very vivid dreamer.

Anyway, Today i dreamed i was paralyzed, I couldn't move like all the other times. the first time i had these experiences i was 16,17 years old, I'm 24 now there were always like a "shadow, demon" that walked into my bed and grabbed me, hurt me, it was like it tried to eat my feet and hands.

But in all of my recent experience they always camouflage themselves, trying to fool me by turning or showing themselves as people i know, and care about. 2 weeks ago it was my ex-girlfriend. and Today it took the form of my little sister.
There all always two of them. One camouflaged (that i always can see) and one behind me or under me, grabbing me.

I'm not afraid anymore of them. I always get so ****ing mad. Want to ****ing kill them. But i cant move anything, just my eyes.

Just want to share. I googled this and wanted to find out if I'm the only one with these kinda of dreams. I will for sure stay here and research more about this.

Lastly when i wake up I have these ****ing terrible headache, and they stay with me all day.

[IrisRavenstar]

It's called "sleep paralysis." It's common, nothing to be afraid of, unless, like me, you have it happen while your face is stuck in your pillow and you can't breathe! Fortunately, I had just re-read Jeremy Taylor's book _Where People Fly and Water Runs Uphill_, and so I remembered he said that moving large muscles like arms and legs wouldn't work, but moving small muscles would release the paralysis. I twitched my eyebrow, and thankfully filled my lungs with air!

So, if you're going to do a search, search for "Sleep Paralysis."

It happens because our mind wakes up before our body does sometimes.

And the scary things are just your fear of being paralysed taking form. They're nothing real, not ghosts or goblins or demons or anything. Just thoughtforms, self-created from fear.

[VampDreamer16]

yes it is lol
ive had that happen but didnt know how to describe it really
i feel somewhat sick in my dreams, my eyes are half-closed and my head is lolling around on some flat surface. for some reason i can look around but my own eyelids get in the way right as im about to see something

[extravagantdelight]

Wow, it's nice to know that kind of thing happens to other people! It used to happen to me a lot, but not much lately. It's scary when it's happening to you.