paralyzed? a dream? scared me to death!! - Sleep Disorders Message Board

alsaser · 09-18-2005, 03:04 AM

I had this happen twice.

This is for real and seriously the scardest Ive ever been! The first time, I woke up (or my brain did) but I could not move my body, I tried with all my might but I was paralyzed. I knew I was in bed and awake but couldnt move. Than I felt something on me, like laying on me, the size of a small child, maybe a 4 yr old's size (I dont live with any kids or pets). I realized it was a demon on me. I knew it was on me and it wouldnt get off. I was so freakin terrified, I tried everything I could but couldnt move my body or further wake myself up, it was like I was in between sleep phases.
So I started praying to God and saying, "In the name of Jesus Christ get off of me"....over and over again for a few minutes, 'til finally I felt it leave me and I became fully awake. When I woke up I had dried tears that had fallen toward my ears (from laying down), so I had been crying in fear in my "sleep". I was sooooo scared, I turned on the lights and was crying (I'm a grown woman and not easily scared!) and got out my Bible and was reading and praying. I was too scared to go back to sleep.
The next time it happened I woke up and couldnt move again. I was laying on my side this time and once again I felt something touching me, a hand was slowly moving down my side, like from my waist down over my hip, once again I was petrified and knew it was a demon. I had the sheets over my head, but I could see out because I was on my side and I suddenly saw a weird man's hand wave at me in my face.
I reenacted it for my sister and she was freaked out and screamed when I waved at her. She said it was a lucid dream. but I was like semi-conscience (sp?) I felt like I was awake mentally, but not the part of my brain that controls my motor functions. My dad said he had that where he was paralyzed too. My dad said it must have been a dream because (I'm a believer) its not characteristic of demons to touch/physically harrass believers.
Anyways, has this happened to anyone else? The paralyzing waking up sensation? That hasnt happened in a while. Thanks be to God! Any smiliar stories out there?

cremebrulee · 09-18-2005, 09:53 PM

this used to happen to me all the time. i was in college and i partied a lot (did ecstasy, stayed up all night long...) i noticed that it happened after i partied and spent the night at my friend's apartment. we think the apartment was haunted. it is frightening. i would wake up in the middle of the night and i felt like someone was holding me down. people told me to never sleep with my arms crossed over my chest like how they arrange a dead person. i did some reading on it and it is called night paralysis or sleep paralysis. reading about it gave me a scientific explaination of what was happening. when you sleep you muscles become relaxed and paralyzed. your mind wakes up in the middle of the night but your body is still asleep. do a search about it. it will at least give you a scientific explanation for it but it is still very scary. very demonic.

alsaser · 09-18-2005, 11:50 PM

thanks for the info, I'll check into that. Btw, I don't do drugs or drink.

Valency · 09-19-2005, 06:01 PM

I'll keep the explanation as simple as possible but you shouldn't be scared, since what you're describing is actually very common.
what you experienced is called sleep paralysis and occurs when you awake from REM (rapid eye movement) sleep during the night. REM is one of the deeper stages of sleep. During sleep, your muscles are paralyzed, a mechanism that prevents you from hurting yourself while you dream. when you suddenly wake from REM sleep, your mind is awake but your body is not. So you're in a semi-conscious state and this is often accompanied by hallucinations as you described (ie. sensing pressure on your body, a demonic presence, fear).

Your episodes may be brought about by stress or irregular sleep schedules, so try to relax a bit.

alsaser · 09-20-2005, 03:21 AM

that makes sense to me. my sis kept saying it was a lucid dream, but it didnt feel like that. I didnt know it was common. Thanks for the info.