Sleep paralysis stories typically involve unusual and frightening experiences. Perhaps you have one or two of these disturbing tales of your own to tell.
If not, I’ll first share one of mine to give you an understanding of what it can be like.
Then we’ll take a closer look at whether sleep paralysis demons or ghosts really exist. Or if science can provide a logical and comforting explanation.
My sleep paralysis experience
Imagine the following scenario: it’s been a long day, you go to bed later than usual and fall asleep quickly through sheer exhaustion.
But instead of waking up peacefully in the morning, you half wake in the middle of the night. And in the darkness of your bedroom, it slowly dawns on you that you can’t move your body…and that someone, or something, is watching you.
A weight pushing on your chest
You feel a weight on your chest, pressing you down and preventing you from sitting up. And not only is your whole body paralyzed, but you can’t so much as move your lips to call out for help.
You’re not sure who or what is pushing on your chest. Even though you seem to be able to move your eyes just a little, it’s too dark to see anyway. Regardless, you just feel that there’s a presence there. Something strange. Something frightening.
This happened to me last year and was a very unsettling experience. Fortunately, there was no demon, ghost or burglar in my bedroom.
After a minute’s panic, the feeling passed. And I was then able to stumble to the bathroom to make sure my face wasn’t decorated with demonic symbols. It was a classic case of sleep paralysis.
What is sleep paralysis?
Recurrent isolated sleep paralysis is classified as a parasomnia, which is a group of sleep disorders involving unwanted behaviors that accompany sleep.
The main symptom is being awake and unable to move your body. It might also be accompanied by hallucinations or dreams/nightmares whilst still awake.
It typically lasts from a few seconds to a few minutes before movement is regained. And although it may feel like it at the time, it’s not believed by medical organizations to be harmful.
What causes it?
The exact reason for why it happens to some people and only on some nights isn’t known. However, scientists do have a theory about what goes on during sleep paralysis.
During the night, you cycle through different sleep stages. When you enter the REM stage of sleep, your brain stops your muscles from moving – known as REM atonia. One explanation for this atonia is that it prevents injury from acting out your dreams in bed.
During sleep paralysis, the atonia starts, or continues, while you’re awake. And during this time, you might also experience what’s known as sleep hallucinations, or dreams while you’re awake.
So your body and brain are temporarily out of sync while transitioning between sleep stages, potentially creating a frightening experience.
As Dr. Michael J. Breus neatly explains:
Sleep scientists believe that sleep paralysis may occur when the transitions in and out of REM sleep and other sleep stages don’t go smoothly.
How many people experience sleep paralysis?
Sleep paralysis stories like mine are surprisingly common. In 2011, researchers aggregated 35 sleep paralysis studies to find out how many people had experienced it at least once in the past year, finding:
- 7.6% of the general population
- 28.3% of students
- 31.9% of psychiatric patients
And according to the handbook of sleep disorders, it will happen at least once in a lifetime of 40% to 50% of normal subjects, but is “far less common as a chronic complaint”.
Who is more at risk of having sleep paralysis?
Scientists might not know the precise reason only some people have sleep paralysis yet, but there are a growing number of risk factors becoming apparent.
For example, researchers who analyzed 42 studies found several risk factors and associated conditions:
- Sleep problems, changing sleep patterns and shift work.
- Sleep disorders such as narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia and nocturnal leg cramps.
- Stress.
- Some psychiatric groups, particularly those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, anxiety and panic disorders.
- Substance and medication use.
- Physical illness.
- Personality and anomalous beliefs.
Is there a genetic component to sleep paralysis?
In 2015, British researchers published a study of 862 twins and siblings aged between 22 and 32. They did find some evidence of a genetic role, but only a small one:
In this sample of young adults, sleep paralysis was moderately heritable
Interestingly, they also found other independent risk factors, including:
- Disrupted sleep cycles
- General sleep quality
- Anxiety symptoms
- Exposure to threatening events
Polls – readers’ experience of sleep paralysis
I polled readers of this article for a year to find out what kind of sleep paralysis episodes they had.
Note that it’s likely that many people who search online about it will have had the more frightening episodes, skewing the results.
But they still provide a fascinating insight into what people experience and how they cope.
Poll 1
In poll 1, the most common episode was thinking there was a demon or other being in the room.
Poll 2
Poll 2 shows that many readers find sleep paralysis terrifying. Again, those who search online for it are likely to have found it particularly disturbing.
