Sleep Paralysis...

[Runewolf1973]

Have you ever experienced the feeling of lying in bed awake and not being able to move your body? The feeling of being paralyzed and possibly that of some presence in the room or pressure weighing down on your chest. I am curious as to how many people this actually happens to. What are your thoughts on sleep paralysis? What is it and why does it happen in your opinion?

 

[Phasmid]

I often wake up holding my breath and unable to exhale and sometimes I get this weird frequency sound in my ears which goes from high to low pitch, then back to high. Feels like my eardrums are being beaten to death during the low frequency, like someone's throwing sound at me.

Don't know what causes it, but I'm usually too tired to threat about it and when I realise what's going on and fully wake up it stops.

 

[3.14]

mostly on a monday i can never get up on a monday its like something holding me back from getting up on a monday

 

[Kilgore Trout]

I've had a wide variety of sleep disorders since I was a kid, including sleep paralysis. It has occurred more since being an adult, but it's been a year or two since the last time I experienced it though.

I believe I originally developed sleeping disorders because my parents would often argue in the middle of the night. This led to frequent disturbance of my natural sleeping patterns and anxiety about sleep. This then led to insomnia, lucid dreaming, blurring between sleeping/wakefullness, and sleep paralysis, among others.

I had an early, intrinsic understanding that these various states were caused by these stresses and never had the inclination to attribute any 'supernatural' significance to them.

Sleep paralysis itself is one of the worst sleep disorder manifestations because, no matter how much you intellectually understand what's happening, it is almost always scary and disturbing. I know there is nobody/nothing in the room with me, but you still feel as though there is - and the more you try to fight being paralyzed, the harder it is to break out of it.

I've read a lot about these types of things over the years, and it is interesting how various people interpret these experiences - from alien abductions to seeing demons and ghosts. Having personally had sleep paralysis, I can understand how different people would interpret the experience based on their beliefs/personality, but it also has given me insight to how susceptible people are to irrationality.

Ironically, experiencing sleep paralysis is one of the primary experiences which has given me more confidence in my rational/skeptic view of the world, as it has allowed me to view things from both sides.

 

[Phasmid]

This then led to insomnia, lucid dreaming, blurring between sleeping/wakefullness, and sleep paralysis, among others.

Lucid dreaming is awesome.

 

[Dezzie]

That happened to me a long time ago when I was younger but it hasn't happened since. I remember having a horrible dream that night though so I figure maybe I was too afraid to move. I did try to run out of my room though and couldn't get up. Recently though I wake up not being able to move my right leg. I think a nerve is being pinched or something. After like 10 minutes of trying to move it, I start getting the tingling feeling and can start moving it again. It's weird.

I'm not sure how sleep paralysis works but it is very interesting. I think maybe sometimes it can be the 'frozen in fear' concept but maybe it is a health issue too... kind of like why my right leg loses feeling sometimes when I wake up in the morning.

 

[Dezzie]

I've read a lot about these types of things over the years, and it is interesting how various people interpret these experiences - from alien abductions to seeing demons and ghosts. Having personally had sleep paralysis, I can understand how different people would interpret the experience based on their beliefs/personality, but it also has given me insight to how susceptible people are to irrationality.

This may sound strange but one night my brother had this dream that an "alien" was coming into his room. That same night my father heard him screaming and tried to get out of bed. My father couldn't move at all. He was so afraid because he could hear my brother screaming bloody murder. As much as my father tried, he couldn't get up. Finally though he managed to get up and run to my brothers room. When he got there, there was blood everywhere from a bloody nose my brother got in the middle of the night. I remember it as well. It was very scary. lol Maybe it really was one of those strange 'encounters'?

 

[Runewolf1973]

I have encountered sleep paralysis a few times. Usually it just feels like a pressure that runs up my body like someone is pushing down on me. It does feel rather creepy. On one specific occasion, when I was just a teenager, this happened to me. I was lying in bed, awake because I was not able to fall asleep and I could still see the light coming from outside the window and could still see around the room I was in. Just lying there, eyes open. It was like in an instant, I must have blinked and my whole body started shaking and the bed was shaking. I opened my eyes and the craziest thing! There was a small hideous looking creature on top of me that looked like a little red demon. As retarded as that sounds, this is what happened to me exactly as I am describing it. It was a very bright red color whatever it was, with vaguely human-like facial features, but only about the size of a child. It seemed so powerful though, it shook my whole body as though I was having a violent seizure or something. I actually tried fighting it off, but I was paralyzed and could not move. It was not until I said something to the regards of "In the name of Jesus, go away!" that it just disappeared. This was guaranteed the most frightening thing that has happened to me of the spiritual sort.

