its happenned a few times where i wake up and i feel like im still half asleep and half awake, almost like a dream-like state but i cant move at all. no matter how hard i try. i cant talk either. im not exactly sure if my eyes are open or not. ive heard things about witchcraft or evil spirits and things...im mexican and alot of mexican ppl believe in these type of things. is it this or is there a medical explanation???
2007-02-19 21:57:09 · 13 answers · asked by veedizzle 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
As mentioned already it is sleep paralysis and many people have it.It is very common in my family and it is one of four symptoms of a condition called narcolepsy. (Spell not sure) Normally your mind falls asleep first and then your body, but in sleep paralysis it is reversed and the body falls asleep first or wakes up last. It can be terrifying until you recognize what it is and then your can just lay there, think all you want and try to move a finger or your arm or something. Don't worry, you will wake up with any normal stimuli as any person would. Hallucinations sometimes do occur with it, that is just another symptom of the same condition.
2007-02-19 22:10:03 · answer #1 · answered by oldguy63 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's called sleep paralysis. It happens to me too sometimes.
Physiologically, it is closely related to the normal paralysis that occurs during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, also known as REM atonia. In that, some scientists and physicians believe it to be a "natural" effect of the sleep cycle. Sleep paralysis occurs when the brain is awakened from a REM state into essentially a normal fully awake state, but the bodily paralysis is still occurring. This causes the person to be fully aware, but unable to move. In addition, this state may be accompanied by hypnagogic hallucinations.
2007-02-19 22:02:35 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
That's been happening to me about twice a week for 15 years. It usually happens when I don't get enough sleep.
Don't worry, though, it isn't evil spirits or anything like that. It is nothing more than your mind waking up before your body. The best thing to do is just go back to sleep, or teach your significant other to wake you up.
If it really bothers you, go to a sleep clinic.
2007-02-19 22:02:09 · answer #3 · answered by NONAME 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What you are experiencing, is sleep paralysis. I laughed at the notion after first reading about it in Reader's Digest. Thought they were a fool.
Anyone can move if you really wanted to. But later, it happened to me, several years into adulthood. I was unable to move, or even speak for about a half minute to minute or more.
I was frightened, it was like I had no control over my body, like my body and mind were 2 seperate things. Body was like lead. Couldn't move a thing.
Check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_paralysis for more info.
Hope this helps!
2007-02-19 22:03:12 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Sleep paralysis as acid zebra and others said.
When you dream, a little center in your brain paralyzes you. If it doesn't work, you sleep walk. Sometimes it doesn't shut down when you wake up. If you look at alien abduction accounts, it seems quite likely that people experienced this and in their semi-lucid state, their brain filled in the gaps with images of aliens drawn from popular sources.
2007-02-19 22:10:10 · answer #5 · answered by novangelis 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There's a medical explanation for that, I forget what it's called though. It's nothing to worry about.
2007-02-19 22:01:16 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's probably sleep paralysis... look it up and then talk to a doc.
Well... I was little late, eh? lol Good luck with that, friend.
2007-02-19 22:10:12 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You're still dreaming. You have to wake yourself up, then you can move.
2007-02-19 22:02:59 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
That happened to my thumb yesterday morning. I had been sleeping with it bent back. It was TOTALLY numb.
2007-02-19 22:01:29 · answer #9 · answered by scruffycat 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
yes, this is called sleep paralysis
2007-02-19 22:05:29 · answer #10 · answered by gwhiz1052 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