Sleep paralysis, Natural or Sinister?: Your Experiences

Micky Dolenz · 28-03-2014 11:04am #1

It first happened me when I was 13 or 14. I was genuinely scared. I felt a presence in my darkened room as it moved toward me. I could not move or make a sound. My chest closed in as I felt a weight sit on me, all the while the shadow grew bigger. My terror grew accordantly.

I'm not sure how long it lasted, could have been minutes or hours. It felt like a life time. I always felt I had a paranormal experience that night and I suppose in some way I did.

Over the years I became very interesting in dreaming and in particular lucid dreaming. A couple of years back I set out to train myself to control my dreams. I had a lot of success doing this. While I was in this period I would often experience sleep paralysis, as my mind was aware of my state while in different phases of sleep.

I would experience all the things I mentioned above but without the terror as I knew exactly what was going on. It's a subject I find fascinating and will probably embark on a bit of research.

Ben Horne · 30-03-2014 9:27pm

I cannot recall having such incidents as a child or teenager but only over the last few years. It has become more regular over the past year or few months. I wish I had a certain amount of control. What kind of sinister do you mean? Something other worldly or supernatural?

Micky Dolenz · 30-03-2014 10:20pm

It has been attributed to all sorts over the years and through different cultures. From entity visits to Alien abductions.

An interesting vid here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPIBRNDrw20

.

I'm not in a position to say stuff like that doesn't happen, but in my case it certainly is sleep paralysis.

Wise Old Elf · 02-04-2014 9:52pm

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

It has been attributed to all sorts over the years and through different cultures. From entity visits to Alien abductions.

An interesting vid here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPIBRNDrw20
.

I'm not in a position to say stuff like that doesn't happen, but in my case it certainly is sleep paralysis.

Still haven't had a chance to watch the video, and I'm home alone and wish to sleep tonight, so definitely not.

My experience of this was a mild ome, none of the crushing chest or scary banshee women that I've read about here and elsewhere.

I feel asleep on the couch one afternoon, and when I woke up, I couldn't move, not a muscle except opening my eyes. Stayed like that for a while, but eventually put all my efforts into moving a single finger and all became normal again, I was definitely awake, as there was a match on the telly and I could recall what was happening in it, but no movement. Now that I'm typing, I'm not sure whether I felt a presence or not. It was at least 8 years ago, so it could be the power of suggestion , making me think I did.

Flippyfloppy · 02-04-2014 9:59pm

Happened to me first at the age of 14. Had been out partying previous night till morning.

Was asleep when suddenly I felt awake, could hear my friend behind me telling me to turn around. I was stuck, could not move a muscle, speak or open eyes. I thought to myself at least it's just my friend I can hear. Cue demonic voice screaming at me 'TURN AROUND' yeah I was pretty freaked. Took a while to regain control of my eyes etc. couldn't sleep properly that night, and for a while those dreams escalated.

I used to desperately try and bang on the wall so my sibling next door would come to my aid. Never worked.

I still get them sometimes, usually when I (rarely) get to go back to sleep in the morning, at the weekend or whatever. Am a lot more patient while if have them now, although I do try and call my OH, he never wakes so I don't know if I actually am successful at making vocalisations or not.

Usually coincides with waking up feeling dehydrated, sun bearing in on top of me heating on full blast. Can have it lying on front or back. When lying on back feel like I'm going to choke and when I lie on my front my nose is always pressed into the pillow so I feel like I'm going to smother if I don't move!

That's my experience with it.

Doom · 02-04-2014 10:01pm

I've had for years, once I knew what it was I was fine with it.
Only happens when I sleep on my back...

The One Who Knocks · 02-04-2014 10:05pm

Used to get it too when I messed around with lucid dreaming. Not a nice feeling!

berty58 · 02-04-2014 10:10pm

Fairly scary stuff when you first experience it. I used to think I only got it after a drinking session but I get them now when I wouldn't have had a drink in weeks. I would be wide awake and not able to move a muscle and unable to speak. Breathing would feel strange also.

riffmongous · 02-04-2014 10:14pm

Yeah I get it regularly, as in once a month or so I reckon. The first time I remember still quite well, it was 3 years ago and I was having a regular dream, when it changed and now I was in the room in bed and there was someone there and they put their hand on my mouth and tried to smother me while I couldn't move, absolutely terrifying.

