Years ago when my children were younger, we lived in an old rent house here in town. One night I put my children to bed in front of the t.v and I went to sleep on the couch. Several hours later I awoke and I couldn't move!! It literally felt like I was paralyzed! My face was pointed toward the back of the couch and no matter how hard i tried I could not move. I remember thinking I was probably having a stroke and I needed to be calm and ride it out(I was only 29 at the time). Finally I was able to turn my head around and I was looking downward at my feet, it felt like my eyes were swollen. Then i realized my toes were sticking straight up and there was no slack in the queen size comforter I was using, Like I was levitating above the couch!! I was so terrified that I jumped up, grabbed my kids and took off to my sister's house! I am a logical person and think there must be a logical explanation. Was my brain still asleep??Can anyone tell me what was happening??
2007-09-13 02:20:07 · 7 answers · asked by mommy5 2 in Social Science ➔ Dream Interpretation
I used to experience those as a child and discovered it happened to me only when I had slept a lot. I'd wake up and couldn't move a muscle! But here it's goes in a different direction then yours. I would be able to 'see' my room but it was all golden and 'realer then real'. No sound. But the moment I noticed that I would hear footsteps coming. I would get in a panic trying my darndest to move and get away. But couldn't. Meanwhile the footsteps were getting closer and closer and louder and louder.
I'd freak and then wake up...for real this time and all would be normal.
It's called 'sleep paralysis' and some people have it often or not at all and some (like you) rarely.
I did quite a bit of both research and experimentation and learned some things I have taken as my belief about this.
Because I learned how to do this 'at will' I was able to experiment a lot. I read a very old book that I found in the Huntington Park library in L.A. (which was a 'coincidental' find!) and it spoke about this 'condition'. And how to take advantage of it.
Unless you are spiritually aware or awakening (even just open) you would be apt to believe that we are more then just a physical body. We are SPIRITUAL beings experiencing a PHYSICAL existence in order to grow, learn and overcome. Therefore, a 'separation' happens at times. Mostly when we sleep but is mostly ignored, forgot, misunderstood or feared. The 'separation' is a natural thing. The body is asleep and the spiritual body is 'freed' to explore, visit or just BE.
It would help if you would not fear what you went thru. I have done lots of experiments and levitation was a major win! Its a natural seeking of the spiritual 'part' of us encased in a 3-D body it yearns to be free of.
The dream state is one that is very misunderstood and more is being learned every day about the possibilities and potential of dreaming and OOBs (out-of-body) experiences which usually go hand-in-hand.
If I were you I would not take this experience as one of fear but one of growth, awareness & exploration. Of learning - in depth - who and what we truely ARE.
Try 'googling' (or any good search engine) the words 'sleep paralysis', oobs, and lucid dreaming. (Although, in some quarters, still looked upon as nightmarish (or worse) try to get past these and look for positive or constructive approaches to this very misunderstood phenomenon). Dr. Raymond Moody did some ground breaking research. Try researching him.
I hope this helps and I wish you blessings and light!
2007-09-13 05:33:19 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've encountered this more than several times already. In my place, it's what you call bangungot. They say sometimes it happens when you go to sleep with a full stomach or if your really tired.
But in my place, there's a twist. A lot of us here see or hear "evil" when these things happen. An example would be an experience of mine:
I was dreaming about my favorite show when suddenly I woke up and facing the wall. It took me a while to realize that I was still half asleep and couldnt move. I felt something on my back trying to hug me. I thought it was my mom. Then I felt something like a cockroach crawl up my legs. I tried to scream, but it didnt work! I couldnt move! A figure then showed up from my back. It was a hand with sharp nails. Then in front of me apeared a face of an old woman smiling sinisterly at me. She was coming at me slowly. I knew I could die at any moment at that time and panicking would just make things worse. So instead, I got angry and told her: "what did I ever do to you?!" Then I prayed Our Father and she disappeared. I even woke up and could move again!
2007-09-13 02:40:10 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yep, that is a familiar one for me. Also I sometimes felt, no I KNEW, that there was an _evil_ entity lying on the bed with me but I was totally paralyzed.
It turns out that this is only the person becoming 'awake' inside a dream and not realizing that fact.
If you can become aware that you are 'awake' in your dream, then you can control _everything_ and it is absolutely awesome.
To try lucid dreaming, the next time that happens to you, try to look at your hands. If you can see your hands, try to move them. That simple action, which will take place within your dream, will alert you that you are dreaming and you will be able to assume total control of the entire "universe" that you are occupying within that dream.
Once you get there, remember it's _your_ dream and you will be richly rewarded.
Have fun!
2007-09-13 02:39:39 · answer #3 · answered by credo quia est absurdum 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
According to Dreamcrowd:
To dream that you are paralyzed, may reflect the current state of your body while you are dreaming. During the REM state of sleep you really are immobile and paralyzed. However symbolically, dreaming that you are paralyzed may mean you are feeling helpless or pinned down in some aspect or circumstances of your waking life. You may feel unable to deal with a situation or that you can't do or change anything. Alternatively, you may feel emotionally paralyzed. You may have difficulties in expressing yourself. See also: Immobility
Try posting your dram on dram crowd for a free dream interpretation
2007-09-13 18:16:34 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This has happen to me 5 or 10 times before. It is very common. See link.
2007-09-13 02:29:50 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
wow that's intense. i don't know what happened. maybe u should try seeing a psychiatrist/psychologist (can't remember the difference). u just gave me goosebumps!
2007-09-13 02:27:52 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
you were not all the way awake. I've had that happen to me and its pretty weird and scary.
2007-09-13 02:30:22 · answer #7 · answered by mimahairball48 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