Have You Ever Suffered From Sleep Paralysis?
By Janey1966
@Janey1966 (24170)
Carlisle, England
December 15, 2009 5:42pm CST
I would have to say this was the most terrifying thing that has ever happened to me and it happened twice in one week...and at the time I did not know what it was until I researched it on the internet.
For those two horrendous mornings my brain woke up before my body did. Basically, what happened was, try as I might I could not wake up properly. My body was rigid like it was still asleep but my brain had other ideas. In the end I literally had to scream in order to wake up properly. My heart was thumping in my chest like a very loud, beating drum. At first I thought I was experiencing a nightmare but when it happened the day after I decided to research it on the internet. It is difficult to put into words how bad these experiences were but I was terrified.
Luckily, it has never happened to me since and that was about 3 years ago.
Please tell me your experiences of this phenomenon as I am genuinely interested in how you all cope (or have coped) with it.
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5 responses
@thezone (9394)
• Ireland
21 Apr 10
I just found this post of yours Janey. This has happened to me once a few years back but I had no idea what it was. All I know is that it scared the hell out of me. I never really thought much about it to be honest. But I am glad I am not alone and that others have experienced the same. I must have a look on the net and read up on it more.
It is not something I really want to experience again.1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
24 Apr 10
Thank God for the internet is all I can say because it scared the hell out of me too. After browsing for a while I realised that I had experienced sleep paralysis. I haven't experienced it since but to have it happen to me twice in a week was truely terrifying ...and, like yourself, I never want it to happen again.
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@sushie93 (1355)
• France
3 Feb 10
Yeah, it happens to me sometimes in the past but it was not when i'm wake up but it's when i'm wake up, go to WC and then try to sleep, my body was very heavy, i had big difficulties to move so i prefer to stay calm and try to fall asleep but i heard very weird sons like a woman who cried, a little girl who laught, a "brrrooooouuummmmm" like in yards. Those things are so dreadful u_u.
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@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
3 Feb 10
Oh dear that doesn't sound very nice my friend. 
Luckily, I've not had a sleep paralysis since that time I had two in a week (and that was bad enough) but I wouldn't wish it on my worsed enemy.
Luckily, I've not had a sleep paralysis since that time I had two in a week (and that was bad enough) but I wouldn't wish it on my worsed enemy.1 person likes this
@allyoftherain (7208)
• United States
19 Apr 10
I've experienced that a few times in my life. The first time it happened I was terrified. I couldn't move and I felt like I could barely breathe. It was almost like there was a weight pressing down on my chest. (This is actually pretty common in lots of cases. Your lungs are functioning fine and automatically but since you're not able to move them you feel like you can't breathe.) The second time was almost comical. Sometimes when people have sleep paralysis they have hallucinations (because they're partly asleep), and when I woke up and couldn't move I saw a little dwarf at the foot of my bed taking notes. He wore a red hat. I tried kicking him but of course I couldn't move, and then I tried shouting at him but I could only mumble a little. He faded away when I was able to move again. I got up laughing.
@allyoftherain (7208)
• United States
19 Apr 10
I know! The internet's great for some things! People in the olden days were afraid of sleep paralysis. Like, terrified. They thought it was evil spirits trying to kill them. Thank goodness these days we know what it is and that it's pretty normal.
I wonder too. I haven't seen him lately though, so I don't know. (I think I would be worried if I saw him again.)
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
24 Apr 10
I wonder if he represents something...the dwarf. Did he seem friendly? Stupid question I know but just thought I'd ask.
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@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
19 Apr 10
The first indicent you mention is exactly what happened to me. I can identify totally the feeling of a big weight pressing down on my chest. That was the scariest part as far as I was concerned...and my body not being able to move. It was awful!
I can't say I've ever had a dwarf with a red hat at the foot of my bed though. I wonder what he was taking notes of? Bad dwarf! LOL!
I can identify with the mumbling too as I tried so desperately to shout to wake myself up. Nothing would come out. I'm so glad I know now that it was sleep paralysis. Without the internet at the time I'd be lost and wondering what on earth had happened to me.
I can't say I've ever had a dwarf with a red hat at the foot of my bed though. I wonder what he was taking notes of? Bad dwarf! LOL!
I can identify with the mumbling too as I tried so desperately to shout to wake myself up. Nothing would come out. I'm so glad I know now that it was sleep paralysis. Without the internet at the time I'd be lost and wondering what on earth had happened to me.1 person likes this
@quisha89 (76)
• United States
16 Dec 09
I remember the first time this happened to me. I was really little and I had went to McDonald's that day so when I went home I thought I would wish on a star. Well let's just say I haven't wished on one since because I wished for all the little McDonald's characters to come play with me but they turned evil in my dream and when I tried to wake up, I couldn't move, scream, or anything. I was terrified. It's happened to me more times but that one was the most memorable.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
16 Dec 09
Oh dear, how horrible! It seems more like a nightmare to me but all I wanted to do was wake up and I couldn't. But there again I could've been dreaming beforehand because I did think I was having a nightmare at the time, I just couldn't remember it. When I discovered I wasn't having a nightmare it really was quite frightening not being able to wake up.
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