What is this spooky thing that keeps happening to me?

Question

In the middle of the night I feel like there is a very heavy weight all over my body pressing me down in to my bed, I become paralysed and cannot even open my eyes, after a while it slowly passes and I can open my eyes again, by this time my heart is racing and I can't get back to sleep, it is so strange and very scary, it has happened a few times.

this was supposed to go in mental health.

Answer 1

cool! you have got a horny ghost ,lol!

Answer 2

This is not very uncommon physical condition that often people encounter due to various reasons during sleep. I have had such encounters myself. I understand how frightening it can be when your are awake but not fully and when you cannot move however hard you may try to break the spell-like restraint upon your body. You think that if you could not manage to wake up you might die, suffocated or something like this.

I think you need to look into your diet. Excessive use of carbohydrates and fats in a meal before going to bed can cause this. Use more fruit and veg, eat few slices of sweet melon when you wake up in the middle of the night as they absorb extra heat and stress in the body.

There can also be psychological reasons. May be you have some worried deep inside your mind. For that purpose you need to find out what they are and address the related issues. For a general remedy, however, long walks along canal or a river are very helpful, as the presence of water has a calming effect upon the mind.

But I assure you that there is nothing to worry about. You can see that how many good people are about who would jump to offer help and advice. You should come here more often. It is enlightening, empowering and invigorating to think about issues and matters of life. This is philosophy section but it is fun too, it is a good and healthy entertainment.

Answer 3

It's a common sleeping disorder called 'night paralysis' It means, for some reason, you're waking up during your REM sleep cycle. The brain tries to normally inhibit motor function so that people do not move about in their dreams during this time, so that's why your limbs feel heavy and can't move.

I'd suggest a supplement with melatonin or other anti-oxidents. If you find it recurrent, it has been said that some SSRI medications have been helpful. It's also suggested that people experiencing this problem refrain from sleeping on their backs because it may inhibit the motor neurons in the brain stem from functioning as they should.

ETA: Yes, it is possible to move while sleeping, but not during REM stage sleep. During NREM sleep, which is about 3/4 of your total sleep time, movement is possible, but that is not when dreams occur. If anything, people can experience mild hallucinations during this phase of sleep.

Sleep cycles are scientific fact...it's biorythms that are hypothesis.

Answer 4

I can assure you that there's absolutely nothing spooky about the phenomena that you encounter. Your mind is still in a semi conscious state during which you will feel paralysis all over your body. If I'm a ghost, I certaintly have better things to do that go around holding people down just for larfs.

Answer 5

When you sleep a part of the brain begins to work and stops the body from moving around too much and causing itself injury. When you wake that part stops working and allows you to move.

Timing is out a bit in your case. Not unusual, heard of it many times before and it sorts itself out in time. Probably a nightmare going on or worries perhaps. Sorry, but no ghosties or demons, just brains being there usual complicated selves.

Answer 6

When we sleep, nature paralyzes us so we don't hurt ourselves accidentally. We used to live in trees, remember? When our brain wakes up before our body does, we become aware of the paralysis. If we are not aware that this happens to us, we panic, hence, the tachycardia. To a lesser degree, we experience the same feeling when we wake up normally in the morning after a bad night. We call it "logginess" then.

If it happens again, relax and enjoy the experience. You'll probably go back to sleep rather quickly. It is an odd sensation, but harmless. Your tachycardia will cease because you don't panic.

If it continues fairly often see a sleep specialist. You may have sleep apnea.

Answer 7

It is the prelude to a out of the body experience. I know it is scary, but next time it happens try to remain calm & just go with it. It may be followed by a feeling that you whole body is vibrating very fast, then you will suddenly find yourself out. This too may be scary at first. When you drift off to sleep try to tell yourself that when this happens again you will remain calm, not fight it, & just wait to see what happens. Good luck. To learn to do this at will & awake is truly amazing & the beginning of a grand adventure.

Answer 8

It used to happen to me when I was young. Now I can't say for sure, but I think it is just an underlying fear of something going wrong while we are asleep. And as most dreams seem to be long lasting. They are in fact on seconds long. That is because the mind functions almost at the speed of light.
EXAMPLE:
Picture yourself getting in a space ship and traveling to Mars. landing softly and getting out to walk on Mars.
Now in real life that trip would take nine months. But in your mind, you can get there as fast as you can read this. LOL.

Answer 9

I wouldn't take this too lightly. It could be caused by subconcious anxiety (an unresolved problem weighing you down - such as one answer saying that it could be a problem in real life 'weighing you down' in your dreams), or it could be something physical. It is most probably not serious as some answerers have said; but seeing as how it is recurrent, I would certainly speak to your doctor about it - in exactly the words you use in your question. Take no notice of the supernatural explanations. Look after yourself by speaking to your doctor.

Answer 10

i get that sometimes, i think it's to do with hormones released by your brain during sleep malfunctioning. when you sleep your body releases something that paralyses the muscles so that you can't act out your dreams and harm yourself or others, and problems can often occur with this fuction (ie sleepwalking!). it should pass in time.

Answer 11

I know the feeling, Its a common thing between people who are sensitive to certain spiritual phenomena!
I have been told that it is due to someone from the next world having a message to give you but there is a subconscious part of you not letting it through whether it be fear of the unknown or just plain scaredom.