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Help! Resisting sleep currently due to sleep paralysis
- Thread starter MrOogieBoogie
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Uncle_Classy
Member
This happens to me every time i try to sleep in a car on a road trip without reclining my seat. My neck will slump over to the side jolting me into consciousness, but I'm unable to really move at all. At first it's a little bit terrifying and I try to yell or something to get someone to wake me, but then I give up and let myself fall back asleep.
EroticSushi
Member
There's a huge reddit post about SP. With people talking about their scary moments with it. Most of them center around having a feeling that someone is watching you. As well as seeing some creature like thing sitting at the end of your bed or on top of you.
Never experienced SP in my life and I'm thankful since I also hear these scary moments from friends who went through it.
Fascinating thread.
Never had this happen to me. I get the opposite. Used to get night terrors when I was younger, like all the time.
I can only imagine how terrifying sleep paralysis can be. And it explains the alien abduction stories. Having to explain that level incomprehensible terror, its easy to see how people could genuinely believe it to be aliens.
Never had this happen to me. I get the opposite. Used to get night terrors when I was younger, like all the time.
I can only imagine how terrifying sleep paralysis can be. And it explains the alien abduction stories. Having to explain that level incomprehensible terror, its easy to see how people could genuinely believe it to be aliens.
I've experienced sleep paralysis consistently for many years. If I try to go right back to sleep after waking myself up from paralysis, then I almost always go right back into the sleep paralysis. What works for me is pacing for about 10 minutes, then going back to sleep.
Yep. It has happened to me probably over 100 times at this point, it's not even a big deal anymore. I've experienced 4 different "demon" friends so far. My first demon friend paces at the foot of my bed, yelling at me in some language I don't understand. The second demon stands in the corner staring at me, not saying a word. The third demon, I have not seen, because it is always in my blind spot, but I can feel it's breath in my ear. The last demon I hear running down the hall toward my room (if my door is closed, he smashes it open), jumps on top of me, and starts choking me.
Interestingly enough, the demon I see seems to be solely based on the way my bed is positioned.
Yep. It has happened to me probably over 100 times at this point, it's not even a big deal anymore. I've experienced 4 different "demon" friends so far. My first demon friend paces at the foot of my bed, yelling at me in some language I don't understand. The second demon stands in the corner staring at me, not saying a word. The third demon, I have not seen, because it is always in my blind spot, but I can feel it's breath in my ear. The last demon I hear running down the hall toward my room (if my door is closed, he smashes it open), jumps on top of me, and starts choking me.
Interestingly enough, the demon I see seems to be solely based on the way my bed is positioned.
con-ca-te-nate
Member
Sorry for being ignorant. Can someone describe to me what Sleep Pralysis is? Is this like when you suddenly wake up during sleep and you can't fucking breath for a good couple of seconds until you are able to catch your breathe?
NYCmetsfan
Banned
Its when you wake up but your body is still paralyzed from REM sleep (dreaming) so you are aware you are awake but can't move.
Often times there is accompanying feelings of something watching you, or something on your chest. Sometimes it can interact with dreams and you can have hallucination (alien abductions).
There are much milder forms that I think are much more common than the nightmare thing most people associate with the term. I know I sometimes had times where I couldn't move for a few seconds but it wasn't scary or anything and I didn't realize it was the same thing until I had a real episode when I was 20-21.
con-ca-te-nate
Member
Thanks. That's scary.
NYCmetsfan
Banned
Its can be but many people who have a history of it can recognize it and not react (your not dreaming so you have complete control of cognition). I think if I remember my reading right that it triggers the fight or flight hormones, so you're in a shock but can't react (this is I think the reason for the dread and feelings of someone watching you). Its really fascinating IMO but can be scary.
I get it with a 100% success rate when i wall to sleep at work half sat up in a chair. Must be something to do with the stance because i only get it at home every 6 months or so.
I recognise it straight away though and know exactly how to get out, so it doesn't bother me too much.
I recognise it straight away though and know exactly how to get out, so it doesn't bother me too much.
