I had sleep paralysis for many years. And for many of those years I didn't understand what was happening. Yes, sleep paralysis can be terrifying. Fortunately, I haven't experienced an episode in a long time now. And, unfortunately, I don't know what finally "cured" me. It seems like when I stopped having episodes was around the time I starting trying out various antidepressants & other psych med's. But whether or not there was any connection there is something I can't say.