i_finlayson37
11-15-2003, 09:38 AM
Last night I was just lying on my bed, relaxing waiting for someone but I was pretty tired and fell asleep. I woke up about an hour and a half later and I couldn't move at all for about a minute. I was lying on my back and I can remember trying to move my head to see what time it was on the TV but it just wouldn't turn.
The problem with this is that because I was waking up I guess it's possible it was some sort of dream, because I have in the past had dreams where I've been half awake and certain things happening in real life (TV, people in the room) have worked their way into my dream.
But although I was feeling a little woozy when I woke up and it happened it seemed real. Also I spoke to my girlfriend and she said one of her friends had a similar experience. So I'm just wondering if anybody knows what it could be, I'm willing to consider that it might just have been a dream while I was half asleep but I'd like to know all the possibilities.
The problem with this is that because I was waking up I guess it's possible it was some sort of dream, because I have in the past had dreams where I've been half awake and certain things happening in real life (TV, people in the room) have worked their way into my dream.
But although I was feeling a little woozy when I woke up and it happened it seemed real. Also I spoke to my girlfriend and she said one of her friends had a similar experience. So I'm just wondering if anybody knows what it could be, I'm willing to consider that it might just have been a dream while I was half asleep but I'd like to know all the possibilities.
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11-16-2003, 08:31 PM
It is referred to as "sleep paralysis", where one is alert but the body remains "asleep". I have forgotten the medical reasoning and the hows and whys of it, but I myself have experienced that extensively during my teen years and on into my twenties. I would "wake up" only to find that for a number of seconds I couldn't move anything but my eyes, which, by the way, always spotted the shadowy silhouette of a stranger in a fedora hat standing over me during these strange episodes. Once my body "awoke", the stranger would disappear and everything would become normal. It was always quite frightening, for the strange intruder always seemed so real. I could not even scream or call out. The paralysis was that intense. I have read that many people who experience sleep paralysis also will "see" this strange intruder with the fedora hat. How wierd is that?
i_finlayson37
11-17-2003, 02:12 AM
That sounds like a possibility. I didn't hallucinate about anything as far as I can remember. But I did have a little of the fear that seems to be associated with it. It all seemed pretty normal, but I was just stuck staring up at the ceiling. I've done a little research into sleep paralysis and my age seems to be in the most common age group to start suffering from it.
1Ageless
11-18-2003, 01:30 PM
That sounds like a possibility. I didn't hallucinate about anything as far as I can remember. But I did have a little of the fear that seems to be associated with it. It all seemed pretty normal, but I was just stuck staring up at the ceiling. I've done a little research into sleep paralysis and my age seems to be in the most common age group to start suffering from it.
There is a popular medical website which I don't think we are allowed to mention specifically on this board, however, a condition in which the body does not awake completely or hallucinations are associated with a feeling of paralysis can be a sleep disorder called narcolepsy. This is a quote from that specific website I am referring to ... Some narcoleptics also experience strange hallucinations just before falling asleep and muscle paralysis upon awakening. I would suggest seeking medical attention for this, and then a second opinion.
There is a popular medical website which I don't think we are allowed to mention specifically on this board, however, a condition in which the body does not awake completely or hallucinations are associated with a feeling of paralysis can be a sleep disorder called narcolepsy. This is a quote from that specific website I am referring to ... Some narcoleptics also experience strange hallucinations just before falling asleep and muscle paralysis upon awakening. I would suggest seeking medical attention for this, and then a second opinion.
ashpie
11-18-2003, 01:52 PM
Last night I was just lying on my bed, relaxing waiting for someone but I was pretty tired and fell asleep. I woke up about an hour and a half later and I couldn't move at all for about a minute. I was lying on my back and I can remember trying to move my head to see what time it was on the TV but it just wouldn't turn.
The problem with this is that because I was waking up I guess it's possible it was some sort of dream, because I have in the past had dreams where I've been half awake and certain things happening in real life (TV, people in the room) have worked their way into my dream.
