Sleepy paralysis

Has anyone ever experienced sleep paralysis?

I have. It used to happen more frequently to me when I was younger, but it still happens to me sometimes when I'm really stressed out. I find it all rather disturbing and unsettling.

-Avery

Yes I have. I'd hear and see things. It was creepy but soon it went away slowly on its own.

Yes. I don't seem to have it anymore. But when I was younger I did. It started when I was a child & continued on right up until somewhere around middle age. For many years I didn't understand what it was about & it was terrifying. Over time, I taught myself to focus on just being able to move the index finger of my right hand. And once I could move that, then the paralysis dissolved.

Somewhere I came across the idea, fairly recently, that sleep paralysis is more likely to occur if one sleeps on one's back. I don't know if this is true, but I can't sleep on my back anymore anyway. I always sleep on one side or the other.

Yes, many times. I've never seen entities or figures during my episodes, I just have a feeling of terrible dread, that great evil is in the room about to reach out and destroy me. Then I end up making spooky noises or yelling, and anyone can hear. It's a bit embarrassing to be honest. Personally, I think it's all related to anxiety.