I have had dreams where I know I am dreaming and try to wake myself up and I can't. I always see myself in whatever room I fell asleep in and on whatever couch/bed I fell asleep on. I will be having a dream where someone is trying to get in such as a burglar or fictional character such as Chuckie and I will become afraid. I then try to wake myself up, but can't. I can't move either. I try to make myself slap myself awake, roll off the bed to awaken, scream for someone to wake me up (but no sound comes out) or anything to just wake up and I can't. Eventually I do with my heart racing and feeling afraid to go right back to sleep for fear of continuing the dream. It is really horrifying not to be able to wake up. What is this called and can anyone give me some info on it?
2007-10-16 14:56:55 · 5 answers · asked by jennniferlea 2 in Social Science ➔ Dream Interpretation
I have read the Wikipedia article and wasn't sure if it fit.
I have had about 5 or 6 of these dreams in my 35 years of life, but was always curious about them.
2007-10-16 15:28:35 · update #1
The dream about the burgular, I went to bed thinking I should have locked the front door before my nap. It is the not being able to wake up part that freaks me out.
2007-10-16 15:30:41 · update #2
yeah, i went through a periods where i had heaps of dreams like this.
it sounds like the sleep paralysis thing- they are dreams that occur when your half awake but your body hasn't completely woken up yet.
for me these 'can't wake up' experiences increased when i was into dream control and learning to lucid dream. i would realise i was dreaming and then panic because i couldn't wake up. do you realise you are dreaming in the dream? my dreams too were often of people trying to get into my house and i wondered whether it was becuase in this half awake state i felt so vulnerable- aware but unable to defend myself if someone were to be around.
for me the dreams occurred most frequently at a very difficult time in my real life and have stopped now that i have found some peace in my life. i found praying about the dream helped too.
they also felt like spiritual experiences to me... in some of my dreams it felt like a dark spiritual presence attacking me and i just wanted to wake up to escape from it, but couldn't. i don't really understand why it was happening. i'm just glad it doesn't happen anymore. its scary ****!
2007-10-16 16:59:02 · answer #1 · answered by clairebear 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have had dreams like that before and hated them. Someone told me a one point that you're dreaming, but you're in the state of being between asleep and awake. I'm not sure if that's true or not, but they are scarey.
2007-10-16 22:06:14 · answer #2 · answered by clarea77 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ive had dreams like that and you must be under some kind of stress. its also true that If you try to scream, but no sound comes out, then is suggests that you need to immediately confront some situation. Perhaps you are unable to pinpoint your fears or feelings.
2007-10-16 22:22:25 · answer #3 · answered by KLF 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
From your question I see this causes a fair degree of distress. Is it a re-occurring dream? Does your family know about the dream? Have you seen a doctor [GP or a specialist] about the dream/s? Take care.
2007-10-16 22:10:20 · answer #4 · answered by Neil S 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The attached article may be of great help to you. After I saw the film "The Exorcist" I was in that state and percieved a demon in my room touching me.
2007-10-16 22:14:26 · answer #5 · answered by Will 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