But although I was feeling a little woozy when I woke up and it happened it seemed real. Also I spoke to my girlfriend and she said one of her friends had a similar experience. So I'm just wondering if anybody knows what it could be, I'm willing to consider that it might just have been a dream while I was half asleep but I'd like to know all the possibilities.
I had the same thing happen to me a few years ago...scared the hell out of me..I awoke from sleeping and could not move my body at all..it never happened again after that..
The problem with this is that because I was waking up I guess it's possible it was some sort of dream, because I have in the past had dreams where I've been half awake and certain things happening in real life (TV, people in the room) have worked their way into my dream.
But although I was feeling a little woozy when I woke up and it happened it seemed real. Also I spoke to my girlfriend and she said one of her friends had a similar experience. So I'm just wondering if anybody knows what it could be, I'm willing to consider that it might just have been a dream while I was half asleep but I'd like to know all the possibilities.
I had the same thing happen to me a few years ago...scared the hell out of me..I awoke from sleeping and could not move my body at all..it never happened again after that..
Sadwings
11-28-2003, 04:29 AM
HI. This has been happening to me since I was 12. I would be sleeping, and wake up not being able to breath, or move, but at the same time, my eyes are closed. I am aware of my surroundings, and it scares the hell out of me. It has happened alot, sometimes twice a night, and it seems like, if I tell myself to relax, then I am able to move and breath again. It does not feel like someone is on my chest, and I don't see anything, it just feels like the back of my throat has closed up.
I was watching a show on TV about this today, and they were explaining what happens.
Your brain is divied in two. One side controlls when you are awake, and the other controlls when you are asleep. Usually, when you wake up, the part that you use when you are sleeping closes down, and vice versa. When sleep parallysis happens, both sides of the brain is active, instead one side shutting down. That is why you get caught up in being awake, and asleep at the same time. The man on TV explained it a little better.
I don't think my husband beleives me when I tell him about this because I was telling him about it (he is the first one I told), and one day when it happened, I woke up out of breath, and I told him what just happened, and he said that I was breathing fine. But just a few mins/sec before that, I couldn't move or breath, and all I kept thinking is...Ijust have to reach out and touch his leg for help.
It's not until recently I searched the internet to find out more about it.
I was wondering though...(sorry if this is a stupid question), what is the probabillity of dying from this? I always have the fear of not waking up. Thanks.
I was watching a show on TV about this today, and they were explaining what happens.
Your brain is divied in two. One side controlls when you are awake, and the other controlls when you are asleep. Usually, when you wake up, the part that you use when you are sleeping closes down, and vice versa. When sleep parallysis happens, both sides of the brain is active, instead one side shutting down. That is why you get caught up in being awake, and asleep at the same time. The man on TV explained it a little better.
I don't think my husband beleives me when I tell him about this because I was telling him about it (he is the first one I told), and one day when it happened, I woke up out of breath, and I told him what just happened, and he said that I was breathing fine. But just a few mins/sec before that, I couldn't move or breath, and all I kept thinking is...Ijust have to reach out and touch his leg for help.
It's not until recently I searched the internet to find out more about it.
I was wondering though...(sorry if this is a stupid question), what is the probabillity of dying from this? I always have the fear of not waking up. Thanks.
Truffles
11-30-2003, 03:37 AM
Hi
I've been suffering from sleep paralysis for almost 20 years. I go through periods where I don't have any attacks to having them nightly....What a NIGHTMARE!! I hate them. One doctor told me it was caused from having a panic attack in my sleep...???? I don't think so. I finally went to another doctor who told me that I was asleep and awake at the same time. I could hear and see my roommates, couldn't move, and I had a non-real clown jumping on my bed.....Hmmmm. Apparantly what happens is, when you go to sleep, your body emits some kind of chemical so that we don't act out our dreams, for example if we didn't have this chemical to paralyze us and we were dreaming of kick boxing, well we would start kick boxing. I doubt our spouses would like that! Anyways, with sleep paralysis, just before you wake up your body finishes using up this natural chemical however in my case, mine hasn't worn out by the time I've woken up which explains why you're still paralyzed. I hope I'm making sense. I'm not a doctor but have researched it over a few years at no one else could seem to help me. When it happens I find that if I breathe and concentrate on moving a finger or toe or something, slowly, I eventually move. Not quick enough of course......Whatever you do, don't panick as this seems to make it last longer. Hope this helps someone.