After a few more times I also learned to train myself to break out of it, now I just can recognise it and I focus on shaking myself as hard as I can and I wake up without the same feeling of terror thankfully

bottlebrush · 02-04-2014 10:21pm

i have had it since i was a child. i have never felt a presence though. on two occasions i had loud buzzing in my ears and i felt myself floating upwards even though i was still physically in my bed and i had to will myself with every ounce of energy i had to come back down. i often wonder what would have happened if i had just let myself go with the flow.

Pat Mustard · 02-04-2014 10:23pm

Found this study on pubmed:

Seems that it's common.

we have reviewed the available literature on lifetime episodes of SP and have found it to be a fairly common experience. Although occurring in less than 8.0% of the general population, it is much more frequent in students and psychiatric patients, and the difference between these latter two groups is surprisingly small. Reasons for these higher prevalence rates are unclear, but it is possible that both groups experience regular sleep disturbances, a factor making SP episodes more likely

The fear associated with SP appears to arise not only from individual reactions to atonia, but from the hallucinatory content as well (2, 11). Unnatural involuntary movements (e.g., levitation), autoscopy, the presence of malevolent intruders in the bedroom, and physical/sexual assaults are common SP hallucination themes (8). A patient's construal of SP hallucinations may lead them to present for treatment in a disoriented and acutely fearful manner, and there are reports in the literature of such patients being misdiagnosed with a psychotic disorder (12). Regardless, the distressing nature of SP potentially places it within the realm of psychopathology and, indeed, preliminary links between the two have been made.

The study notes that Sleep Paralysis is linked with narcolepsy, shift work, and other sleep disturbances, etc.

berty58 · 02-04-2014 10:33pm

The Mustard wrote: »

Found this study on pubmed:

Seems that it's common.

The study notes that Sleep Paralysis is linked with narcolepsy, shift work, and other sleep disturbances, etc.

That's a bit strange. I found I got them a lot worse a few years back before we had children and I got a good nights sleep. I find they have calmed down now but I have a lot more sleep disturbances due to night feeds and teething babies.

hawkwind23 · 02-04-2014 10:40pm

try watching "Borgman"
Dutch Horror movie , lot of references to the auld sleep paralysis.
bit freaky but not often seen in a movie so worth a watch.

havent had this myself in years but some terrifying experiences over the years , i got the sensation that someone/thing was in the room and they werent friendly.
learned to control it by focusing on humming , that always seemed to break it

Pat Mustard · 02-04-2014 10:40pm

berty58 wrote: »

That's a bit strange. I found I got them a lot worse a few years back before we had children and I got a good nights sleep. I find they have calmed down now but I have a lot more sleep disturbances due to night feeds and teething babies.

Sorry, I omitted a lot of details there. Here is the relevant paragraph from the abstract:

Episodes of SP have been linked with conditions such as narcolepsy, hypertension, and seizure disorders, but are also associated with a general lack of sleep, sleep disturbances, jet lag, student status, African descent, and shift work (4-6). When SP occurs in otherwise healthy individuals it is termed isolated SP. Neither SP nor isolated SP episodes are currently recognized as codable diagnoses. However, the International Classification of Sleep Disorders 2nd Edition (1) includes recurrent isolated SP as a diagnostic possibility, and these same symptoms could be classified as a parasomnia not otherwise specified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV)(7).

berty58 · 02-04-2014 10:44pm

The Mustard wrote: »

Sorry, I omitted a lot of details there. Here is the relevant paragraph from the abstract:

African descent is crazy

hawkwind23 · 02-04-2014 10:47pm

berty58 wrote: »

African descent is crazy

i spent a lot of time in Africa , its very common there!
they sleep in raised beds as they believe it protects them

Pat Mustard · 02-04-2014 10:50pm

berty58 wrote: »

African descent is crazy

They can support what they say:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9231535

Recurrent ISP was found to be more common among African American participants, particularly for those with panic disorder. African Americans with panic disorder may experience recurrent ISP as a feature of their disorder.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12211324

