[Closed] sleep paralysis

I've had it more than once or twice. Often happens if I'm out bivvying when it can be accompanied by quite vivid, and scary, dreams.

Not done it for a long time, but I've found I'm more likely to have lucid dreams when I take a short nap on the sofa during the day.

I've only ever once experienced sleep paralysis for an actual prolonged period, where you have time to think about and digest it. Really weird stuff when your brain's ticking over trying to work it out, thinking, erm, WTF... Eh, help...

First time I had it I thought I was dying. Had never experienced anything like it.

Used to get it quite a lot but haven't had it for years

I've had it a few times, it's proper freaky.

Had it hundreds if not thousands of times over my life. Used to get it most during my uni days (plenty of alcohol and the rest) but hardly get it nowadays that I'm teetotal so I guess that was the trigger.

Sleep paraylysis is the oppostite of sleep walking. there is a mehanism in your brain that "turns off" your ability to move when you are asleep. When this doesn't work you get sleep walking. When it doesn't tun back on when you wake you get the paralysis

I occasionally get night terrors which is a linked phenomenon. Its not waking up scared from a nightmare - there is no dream and its not IIRC from REM sleep. But you wake up in a full blown panic with your adrenal system going totally into overload

First time was scary, couldn’t move and had whispering behind my right ear. Settled after a couple of minutes. I am fine now on haldol and residing in a secure unit.....
Honestly though that was 30 years ago and I have only had it a few times. Can settle it quicker by relaxing and slowly taking deeper breathes. Was really freaky when it first happened.

I get it fairly often sleeping during the day after nights, lie awake zombied until I awake fully or drop back over. I find it strangely relaxing.

Waking up paralysed with the one show on is the stuff of nightmares

I used to get this a fair amount when I was in late teens/twenties... absolutely terrified me the first time. I genuinely thought I must have broken my neck. It quickly became less frightening, to the point of seeming an inconvenient delay to the first few minutes of the morning.

Someone told me to break out of it by trying to move little finger first.

Sleep paraylysis is the oppostite of sleep walking.

Is that completely true? I had the paralysis a few times, but also had at least one episode of sleepwalking where I was aware I was sleepwalking, but couldnt wake up from it or talk.

Its a glitch in the matrix.
Take the red pill.

Yep I get that very occasionally. Usually with an intruder in the room and I cannot move to stop them coming to get me. They are on top of me and I can't breath or move properly.

Turns out its reasonably common.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_paralysis

Sleep paraylysis is the oppostite of sleep walking

Done that plenty too. My wife has stopped some very embarrassing situations, but not caught them all.

Yeah its nasty the first time it happens.

I've had it quite a few times over the years. Thankfully never with hallucinations though. I think mine was mainly linked with stress and alcohol.

Initially I could snap myself out of it by concentrating on moving a finger/hand but that got harder. These days I just start breathing erratically and noisely to wake the wife, who then just hits me until I snap out of it (although this now seems to take more effort as well)

Had it lots, like most nights for a period of time, when younger. More booze and poor sleep were triggers, I always assumed. Not fun.

Did read it was theorised that sleep paralysis was responsible for legends of succubus (or incubus, whatevers your poison). My experience was far less pleasant than that idea though.

See also, 'crashing', 'exploding head syndrome'.

I remember doing this once when I was a student and I had a small 2 seater sofa. I fell asleep curled up on it and woke up (or thought I had) unable to move. I think what actually happened was I tried to straighten out in my sleep, couldn't, half woke up at which point my brain went SHIT I CAN'T MOVE I MUST BE PARALYSED. Then I woke up in a panic.

I've had it once a few years ago. Woke up, thought WTF is going on, not a nice feeling

Something similar I guess in my teens a few times.
Wake up for school and everything I did was in slow motion getting out of bed, walking across the room, getting dressed. Would only last a few minutes.
Never looked into what it was or why.

I’ve had it more than once or twice. Often happens if I’m out bivvying when it can be accompanied by quite vivid, and scary, dreams.

Very much this for me too though Oddly, i've never analysed it/given it any thought until just now.

I've had it a few times. First time there was 'something' in the room with me and I could feel it slowly pulling the blanket off me (even though I could see the blanket not moving). Properly terrifying, I was scared to sleep for a few days after it and so had terrible sleep for a while.

Eventually woke myself up by breathing really, really heavily, which got my shoulders moving a bit, and the movement very slowly spread through my body.

Apparently you can dream that you've woken up, and so it repeats in a cycle. If
It's happened once or twice since. I've had a few instances when drifting off when it felt like it was happening again, I managed to force myself awake, then pinch myself, go for a walk or something until I'm positive I'm awake!

Not had that, which sounds seriously scary 😕 though i was led to believe that was a natural process to stop you kicking your lover to bits during a violent dream.

I've something different, though just as disturbing.
Fall asleep on the chair say at 12-1am for 3 hours, I wake up extremely depressed, lots of life questioning and a distinct and very horrible feeling of being very suicidal. I cant for some reason look at my bikes or workshop, seems to make the feeling worse.
This takes at least an hour to pass if I stay up, but go to bed and I fall asleep quickly, with no effects waking up at normal morning time.
I've tried maybe a sweet coffee, thinking its a blood sugar thing maybe. New thing anyway, under a year its been noticeable
Any clues there ?

a natural process to stop you kicking your lover to bits during a violent dream.

Yep, it’s funny when it doesn’t kick in and you kick a football In your sleep.

Mrs DOD was a little grumpy that night 🙂

I’m relieved to know this is a thing. I’ve had it a few times where I’m awake but think I can’t breathe until a massive intake of breath gets me going again.
Also, OH occasionally wakes in the night with a terrifying scream but can’t explain why.

Apparently you can dream that you’ve woken up, and so it repeats in a cycle

I've been 3 layers in. That involved twice "waking up", including sitting up and moving around, but still then experiencing the paralysis, dreams and fear.