Hello Lauren: I noticed this is your first post here on PC. So... welcome to Psych Central.

I'm sorry you are encountering this difficulty. Sleep paralysis is something I have experienced as well. I can't say as I have had the type of experience you describe in your post though.

Perhaps there will be other members, here on PC, who will have had some similar experiences they can share.
Here are links to 5 articles, from Psych Central's archives, on the subjects of nightmares & sleep terror:
More Than a Dream: The Science Behind Nightmares | Change Your Mind, Change Your Life
How to Eliminate Recurring Nightmares
The meaning of your nightmares | Unleash Your Creativity
Sleep Terror Symptoms
Attention Required! | Cloudflare
I hope you find PC to be of benefit.