I see some similar characteristics of schizophrenia in the sleep paralysis experience. The last psychotic episode that I experienced several sleep paralysis type dreams seemed to be intergrated into it. It is important to note that many people can experience sleep paralysis without being psychotic.
Following Katan's theory that dreams are a discharge of excess libido and hallucinations and delusions are a discharge of excess repressed libido I feel that the scary sleep paralsis experience would follow more inline with the later. One of the books that I read on the subject,
http://www.amazon.com/Wrestling-Ghos...1023337&sr=1-9
The author states that by taking antidepressants you will be less likely to experience SP. There is an inverse relationship between serotonin and dopamine meaning the more serotonin floating around the less dopamine.
That might also be a reason why I started having those real strange experiences in 03 when I went through the Hep C treatment without taking any antidepressants. The less serotonin the more dopamine. From what I understand most antipsychotic medication block dopamine receptors.
Our brain releases the most dopamine naturally when we have sex by the way. That is the reason most people who take antidepressants report a deminishing interest in sex.
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Originally Posted by costello
I'm watching David Hufford's video now. I'm to the point where he's talking about why people who have these sleep paralysis/hallucination episodes don't report them - even though they're apparently very common. He says people don't want to be considered insane. It made me think of the voice hearing experience. Apparently it's far more common to hear voices than we realize, but a lot of people who hear voices never tell anyone about it for that very reason - they'll be considered mentally ill.
Edited to add: Another interesting fact: you're more likely to have this sleep paralysis experience if you're sleeping on your back. I never sleep on my back. Sometimes I sleep on my tummy but usually one side or the other. I think I turn back and forth between the two sides while I'm asleep.
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