It is referred to as "sleep paralysis", where one is alert but the body remains "asleep". I have forgotten the medical reasoning and the hows and whys of it, but I myself have experienced that extensively during my teen years and on into my twenties. I would "wake up" only to find that for a number of seconds I couldn't move anything but my eyes, which, by the way, always spotted the shadowy silhouette of a stranger in a fedora hat standing over me during these strange episodes. Once my body "awoke", the stranger would disappear and everything would become normal. It was always quite frightening, for the strange intruder always seemed so real. I could not even scream or call out. The paralysis was that intense. I have read that many people who experience sleep paralysis also will "see" this strange intruder with the fedora hat. How wierd is that?
I've been suffering from sleep paralysis for almost 20 years. I go through periods where I don't have any attacks to having them nightly....What a NIGHTMARE!! I hate them. One doctor told me it was caused from having a panic attack in my sleep...???? I don't think so. I finally went to another doctor who told me that I was asleep and awake at the same time. I could hear and see my roommates, couldn't move, and I had a non-real clown jumping on my bed.....Hmmmm. Apparantly what happens is, when you go to sleep, your body emits some kind of chemical so that we don't act out our dreams, for example if we didn't have this chemical to paralyze us and we were dreaming of kick boxing, well we would start kick boxing. I doubt our spouses would like that! Anyways, with sleep paralysis, just before you wake up your body finishes using up this natural chemical however in my case, mine hasn't worn out by the time I've woken up which explains why you're still paralyzed. I hope I'm making sense. I'm not a doctor but have researched it over a few years at no one else could seem to help me. When it happens I find that if I breathe and concentrate on moving a finger or toe or something, slowly, I eventually move. Not quick enough of course......Whatever you do, don't panick as this seems to make it last longer. Hope this helps someone.
It is referred to as "sleep paralysis", where one is alert but the body remains "asleep". I have forgotten the medical reasoning and the hows and whys of it, but I myself have experienced that extensively during my teen years and on into my twenties. I would "wake up" only to find that for a number of seconds I couldn't move anything but my eyes, which, by the way, always spotted the shadowy silhouette of a stranger in a fedora hat standing over me during these strange episodes. Once my body "awoke", the stranger would disappear and everything would become normal. It was always quite frightening, for the strange intruder always seemed so real. I could not even scream or call out. The paralysis was that intense. I have read that many people who experience sleep paralysis also will "see" this strange intruder with the fedora hat. How wierd is that?
ilaugh@myself.why
12-01-2003, 06:07 AM
[removed]
this was taken from a .com site and therefore i cannot post the link.. but that is the word for word text from the page..
i too suffer from sleep paralysis.. it can be scary as hell but it hasn't hurt me any..
the only times i get it is when i'm VERY tired.. like if i've been up all night (insomnia).. or i've woke up in the middle of the night without being able to get back to sleep soundly..
this was taken from a .com site and therefore i cannot post the link.. but that is the word for word text from the page..
i too suffer from sleep paralysis.. it can be scary as hell but it hasn't hurt me any..
the only times i get it is when i'm VERY tired.. like if i've been up all night (insomnia).. or i've woke up in the middle of the night without being able to get back to sleep soundly..
Truffles
12-01-2003, 07:10 AM
That's great info thanks! I've often went back into dream mode, however if I'm having a nightmare it is really intense indeed. Did you find anything out about the chemicals in your body that plays a role? What I posted above, I read on a sleep paralysis site that does studies. It's strange but yes, not harmful. I'm glad others are having it.-Well just so I know I'm not the only one.
Sleep well!
Sleep well!
saxgirl
12-01-2003, 11:18 AM
Wow, I had no idea it was that common. I get it when I'm really tired, especially when I nap without my Darth Vader gear (for sleep apnea) or when my docs try to feed me SSRI's. Thanks for the info!