The incidence of isolated sleep paralysis was, as per previous reports, higher in African-Americans

hawkwind23 · 02-04-2014 10:53pm

Every African knows what a Tokoloshe is. Some call it Tikoloshe. It looks like a very nasty looking teddy-bear in appearance, in that its head is like that of a teddy-bear, but it has got a thick, sharp, bony ridge on top of its head. Tokoloshes have a hole in their head. They are also immensely strong. The ridge goes from above its forehead to the back of its head, and with this ridge it can knock down an ox by butting it with its head. This creature causes the Black people in certain places to raise their beds on bricks with one brick laid on top of the other one, about 3 feet above the ground. And you find this all over South Africa.

http://tokoloshe.askdefine.com/

LynnGrace · 02-04-2014 11:01pm

I've experienced it when overtired. It is usually the feeling of being conscious, but completely unable to move. I've never been afraid, thankfully.
I didn't know until relatively recently that there was a name for this.

Micky Dolenz · 03-04-2014 8:45am

Flippyfloppy wrote: »

Happened to me first at the age of 14. Had been out partying previous night till morning.

Was asleep when suddenly I felt awake, could hear my friend behind me telling me to turn around. I was stuck, could not move a muscle, speak or open eyes. I thought to myself at least it's just my friend I can hear. Cue demonic voice screaming at me 'TURN AROUND' yeah I was pretty freaked. Took a while to regain control of my eyes etc. couldn't sleep properly that night, and for a while those dreams escalated.

I used to desperately try and bang on the wall so my sibling next door would come to my aid. Never worked.

I still get them sometimes, usually when I (rarely) get to go back to sleep in the morning, at the weekend or whatever. Am a lot more patient while if have them now, although I do try and call my OH, he never wakes so I don't know if I actually am successful at making vocalisations or not.

Usually coincides with waking up feeling dehydrated, sun bearing in on top of me heating on full blast. Can have it lying on front or back. When lying on back feel like I'm going to choke and when I lie on my front my nose is always pressed into the pillow so I feel like I'm going to smother if I don't move!

That's my experience with it.

yeah, it tends to happen to me when on the odd occasion I can get to nap, or re-sleep in the morning. I guess the window for it to happen is pretty small while the waking part and sleep part of the brain inter whine.

Ever try and control it?

Doom wrote: »

I've had for years, once I knew what it was I was fine with it.
Only happens when I sleep on my back...

I thought this too and it certainly happens a lot more when I am on my back or if I want it to happen I sleep like that. Has happened to me on my side too.

The One Who Knocks wrote: »

Used to get it too when I messed around with lucid dreaming. Not a nice feeling!

How did the Lucid dreaming work out for you?

Disco Stuart wrote: »

Still haven't had a chance to watch the video, and I'm home alone and wish to sleep tonight, so definitely not.

That's the best time to watch it

Micky Dolenz · 03-04-2014 8:53am

berty58 wrote: »

Fairly scary stuff when you first experience it. I used to think I only got it after a drinking session but I get them now when I wouldn't have had a drink in weeks. I would be wide awake and not able to move a muscle and unable to speak. Breathing would feel strange also.

How often does it happen you and how do you feel about it now? Are you aware of it happening,as in, you know it's SP.

riffmongous wrote: »

Yeah I get it regularly, as in once a month or so I reckon. The first time I remember still quite well, it was 3 years ago and I was having a regular dream, when it changed and now I was in the room in bed and there was someone there and they put their hand on my mouth and tried to smother me while I couldn't move, absolutely terrifying.

After a few more times I also learned to train myself to break out of it, now I just can recognise it and I focus on shaking myself as hard as I can and I wake up without the same feeling of terror thankfully

Can you recall when it happens? weekends, napping, waking up or falling asleep or could it happen any time?
Have you ever just went with it?

bottlebrush wrote: »

i have had it since i was a child. i have never felt a presence though. on two occasions i had loud buzzing in my ears and i felt myself floating upwards even though i was still physically in my bed and i had to will myself with every ounce of energy i had to come back down. i often wonder what would have happened if i had just let myself go with the flow.

Would you not allow yourself to go with it? The levitating aspect of it is fascinating

The One Who Knocks · 03-04-2014 6:10pm

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

How did the Lucid dreaming work out for you?

It was going great actually, until I started getting sleep paralysis & hypnic jerks, then I just lost the ability over time I guess.

I'm still able to realise I'm dreaming while I'm in a dream, and I can wake up whenever I want. It comes in handy during the odd nightmare

To wake up I just rub my eyes in my dream, and eventually I start doing it in reality.

