A Waking Death.. (semi-lucid, paralyzed)

[Dragoonjefy]

First off, I have had these dreams off and on for over 3 years now. I would say it happens to me quite regularly, compared to what I've found from most people googling; about 3 times a month. I will try to be very descriptive on what I feel happens, although describing a dream like this can be hard... First off, I'm 26yrs old, live in an apartment with my girlfriend, and I do not sleep with a TV on anymore.

So, this dream almost always occurs once I fall asleep, like 10 minutes in I assume. There is usually no dream connected to it, simply a death sequence that takes place, it's like a panic attack.. Basically, my first conciousness of this dream is me, lying in bed, feeling as if I am dying and trying most often to yell for help from someone. I can SEE the room, exactly as it is at the moment, I can see the room lights, pillows on my head; if a TV is on, I can tell (I can even hear it), but things are a bit blurry (semi-lucid, I assume). Usually, my screams do not make it past my dream, in real life one just sees me struggle (usually my lips twitch very badly). I am paralyzed in my dream, although I do not feel 'pressure' or feel 'weighted'.. It's more that I am so focused on the panic of dying that I cannot move. It is almost always associted with a loud thumping / buzzing sound. If I DO manage to scream out for help or make audible noise, it usually awakens me from this dream, although it takes a while for me to calm back down... If I go immediately back to sleep it can happen AGAIN, I've had it happen at most 3 times in a row..

Soo.. This happened again last night, and I no longer find it scary, even though it feels VERY real and usually upsets me a little; instead, I am focused on trying to either induce it or figure out what causes it. I have a feeling it could be a form of sleep acnea, since it happens so early on in my sleeping, as if my body is trying to prevent me from sleeping in a certain position or something (usually on my back with head turned far right.. maybe I'm pinching something in my neck). Or maybe it's a limb going to sleep (though, when I wake, no limbs are numb or asleep). I have not been able to 'induce' it on myself, however, as I've tried the past week... I've tried thinking negatively or just focusing on the situation it creates, but nothing. I used to hate having this dream to the point where I was scared to go back to sleep (because it can re-occur on the same night), but generally if I get up and eat or something before going back to sleep I am fine the next time, only if I go STRAIGHT back to sleep does it happen again, if at all..

Oh well.. Just thought I would share it with the community, since I feel a bit better knowing others know of it or may have had a similar experience.. I will post any further findings I have with it

[Wolfjk]

Originally Posted by Dragoonjefy

First off, I have had these dreams off and on for over 3 years now. I would say it happens to me quite regularly, compared to what I've found from most people googling; about 3 times a month. I will try to be very descriptive on what I feel happens, although describing a dream like this can be hard... First off, I'm 26yrs old, live in an apartment with my girlfriend, and I do not sleep with a TV on anymore.

So, this dream almost always occurs once I fall asleep, like 10 minutes in I assume. There is usually no dream connected to it, simply a death sequence that takes place, it's like a panic attack.. Basically, my first conciousness of this dream is me, lying in bed, feeling as if I am dying and trying most often to yell for help from someone. I can SEE the room, exactly as it is at the moment, I can see the room lights, pillows on my head; if a TV is on, I can tell (I can even hear it), but things are a bit blurry (semi-lucid, I assume). Usually, my screams do not make it past my dream, in real life one just sees me struggle (usually my lips twitch very badly). I am paralyzed in my dream, although I do not feel 'pressure' or feel 'weighted'.. It's more that I am so focused on the panic of dying that I cannot move. It is almost always associted with a loud thumping / buzzing sound. If I DO manage to scream out for help or make audible noise, it usually awakens me from this dream, although it takes a while for me to calm back down... If I go immediately back to sleep it can happen AGAIN, I've had it happen at most 3 times in a row..

Soo.. This happened again last night, and I no longer find it scary, even though it feels VERY real and usually upsets me a little; instead, I am focused on trying to either induce it or figure out what causes it. I have a feeling it could be a form of sleep acnea, since it happens so early on in my sleeping, as if my body is trying to prevent me from sleeping in a certain position or something (usually on my back with head turned far right.. maybe I'm pinching something in my neck). Or maybe it's a limb going to sleep (though, when I wake, no limbs are numb or asleep). I have not been able to 'induce' it on myself, however, as I've tried the past week... I've tried thinking negatively or just focusing on the situation it creates, but nothing. I used to hate having this dream to the point where I was scared to go back to sleep (because it can re-occur on the same night), but generally if I get up and eat or something before going back to sleep I am fine the next time, only if I go STRAIGHT back to sleep does it happen again, if at all..

Oh well.. Just thought I would share it with the community, since I feel a bit better knowing others know of it or may have had a similar experience.. I will post any further findings I have with it

Hi,
What you describe is a sleep paralysis dream. It is quite common in one form or another.
The way it happens to you is probably caused by you trying to go to sleep on your back. When you lie on your back some saliva flows into your throat and might obstruct your airways.
Try consciously lying on your back and see what happens? With most peole, going to sleep on their back causes bad dreams or nightmares. Breathing becomes difficult after some time, the sleeper is fighting for air, and often snore or moan.
The subconscious creates the dream of not being able to move, shout, or open the eyes to frighten the sleeper awake. Basically it is the most effective way to wake the sleeper from a bad sleeping position.
Make sure you clear your throat before sleep and avoid going to sleep on your back.
I hope all goes well.
Cheers Wolfjk

[ColiCookie]

I had something similar to this happen to me about 2 years ago and it was the most terrifying experience of my life.

My sister had told me that it happened to her a couple weeks earlier, but I didn't think it could happen to me just by sleeping in her apartment!

I fell asleep (on my back) and woke up, (I can't remember how long I was asleep, if it was still nighttime or early morning) I woke up and had the distinct feeling that somebody was holding me down. It felt like someone was laying on me and pushing down at the same time. It felt evil and I could clearly see my sister sleeping next to me and I could see around the room but I couldn't actually move and I know my head wasn't moving.

I started reciting the Lord's Prayer in my head (which is weird because I'm surprised I even know it by heart) and kept trying to scream my sister's name.

I ended up actually calling out and waking myself up and waking my sister up as well.

It was one of the most terrifying experiences of my life.