Scariest thing happened... - Sleep Disorders Message Board

PokaDot · 05-20-2005, 08:37 PM

This only happened a few times, but it doesn't come around anymore but I was wondering if someone has had this same experience or know anything about it. In the middle of the night while sleeping, I suddenly woke up feeling extremely terrified...like watching a really bad horror movie. And not being able to move or talk at all. I remember feeling the need to scream but nothing would come out. It felt like some kind of evil was holding me down..like I could feel the energy of it...I know that sounds so weird. It lasts for 1-5 minutes, and then I try to fall back to sleep still feeling scared..as if I'm afraid to move in case something happens. Anyone know what caused this to happen? It wasn't from any nightmare I had or anything. I'd just like to know what it came from?! Thanks for any ideas.

analog2000 · 05-20-2005, 08:54 PM

This is quite common - it is called sleep paralysis. There are a lot of people on this board with it. Try looking up some info on-line, it is really interesting stuff.

The most interesting thing I learned was that sleep paralysis is where stories of incubus/succubus come from. So the feeling of "evil" you describe isn't weird, it is common, and in fact has been experienced by people throughout history. Each culture assigns it a different meaning.

Good luck.

ForgottenFaith · 05-20-2005, 09:20 PM

I used to get this. It was scary at first but then it became a nuisance. Knowing that what you see and feel isn't real, it's real easy to get overcome that fear. I get this once in a blue moon now, and it takes me a few seconds to wake up, because it takes a few seconds for my body to respond. I usually have the jerk one of my limbs to wake myself up.

PokaDot · 05-21-2005, 07:09 PM

I didn't know it was so common, but I read around this board and found some other people having this problem. I've never heard of sleep paralysis before, I might look that up and read more about it, in case it happens again, just to know. Thanks a lot for your replies!!

down_and_out · 05-25-2005, 11:08 PM

I get it quite often, the best thing to do is try to stay calm cause panicking will only make you feel worse, it only last a few seconds but can feel like a long time, what works for me is I close my eyes and start to count, by the time i get to 3 i'm awake.
hope I helped