Lucid dreaming was amazing though, I miss it.

.jacksparrow. · 03-04-2014 6:27pm

I get it but i also get pains in my chest during it.

Anyone else experience this?

riffmongous · 06-04-2014 9:01pm

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

Can you recall when it happens? weekends, napping, waking up or falling asleep or could it happen any time?
Have you ever just went with it?

Sorry only getting back to this now, I didnt notice it.

The first few times I could always remember it, as it was quite a mental and physical shock once I'd wake, but now if it happens I can just go back to sleep after the initial physical shock upon waking up subsides. It usually happens in the late morning period, as I do a lot of dreaming then if I am still asleep, from say 7-9 and also sometimes then from 11-13, back when I used to work in a pub and get to sleep late.

No I never went with it, as the dream part of the experience is so disturbing, but sometimes I have wondered if it is even possible to go with it, as from what I understood from wiki it is a part of the waking up process in a lot of cases.. and maybe the struggling against it while it seems conscious actually is not.. from reading that I am not so sure how aware of it I really am if this makes sense.

Micky Dolenz · 07-04-2014 3:12pm

The One Who Knocks wrote: »

It was going great actually, until I started getting sleep paralysis & hypnic jerks, then I just lost the ability over time I guess.

I'm still able to realise I'm dreaming while I'm in a dream, and I can wake up whenever I want. It comes in handy during the odd nightmare

To wake up I just rub my eyes in my dream, and eventually I start doing it in reality.

Lucid dreaming was amazing though, I miss it.

I think it is something you have to actively pursue and if not practised it fades away over time. I went through a great stage of it.

.jacksparrow. wrote: »

I get it but i also get pains in my chest during it.

Anyone else experience this?

No pain, more tightness.

qo2cj1dsne8y4k · 09-04-2014 9:00am

I think this is happening to me. In December my dad passed away and ever since, I haven't been sleeping properly at all. I know I'm pretty run down, my iron levels are at rock bottom so Im mega tired all the time but can't seem to get to sleep enough just to feel a little better.

The first time it happened to me, I felt semi awake, felt squashed against a wall that wasnt really there, and it was my dads corpse that grabbed me, put his arms around me and wouldn't let me go. No words would come out and I just remember thinking this isn't real it isn't real it isn't real and eventually it passed.

But, it's getting worse not better. It's happening a lot more often. I always feel like I'm just on the brink of waking and it's terrifying me, last night was the worst ever. Even now I'm awake properly, and for hours and I still don't feel right after it. I just need it to stop, I need proper sleep but at this stage, after last night I don't want to even close my eyes again.

King George VI · 09-04-2014 9:19am

I go through phases of sleep paralysis. I don't get it for 4-6 months then I'll experience it 3 times a night for about a month, and seeing as how I had SP last night for the first time in ages I reckon entering the phase. I've learned to stop being scared of it and just let it happen to it's full extent. I've heard it's more likely to strike when you're sleeping on your back and when you're cold. I'd well believe that theory because it mostly happens when I'm on my back and have a leg or two sticking out of the duvet.

Micky Dolenz · 09-04-2014 9:37am

LexieOnRale wrote: »

I think this is happening to me. In December my dad passed away and ever since, I haven't been sleeping properly at all. I know I'm pretty run down, my iron levels are at rock bottom so Im mega tired all the time but can't seem to get to sleep enough just to feel a little better.

The first time it happened to me, I felt semi awake, felt squashed against a wall that wasnt really there, and it was my dads corpse that grabbed me, put his arms around me and wouldn't let me go. No words would come out and I just remember thinking this isn't real it isn't real it isn't real and eventually it passed.

But, it's getting worse not better. It's happening a lot more often. I always feel like I'm just on the brink of waking and it's terrifying me, last night was the worst ever. Even now I'm awake properly, and for hours and I still don't feel right after it. I just need it to stop, I need proper sleep but at this stage, after last night I don't want to even close my eyes again.

Wow, that is intense. My condolences on your Dad passing.

Sleep is really important to help the mind and body heal. After a highly emotive event, our sleep can suffer. I think the first step is be aware of what is happening. If you can recognise it, you won't fear it as much. I induce it and for the first few seconds I feel a little terror until I become aware.

