sleep paralysis

[Gracestars]

I know sleep paralysis has been talked about on the forums before, but I have my own questions as they pertain to my personal experiences of it, so I'm starting a new thread on the matter.

I've noticed 3 conditions under which I am likely to experience SP:

1) after having caffine too late in the afternoon;

2) if I need to pee while I am asleep, sometimes I'll experience SP before actually waking up to go to the bathroom;

3) In periods of elevated stress or anxiety. This is probably the most common condition under which I'll have an episode.

I find SP really incredibly terrifying. I know it is happening when it is happening, but I have to work ass off to pull myself out of it. I get this loud white noise sound in my head, I cannot move or keep my eyes open, and I'll often trip out and think someone is lurking in my doorway watching me, or something equally as disturbing. On other occasions, I've convinced myself that I'm possessed, thought I was having an epileptic fit, and most recently thought I was having a flashback, all while I was under. I also grind my teeth in my sleep, and tend do this more so during SP.

What's up with this?? Any ideas? What's the connection with stress/anxiety? Anyone experience something similar?

[ginkgo]

Have you been in any wars? If not then maybe you are dealing with past life events. Would life be better if this did not happen? Well it depends on the purpose of your life. Is it possible that what is happening is the best possible thing for you?

What do you know for sure? You know that you live and die? Have you learned anything beyond that?

[Bradshaw]

I also experience all of that, including seeing things, etc, and I also have to pull myself out of it by force.

It disturbs me for a minute or two, but then I'm back to normal, as I'm used to it by now.

Although I don't usually go to sleep right afterwards. I usually get up and drink some tea or something.

[Mused]

Originally Posted by Gracestars

I know it is happening when it is happening, but I have to work ass off to pull myself out of it. I get this loud white noise sound in my head, I cannot move or keep my eyes open, and I'll often trip out and think someone is lurking in my doorway watching me, or something equally as disturbing. .....

What's up with this?? Any ideas? What's the connection with stress/anxiety? Anyone experience something similar?

Interesting topic. Although I haven't had it happen in months, I've experienced what you're describing. I feel as if I'm stuck between waking up and falling asleep in a semi lucid dream state. It starts with a loud sound that continues to get louder until it's nearly unbearable and I feel/see the shadow of someone/something watching me while I lay there helpless and unable to move until I manage to force myself awake. Usually when I wake up from this state it takes a considerable effort. When I finally do wake up, my body awakes with a violent jerk.

In some cases I've felt that I'm being dragged against my will off my bed or across the room very quickly. One time I felt as if I was being pulled off my bed onto the floor and I woke up just as I was falling on the floor.

I haven't noticed any mental/emotional patterns that increase the likelihood of this happening. However, when I worked night shift I did experience sleep paralysis more often - maybe something to do with lacking enough REM sleep.

When I've looked sleep paralysis up before I did read that it occurs more when people sleep on their back. You may want to try sleeping on your side?

[goldberg]

Originally Posted by Gracestars

I know sleep paralysis has been talked about on the forums before, but I have my own questions as they pertain to my personal experiences of it, so I'm starting a new thread on the matter.

I've noticed 3 conditions under which I am likely to experience SP:

1) after having caffine too late in the afternoon;

2) if I need to pee while I am asleep, sometimes I'll experience SP before actually waking up to go to the bathroom;

3) In periods of elevated stress or anxiety. This is probably the most common condition under which I'll have an episode.

I find SP really incredibly terrifying. I know it is happening when it is happening, but I have to work ass off to pull myself out of it. I get this loud white noise sound in my head, I cannot move or keep my eyes open, and I'll often trip out and think someone is lurking in my doorway watching me, or something equally as disturbing. On other occasions, I've convinced myself that I'm possessed, thought I was having an epileptic fit, and most recently thought I was having a flashback, all while I was under. I also grind my teeth in my sleep, and tend do this more so during SP.

