Sleep paralysis

[Macca371]

Has anybody on the forum experienced this strange phenomenon?

This happened to me last night when I was trying to get asleep at 3am. I remember I had just fallen asleep and I was dreaming about a Jehovah's witness in my house for some reason. They were offering leaflets out and my auntie was there and she said 'No, don't take one, it's a load of rubbish'.

There was a period which I can't remember which lasted for a while and then I remember getting the strangest feeling, like I was very light. At first it was very comforting and I could still hear the radio so I opened my eyes thinking I was awake.

I could move my eyes but nothing else would budge. I was trying my very hardest to move and wake myself up but nothing would move. I could certainly hear something, it was totally inexplicable, I wouldn't say it was a voice but there was certainly something audible, and it certainly wasn't the radio, whether it was just in my head or what is something else. I remember at this moment becoming absolutely terrified thinking I would never be able to escape from this strange paralysis, I remember trying my very hardest to shout my parents but no, my mouth wouldn't move, I was trapped. I had read about it after the first time it had happened to me and I could remember about the voices and sometimes people can see things. Now this truly did petrify me, I was terrified I was going to see something in the room. Fortunately I didn't. I returned to normality about one minute after it all started, feeling comforted and scared at the same time. I just lay there for ten minutes thinking about what had just happened. At the time I thought it had been a divine event because I remember feeling so strange. Now I'm just not sure what I think but I'm thinking that it wasn't a religious experience anyway. I was very scared of going asleep after this had happened.

I can promise you that this is completely true, I'm not lying about it. This genuinly happened to me last night.

I remember the first time it had happened, last Christmas, I remember not being able to move at all and I also remember being terrified as I had never had it before. I actually thought I was dying.

(P.S. I'm not necessarily suggesting there is a link between the Jehovah's witness dream and my sleep paralysis)

Some information:

http://www.castleofspirits.com/sleep.html
http://watarts.uwaterloo.ca/~acheyne/S_P.html

This person's account sounds very much like my experience:

http://www.ghoststudy.com/new6/artic...paralysis2.htm

Somebody making the link between Sleep Paralysis and OBE's (both are very similar apparently):
http://www.american-buddha.com/out.of.body.htm

Your views/experiences please ...

[Graham M]

A dream perhaps?

[Macca371]

Certainly not, I remember the change from sleep paralysis to being awake and the only changes were that I was then able to move, I wasn't hearing the noise and I wasn't as scared. During the sleep paralysis everything was clear. I am certain it wasn't a dream.

[Graham M]

Could you see?

There's nothing 'unworldly' about it Happens to many people......... for many different reasons and it can be very very frightening. Mostly it's linked to medical conditions....... but it doesn't have to be that at all either, as it can happen to perfectly 'healthy' people as well
Did you do a search to find connections with out of body experiences? Since there's so much more relevant info out there on sleep paralysis that isn't related to it at all
If you're seriously worried....... pm me....... or do a less biased search..... you may even find information that is less freaky or more practical
Oh and yes........ it happens to me too...... but i know why.

[Macca371]

Originally Posted by Zeph

Could you see?

Very clearly. I remember seeing the time on the radio clearly.

[Graham M]

Have you Spoken to anyone (friends, family, doctor) about it?

[Macca371]

Originally Posted by marina

There's nothing 'unworldly' about it Happens to many people......... for many different reasons and it can be very very frightening. Mostly it's linked to medical conditions....... but it doesn't have to be that at all either, as it can happen to perfectly 'healthy' people as well
Did you do a search to find connections with out of body experiences? Since there's so much more relevant info out there on sleep paralysis that isn't related to it at all
If you're seriously worried....... pm me....... or do a less biased search..... you may even find information that is less freaky or more practical
Oh and yes........ it happens to me too...... but i know why.

I do not have Narcolepsy, and when this is happening I feel the presence of something awful. I am not saying that this is 100% spiritual and I'm not saying it's 100% medical either. I just don't know. Im keeping a broad mind.

However there is some correlation between people who have SP and people who have anxiety disorder, and I do have anxiety disorder.

Don't worry I take all the information which I grab from the internet with a huge pinch of salt. A lot of weird stuff out there.

But this is creepy stuff!

[Macca371]

Originally Posted by Zeph

Have you Spoken to anyone (friends, family, doctor) about it?

No. It's not actually that much of a problem as yet, if this escalates and it is constantly stopping me from sleeping then I will talk to my parents about it. It only stopped me from sleeping for an hour or so.

Originally Posted by Diamond

I do not have Narcolepsy, and when this is happening I feel the presence of something awful. I am not saying that this is 100% spiritual and I'm not saying it's 100% medical either. I just don't know. Im keeping a broad mind.

However there is some correlation between people who have SP and people who have anxiety disorder, and I do have anxiety disorder.

Don't worry I take all the information which I grab from the internet with a huge pinch of salt. A lot of weird stuff out there.

But this is creepy stuff!