I have had sleep paralysis after that incident, but that was the last time I actually seen anything from it. Years later now, I met my fiancee. I discovered that she has this really odd and sometimes hard to believe ability to see and talk to dead things or things in the spirit world. I do believe her though, she has proven to me her abilities are genuine. I mentioned to her that little red thing that attacked me and I found out that she actually has seen them before. She even has a name for those creatures, she calls them "soul-creepers". She is not exactly sure what they are, but she does think they are some sort of astral being, a demon or something to that like. She says they are not particularly powerful, that is why they wait until a person is at their lowest ebb to make their move. She seen one on one occasion when she was younger and she was at some kind of scout camp. The kids were all sleeping in their bunker style beds and she was not yet asleep. She had noticed something moving and then seen to her amazement this little bright red creature sort of jumping around from bunker to bunker, from one kid to the next. It actually jumped close to her and she said it looked at her, gave bit of a snarl and left. It was apparently surprised someone could actually see it. She says these creatures are very rare to come across. They are definitely not from this physical world though.

I later did some researching and found out some historical significance to similar creatures such as this. I found reference to some sleep-type demons that were called Incubus and Succubus that apparently attack people as they sleep. I don't know, maybe it was experiences like this where those legends originated from. Who knows?

 

[Judgment]

Runewolf1973: Have you ever experienced the feeling of lying in bed awake and not being able to move your body? The feeling of being paralyzed and possibly that of some presence in the room or pressure weighing down on your chest. I am curious as to how many people this actually happens to. What are your thoughts on sleep paralysis? What is it and why does it happen in your opinion?

Hi Runewolf1973 - Had them all the time when I was young. Most of them were like you described... laying there in bed, eyes open, unable to speak and move. There was always a shadow of a figure moving towards the bed - with it came a strange, terrifying feeling of doom.

Those were the earliest examples. After that I had the same Paralysis - but - instead of a figure it was a tree branch coming through the window - moving towards me for a few times. Then - for a bunch of times after that it was a crystalline structure - the crystals were growing quickly (looked slightly like a branch) moving at me. I must have been trying to scream - because when I could eventually move I would let out a blood curdling scream. Scaring my wife and probably my neighbors half to death.

I also saw a glowing, floating orb just outside my bedroom - there was no fear that time.

This all stopped in my mid twenties.

Now - I no longer have the paralysis - but - I have woken many times and seen a flower (with stem) with a slight glow floating directly above me... it is real enough that I always reach out to grab it - it fades away as my hand is making contact.


What these things mean I have no idea. I have had lucid dreams from a very young age - so - I figured it was some type of extension from that.. only brought into my waking life - maybe caught right in between my waking and dreaming selves.

In fact... instead of walking all of the time in my dreams now - I am usually floating a foot or so above the ground. I always look around in amazement because no one seems to care - like it's nothing new... gotta love dreams.

 

[Dezzie]

I later did some researching and found out some historical significance to similar creatures such as this. I found reference to some sleep-type demons that were called Incubus and Succubus that apparently attack people as they sleep. I don't know, maybe it was experiences like this where those legends originated from. Who knows?

I've heard the words Incubus and Succubus but I never knew exactly what they were. Now that I know, that's kind of freaky. That is a very scary encounter you have had. I don't know what I would do if that happened to me. A little red demon staring down at me when I open my eyes? I'd be terrified. :run:

 

[Runewolf1973]

Judgment, that is really interesting. Thank you. I also have a friend that says he has had sleep paralysis on occasion where he had seen some dark figure at the corner of the room. He says it always appears to be wearing a dark hooded robe or cloak and has creepy glowing eyes. He says it seems as if to absorb all the light out of the room. Everything goes completely pitch black when that "thing" whatever it is enters the room. But each time it happens, he swears he is awake. I believe there are lots of "experiences" such as this going on to others, perhaps people are afraid to mention them to others out of fear of ridicule.

 

[Runewolf1973]

I've heard the words Incubus and Succubus but I never knew exactly what they were. Now that I know, that's kind of freaky. That is a very scary encounter you have had. I don't know what I would do if that happened to me. A little red demon staring down at me when I open my eyes? I'd be terrified. :run:

Yes it was an extremely frightening experience. I did not sleep to well for the next few weeks after that. Oftentimes I will think about it before I go to sleep even now that I am older. For years after I would avoid sleeping on my back because that was when it happened. From what I understand a person is more vulnerable when they are lying on their back. There were times when I could feel the sensation of sleep paralysis as if it were coming on, but I would fight off the sensation before anything happened. I would basically "will" it away.

 

[Dezzie]

Judgment, that is really interesting. Thank you. I also have a friend that says he has had sleep paralysis on occasion where he had seen some dark figure at the corner of the room. He says it always appears to be wearing a dark hooded robe or cloak and has creepy glowing eyes. He says it seems as if to absorb all the light out of the room. Everything goes completely pitch black when that "thing" whatever it is enters the room. But each time it happens, he swears he is awake. I believe there are lots of "experiences" such as this going on to others, perhaps people are afraid to mention them to others out of fear of ridicule.

You know what? This totally just reminded me of another sleep paralysis experience I had. When I was maybe 9 I woke up from a dream and felt like I was being watched. The door to my room was open (of which I used to hate because I was afraid of what was actually out there in the kitchen). I saw a black shadow figure come walking into my room. I was frozen solid. Scared to death, you know? It was just a black shadow of a person. No eyes, no body, nothing. Just the shadow. It kept getting closer to my bed. I was so terrified because I couldn't move. I finally was able to and I covered my head with my blanket.

