What is it and has it happened to you before?

Question

Right before/after sleep it feels like something is immobilizing you and it gets hard to breath, then you try to call for help but there is no sound.

Answer 1

What you describe is a normal phenomena. There are four states or stages of sleep- the first being simply a drousy state when you would still consider yourself awake, or very nearly so. The second stage is when you no longer have conscious awareness of your surroundings, and will awaken fairly easily. Just prior to the third stage, the brain immobilizes muscles in preparation for the third stage- dream or REM state. This prevents or at least inhibits to a large degree- muscle movement, so you don't act out your dreams. The 4th stage is a very deep state, which takes a bit to rouse from. If you awaken during the transition into or out of 3rd stage sleep, it is usual to be disoriented and to feel somewhat frozen and out of control of your body. The brain has to "reboot" everything to allow you to take full conscious control. Normally this only takes a few seconds, and is why when you first wake you usually yawn and stretch before really feeling fully awake. It should pass within a few seconds, as you return to complete waking state.
It isn't anything as exotic as astral travel or projection, it's a normal sleepy brain reaction. You have simply become wakeful before the system fully booted. It's happened to most people, usually if they are woken when they weren't expecting to be, or earlier than they they probably should be.

Answer 2

Very few people speak of this phenomenon, though it's been said that it occurs to about 1 out of 4 people. Strangely, there isn't even a common name. I've heard it referred to as "Hagging".

Usually happens when you are waking up, you feel pressure on your chest and unable to call out or move, then slowly you gain control of your muscles and snap out of it, just like that.

Personally, I think that your conscious body wakes up before your subconscious has had a chance to re-enter it. So you're not fully awake, but only aware of where you're at/what you're doing.

That's just my take on it. I don't believe it's harmful to you.

Answer 3

You are astro projecting. You think you are still awake but your body is actually asleep. Avoid falling asleep on your back and before you go to sleep tell yourself you will not leave.

Answer 4

this sounds like a way your body is dealing with your day! like stress, anxiety, .... i have had this before very scary because it feels like you have no control!

Answer 5

YOU'VE GOT A GHOST IN YOUR HOUSE!!