I don't have Narcolepsy nor an anxiety disorder...... but no matter It's your experience and if you're not 'creeped' out enough to go and see a doctor then good for you.......... anyway, you asked if anyone else had had a similar experience...... i said yes....... that's it then

[kelraine]

Same thing happened to me a few times when I was about 15 - woke up and couldn't move or make a sound and was convinced there was something 'evil' in the room, just behind me where I couldn't see it - strange thing to think as I'm an atheist - but this was literally a feeling of the most extreme evil you can imagine, in the room with you and you have no idea why - impossible to explain unless it has happened to you.
I also felt a heavy pressure on my chest, like something was crushing me. Completely terrifying.

Had an OOBE a few years later when I was a student - was suddenly aware that I was looking down at the room, from the corner directly above my bed - could see the top of my computer and stereo and was aware that I was 'hovering' above myself, but I don't remember seeing myself. anyway, after a little while I felt myself slamming back down and remember holding onto the bed incase it happened again. Not sure even now if I dreamt it.

Apparently all this is really common but most people don't talk about it because they don't want to be carted off by serious people in white coats.
Essentially, parts of your brain are still asleep and your muscles are still paralysed, but you are conscious. I don't think there's anything 'paranormal' about it at all.

As for OOBEs, these have been re-created in a lab by using magnetic fields to interfere with the temporal lobe (part of the brain responsible for an awareness of time and surroundings). There's some research that links temporal lobe epilespy with people who report 'alien abductions' and it looks pretty likely that it's responsible for out of body experiences.

Have a look here:

http://sleepparalysis.dnswh.com/what..._paralysis.htm

and:

http://paranormal.about.com/library/.../aa112000b.htm

and for stuff on temporal lobe epilepsy:

http://www.emedicine.com/NEURO/topic365.htm



Anyway, you're definitely not going mad. I'm in my 30s now and it hasn't happened since I was about 21 - guess it was down to my lifestyle at the time.

[Macca371]

Originally Posted by marina

I don't have Narcolepsy nor an anxiety disorder...... but no matter It's your experience and if you're not 'creeped' out enough to go and see a doctor then good for you.......... anyway, you asked if anyone else had had a similar experience...... i said yes....... that's it then

What was your experience like if you don't mind sharing?

[Macca371]

Originally Posted by kelraine

Same thing happened to me a few times when I was about 15 - woke up and couldn't move or make a sound and was convinced there was something 'evil' in the room, just behind me where I couldn't see it - strange thing to think as I'm an atheist - but this was literally a feeling of the most extreme evil you can imagine, in the room with you and you have no idea why - impossible to explain unless it has happened to you.
I also felt a heavy pressure on my chest, like something was crushing me. Completely terrifying.

Had an OOBE a few years later when I was a student - was suddenly aware that I was looking down at the room, from the corner directly above my bed - could see the top of my computer and stereo and was aware that I was 'hovering' above myself, but I don't remember seeing myself. anyway, after a little while I felt myself slamming back down and remember holding onto the bed incase it happened again. Not sure even now if I dreamt it.

Apparently all this is really common but most people don't talk about it because they don't want to be carted off by serious people in white coats.
Essentially, parts of your brain are still asleep and your muscles are still paralysed, but you are conscious. I don't think there's anything 'paranormal' about it at all.

As for OOBEs, these have been re-created in a lab by using magnetic fields to interfere with the temporal lobe (part of the brain responsible for an awareness of time and surroundings). There's some research that links temporal lobe epilespy with people who report 'alien abductions' and it looks pretty likely that it's responsible for out of body experiences.

Have a look here:

http://sleepparalysis.dnswh.com/what..._paralysis.htm

and:

http://paranormal.about.com/library/.../aa112000b.htm

and for stuff on temporal lobe epilepsy:

http://www.emedicine.com/NEURO/topic365.htm



Anyway, you're definitely not going mad. I'm in my 30s now and it hasn't happened since I was about 21 - guess it was down to my lifestyle at the time.

Thankyou for the useful links And to the site by the way.

I've not had an Outer Body Experience but some people are able to float around and even pass through walls, etc... quite amazing.

Whether or not it is dreaming who knows...

I've not yet decided myself.

[Theodoric]

I don't think there's anything particularly unusual about it. I had it occasionally once, but not for years now. However, as you say, it can be really scarey, you definitely do think that you are awake. IIRC, the terms used are hypnogogic and hypnopompic sleep.

Originally Posted by Diamond

What was your experience like if you don't mind sharing?

Sorry, logged out and missed that I don't mind sharing...... i just don't want to. I only posted because you seemed so alarmed by your experience and i wanted you to know that you were not going mad or being attacked by demons Well....... i don't think so anyway but i'm not a professional
If i thought my posting about my health issues and these particular experiences would help you or anyone else on this forum.... i'd reply to a pm.
I'm afraid i don't see the point in openly debating anything on a forum anymore unless it's meaningless garbage (See most of my other posts) But i sincerely hope that you don't have this sort of experience again...... and if it does continue...... see a doctor

Just so you don't think i'm being a total spoil sport...... it's feels like i've been buried alive.







Edit: Grammar edit - Change of tense