when i sleep sometimes i feel like i cannot move - Sleep Disorders Message Board

seyzna · 05-14-2006, 05:23 PM

sometimes in my sleep, i feel like i cannot move. like i am awake, but i cant move any parts of my body or call for help. i try and try but i cant. then i eventually realize that if i think of something else i will eventually wake up and snap out of it. but it is very scary attimes. anyone have any experiences like this or know how to get it to stop?

cinemachick · 05-15-2006, 11:27 AM

Read up on sleep paralysis. It's nothing harmful, but I've heard that it's scary. I wish you the best.

Andie3 · 05-15-2006, 01:09 PM

You are not alone. Many people suffer from this including myself from a very young age. I am finding that the older I get, the less intense it feels, or maybe it is that I am getting used to it. I've not heard anyone else mention this, but I find I tend to experience it when I have had too MUCH sleep over a couple of days. It may be to do with the different levels of unconciousness and my brain slipping between sleep and consciousness. For me it is definitely much worse on my back which is why I ALWAYS sleep on my side. I've never had the sensation of noise or a presence in the room for which I am thankful. One thing that helps me come out of the paralysis is altering my breathing, trying to breath deeply and at the same time move my neck muscle which works for me. You could give this a go. I hope this helps.

Bev92 · 05-16-2006, 04:05 AM

I agree with Andie, I always try to sleep on my side now. I've had this problem too, but it hasn't come back in such a long time. It's weird, it only happens when I sleep in the basement, which makes it 10 times more scarier. It felt like some kind of evil force was holding me down and the feeling is terrible, to the point where I'm afraid to go back to sleep. Try sleeping on your side, I think it helps, also experiment with the temperature in the area you're sleeping in. That might have something to do with it. Lets hope it goes away soon...

seyzna · 05-18-2006, 07:54 PM

i sleep on my side, but whenever i get this i am on my back. i realize this beecause i always try to bang for my family members in the other room and yell to them but i can never get them.

is there any way to get rid of this?