Happens to me regularly. I noticed that it happens more often when I sleep on my back, facing up towards the ceiling. As someone else mentioned, I sometimes just let it be because it is an easy way into a lucid dream. But sometimes when I need to be up, I'll calm down for a few seconds as if being pulled in, then I jolt whole body out of nowhere, and then I'm free until I close my eyes and fall back asleep. It's pretty interesting because I'm able to see/feel myself going through the void that lies between being awake and being asleep. If I'm able to control the intensity of going through that void, BAM: Lucid dream.
hydragonwarrior
Member
Had this happen only twice in my life and i'm 32 now. Don't sweat it OP - the moment you sleep again you won't care.
Turn off the lights and lie down on your back, Exhale absolutely and completely until you have no breath inside and count to 10, or until you feel you really need to breath. Now imagine waking up to that feeling, pitch blackness, completely paralyzed and unable to draw breath, while the loudest, deafening, screeching, whirling kind of noise is all you can hear, and the sound is constantly getting louder and higher in pitch, i literally thought i was dying the first few times it happened... thankfully with enough mental effort you manage to twitch, or move a finger, arm, leg ever so slightly. And you snap right out of it heart racing. It is genuinely terrifying.
Edit,
My Doctor also told me, even though you feel as if your not breathing, apparently your breathing perfectly normally but you just cant feel your cheat rising and falling.. you cant feel anything.
I've found the best way to trigger lucid dreams is to down a bunch of caffeine right before bed. Can of Red Bull, Espresso, Monster, etc.
Fall asleep before the caffeine hits, but when it does there's a decent chance that I'll jump from a normal dream into a lucid state.
Everyone naturally going into a paralysis state during REM sleep. It isn't always absolute, but it generally keeps us from moving around a great deal. Otherwise we'd be liable to hurt ourselves during sleep.
That's why you experience that.
In some ways it is similar to lucid dreaming in that the conscious mind is alert. The primary difference is that during lucid dreaming, the body is still asleep in REM state. With sleep paralysis the body is no longer in REM, but the muscle atonia has not subsided.
EroticSushi
Member
Give this thread a read. I read it at night right before bed and was creeped out thinking I was going to get SP that night. Interesting reading all the experience that people go through with it though.
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/1u83wz/victims_of_sleep_paralysis_what_was_your_runin
Lord of Castamere
Member
Yeah. Sleep Paralysis is crap. Eventually you get used to it, but I still sometimes have bad episodes.
9 years of I have no mouth and I must scream.
9 years of I have no mouth and I must scream.
HeartlessNobody213
Member
I've never had this shit and I hope I never do. I guess it's because I don't sleep on my back, I've always slept on my sides. I pretty much toss and turn from left to right until I fall asleep. Since I don't have any experience with this, my only advice would be to not sleep on your back.
I experience sleep paralysis EVERY time I do not have "white noise"when I sleep. So I use one of these fans. I think I've been using one since I was eleven or so.
South Korea collectively cried out in fear at this.
I used a fan for white noise too.
PSYGN
Member
Are you talking about like a falling sensation when you say you're pulled back in? One time at a hotel I kept saying "buh" right as I was about to drift into sleep and had a falling sensation where I shook myself awake. I started kinda panicking my tired mind like wtf is going on, but tried my best to ignore it. Eventually I woke up so apparently I fell asleep somewhere along the way.
I never experienced sleep paralysis but I've read quite a bit on it. What do you mean by being pulled back in?
I never experienced sleep paralysis but I've read quite a bit on it. What do you mean by being pulled back in?
I'm not even sure I had it, but there were two times I swear I was being attacked by these weird ghost witches laying in my bed in my room when I was sleeping. It was horrifying. Weird flashing colors and lights and stuff, but all surreal.
I don't know if it was sleep paralysis or just a really convincing rendition of my room in my dream.
I don't know if it was sleep paralysis or just a really convincing rendition of my room in my dream.
