It happens at night when I first lie down to go to sleep. Its like I doze off and
suddenly snap awake immediately and my whole body is trembling. I almost imagine it
like being snapping back away from being unconscious. My body has no feeling it
seems for a few seconds when I snap awake or at least thats the way I imagine it. It
doesn't happen every night and sometimes it happens a lot like last night when I had
about 5 episodes of it before going to sleep. It concerns me and sometimes I get
panic attacks from it. My right eye is usually bloodshot and red in the morning to
while the left one looks fine.
Any ideas?
I'm on paxil currently for stress and anxiety and have had this snapping awake
condition for about 2 months. Went to the school doctor over it today and she didn't
seem to think it was anything life threatening.
I have had that happen once. This type of sleep problems is common with Panic and anxiety disorder. It's like your whole body resists relaxing. Keep up the paxil, and my guess is it will go away and get better...
I have had this dozens of times.When it first happened it kept doing it every time I closed my eyes.I felt like I was spinning round and round,and if I opened my eyes it stopped.However,if I just kept my eyes shut it felt like I spun out of control.I couldn't move or call out.I knew where I was,and I knew what had happened,but I couldn't snap out of it.At first I thought I was paralysed and would be taken to hospital and they would think I was dead.I imagined being put in the mortuary and then into a coffin and I would be unable to open my eyes or tell them I was still O.K.This happened every night for a long time,and I didn't find out for ages exactly what it was.It is actually called sleep paralysis.It happens when the part of your brain that controls muscle movement has fallen asleep first.It happens when you are tired and stressed.It stopped for years,but I do still get it occasionally.It is nothing to worry about,even though it seems to go for a long time.It only lasts about 30 seconds in reality.When you stop worrying about it it will stop happening.
I had this the other night (again) -crazy! But the weird thing was that since I know about it I knew what was happening - I kept thinking 'this is sleep paralysis - I can get out of it' and I tried so hard to yell or move but I couldn't - scary if you didn't know what was going on.
Just an interesting note for those who don't know much about this - many people who believe thqat they were abducted by aliens or visted by ghosts are really experienceing sleep paralysis - it seems SO real that when they wake they swear it really happened.
So - don't be alarmed if you feel there is someone in your room and you can't get up - it'll pass <IMG SRC="http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wink.gif"> Airyn
I think I may have this too.Do you ever gasp for air when you can finally move,like it feels like you haven't been breathing forever,and feel real panicy after? I do feel tingly just like right before I get a panic attack! Kristi
I always thought I was the only one that had this happen to. I'm sleeping and then I get this loud ringing in my ears and I try to wake up but it's so hard. It's like trying to move my arms and they feel so heavy. Then after I do wake up I'm so groggy like I'm all doped up. Hasn't happened since I started on paxil.
I also have this..its called sleep paralysis or SP..some people have what we call awareness during sleep paralysis or ASP.
I have had it all my life as long as I can remember since about age 12. The awareness part is the weirdest..I am laying there while my body is paralyzed but I can see all around me..my surroundings..I sometimes even get the feeling of a presense in the room or see scary things like hooded figures or shadowed figures..all seem menacing to me. I get the intense buzzing sound in my head that is the sign that I know that I am entering into a ASP.
If I allow myself to "ride" out the ASP, then it usually turns into a lucid dreaming state and on occasion an OOBE(out of body experience) There is much controversy as to what causes this and what is happening during ASP and there are some interesting web sites out there that have researched ASP and Id be happy to share them if anyone is interested.
This is really amazing. I thought I was going crazy when this happened to me, and the doctor couldn't even explain what was happening to me. With me it was always the same. Waking up, face down, unable to move or talk out loud and dribbling a lot onto my pillow. I never experienced the "presence" thing, but I must admit that it felt like a dead weight lying on me. This happened on and off for a few weeks whilst I was withdrawing from medications, and then as suddenly as it started it stopped and never happened again. It was scary at first, but then I remember feeling bemused when it was happening. It is nothing to worry about.
Hi I have had similiar case. When I close my eyes i feel like I get light headed a falling feeling or something but when I open my eyes it stops. I have had this about a year now it didnt bother me before now its scaring me. Sometimes when I wake up i get like an internal vibration that last for a second.
Hi all. It sounds like many of you may have Sleep Apnea. My husband has this and it produces symptoms you never would think of. I would suggest going to a sleep center and being tested. It is a simple procedure. If you do have it, the treatment will change your life! Good Luck, Janet
I just wanted to add something because it looks like many of you are having SP. I just want to remiand everyone that it is Totally NORMAL. Seeing or feeling things (people or figures) is totally normal - it is your dreaming mind combined with your awake mind. Your body is still 'paralized' like it is when you sleep (If it wasn't you would act out all your dreams - not lay in your bed)but your mind is awake (somewhat). Just try to remind yourself that it is SP and it will stop soon. I've actually come tothe point where I look forward to them. They are a bit scary but they are a learning adventure also. Take Care ALL - Airyn
I used to have them alot when I was little but now I don't anymore.I used to get so scared because I would see creatures and stuff looking at me at this state.I'd never forget that one scared the he** out of me was when I was in sleep paralysis and I saw this demon like beast with red in its eyes, just red like glowing and I tried to scream and I couldn't....that was so terrifying.I'm glad I don't have those anymore.Well at least you guys don't see creatures and stuff during yours.
THIS IS TOTALLY NORMAL. We all experience this in and around falling asleep. In fact, when we are sleeping our bodies release a chemical that in fact paralyzes us. If it did not we would ACT OUT OUR DREAMS in our sleep. Researchers have found that those who sleep walk have a malfunction in this process....
Hearing voices, twitching, feeling like one is falling are all normal occurances in and around sleep. If it happens while you're at your desk at work, I would consider seeing a doc!
Hi all. It sounds like many of you may have Sleep Apnea. My husband has this and it produces symptoms you never would think of. I would suggest going to a sleep center and being tested. It is a simple procedure. If you do have it, the treatment will change your life! Good Luck, Janet
I to thought sleep apnea was the case and have undergone two sleep studies without evidence of such. My family physician placed me on klonopin before bed which has eliminated the "snap awakes" but with all the drawbacks of being on such a med eg the benzo hangover effect. Yes I can fall asleep without a single attack, usually 3-5 without (I am also unable to nap without several sans med), so it is difficult at best to feel well rested. A neurologist and the the fam physician are now starting me on a Requip trial, so I will provide an update as it progresses.