What's up with this?? Any ideas? What's the connection with stress/anxiety? Anyone experience something similar?

I had it before, I was scared of it until I knew what it was then not so much. I did do anything really it just went away.

How about trying to destress before bed, chamomile tea,meditation, bath etc.
How about putting on a night light in your room so it is not dark when you get paralysis.

[Lakshyayidhi Lakshmihi]

Originally Posted by Mused

When I've looked sleep paralysis up before I did read that it occurs more when people sleep on their back. You may want to try sleeping on your side?

I've had this all my life, but after I had my son I started sleeping curled up on my side or my stomach and I haven't had any incidents since then, but I've also smudged my house several times and created energetic barriers since then, too.

[Leesah]

Woah.
I was about to say I used to get it but I stopped getting it years ago. And then BAM the memories hit me that I've been getting it all the time lately?!
Slightly freaked out now ... I know I've been getting it, but every morning when I wake up I've forgotten. That's so odd.

I think it could be due to stress for me, then. I've felt stressed lately so maybe that's why it's returned?

My method is pretty simple, I just try to sit up in bed, I use all my strength to move my body sort of upwards (I read it on a website and tried it). That usually wakes me up or I drift back into a dream. I've realised that my eyes have been rolling backwards and REALLY straining during the episodes so that might explain why my eyes have been hurting lately. Weird. It might also explain why I'm just not feeling rested lately, I can't seem to wake up in the mornings. I'm getting 2 hours more sleep than I used to, and perhaps it's cos of the SP?? I do suddenly have a feeling I've been getting it all the time. Can you really drift back into sleep and FORGET it happened? Or am I just dreaming it happens? I've never been able to tell whether, when I drift back into a dream, was it ALL a dream or was it SP? Because I know I've had SP so now it's possible I could dream I have it because I know how it feels.

So weird.

I might try upping my camomile tea, and especially drink it before bed. Perhaps I'll start meditating before bed too and see if that gets rid of the SP. Have you thought of anything you might do to stop getting it yourself? How long have you been getting it?

[Gracestars]

Originally Posted by ginkgo

Have you been in any wars? If not then maybe you are dealing with past life events. Would life be better if this did not happen? Well it depends on the purpose of your life. Is it possible that what is happening is the best possible thing for you?

That's an interesting take on it, ginkgo. Care to explain further? Why do you think it might be connected to past life issues?

What do you know for sure? You know that you live and die? Have you learned anything beyond that?

You lost me here...

Originally Posted by Bradshaw

I also experience all of that, including seeing things, etc, and I also have to pull myself out of it by force.

It disturbs me for a minute or two, but then I'm back to normal, as I'm used to it by now.

Although I don't usually go to sleep right afterwards. I usually get up and drink some tea or something.

Hmm.. it disturbs me far less than it used to, but the experience itself is so unpleasant that I still feel disturbed by it at the time. Sometimes I'm able to pull myself out of it, and then as soon as I close my eyes again I'm right back in it. There is no falling-asleep-time needed, I'm right back in the throws of it within a second. Weird.

Originally Posted by Mused

Interesting topic. Although I haven't had it happen in months, I've experienced what you're describing. I feel as if I'm stuck between waking up and falling asleep in a semi lucid dream state. It starts with a loud sound that continues to get louder until it's nearly unbearable and I feel/see the shadow of someone/something watching me while I lay there helpless and unable to move until I manage to force myself awake. Usually when I wake up from this state it takes a considerable effort. When I finally do wake up, my body awakes with a violent jerk.

In some cases I've felt that I'm being dragged against my will off my bed or across the room very quickly. One time I felt as if I was being pulled off my bed onto the floor and I woke up just as I was falling on the floor.

I've had this happen to me too! Either that, or I threw myself off the bed in order to try and wake the hell up! ha.

I haven't noticed any mental/emotional patterns that increase the likelihood of this happening. However, when I worked night shift I did experience sleep paralysis more often - maybe something to do with lacking enough REM sleep.