Here is a good article on coping with SP. It nearly never happens me when I am sleeping on my front.

I think you will need to address the root issue though. I believe Bereavement counselling is meant to be really good.

Micky Dolenz · 09-04-2014 9:38am

St. Jimmy wrote: »

I go through phases of sleep paralysis. I don't get it for 4-6 months then I'll experience it 3 times a night for about a month, and seeing as how I had SP last night for the first time in ages I reckon entering the phase. I've learned to stop being scared of it and just let it happen to it's full extent. I've heard it's more likely to strike when you're sleeping on your back and when you're cold. I'd well believe that theory because it mostly happens when I'm on my back and have a leg or two sticking out of the duvet.

It would be interesting if you kept a sleep diary over an extended time to see if there is a pattern.

I'd well believe that theory too and am going some lengths to trying to prove it.

King George VI · 09-04-2014 9:53am

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

It would be interesting if you kept a sleep diary over an extended time to see if there is a pattern.

I'd well believe that theory too and am going some lengths to trying to prove it.

I did keep a diary, that's how I ended up with the 4-6 months off/1 month on phase. Very strange all the same. I have no idea why it happens or why it seems to be scheduled like that, but it's been a regular occurrence since I was 15.

Miggle Kop · 20-04-2014 11:17am

I get this quite often when I'm dosing. It started about 30 years ago when I was about 13. It doesn't bother that much anymore because I've learned I can get out of it with a TREMENDOUS act of will. I start out trying to shake my hands and feet back and forth and then work up to my arms and legs and then my head. I try to shake myself harder and harder until something clicks and I just *POP* out of it and sit up. Works every time.

Shoons101 · 30-04-2014 12:52am

Hi guys I haven't got the chance to read any of the posts I jus wanted to post my exp wit sp & 'lucid dreaming' I have suffered with what we always called the old hag from a very young age I would estimate I was about 6 when it first happened. It always left me feeling really disturbed even to this day (I'm 22) it hasn't always involved the 'hag' sometimes it was jus a feeling of heaviness on me & I would hallucinate about elephants, very large objects, heavy things in general & when I would come out of it I would run around the house in a panic slamming doors, just freaking out generally. That's jus the sleep paralysis part, and that happens often. But when this is mixed with lucid dreaming it gets even weirder. When I was about 10 I realised I could lucid dream, I fly in mine, I can't control them for very long cos once I run out of ideas it seems something else takes over, anyway, as I mentioned flying is my thing while lucid but as soon as I lose control & try to get back down to the ground my legs are beyond my control & they keep floating up above my head and I get the feeling some evil spirit is dragging my body around. That's when I start dreaming that I'm in paralysis, I will switch from my bed to another room in my house & dream about trying to crawl back to my bed & call my partner. I try to wake up so hard but it seems I fall deeper into this sinister feeling dream. It feels as if it happens all night until I eventually wake in the morning. In my dream I can jus about reach out to hit him and I try really hard to ask for help. He can here me mumbling sometimes. I am not conscious or at least I feel I am not that's where my question is, can you dream you have sleep paralysis & does this mean I am actually paralysed at the time. Its really quite disturbing. It happened last night & I'm still feeling the effects at 1am the next night I am always afraid to sleep the next night even tho the chances of it happening again for awhile are slim. Actually I know the chances are higher if I'm over tired so it's really just a vicious circle ðŸ˜¬ ...

Shoons101 · 30-04-2014 12:56am

Oh I forgot to mention the weird noises while in regular sp the first few times this happened I was sure I was being abducted by aliens, strange noises & vibrating in my ears. Ahhhh I hate sleep paralysis

Kaycee2 · 21-05-2014 1:15am

For me this only started about 6 months ago. I changed bedrooms and the new room I was in is at the side of the house beside a busy road.

At first when I was falling asleep I'd hear banging noises they weren't too loud and I'd assumed it was from outside on the main road but after only a few nights the banging got louder and it took me a couple of weeks to realise this was actually all in my head.

It seemed to progress more each night with the banging getting louder and then i started to see flashing lights, it was like someone had switched the lights on but my eyes were still closed.

