Sleep Paralysis Advice - Sleep Disorders Message Board

clownfish1485 · 07-17-2008, 11:10 PM

Hi all,

I'm 22 and for as long as I can remember, I have had sleep paralysis. It has never been frequent, only a few times every 1-2 months. I should also mention that I sleep on my stomach and am not on any medications. I get around 7-9 hours of sleep a night, but do typically stay up later than most.

I have never had a hallucination during the paralysis. I can see all around me but can't move my limbs or anything below my neck, so, to wake up I have to struggle to lift my head up. I've noticed that when my fiance and I are laying and watching tv or a movie and I doze off (on my back), I have had sleep paralysis almost each time. She's become accustomed to seeing me twitch and waking me up. Today when we were watching tv, I had paralysis twice. The second time I tried to relax during it but panicked when I felt like I couldn't breathe. I've NEVER felt that way before. I don't remember waking up short of breath, though. So was this just a hallucination, or can you really stop breathing during sleep paralysis? Also, does it have any correlation to sleeping on your back?

Thanks in advance!

drs · 07-18-2008, 05:36 AM

Clownfish, I used to get this a lot too. Here's what I found that works. If you are aware of when this is happening, which it's sounds like you are, wiggle your fingers or toes, it does help wake you up. The pressure on your chest is your astrical body trying to get back into your physical body.

A couple of times when I was aware of this happening I did an experiment, I knew this was going on again, I shut my eyes, got up out of bed in my head and walked through a door into the other room, how weird is that! I also went on a flying trip as this is my favorite type of dream. When I wanted to wake up I wiggle my toes or fingers, it does wake me up and those are the only parts of my body I could move when this happens. Hope it works for you. Diana

justjude1952 · 07-23-2008, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drs

Clownfish, I used to get this a lot too. Here's what I found that works. If you are aware of when this is happening, which it's sounds like you are, wiggle your fingers or toes, it does help wake you up. The pressure on your chest is your astrical body trying to get back into your physical body.

A couple of times when I was aware of this happening I did an experiment, I knew this was going on again, I shut my eyes, got up out of bed in my head and walked through a door into the other room, how weird is that! I also went on a flying trip as this is my favorite type of dream. When I wanted to wake up I wiggle my toes or fingers, it does wake me up and those are the only parts of my body I could move when this happens. Hope it works for you. Diana

I just can't believe this! I have suffered from this issue since I was a little girl! I thought I was the only one. The way I get out of this state is to calmly tell myself that it's just a dream, I'm ok and wait...it doesn't take long for the spell to end after that. The real key here is to keep calm. Hope this helps you. I know it can be a terrible feeling. Jude

strawberri · 07-29-2008, 09:13 AM

I was diagnosed with narcolepsy and my doctor told me that if I wanted something to suppress the sleep paralysis he would prescribe me an anti-depressant such as Prozac. I don't want to take anything but it is an option. I have to sleep with a little light on and the fan and this helps so much. I also don't go up to bed until I'm very tired and if my boyfriend isn't there I talk to him on the phone while I'm falling asleep. I only get it about once every other month now, as opposed to around twice a week with bad hallucinations. If I even try to fall sleep in the total dark and quiet now I start to get it almost immediately.

jvirtue · 09-11-2008, 09:06 PM

I know this is a late reply but I just got home from a sleep clinic today and reading that others have the same thing is a little more comforting. The whole not being able to breath thing is exactly what scares me. I am 33 now, and this has been going on all my life, When I explained all this to my wife she didn't believe me. I could tell her whole conversations she had while she thought I was sleeping. It is so hard not to panic whe you have to concentrate on breathing. I have tried to wiggle fingers, toes, move my hand inch by inch, I get nothing. What I've found out is that it's a safety machanism your body has to keep you from walking in your sleep. Since we (narcoleptics) fall into REM sleep very quickly we are awake when our brain fires the receptors to cause paralysis. Most people are asleep when this happens or the affects are worn off by the time they wake up. Just try to stay calm, you aren't alone. It's nice to know I'm not.