When I've looked sleep paralysis up before I did read that it occurs more when people sleep on their back. You may want to try sleeping on your side?

I've heard this too. I'll give it a go, ta.

Originally Posted by goldberg

I had it before, I was scared of it until I knew what it was then not so much. I did do anything really it just went away.

How about trying to destress before bed, chamomile tea,meditation, bath etc.
How about putting on a night light in your room so it is not dark when you get paralysis.

Even relaxation before bed doesn't always work for me. I did some meditation and was listening to a meditation CD right before bed the other night, and I still half-woke-up in the middle of the night in terror. Gah!

Originally Posted by Lakshyayidhi Lakshmihi

I've had this all my life, but after I had my son I started sleeping curled up on my side or my stomach and I haven't had any incidents since then, but I've also smudged my house several times and created energetic barriers since then, too.

Yeah, these days I've noticed that it doesn't tend to happen so much if I'm sharing my bed with someone, so I can see how having your child sleep next to you would have an effect on it. Interestingly, I started having SP when my ex-relationship turned sour, and I would experience it with him laying right there next to me.

Originally Posted by Leesah

I might try upping my camomile tea, and especially drink it before bed. Perhaps I'll start meditating before bed too and see if that gets rid of the SP. Have you thought of anything you might do to stop getting it yourself? How long have you been getting it?

I've tried a number of things, but I think ensuring that I am relaxed and calm enough for sleep helps best, even if not all the time. I've been getting it about 4ish years now. I tend to get it in bouts, usually, as I said, when I'm feeling stressed out for whatever reason.

Cheers for the replies, guys.

[joelr]

wow, if you could learn how to relax in that state you could explore astral projection. I know how hard that is though, there is a natural terror that comes along with sleep p.

[Gracestars]

Originally Posted by joelr

wow, if you could learn how to relax in that state you could explore astral projection. I know how hard that is though, there is a natural terror that comes along with sleep p.

So I've heard. Problem is, you just desperately want to wake up out of it when it occurs.

[lap202]

It is pretty much a nightmare... imagine you have an m16 and walla.... you have an m16. Shoot them foo's and go back to bed =D

I used to have it when I was 12, only happened 4 times... after the first i found ways of dealing with it. (read m16 part =P)

[joelr]

Originally Posted by Gracestars

So I've heard. Problem is, you just desperately want to wake up out of it when it occurs.

If you read about astral projection there are sometimes tips about calming down in that state.
I've been trying to get back to that state for years. I always fall sleep.

[SarahDanstar]

Have you tried lavender oil? sprinkled on a tissue under your pillow.
It sounds a though you need to find a way to relax whilst sleeping as well as just before you go to bed

[AbrahamTV]

Work out more

[Gracestars]

Originally Posted by AbrahamTV

Work out more

Fair enough suggestion, however, my question was more about why it happens as opposed to what do to about it.

[Gracestars]

Originally Posted by joelr

If you read about astral projection there are sometimes tips about calming down in that state.
I've been trying to get back to that state for years. I always fall sleep.

Interesting. I might look into it.

[SarahDanstar]

I think people offering their advice is their indirect way of suggesting what could be causing it?
Just the way I would look at it x

[36burrows]

SP used to scare the crap out of me all the time as well. But once I figured out that there was nothing to be scared of, and to actually use it to my benefit. It stopped happening...

What I mean is, nothing crazy is going to happen to you because you're in a temporary state of SP. Your brain paralyzes your muscles while you're asleep, so your body doesn't go nuts from your dreams.

But I figured out, that when I was in a state of SP, I could go into a lucid state pretty much at will, but not being afraid and trying to come out of it. It actually started to be pretty fun, and it wasn't something I feared anymore.

Ironically, once I started taking this approach too it, it stopped happening. Don't ask me why lol

Hope this helps, remember there isn't anything to be afraid of