Cow Mengde
Banned
Come to think of it, I don't remember any recent episodes of sleep paralysis myself. I only find it to me an annoyance. I've had times when I wake up from one, only to fall back asleep and get dragged into another, and another. Again, I just find it annoying and not much else. You guys need to relax. The fact that nothing could happen to you is reason enough to not be scared.
You know what actually scares me more? Sleeping while part of your bed sheets covers your nose. You have dreams where it's just hard to breath. You're just trying with all your might to breath, but it's so hard. Those suck. I kind of need to breath.
You know what actually scares me more? Sleeping while part of your bed sheets covers your nose. You have dreams where it's just hard to breath. You're just trying with all your might to breath, but it's so hard. Those suck. I kind of need to breath.
SweetDonuts
Member
Why do I read these threads before I sleep.
super late, but yeah, this happens to me at least once a week and I straight up don't sleep those nights. I just make coffee.
once the sleep paralysis starts it happens every single time I start to fall asleep.
I used to get it a lot when I was having psychological/loneliness issues. Sleeping next to someone every night cured it for me. If I were you, I'd do something to alter my mental state before going back to sleep. Take a sleeping pill or ZZZquil or melatonin or drink some alcohol (just a couple drinks, nothing crazy).
Yeah, fuck the shrouded guy in the corner.
Unknown One
Member
Yup same here. I also happens when I sleep too long.
Conkersbadfurday
Member
I get it kinda often, and it ain't that bad OP. Sleep on your side if you don't. It minimizes it.
IAmtheFMan
Member
I'm a sleep medicine trained neurologist and while I usually I try to stay out of any and all GAF-sleep threads- especially sleep paralysis threads, I'll make an exception for this:
Don't resist sleep. You're making it worse. By far the biggest cause of sleep paralysis is sleep deprivation. The deprivation itself can be because of multiple different factors (mismatch with your internal cycle and when you're trying to sleep, sleep apnea, stress, staying up too late playing video games) but isolated sleep paralysis, while scary is not a serious condition. You're not going to suffocate, or stop breathing during it. As others have mentioned, there's some anecdotal evidence that lying on your back might exacerbate this.
That being said, if you have this even if you sleep like a peach each night, and are still having this in addition to still being inexplicably tired every day, see a sleep specialist in their office. You need to be properly evaluated then.
/sleepdoc
Don't resist sleep. You're making it worse. By far the biggest cause of sleep paralysis is sleep deprivation. The deprivation itself can be because of multiple different factors (mismatch with your internal cycle and when you're trying to sleep, sleep apnea, stress, staying up too late playing video games) but isolated sleep paralysis, while scary is not a serious condition. You're not going to suffocate, or stop breathing during it. As others have mentioned, there's some anecdotal evidence that lying on your back might exacerbate this.
That being said, if you have this even if you sleep like a peach each night, and are still having this in addition to still being inexplicably tired every day, see a sleep specialist in their office. You need to be properly evaluated then.
/sleepdoc
Icyflamez96
Member
Yeah every time I wake up from sleep paralysis, I make sure I get up, turn on the lights, and walk around for a bit, and even sometimes turn on the computer to browse the net for a few minutes before I head back to bed. That normally stops it from coming back for the night.
The worst part is you can't move or do anything. You can just think and "feel" its presence come down on you. I don't have the grudge girl on my mind, but I definitely was thinking of a witch when I had Sleep paralysis.
Buddha Beam
Banned
I've had sleep paralysis before, but not as bad as some of you guys seems to get it. I've woken up and been unable to move for maybe 30 seconds or so. I've never felt like something was holding me down or seen entities, though.
It's a freaky sensation, but I always manage to force myself out of it. Or rather, I feel like I do. In actuality, it's probably just my brain and it's various chemicals coming back online.
It's a freaky sensation, but I always manage to force myself out of it. Or rather, I feel like I do. In actuality, it's probably just my brain and it's various chemicals coming back online.
Shmeagatory94
Member
I know exactly what you are going through. Honestly it is very scary when it happens to me but it happens VERY rarely. On the nights it does, I barely get any sleep. My best advice would be to just stay awake, which is probably terrible advice lol thats what I do when it happens. The sensation of it just SUCKS.
