multiple false awakenings to shadowy figures

[marylindreamer]

first i have to say that i had a knee reconstruction recently and i am taking medication to control the pain. my sleeping pattern has been off because of this.. i sleep during the day for a few hours and then wake up so i do not fall asleep at night until around 2 or 3 am.. yesterday i was with my family all day. i took a nap but was woken up by the kids. we spent time together and watched a movie. everyone went to bed and i stayed up watching movies because i couldnt sleep. when i was finally ready for bed around 3 i turned off the tv and closed my eyes. i dont remember falling asleep. all of a sudden i saw dark figures walking toward me. the setting was the same as it had been(same clothes, same spot, same room, same objects in the same places) i felt an overwhelming sense of fear and anxiety. i was trying to get up to run but my body was unable to move. my sister and her family were upstairs and i tried yelling out her name for help but my screams were so silent and mumbled that she couldnt hear me. i convinced myself that this couldnt be real and tried to force myself to wake up from the dream. i had a false awakening. i was awake and relieved that it was just a dream but then i looked up and realized that the figures were still there. they were what seemed to be chanting something but i couldnt figure out what they were saying. i tried again to call for help and again my voice was mumbled and this time my lips felt as if the were clenching almost like frozen? i felt like my body was tensing up and i could not move at all. again i tried to convince myself that it wasnt real and tried to wake up and again i had a false awakening and when i woke up was in the same situation. this time i prayed as hard as i could and i kept repeating in my head 'you are not welcome here, in the name of jesus christ i am commanding you to leave. jesus christ is my savior and you are not welcome' or something to that nature. finally i was able to wake up for real. when i woke up i was sweating and breathing heavily. this time i turned on my computer for light because i was afraid to get out of bed. i felt better when the light shined in the room. everytime i closed my eyes i saw the same figures. i have not had nightmares since i was a little girl and i kept telling myself it was just a dream. i prayed once more before i went to bed asking god to keep those spirits out of my dreams. i fell asleep again and had yet another false awakening when i 'woke up' it was because in my dream i was dreaming about the figures again. this time when i 'woke up' i was still in my house same room ect so i thought i was really awake but when i looked up there were two little girls holding hands dancing around in front of me singing ashes ashes we all fall down. again i woke up for real in a sweat and breathing heavily. after this i felt more at ease because i did not dream about the figures again but it still did not feel pleasant. i looked at the clock on my computer and it had only been less than an hour from when i turned it on. i decided to stay up for a bit to try and clear my head. i woke up in the morning remembering the dreams and feelings vividly. all day i have been thinking about it and still seeing the images of my dreams.. this is sitting very uneasy with me.. can anyone help?

[asderek123]

It sounds like you are suffering from Sleep Paralysis in which you "wake up" during REM sleep but you cannot move. This is because your body induces certain chemicals to make sure your paralyzed during REM. If you weren't... well, just imagine if you had a dream you were running... without being paralyzed you ACTUALLY would be running. What you have to do is realize that this is not real, even though this may be hard. Just try and relax. Also trying breathing deeply, shaking yourself out of paralysis, or moving some extremity (finger, toe, etc.) This should break your paralysis and you should wake up. ALSO, if you wake of from sleep paralysis DO NOT go back to sleep immediately. This may cause you to run into Sleep Paralysis again. Just walk around for a little bit or watch some TV to get your mind off of it. IMPORTANT: Sleep Paralysis occurs most of the time when you are *sleeping on your back* So try sleeping in a different position. I myself have not experience sleep paralysis (I don't think) but I am still young. This is normal! It occurs occasionally in peoples lives but usually does not reoccur. I hope I helped! Though it may seem scary, keep in mind that you are in no harm and that God will always protect you! I hope you can get some sleep!

[Bewildebeest]

That is absolutely TERRIFYING. I have no idea. I can't help you with the meaning. But I can sympathize and empathize. How horrible!