Have you ever experienced sleep paralysis?

Question

And felt a shadow presence!! you desperately woke yourself up because you felt yourself slip out of your body to the bottom of you couch...

I used to have these dreams consistently to the point I was terrifed of going to sleep. The last time happened I fell asleep in my living room on the couch...?

Sometimes I feel Pressure on my chest like someone is trying to suffocate me and and everytime I aske for help I feel more pressure and physical pain, then I wake up only to realize I'm still sleeping and the dream repeats, unlil I finallly wake up and I start crying because I'm really awake..

When I sink through my bed I get that feeling in my stomach (similar to when your on a rollarcoaster)

Can someone please interpret..

I asked this is in the wrong section previously

My-co-worker looked at me like i'm crazy when I asked her if she's had these types of dreams..tell me I'm not crazy

Answer 1

I've had the sleep paralysis, but not quite the way you described. The pressue on the chest is quite common however and in the middle ages, they used to think that demons were the cause. There is quite a famous painting that shows a sleeping woman being tormented by demons when she is sleeping, with one of them sitting on her chest.

The human body actually has a mechanism that paralizes your volunatry muscles when you sleep. This is to prevent you from hurting yourself as you dream. People who sleep walk have a problem in this area.

I think what is happening is that your brain is waking up a few minutes before your body gets the signal to wake up. I know that what used to happen to me a lot in the morning...very scary....try using an alarm clock to wake yourself up before you would naturally wake up, that might help.

Answer 2

I suffer from sleep paralysis especially when I am very tired or my sleep has been disturbed. I have felt that there was someone in my room or sitting on the bed next to me - if you do a google search you will find that very often people describe the feeling of someone or something sitting on your chest.

My understanding is that it occurs when you are mid-way between being asleep and being awake. I know that it is really hard not to panic when it happens but in the past 20 years I have learned that the best thing to do is breathe deeply and allow yourself to go back to sleep - as soon as I do I wake instantly and no longer am paralysed.

I hope that this helps

Kirstie

Answer 3

I used to have all kinds of weird dreams and experiences. Not sure if I've experienced this situation, but maybe I have simply forgotten. I have since taken control. Just like what the other guy said. It's been years since my last nightmare.

I have realized my own power and have complete confidence in myself. I no longer have nightmares and actually most of my dreams are lucid. I can change the dream world however I wish at any time. But most of the time it's already going well enough.

Perhaps you should focus on your own being. Ki, chi, spirit... whatever you want to call it.

I've spoken to a few people about out of body stuff. Entering other realms. They mentioned an anchor. So you can always come back just fine. For them it was god and their faith. For me, it's myself. Pretty much anything you believe in strongly enough, I think.

Anyway, hope my ramblings help.

Answer 4

Actually, I'm not sure this is a dream that can be interpreted. It is a condition that people have literally had for thousands of years, as it has been written about and documented even in hyrogliphics and works of art (paintings). Have you done a Google search for sleep paralysis? You will get a lot of hits that can provide you with more information about it. Generally it happens when one is sleeping in the supine position and has to do with a mechanism in the brain that wakes up the mind, but fails to allow you to move your muscles, hence the name "paralysis." It also appears to be genetic, so possibly other members of your family struggle with the same condition.

Answer 5

I had a friend that had that problem. She woke up and felt a terrific weight on her chest. She was terrified and more so because her two children were in another room. Finally it released her and she ran to check on her children. They were OK. Then late one night I was listening to that coast to coast radio station and someone called in about the Hag. It an old tale about a woman that lays on your chest and you can't breath. I didn't pay a lot of attention but I'll bet you could call in and ask. They talk about some strange things sometimes on the show. It's pretty interesting.

Answer 6

I just answered a question like this not too long ago. I thinks that is crazy to feel a presence!!! I have experienced sleep paralysis but never with a presence around me. The paralysis is horrible enough!!

Answer 7

Night terrors are hard to live with. Try different things. When you feel you are sinking, see if you can stand up in your dream. All of the feelings you are having, pressure on your chest, sinking thru the bed or couch, inability to awaken...All of these are lack of control feelings.

What is out of control in your life? Drinking or drugs in a family member or you? Go to Alanon or alateen or AA.

So, those are two pieces of advice. Try to be more in control of your life. Try to be more in control in your dreams. Both will force the dreams to lessen their grip on your nights.

Answer 8

No you are not crazy. What you are experiencing is called astral traveling. Sometimes when you sleep, your soul goes to the Other Side (Heaven) When your soul comes back into your body, it can be hard sometimes. The pressure you feel is from your soul making a come back into your body. You cry when you wake because your soul does not want to come back & you miss Home. The Other Side is where we come from. It is our Home. Hope this helps.

Answer 9

I've never experienced that. However, Sylvia Brown (the psychic on Montel) says its some sort of out of body experience in which you go and visit other spirits who used to be friends or loved ones. If you buy that sort of thing.

Answer 10

well i expeirenced it many times..it literally feels like your energy is being ripped out of your body and it always happens right before you sleep or trying to fight the very moment when you enter the sleep stage....i never found out no scientific explanation but theres a group of people that used to believe that when you slept your soul or energy, would go to a nonvisible realm in our universe to replenish itself..that seems to be what if feels like