Then one night I heard the loudest bang yet, it sounded like a concrete block falling and smashing but as well as that it felt like the explosion was in my head, I didn't know what was going on I tried to move and I couldn't, my body felt like it weighed a ton and then I felt like I actually left my body and I was floating above it, it was the freakiest thing ever, I couldn't see my body beneath me it wasn't like that but it felt like I was hovering above it for I don't know how long it could have been a minute or so and then suddenly it felt like I fell back into it

I felt fully awake but was too afraid to move, I managed to go back asleep and the next morning googled it just to see what came up and then I read up on sleep paralysis. What I gathered from that was similar to the feeling of 'falling' when going to sleep which I always got and I know other people get quite a lot I seen it as another form of that only a hell of a lot scarier, my thinking now is that it is natural in my case it happened when i was feeling exhausted, my quality of sleep is pretty poor and throw in a bit of stress on top and that's the result

However, while it was happening I was thinking all kinds of mad stuff, when it felt like my head was exploding I thought this is this a stroke, is this what a stroke is and then when I felt like I was floating I was thinking of a conversation I had with someone that day who was going to see a psychic/medium and I was being very skeptical to them about it and I thought this what I get for having that attitude, this is proof they were right and I was wrong, someone is trying to tell me something!

I get the flashing lights and the banging noises regularly now but the out of body experience hasn't happened again but if it did I don't think I'd be afraid again.

riffmongous · 08-06-2014 1:36pm

I had another one there last night. It was a normal (as far as dreams go) dream at first, then as part of it I was lying in my bed in the dark, lying on my side (which is how I was lying when I woke up after it) and I noticed something move around the bed and behind me, not the way a person moves but more like a brief wind, like if a bird flies close to you. And I knew I needed to turn around and face it but I couldn't move, I also think at this point a part of me realised that this was a dream and what would happen. Then I felt this thing move closer and whisper something in my ear, at which point I started to freak out with such a feeling of terror and I started to shake myself out of it.

Apologies for the structure of the post, I just remember it still quite well at the moment and wanted to get it written down in as much detail as possible.

DarkAngel91 · 14-06-2014 11:35pm

The first time it happened to me I think I was about 15. I had just gotten into bed and was lying on my side when suddenly I felt a presence in my room and my whole body became paralyzed. It was a bright night so I could see in my room i looked out of the corner of my eye and I saw this black figure walking towards me. My heart started racing and I closed my eyes so tight, I opened them again to see if it was still there. This time the figure was standing right beside me, it reached out its arm and started stroking my hair at that point I thought I was gonna take a heart attack cause my heart was beating so fast. Shortly after that I passed out.

retro:electro · 19-06-2014 11:38pm

This has started to happen to me lately. I woke from my sleep one night and I could not move a muscle, I was lying flat on my back and couldn't move or speak but I was fully aware. I felt like someone was pushing down on my chest and in the corner of my eye I could see a white circle and was convinced it was some sort of poltergeist. All of a sudden I just sat up in the bed and awoke properly. The terror I felt was unbelievable although I specifically remember my heart was not beating fast and this didn't match the fright and anxiety I felt inside. It happened a few nights later when I was lying on my side and woke up and couldn't move. I was convinced there was something behind me in my bed but I couldn't move to see what it was, I heard whispering and tried so hard to move my hand and shout help but I couldn't. These episodes have scared me so much I'm afraid to go to bed at night, they really are terrifying.

riffmongous · 20-06-2014 12:01am

That's pretty tough when they are so close together. Has anything changed with respect to your sleeping behaviour recently? I've decided to keep a diary of when they happen to me now and hopefully record what time i went to bed at and how tired i was in the hope i can identify a pattern of some kind

retro:electro · 20-06-2014 5:24pm

No I don't think anything major has changed. I was telling my mother and she brought up the fact that I had painted my room that week and that perhaps the paint fumes had interrupted my sleep somehow and made me hallucinate or something? Maybe she's just trying to make me feel better because I've never heard of that.. I'm telling everyone who will listen about it, it really is the freakiest thing when it happens.

Micky Dolenz · 20-06-2014 5:34pm

Yeah, it can be pretty scary alright. Take comfort that you are not alone and a lot of people experience it. The whispering was the thing that used to get me the most.

Read up on it, it's a well known phenomenon, it may put your mind to rest.

riffmongous · 20-06-2014 5:34pm

What colour did you paint it maybe? And from what colour did you change?

okioffice84 · 20-06-2014 5:42pm

I get SP all the time. Did a bit of research on it a few years ago...apparently it is very common in those who keep 'odd' hours e.g. nurses on shift work.

