Damnit! D:

MindGate

The past two weeks I have been sleeping horribly. It took me forever to fall asleep and I'd toss and turn all night... until tonight. I was sleeping well, very well, AND IT HAPPENED! I HAD DAMN SLEEP PARALYSIS!

I was having a dream... I was having weird dreams, and in the part of the dream I was laying in bed with my girlfriend because she moved out of her house or something. My nephews and nieces where downstairs (while I was upstairs) and me and my girlfriend heard a banging sound from downstairs, so naturally we thought they knocked something over. I looked at my door and my girlfriend said, "Is it just me... OR IS THAT THING COMING RIGHT FOR ME?!" and this ghostly figure who was in the doorway (I'm getting chills writing this) lunges towards me and hovers me to the cieling while choking me. I then relizing I'm dreaming and I swirl back into my body. I hear this rushing-wind sound all around me and I open my eyes in real life and can't move. I try to swallow and I can't. I hear this sound of rushing and stuff (my fan...? Nah, it was louder...) and then I wake up and can move. I wake up in the same bed it happened in. Damnit.


I can't go back to sleep. It'll happen again. I don't want it to. Its utterly terrifying for me. I can't. And I don't have any brothers or sisters to wake up. My parents are dead asleep. I have school in the morning. And now I can't go back to sleep. I'm screwed. :banghead:

bodhipunk

I have heard that when you experience an episode of sleep paralysis, you should focus on moving your facial muscles. They're much easier to move than your arms and legs, and can probably ease you back into control and wakefulness. Breathing is also one thing you can control, so focus on your breath and take slower, deeper breaths. Deeper breaths will bring more oxygen to the brain. Also, there are apparently "triggers" which could cause sleep paralysis such as the way you lay on your back. So, it might be a good idea to eliminate something that may be causing it.

If nothing else works, they make medication like clonazepam for sleep paralysis.

MindGate

Still up...

Joshua

lol.

That sucks, I know what it's like when you refuse to go to sleep. Once, before the hypnogogia I went through maybe two dozen levels of waking up all of which were based off of real life where I'd occasionally have discussions with my roommate and girlfriend about how frustrating it was that I couldn't wake up and they'd give me advice. Eventually I woke up and eventually could move only I wasn't convinced I was awake for at least fifteen minutes. Other times I might be having some weird experience in the room I'm sleeping in and then while paralysed things are still occuring which is pretty trippy because you're half awake and half asleep. No sleeping after that.

I never have nightmares fortunately but my roommate and girlfriend both frequently experience it with demonlike figures, it's a bit fucked up actually when they describe it. Once I ignored my roommate's gasping and whimpering on the couch because I thought he was looking for attention since my girlfriend had just moved in then, apparently he could see me but wanted help removing the demon from crushing his chest. Lol.. Good times.

nuageux

I have heard that when you experience an episode of sleep paralysis, you should focus on moving your facial muscles.

Not heard of that one. Trying to move a finger or toe also helps you to wake up faster (speaking from experience).

This may sound strange considering how terrifying sleep paralysis can be, but if you can somehow loose the fear it can be a really interesting experience to play around with. The first time I experienced sleep paralysis it was so intense and frightening that I thought I must be dieing! I think the fear I experienced was for the most part fear of the unknown. So I googled it a lot and made it known.

Ada_B

I'm not saying you're wimpy, but I have had sleep paralysis since I was a small child and I just find it interesting. Maybe its because I experienced it when I was so young, I never learned to fear it?

Nuageux's advice is really good: do read up about it so you understand it's a normal, natural process that's just got a bit out of synch for the moment. If you weren't paralysed when you were dreaming normally, you'd sleep walk, which I also do and that's far worse. The problem you have is that you aren't supposed to be conscious when you're in that paralysed state - part of your brain woke up when it wasn't ready to.

Most people grow out of it though, if that's any consolation. Alcohol, caffeine, stress and ironically, lack of sleep, can all make it worse. Try meditating before you settle for the night, and when you're in bed, try a bit of mindfulness meditation by concentrating on the present moment. Remind yourself you are warm, comfortable and safe and think about resting your body and your mind.

Not medical advice - just suggestions from someone who's been through it. Sleep well.

Jeffrey

I wonder if you could imagine a mantra in your mind. Such as:

Namo Buddha
Namo Dharma
Namo Sangha

Roger

Ok, I'm trying to help but this is just a shot in the dark (oops! sorry ).

Just face it! Stand up against the threat! You're disembodied (i.e. dreaming) so you can't get physically injured. When you try to get back to sleep remind yourserlf nobody dies in their sleep unless they are very old or have a heart condition.

Actually that would be great to die in your sleep! So many other bad ways to go and we all have to go sometime!

So either way you win! Face that dreamworld threat! Stare it down! The self is an illusion so you've got nothing to lose. Overcome the threatening illusion created by your own mind. Just like Buddha realized upon his awakening. :thumbsup: