siren1024
12-16-2004, 02:53 PM
This is strange, and it's happened to me before many times. It's not an every day occurrance, but today it was the first day it really worried me.
I was in a deep sleep this morning when my 17 month old woke up crying. I got up, walked around to find my robe, and walked out the door, and into his room (Or so I thought!!!!!.) I then began to try to speak to him and realized I couldn't move my mouth, then I realized I was actually still in bed and had never gotten up. So I was thinking in my head "I have to get up and get to him" and got up again, and again in my head, only to realize again and again I was still in the exact same position. I couldn't move my arms, legs, anything. My brain was working fine. I realized that I was still in the bed and tried to force my eyes open to wake up and couldn't do it. I felt completely paralyzed, I could feel the heavy numbness in my face and limbs. Tried to move an arm or a leg and couldn't do it. Or I would once again dream I had done it. This went on until my son was absolutely screaming, then I "snapped to" all the sudden and was fully awake.
It this a normal sleep phenomenon? Like I said, this had happened to me before, but it was before I had a child and not that big a deal. I know your body is paralyzed while you dream, and I was apparently dreaming, but my brain felt like it was functioning on an awake level? I still remember everything I was thinking and feeling.
Anyone ever experienced this?
Oh yeah... I used to experience the "floating" sensation in my teens as I was going to sleep that is typical of sleep paralysis.
I was in a deep sleep this morning when my 17 month old woke up crying. I got up, walked around to find my robe, and walked out the door, and into his room (Or so I thought!!!!!.) I then began to try to speak to him and realized I couldn't move my mouth, then I realized I was actually still in bed and had never gotten up. So I was thinking in my head "I have to get up and get to him" and got up again, and again in my head, only to realize again and again I was still in the exact same position. I couldn't move my arms, legs, anything. My brain was working fine. I realized that I was still in the bed and tried to force my eyes open to wake up and couldn't do it. I felt completely paralyzed, I could feel the heavy numbness in my face and limbs. Tried to move an arm or a leg and couldn't do it. Or I would once again dream I had done it. This went on until my son was absolutely screaming, then I "snapped to" all the sudden and was fully awake.
It this a normal sleep phenomenon? Like I said, this had happened to me before, but it was before I had a child and not that big a deal. I know your body is paralyzed while you dream, and I was apparently dreaming, but my brain felt like it was functioning on an awake level? I still remember everything I was thinking and feeling.
Anyone ever experienced this?
Oh yeah... I used to experience the "floating" sensation in my teens as I was going to sleep that is typical of sleep paralysis.
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Steph@nie
12-16-2004, 07:18 PM
This used to happen to me very often, at times it was even terrifying. I "googled" sleep paralysis and found lots of people went through this and I in fact was not possessed (lol). It doesn't make it any less scary or frustrating to know other people go through it, but more normal.
If you haven't looked it up on the net yet, you should. As far as what to do about it, I have no idea, but wish that I did!
That probably didn't help any, but I guess I still am amazed it happens to other people, so I had to respond!
If you haven't looked it up on the net yet, you should. As far as what to do about it, I have no idea, but wish that I did!
That probably didn't help any, but I guess I still am amazed it happens to other people, so I had to respond!
VoxEgo
12-16-2004, 08:02 PM
Ths happened to me once,not so long ago.I was in a hotel room,sleeping next to my boyfriend,got up and asked him to switch places with me.Then something weird happened.Again I found myself sitting next to my bf,got up and asked him to switch...and again and again and again.At one point I realised I was asleep and tried to wake up,couldn`t,every time it was the same story,everytime I imagined I was awake I was actually in a dream.I was in panic,started crying but still couldn`t wake up for real.At one point I was able to see myself sleeping in the bed,trying to wake up,as if part of me was sitting in front of the bed.I honestly don`t want to repeat that experience ever again.
siren1024
12-17-2004, 11:18 AM
At one point I was able to see myself sleeping in the bed,trying to wake up,as if part of me was sitting in front of the bed.
This happens to me too! I see myself trying to get up, trying to force myself to move limbs, open eyes, or something. It's really freaky.
This happens to me too! I see myself trying to get up, trying to force myself to move limbs, open eyes, or something. It's really freaky.
1plumppup
12-28-2004, 03:52 AM
I think this is what the Matrix referred to as a glitch in the computer programming system!
Yes, it can be the most terrifying thing. when it happens to me, if I can, I try NOt to fight it but rather relax into it. I find that when I relax it goes away much quicker than when I fight it. But, remebering to do that is difficult because it comes over me so unexpectedly, I am usually fighting before I know it & then experiencing what feels like hours of struggle.
Yes, it can be the most terrifying thing. when it happens to me, if I can, I try NOt to fight it but rather relax into it. I find that when I relax it goes away much quicker than when I fight it. But, remebering to do that is difficult because it comes over me so unexpectedly, I am usually fighting before I know it & then experiencing what feels like hours of struggle.
hollandlop
12-29-2004, 01:37 AM
Are you guys talking about when you are partially awake but not completely? I have experienced similar situations but don't know if it's the same thing you guys are mentioning. I would wake up, my eyes are open, but my body cannot move. My mind is still half dreaming about something. I struggle to move my body but it is very difficult. And I cannot talk at all. I know that I'm in bed and I need to wake up but I just can't do it because half of me is still somehow 'asleep'. But I cannot make myself fall back to sleep because it is too frustrating not to move my body. Most of the time when I experience this, it takes me a couple of minutes to finally jerk my body around enough to wake up. But once I wake up, I need to sit up and wake myself up comepletely or else I will fall back asleep and go through the same thing again.
jmf
12-29-2004, 03:12 AM
I thought I was the only one who had this dream! I've had the paralysis dream ever since I was a child. It happens less now that I'm 36 but it is almost always the same. I'm sleeping, but somehow my mind is awake. I feel forced to move a muscle-to jolt myself out of the paralysis. But I can't move and I start to panic that I'm not able to move. I refuse to fall back asleep because I feel absolutely compelled to wake myself. Here's the cooky part. Sometimes I feel that the blanket is off of me and I can feel the cold. Like I can feel a breeze blowing, but again there is nothing I can do because I am paralyzed. Sometimes I feel a presence behind me (I sleep on my stomache). I panic in my sleep or what I'm thinking is a conscious state of mind. In every case I always wake and realize that I was just dreaming. I'm so used to it now that I don't give it much thought. It must mean something. All dreams have some significance. It's your subconscious telling you something. What could it be? JMF
fibrostinks
12-30-2004, 08:59 AM
I have something very simialr to this! I have this recurring "dream" on and off for the last 10 years or so. I dont know how to really explain it, but I call it the "dream I cant wake up". I am dreaming I am trying to wake up and I cant! In my dream I am trying to hit myself with my hand or kick myself awake or trying to scream, but cant do any of these things. I feel like I am suffocating while I am trying to wake up. It SEEMS like I know I am trying to wake up, but then when I actually DO wake up, I realize it was just a dream. I know some have said sleep paralysis, but I am Not actually AWAKE. It is a dream. Its just I am trying to wake up from my dream and cant and its full of terror, panic and stress because its like I cant breathe until I wake myself up (in the dream).
I always wonder what I look like when this is occurring. I wonder if I actually AM kicking and hitting myself.
I have found this happens more during a daytime nap than at night.
Just wanted you all to know you are not alone and if anyone has any expertise, please share.
I always wonder what I look like when this is occurring. I wonder if I actually AM kicking and hitting myself.
I have found this happens more during a daytime nap than at night.
Just wanted you all to know you are not alone and if anyone has any expertise, please share.
coolandcalm
02-19-2005, 11:52 PM
I have been going through "sleep paralysis" on and off for about the last 7 years. It typically happens when I am going through a stress-filled time at work, or if I have had a lot of smokes or caffeine in the evening.
I must say that it really freaked me out the first few times it occured.....I was not sure what was going on, if I was ill, or whatnot.
Everything seemed to be so "real", and the only thing consistant through each episode was a "buzzing" feeling in the back of my head and neck.
I must say that it really freaked me out the first few times it occured.....I was not sure what was going on, if I was ill, or whatnot.
Everything seemed to be so "real", and the only thing consistant through each episode was a "buzzing" feeling in the back of my head and neck.
ForgottenFaith
02-21-2005, 01:55 AM
It's weird that I only experience sleep paralysis when I'm being really lazy and sleep for about 12 hours. The first few times I experienced it it was scary because I was conscious,but I just couldn't move my limbs and my body was asleep. I thought I was hallucinating or something because I would see people or things coming towards me and my ears would be buzzing or ringing, but when it happens to me now I know that its basically just a dream and it's not scary by any means. To wake myself from the paralysis state I jerk my arm even though it takes a few seconds to respond.
REBEL886
02-28-2005, 10:19 AM
ya the same thing kind of happened to me this morning around 3. i was falling asleep on the couch and all i remember was trying to wake up and all of a sudden i heard my self screaming but i dont think my mouth was open. my whole body was tingly and unable to move and i couldnt open my eyes. the only way i wake myself out of it is by jerking my body. i dont know it sounds kind of weird but it helps me. This shits kinda scary. does anyone know what the floating sensation is when your sleeping?? it started for me when i was about 10 but went away and transformed into this.. please help
eeh
03-03-2005, 05:00 PM
I used to get sleep paralysis a lot when I was younger but still get it occaisionally. I found that I got it more often either when I had woken up in the morning but gone back to sleep or took a nap in the afternoon. Maybe it is to do with getting too much sleep? I still find it really uncomfortable as I tend to hear people come in to the room and talk to me and I am trying desperately to wake up and see what is going on. I haven't really figured out a way to wake myself up and the sense of being paralysed is horrible. Luckily the older I get the less it happens!
SadFreek
03-04-2005, 04:30 AM
It is sleep paralysis. What a guy told me to do that works for a sleep clinic:
"when it happens, focus on trying to get your finger tips moving. The move on to your hand. Keep moving on until you either wake up or fall back alseep."
I have tried that and it does work. I do wake up after I get my hand moving freely again. It took my three times to get it to work, but it works. Most of the time I fall right back asleep afterwards anyhow and dont remember...heh
"when it happens, focus on trying to get your finger tips moving. The move on to your hand. Keep moving on until you either wake up or fall back alseep."
I have tried that and it does work. I do wake up after I get my hand moving freely again. It took my three times to get it to work, but it works. Most of the time I fall right back asleep afterwards anyhow and dont remember...heh
Neverenoughslee
03-04-2005, 09:00 AM
eeh- This happens to me and I find it interesting that you pointed out the "nap" thing. That is usually when it happens to me too (when I am napping rather than at night).
Sad Freak-Thats yet another thing I noticed...I can have 4-5 episodes in a row because I usually fall right back to sleep after it happens. It seems my eyes get exceptionally heavy and tired during the episodes.
Sad Freak-Thats yet another thing I noticed...I can have 4-5 episodes in a row because I usually fall right back to sleep after it happens. It seems my eyes get exceptionally heavy and tired during the episodes.
Bloomers
11-07-2005, 03:11 PM
I have had a similiar situations multiple times. I will think I have awakened, got dressed, ready for work, only to find out, I haven't left my bed! I have also had the sleep paralysis as well. It's annoying isn't it? It's like your brain and body are on different schedules or something. I just thought I'd post to let you know it is a fairly common occurance for alot of people.