I also experience 'exploding head syndrome' quite regularly....I actually try to let it go on as long a possible to see how far I can push it.
I don't experience visual hallucinations, which is a good thing as the grey alien really freaks me. I do sometimes get the feeling there is someone in the room and sometimes hear footsteps on a carpet floor... there is no malevolence there though.

Ramza · 22-06-2014 2:04am

I've suffered from sleep paralysis since I was a young boy of about 4/5, and have done so until now regularly. I'm 23 now, so that's a good 17/18 years experience with it. I thought it was normal and that everyone experienced it, and didn't know until I read about it years later that it was in fact something only a percentage of people suffered. Whenever it would happen as a child, I would always have a sensation before sleeping (but I think I was asleep at this stage and only imagining this) that I was being dragged by my feet out of the bed by some unknown force I could not see or sense in any way. It was then I would ALWAYS, and I mean ALWAYS have a nightmare. If this didn't happen, there would be no nightmare. It was so strange and I still to this day cannot explain it. Whenever the nightmare ended I would then wake up in a state of sleep paralysis. This absolutely terrified me as a kid, as the nightmares themselves were extremely vivid.

This continued all through my life on and off, lately it's been bad. I've woken up countless times being frozen in my bed, while I hear strange noises and see hallucinations in my room. I'm literally awake and paralysed while the nightmare continues in my bedroom. I've experienced it all, last night was especially bad, and I know this is going to sound extremely stupid and far-fetched, but trust me it is anything but ; I woke up to being frozen in my bed, and saw a blue-ish looking face, with weird looking features, hovering in the corner of my room. I tried to look away but I couldn't. A hand then reached and grabbed me, and it was the weirdest sensation, it made me shake somewhat, and in sheer terror I was unable to move or scream or shout, although I was trying so hard. A loud echoing noise was also present, and got louder every second. It literally felt like I was being squeezed, like a giant pressure was being put on me. It was all so strange and I woke up eventually. Trying to pry yourself from the paralysis is insanely hard, I haven't slept well since, and this was my worst experience so far

What makes it so scary is KNOWING it's happening or will happen. There is a build up. Sometimes even my good dreams can instantly turn eery or evil, and this is usually a sign I will experience sleep paralysis. When it happens I become halfway between awake and asleep, and I try my very hardest to pry my eyes open, because I am so terrified knowing what is coming. I sometimes even plead, to god knows who, for it to not happen. When I open my eyes 9/10 I'm in the sleep paralysis state, and terror ensues. It can last a second or a minute, even more. This is what makes it so terrifying to me.

I sometimes have "small" episodes, while trying to sleep. I will randomly drift off, but wake up instantly, to hear some echo or buzzing noise, while unable to move. I also get a lot of shocks or weird sensations down my spine during the paralysis episodes, it sometimes feels as if I am being prodded at times. I've seen and heard and experienced so much weird stuff, I could go on but I think my post is getting a bit long

I was googling around looking for places to discuss this, so hopefully my story doesn't seem too far fetched or anything. It is 100% true and unfabricated. It is the scariest thing ever, and I would never wish it on anyone

lisaface · 28-06-2014 1:04am

I've only ever experienced paralysis ,give or take 5 times now. All in my 20s. Apparently it came from a stressful year I had (this is what my dr said as he prescribed me Xanax!!). Is stress really the common factor to it? Either way, I'm glad it's no longer happening. I remember the first time it happened ,when I finally woke up I had tears rushing down my face. Ooh that feeling is horrible,but I did begin to get used to the feeling? It was always as if somebody was sitting on my chest ,and tying my hands and arms down. I could move my feet. I don't know how standard that is ,but that's how it happened each and every time for me.

I've had loads of lucid style dreams in the past ,some intrigue me ,some don't. These felt like that but with a fear. Does that make sense? Luckily when I had them ,I had someone in my life who had them as a kid/teen and a few only months before me, so they talked me through the process of trying to get around it. I did as they said 'focus all your energy on your baby finger and try move it'. I did that every single time ,and somehow it worked. Not the first time haha ,but the second, third and so on it did.