RumblingRosco
Member
Same
I totally want to experience it now too.
Yeah, I'm with you guys. We're major outcasts here. Good luck to figuring out your sleep issues OP.
TheGreyHulk
Member
Ive had SP several times alomg with lucid dreaming.
The SP is pretty terrifying the first few times. I never open my eyes due to fear of what i would think was in the room with me. Kind of made it scarier because during SP you havr this intense sense of doom in the room getting closer to you and then i hear that fucking loud ass whirling sound which gradually intensifies while you think that thing is grabbing you..
Shit is freaky as fuck and i always start praying and stuff thinking a demon is after me and then im able to move again and it's over with and i just lay awake like "wtf was that?". Eventually I just stopped caring when it happens and keep calm reminding myself im half asleep and it'll be ok.
The SP is pretty terrifying the first few times. I never open my eyes due to fear of what i would think was in the room with me. Kind of made it scarier because during SP you havr this intense sense of doom in the room getting closer to you and then i hear that fucking loud ass whirling sound which gradually intensifies while you think that thing is grabbing you..
Shit is freaky as fuck and i always start praying and stuff thinking a demon is after me and then im able to move again and it's over with and i just lay awake like "wtf was that?". Eventually I just stopped caring when it happens and keep calm reminding myself im half asleep and it'll be ok.
Conkersbadfurday
Member
It's different for everyone, but other than a few very terrifying moments where I see monsters in my room and I can't move, it's mostly just annoying. Wake up, can't move, in awkward position. You just sit there until you can move so you can move and not have half your body go numb.
TheGreyHulk
Member
Another weird thing is that wooshing/whirling sound. It sounds like a fucking freight train and always happens just before waking up.
Ive had this feeling all the time when exiting a lucid dream. Dreams are insane and you're doing some nice shit and realize your dreaming. Hardest part was keeping myself in control in the dream state because eventually your brain is like "nope, this shit is fake...ur dreaming" and you get sucked out into the real world and hear that damn sound then wake up...
I have had the odd inception dreaming shit. Where im in a deep dream, realize im dreaming and get sucked out only to actually still be dreaming. Yup, ive dreamed of dreaming in a dream... I woke up twice. Once into a new dream and then again into the real world like, "whoa"
Had a solid week of intense dreaming as if i wasnt even in my body. I was out n about in the dream and sometimes i wasnt even me, or it felt like i wasnt myself. It was odd.
Havent had one in about a year tho. Kind of want to experience it again
Ive had this feeling all the time when exiting a lucid dream. Dreams are insane and you're doing some nice shit and realize your dreaming. Hardest part was keeping myself in control in the dream state because eventually your brain is like "nope, this shit is fake...ur dreaming" and you get sucked out into the real world and hear that damn sound then wake up...
I have had the odd inception dreaming shit. Where im in a deep dream, realize im dreaming and get sucked out only to actually still be dreaming. Yup, ive dreamed of dreaming in a dream... I woke up twice. Once into a new dream and then again into the real world like, "whoa"
Had a solid week of intense dreaming as if i wasnt even in my body. I was out n about in the dream and sometimes i wasnt even me, or it felt like i wasnt myself. It was odd.
Havent had one in about a year tho. Kind of want to experience it again
FamousLastX
Member
Hasn't happened to me in a while but that's quite similar to what my first experience was like (well except the girl from The Ring is what I compared it to at the time). I was at college in the dorms and I jolted awake to the sound of the door opening assuming it was just my roommate coming in closed my eyes again. Then what felt like 30 seconds or so later, it felt as if someone was climbing onto my bed so I opened my eyes to see why my roommate would be trying to climb in bed with me.
I found myself completely unable to move or cry out or anything as I saw Ring Girl near the edge of my bed crawling up on it. The fact I felt as if the bed was physically moving as she climbed on top of me and I could see and here her breath and no nothing about it was utterly terrifying. Probably lasted about 30 seconds or so in reality, but it felt like several long minutes in the moment.
