Sleep Paralysis?

Question

What techniques do you use to snap yourself out of an attack of sleep paralysis, and what's the longest attack you've had?

I suppose this will only make sense to fellow sufferers.

Answer 1

I have them quite regularly but since finding the cause manage them better, I don't know the length of time I have one but sometimes it seems like ages others quick. I try to wake the body up from the toes upwards and concentrate hard on each part. It works for me. I've had them since a child and am now 47.
Before I knew the name of them I was terrified but now it just fascinates me.

Answer 2

Sleep paralysis, as it turns out, is a natural state of the body. When we’re in deeper states of sleep, our brain stems engage in processes that block out certain neurotransmitters in order to stop us from physically acting out our dreams. Sometimes people wake up before their brains have completely de-activated the induced paralysis, and experience hallucinations which are thought to be either vestigial dream fragments or attempts by the brain to reconcile the waking state with the otherwise unexplainable muscular paralysis.

The most direct way of coping with this is to maintain a regular schedule and maintain one's normal times of retiring and rising. These are frequently disrupted during periods of stress. Eating large amounts late into the evening, drinking beverages containing caffeine and alcohol, and excessive smoking are common reactions to stressful conditions and can be quite disruptive both of sleep in general and of the normal sequencing of sleep periods more specifically. Clearly avoiding any of these, especially in the late evening, will help prevent sleep loss and hence bouts of sleep paralysis. A serious Sleep Debt, which tends to take a greater toll on REM, might well contribute to increased incidence of SP.
Also try to stay on your right side when sleeping and this has shown to decrease the episodes of Sp.

Answer 3

I usually felt the heavy pressure on me, and I try to focus to push or shout. I use to have a dog who will bark while I struggle and I wonder if he saw anything, like a ghost? for he'll bark from me to the window like someone was fling away. I would never know.
Mine use to last for 10 to 30 minutes. the sooner I try, the better I could snap out.
some says the better nutrition will help, and may be so, for I haven't suffer anymore after I start to eat better, although I didn't put two and two together until now.

Answer 4

During the "attack", calm down if you can. Breathe and just try to regain control. Sort of confusing to explain. I have sleep paralysis on occasion and I usually just immeadiately snap out of it on my own.

Answer 5

Touch wood i have not had one of these attacks for years, but i remember the first one i had was such a freaky experience i was screaming and fighting "inside" but to no avail obviously, and to make matters worse i would drift into a "dream" like state ~ think id properly woke up and i was ok but i was still "paralysed"
Best way if you can for dealing with them is ride them out staying calm seeing them for what they are and try not to get spooked by them.

Answer 6

http://www.stanford.edu/~dement/paralysis.html