FullblownRose · 17-07-2014 9:51pm

Another thing to be alert to is the possibility that some kind of noises are going on in your environment while you sleep. I believe this can somehow confuse your brain during sleep and possibly trigger an episode of sleep paralysis.

22-07-2014 2:29am

This might not apply to anyone here, but its helped me a lot. Have been experiencing SP on and off for 15 years or so and came to the realisation about a year ago that I only ever experience it when I sleep flat on my back. Since then I always try to sleep on my side or on my stomach. It has cut back massively on the amount of episodes I have. It only ever happens now if I happen to move in my sleep into that position. I've gone from experiencing SP several nights a week to once a month or so now.

Another trick I use for "escaping" them is to concentrate on moving one of my fingers, once that moves I'm out.

g0g · 22-07-2014 7:09am

This thread has been a great find for me and has some really interesting stories. I presume like many others I experienced this for ages before getting around to Googling and discovering it was a known thing. Defo agree with others that lying on back is a common trigger. I've never experienced a presence in room or on me, but it's still a distressing experience each time, even if I'm aware of what's happening. Is anyone able to ignore it and try let their brain go back asleep? If it happens I ALWAYS feel the need/urgency to wake myself up, but I wonder if an easier option would be to relax and fall back fully asleep?

King George VI · 24-07-2014 1:38pm

g0g wrote: »

This thread has been a great find for me and has some really interesting stories. I presume like many others I experienced this for ages before getting around to Googling and discovering it was a known thing. Defo agree with others that lying on back is a common trigger. I've never experienced a presence in room or on me, but it's still a distressing experience each time, even if I'm aware of what's happening. Is anyone able to ignore it and try let their brain go back asleep? If it happens I ALWAYS feel the need/urgency to wake myself up, but I wonder if an easier option would be to relax and fall back fully asleep?

Normally I'm able to wake myself up. As soon as it happens I know that it's sleep paralysis and try scream so my girlfriend can wake me up, but more often than not I'm just silently going "mluuuuuh uuuuuhh eeueuehhhh" and fight my way out of it after a few minutes. It never descends back into sleep though.

This is odd, most of the time my dream moulds its way into the SP. One time in dreamy land I was drinking in a saloon in Kerry and all of a sudden a cowboy on a horse burst into the bar and jumped over the bar, wrecked a few glasses and bottles then ran out the door. Then everyone in the bar was staring at me. I thought "this is very strange, this almost feels like sleep par....aAAAAAAAAHHHHHH" then the dream just moulded into SP and it began.

Very strange. but cool

riffmongous · 24-07-2014 1:55pm

It happened to me twice again now within the last 5 days, recently I havent been sleeping well which I think must be causing it, I've been getting up late and not falling asleep till late. I almost never lie on my back while sleeping so it's not a trigger for me I think, but because I lie on my side what usually happens is I can sense someone behind me coming closer and I desperately want to turn around and face them but I cant.

FullblownRose · 24-07-2014 3:38pm

I try very hard to call out, then wake up and realise after all the effort i wasnt making a sound! i quickly go back into SP, and can think Im awake, even recognising that i was in an episode of SP, but Im still asleep even then. By the time I wake up properly i dont now whether to believe im really awake or not, which is a bit scary.

Wise Old Elf · 21-10-2015 11:22am

Hope you don't mind the bump....
I experienced this for the second time on Monday. I had been at a wedding at the weekend, and had done a load of driving, so was a bit over tired. I was off work Monday so fell asleep on the couch during the morning.

The experience was similar to my previous one, I woke up but couldn't move. I'm fairly sure I could see my actual surroundings as I was aware of the other person in the room moving around. Like last time, I didn't experience the dread or the malevolent presence that others have described with sleep paralysis, but it's still very unnerving not to be able to move.
If I closed my eyes, I could think myself moving, but opening them again, was still on the couch. It passed eventually, but I thought of this thread straight away.

One extra part of this experience though was that I felt I had an "out of body" experience, in that at one stage I felt awake and was looking at the back of my neck/head still asleep on the couch. That part was a bit more unnerving to be honest, as I have mostly heard of out of body experiences being associated with near death (though while searching for this thread, I see others have experienced this as well).

I'll report back with my next experience!!

Sleep paralysis, Natural or Sinister?: Your Experiences

Have you experienced Sleep Paralysis? 115 votes

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