Sleep Paralysis

The first time I encountered this was back in high school, sometime around 2008 when my insomnia started. I faintly remember feeling scared, afraid, nothing but fear. It felt like there was a dark presence/figure in my bedroom with me whenever I tried to move my body. I remember trying to wiggle my toes and hands and panicking even more since they wouldn't move. I stopped for a bit and tried to think pleasant thoughts to keep my mind off of what was happening, like pretend it wasn't happening at all.

I'm not sure when I woke up or how long the paralysis lasted during this time, but I felt relieved and a bit scared after I did wake up. I've probably experienced the paralysis at least 10 times since then. A few times during college and a few times after I graduated. I have yet to experience it this year and I hope it doesn't happen anytime soon. It always leaves me feeling like there's a presence in the room that's nothing but bad.

I've read articles here and there and even came across stories of other people who have had it worse.

Has anyone here ever experienced it? I would love to hear your stories and see if there are any similarities/differences between everyone's experiences.

I'm just wondering if you ever read about sleep paralysis prior to this happening? Only because I never experienced sleep paralysis until after I watched a video about someone talking about it. Then one night my mind was like welp we have nothing else to dream about so lets take what we heard about from that lady and make it happen! And I vaguely recall a similar experience, but it wasn't very terrifying because I think it only lasted a few seconds. Scary while it was happening, but when I woke up I basically forgot about most of it. So I think reading about it makes it worse because you're basically telling your brain to expect it. And the brain generates it.

No, I've only read up on it after it happened for the fourth or fifth time. Wasn't sure what to search for before then, but google seemed to help me figure out what it was.

could it be a hypnopompic hallucination in combination with your sleep paralysis?

i get them occasionally but i usually see shapes and stuff on my walls. im sorry you have to experience that

I'm not sure what that is. I'll have to look it up. Could you describe it?

I don't know if it's sleep paralysis, but I sometimes find myself half awake, half asleep. I can sort of hear what's going on around me IRL, and can wiggle fingers and toes, and slightly shake my arms and legs. However, I can't move my body past this wiggling. It's always accompanied with feelings of extreme panic about how I'm asleep but need to wake up ASAP. I shake myself as violently as I can until I jolt myself awake.

Is this some form of Sleep Paralysis?

Yeah that's sleep paralysis and it sucks. One major cause is a loud sudden noise that wakes you up too fast.

everyone is supposed to be paralyzed in their sleep to prevent from acting out your dreams. sleep paralysis is when you wake up before your body does.

Also, I just heard there is an indie film coming out about sleep paralysis if anyone is interested.

http://www.amazon.com/Nightmare-Maxw...tag=horro06-20

I'm gonna have to check that film out. Always interested in hearing about whether this is real or not, but it seems to happen to a lot of people so it must be real, right?

It's a real medical phenomenon. I've had it all my life, with the only exception being in anti depressants. For some reason it keeps the episodes from happening.

It could be early childhood trauma related (sexual abuse). That is what turned out to be for me. It only happened once. I was about 21 years old.

Private therapy sessions helped me a lot.

Wish you well.

I have experienced it several times i my life. it is soooooo scary. i feel like i;m in a sleeping bag and can't get out. im screaming in my mind, but not in actuality. then i wake up

I experience it from time to time, your in a state in between sleep and awake and can not move. Usually it's not such a bad thing unless your having a nightmare, then it can get nasty. Happened to me once. Usually it's just momentary paralysis. But the nightmare one seemed to last for hours and I was helpless. I was dreaming I was lifted off my bed and slammed against the wall. Over and over. I was also aware I was stuck and could not break free.

i also get feelings of being thrown against the walls, every wall in a circle,it lasts usually 10 minutes then there is peace and then a realization of what i just went through,

OMG thought I was the only one. What is this?? I'm usually able to move, stretch my hand out to brush at it. Feels weird.