It's happened since then probably a dozen or so times and in similar manners. Shit is absolutey horrific to deal with, but luckily I've been able to just have my mind recognize none of it is real the past few times it has happened. Hasn't occured lately, but can't really think of any specific changes I've made to my sleeping habits to prevent it, other than falling asleep on my back, although quite often it seems as if I wake up that way anyways.
Kwansu Dudes
Member
Alright so I'm pretty sure I have sleep paralysis right now.
First off, I heard a weird noise like a mix of low groaning and the sound of pouring water into a hot pot. I immediately woke up, fortunately.
Fast forward about an hour later, I see a god damn shadow child on the side of my bed and it pokes my stomach and I can actually feel the pokes (or at least think that I feel it). Never ever had shadow people before.
Ok. Get a grip. I switched positions to my side and moments later, I see a God damn shadow foot trying to push down on me. Tried sleeping a few more times but the paralysis didn't go away.
I haven't had sleep paralysis in a while but I ate some Thai food earlier in the day that's been ravaging my bowels so maybe that's the cause.
Edit: I shouldn't have read the post before mine.
First off, I heard a weird noise like a mix of low groaning and the sound of pouring water into a hot pot. I immediately woke up, fortunately.
Fast forward about an hour later, I see a god damn shadow child on the side of my bed and it pokes my stomach and I can actually feel the pokes (or at least think that I feel it). Never ever had shadow people before.
Ok. Get a grip. I switched positions to my side and moments later, I see a God damn shadow foot trying to push down on me. Tried sleeping a few more times but the paralysis didn't go away.
I haven't had sleep paralysis in a while but I ate some Thai food earlier in the day that's been ravaging my bowels so maybe that's the cause.
Edit: I shouldn't have read the post before mine.
akachan ningen
Member
You wouldn't be typing if you had SP right now.
Ughhhhhhhh just had a pretty nasty bout of sleep paralysis and now I'm too nervous to go back to sleep.
It started off as a pretty vivid dream, it started off at my house in the middle of the night where I was expecting visitors. I didn't know who but I knew they'd be coming only they didn't. So I went out into the street and everything was extremely detailed, down to the small signs of places that I sometimes pass, it was weird. Didn't know my subconscious stored all that stuff.
Then for some reason, some creepy old lady was really watching me in a shop so I try to escape, including ducking and moving through peoples gardens. At the point this is where the paralysis kicks in, Everything in my dream goes grayscale as I try to dodge her gaze and then I manage to get myself out of it (or did I dream it?). I feel myself go back to sleep and at that point, I'm in the street again and I'm running, everything in my dream is twisting around on itself and I get dizzy, then I hear the scariest laugh of some old lady I've ever heard while this happens. But at this point I snap out of it.
I consider myself a fairly normal person. I don't feel bouts of anger, I'm calm pretty much all the time but that dream was borderline psychotic. I think the combination of the paralysis and the dream has screwed me over tonight so here I am on GAF. Hi guys.
It started off as a pretty vivid dream, it started off at my house in the middle of the night where I was expecting visitors. I didn't know who but I knew they'd be coming only they didn't. So I went out into the street and everything was extremely detailed, down to the small signs of places that I sometimes pass, it was weird. Didn't know my subconscious stored all that stuff.
Then for some reason, some creepy old lady was really watching me in a shop so I try to escape, including ducking and moving through peoples gardens. At the point this is where the paralysis kicks in, Everything in my dream goes grayscale as I try to dodge her gaze and then I manage to get myself out of it (or did I dream it?). I feel myself go back to sleep and at that point, I'm in the street again and I'm running, everything in my dream is twisting around on itself and I get dizzy, then I hear the scariest laugh of some old lady I've ever heard while this happens. But at this point I snap out of it.
I consider myself a fairly normal person. I don't feel bouts of anger, I'm calm pretty much all the time but that dream was borderline psychotic. I think the combination of the paralysis and the dream has screwed me over tonight so here I am on GAF. Hi guys.
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