I used to have hallucinations a lot too when I was little. I used to see one of my stuffed animals in the night and hallucinate that it was an evil troll or monster. It was so awful. I also hallucinated two voices fighting once too. It was a female and a male. The male was screaming at the female to "Shut up!" and he was also telling here he was going to kill her. I could here her scream out "help me!" and "No, please!" That was also very terrifying because there was no one around. I looked out my window for signs of life and found no body. I screamed for my parents and they told me I had a fever.

 

[Judgment]

Runewolf1973: Judgment, that is really interesting. Thank you. I also have a friend that says he has had sleep paralysis on occasion where he had seen some dark figure at the corner of the room. He says it always appears to be wearing a dark hooded robe or cloak and has creepy glowing eyes. He says it seems as if to absorb all the light out of the room. Everything goes completely pitch black when that "thing" whatever it is enters the room. But each time it happens, he swears he is awake. I believe there are lots of "experiences" such as this going on to others, perhaps people are afraid to mention them to others out of fear of ridicule.

I was never able to see the eyes or clothing - but - something about it did terrify me to my very core... I am usually never terrified.

And yup - I didn't want to tell anyone - until - I read that others had similar experiences. I was already considered 'out there' enough.

 

[TurkeyOnRye]

Occassionally, I have sleep paralysis too. It happens most frequently when I'm sleeping on my back. Most of the time, it's a very intense sense of fear coupled with the paralysis and a feeling of my body and mind trembling violently.

One time, though, I felt the presence of some kind of evil old woman approaching me. She spoke too. I could hear here though I don't remember what she uttered...may not have even been words. As she approached, the most intensely terrifying feeling I've ever had came over me. I felt like the life of my soul, not just my physical body, depended upon releasing myself from that paralysis.

Another horrible experience was being paralyzed while something was dragging me off of my bed by my hands.

Another one rather different from the others was a door that was made of light on the other side of the room. It was incredibly bright, but it was not a good light. There was something wrong with it, and I had the feeling that whatever was beyond that door was extremely evil and I was afraid that whatever it was might come through.

 

[Runewolf1973]

Occassionally, I have sleep paralysis too. It happens most frequently when I'm sleeping on my back. Most of the time, it's a very intense sense of fear coupled with the paralysis and a feeling of my body and mind trembling violently.

One time, though, I felt the presence of some kind of evil old woman approaching me. She spoke too. I could hear here though I don't remember what she uttered...may not have even been words. As she approached, the most intensely terrifying feeling I've ever had came over me. I felt like the life of my soul, not just my physical body, depended upon releasing myself from that paralysis.

Another horrible experience was being paralyzed while something was dragging me off of my bed by my hands.

Another one rather different from the others was a door that was made of light on the other side of the room. It was incredibly bright, but it was not a good light. There was something wrong it, and I had the feeling that whatever was beyond that door was extremely evil and I was afraid that whatever it was might come through.

Creepy! Sounds like you had an encounter with what some refer to as the Hag. They have been known to be quite pestering and stubborn to leave. I watched a TV show that described the different paranormal experiences people were having. One woman was describing her encounters with just such an old woman spirit that constantly every night would approach her in her bed while she was paralyzed. I don't think that poor lady ever slept at night. Apparently the only way she ended up ridding herself of this "Hag" was by having a shaman perform some ritual to send it off.

 

[DallasApple]

Have you ever experienced the feeling of lying in bed awake and not being able to move your body? The feeling of being paralyzed and possibly that of some presence in the room or pressure weighing down on your chest. I am curious as to how many people this actually happens to. What are your thoughts on sleep paralysis? What is it and why does it happen in your opinion?

My son has it..It terrifies him..The "presence" is a dark looming creature that is threatening him and he cant move he is helpless.My sister has it too..but its an "abduction" scenerio as well for her....I dont know where it comes from or why it happens.

Im sorry you are experiencing it..

Love

Dallas

 

[Runewolf1973]

My fiancee told me though, that not all experiences people have are of a spiritual nature. Some are just the mind playing tricks on us. Some are a little more "real" than just mind tricks though. Maybe a little too real.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

For those who aren't familiar with what sleep paralysis is, the following link has a concise overview:

Sleep Paralysis

Additionally, various experiences over the centuries, with these attributes, have been attributed to sleep paralysis. Depending on the prevailing views/understanding of the time, people have interpreted sleep paralysis differently, although the symptoms have been consistent. For example, in earlier, more religious times, it used to be common for people to think they were being attacked by a demon - in modern times, it has manifested in the "alien abduction" phenomenon.

 

[Runewolf1973]

My son has it..It terrifies him..The "presence" is a dark looming creature that is threatening him and he cant move he is helpless.My sister has it too..but its an "abduction" scenerio as well for her....I dont know where it comes from or why it happens.

Im sorry you are experiencing it..

Love

Dallas

I have not personally had an experience like that for at least 2 years. Perhaps ask your son or daughter to try falling asleep on their sides rather than on their backs or on their stomach. It might help.