Sleep Paralysis?

Question

I'm interested in other people's experiences with sleep paralysis. I find this really amazing but very scary. It happened to me only a few times but I thought I was not in my body. So freaky but really fascinating. So please tell me your stories about it.

Yeah, floater, I suppose.

Answer 1

Gosh - this has been a recurring theme on here for about a week.

I used to get sleep paralysis as a teenager - either when I was dropping off or, more rarely, waking up. It didn't really frighten me much, but it wasn't pleasant.

I can't say that I felt I was out of my body. But I did hallucinate a bit - imagining people being in my room when they weren't etc.

Glad I don't have it anymore!

Answer 2

I'm not really sure if my story qualifies as sleep paralysis, but it probably does. It only happened to me one time.

I had fallen asleep in a chair in my living room. I opened my eyes and I could clearly see a very large, cloaked figure in my front hallway coming towards me. As it walked, it made this "swoosh, swoosh, swoosh" noise. I remember thinking that maybe I was dreaming, but I blinked my eyes and realized that I was wide awake. I also, strangely, had absoulutely no fear of this figure, even though it was about the size of a football player in uniform. I could see only it's shape, though, no face and no limbs. I was more curious than anything about what this figure was and why it was in my house. It continued to come into the foyer, but instead of coming to me, it took a right turn and headed toward the hallway where my children's bedrooms are. At this point, I did become fearful, thinking it was going for my children. I remember trying to actually get up and move, but even though I was wide awake, I could do nothing except blink. As the fear grew stronger and the figure got closer and closer to the bedrooms, I finally "broke free" and was able to move and at that very moment, the figure that had so mysteriously appeared, vanished into thin air. I sat back in my chair and pondered this odd happening and what exactly it was. Earlier in the day I had been reading in the newspaper about people's houses in the area being broken into (hence the stranger in my house). The noise it was making was actually my dog outside scratching itself and I was transferring it's sound to the figure. Why did it happen? I have no clue. I was not under any particular stress nor having any real problems in my life. It only happened this one time and I can honestly say that I hope it's the only time it happens to me. Even though initially I was only curious, the fear that engulfed me when I thought it was going after my children was terrifying.

Answer 3

What do you mean exactly? Do you mean when you wake up but can't move? I have had this happen to me a few times when I napped for too long and kept sleeping anyway.

Again, I don't know if this is what you are talking about, but it was really scary. I would wake up and try to move but not be able to. And then I'd hear a noise like a trumpet and it would get louder and louder like a crescendo. And I'd want to scream out of fear. Then I'd try very hard to move and I could.

NOT something I ever want to experience again.

Answer 4

Sleep paralysis is indeed real and much more common than you might think. During REM sleep, the stage of sleep where dreams take place, you brain paralyzes your limbs. Without this function you would most likely flail around during your dreams possibly causing injury.

The most pronounced example of the failure of this function is sleepwalking. Most sleepwalking is associated with the REM (dream) state. During this state, if the brain fails to paralyze the limbs people can and do get up and walk in their sleep.

I wouldn't worry about the paralysis as it is natural and while not that common it is possible to feel like you are not in your body. So don't worry about it.

Answer 5

When you sleep, subconsciously your mind is not with you, you may feel like leaving your body for the time being.

However, in a servious situation like coma, patients tend to have sleeping paralysis because their mind or brain function no longer control the body so they sleep long time... In othe words, the mind took over the will of the brain function.

Answer 6

I've never experienced it, though I had a psych professor explain about it once, at least in relation to dreaming.
When we're in the deepest state of sleep (R.E.M.), our body goes into a state of paralysis as a safety mechanism. Often our bodies tend to try and replicate what's going on in our dreams. Because we're in such a deep state of unsconsciousness (for lack of a better word), we're unable to be aware of what our actions are, and could potentially hurt ourselves. As a result, our body doesn't allow us to move. If you've ever had a dream where you're trying to run and can't, or trying to move and can't, it's because your body at that time physically can't move, in order to ensure your safety.
I know it's not a personal story, though hopefully it allows for some insight. :-)

Answer 7

its happened to me on 3 occasions it was really freaky and i felt on 2 of those occasions that i was floating outside my body it was pretty scary the last time it happened was about 24 years ago and im not in a hurry for it to happen again.

Answer 8

Very interesting subject!

It has happened to me a few times...

If you want more details as to how it happens, I suggest you should participate in the forum of James Van Praagh at http://www.vanpraagh.com where people will explain you everything in great detail.

I will just describe you what happened to me:

One night I was having a dream at the same time that I was floating in the air...it was dark around me, but I was feeling very light and extreme happiness! When I half woke up, I could not feel my body at all, and could not even move my head. I realised that I was hardly breathing. I felt as if I were dying, but I had this amazing feeling of calmness and happiness! At the same time I felt as if I was floating within my body.

It still happens. I still feel as if a light has turned on inside me. It makes me feel amazingly happy! I feel warmth and as if I am about to die. But there is no fear. There is only happiness. At the same time, my worries have gone.

In sleep paralysis, you do leave your body and if you learn how to control it, you can develop it even further. You may notice some signs and get scared. I once saw somehow somebody next to my bed, trying to uncover me violently and make me get up.
Another night I saw or dreamt that an old lady managed to lift me and tried to carry me out of my room.I could feel a very evil presence and was really scared. I instantly prayed and said: "The white light of Jesus Christ surrounds me and protects me. Instantly, I became heavy and my legs grew some roots, which went through the floor, and this way I would not move. The old-lady could not lift me anymore.

Another night -that was the scariest one since I felt as if it was really happening- I saw myself receiving some cards from friends of ours who happen to be nuns. The cards were urging me to go and see them as it was a matter of life and death. I did not pay much attention and I said I would go to them the next day. As soon as I thought about this, an invisible and very powerful force lifted me in the air and banged me violently on the wall. For once again I said my little prayer, and I was released. All this happened in this dream.

I am grateful I am having such experiences, despite the fact that they are scaring me to death some times. They happen for a reason, and I am trying to learn what that reason is...

Always surround yourself with a bright light before you go to sleep. In this way, you will be protected. aLSO, DO NOT allow yourself to get panicked. It becomes worse this way while it happens. You must relax until you can sense your body for once again...

Are you having any visions at all? Some times, when I close my eyes, after a few seconds I see a very clear image of an object which has a meaning about something. When it first happened, I thought that my eyes were open. I put my fingers to see whether they were open -since I was watching the very same wall next to me, just with a small addition of an object which was a green towel- but they were closed. Most of the times, I would see a red pillow. The first time it happened, it was a green towel. After a few days, I realised that I somehow saw the futute. A friend of mine came over here to visit me. He has a green towel...

(The image is always very vivid, as if I have not closed my eyes at all!)

Love,

Natalie:0)

Answer 9

near lost aleg through it turned out it was blocked arteries through smoking itell u wot it wasnt so amazing for me still in dangerof losing a few toes yeah so freaky

Answer 10

None so far in 62 years.