Poll 3
Poll 3 shows that many readers first experienced sleep paralysis during adolescence.
Poll 4
Poll 4 shows that most readers don’t experience sleep paralysis on a regular basis.
Poll 5
Poll 5 shows some of the ways readers deal with episodes. You’ll find more coping mechanisms below.
The not so scientific explanations for sleep paralysis
Since first writing this article several years ago, there has been an extraordinary number of comments. And the comments show that not everyone accepts the scientific explanation.
Interestingly, some people struggle to accept it even though they consider themselves to be scientifically minded generally. I think these cases highlight just how realistic the experience of sleep paralysis can be; how it can linger in your memory and makes you question what happened for a long time afterward.
The possibility of demons, ghosts, spiritual beings, and aliens all crop up from time to time in the comments too. And while many people accept their experiences as hallucinations or dreams, some people choose to believe another explanation – that those entities are real.
Despite these beliefs, there’s one clear theme: nothing bad ever actually happens, other than being frightened and perhaps losing some sleep after an episode.
Around the world
Cultural beliefs also appear to play a role in how sleep paralysis is perceived by some people.
In Fiji, for example, the demon is sometimes seen as a deceased relative coming back to discuss an important or unfinished matter.
In Chinese folklore, it’s also seen as a ghost rather than a demon or intruder.
Some people in Iran and Pakistan interpret it as demons or spirits taking over your body. This could be due to black magic performed by an enemy.
The common theme is that the entity is usually something to be feared. I’m yet to find a culture which believes it’s a friendly creature!
Sleep paralysis treatment
When to see a doctor
Fortunately, most people don’t experience sleep paralysis very often, and no treatment is usually required.
However, if the following apply to you, it’s a good idea to speak to your doctor:
- It happens regularly.
- You’re anxious about sleep paralysis and going to sleep.
- You don’t get enough sleep.
- You feel very sleepy during the day, sometimes fall asleep suddenly or lose control of your muscles.
What medical treatment is available?
If you see a doctor, they might take the following action:
- Refer you to a sleep specialist to assess if you have another sleep disorder, like narcolepsy.
- Treat any underlying psychiatric condition.
- Discuss any medication or substance use that might be a factor.
- Explain the biological processes involved in sleep paralysis to reassure you.
- Talk to you about developing good sleep habits. This is thought to help reduce the frequency of sleep paralysis.
Readers’ techniques for coping with sleep paralysis
Over the years, many readers have described how they cope with sleep paralysis, and I’ve created a list of the most frequent ideas below.
The first seven in the list are also suggested by sleep experts. The rest are a mix of personal opinions. Please bear in mind that none are guaranteed to work:
- Don’t let yourself become too sleep-deprived.
- Stick to a regular sleep schedule.
- Try to reduce stress and anxiety in your life.
- Try to vigorously flutter your eyelids or move your eyes, as this tends to be an area of the body that’s less affected by the paralysis.
- Focus on wiggling just one finger or a toe.
- Don’t take recreational drugs or drink alcohol in the evening.
- Don’t sleep on your back.
- Stay calm.
- Tell yourself that you’re in control. You can order the experience to stop.
- If you feel a weight on your chest, imagine there’s something friendly causing it.
- Film yourself sleeping so you can see there was nothing in the room.
- Don’t think about what it could be. Your imagination will probably make up something scary in the darkness.
- Organize your bedroom in a way that makes you feel safe and secure.
- Don’t hang dressing gowns, coats, or hats in places that make them look like figures in the dark.
- Sleep with a night light, music, or radio on.
- Remind yourself that nothing bad will happen.
- Imagine your body rolling from side to side in your mind and count each roll. Focus on this and try to grow the capacity for movement from there.
- Count numbers to focus your mind on something else.
- Don’t sleep with a high pillow.
- Keep your eyes shut and try to clear your mind.
- Squeeze your eyes tightly shut if you can control the muscles.
- Keep well hydrated – drink water before going to bed.
- Talk about it to family or friends – they may have experienced it too.
- If you have it once, get out of bed for a while to reset the brain.
- Many people say prayer helps. Some also say that calling on their religious beliefs and commanding what they see to leave helps them.
- Check if any sleeping pills or herbal remedies you’re taking are causing it.
- Use sleep paralysis to lucid dream by relaxing and going with the experience instead of fighting it.
- Once the episode has passed, tell yourself that you overcame it, are not afraid and will always overcome it.
How I recently stopped an episode of sleep paralysis
I successfully used two of the above techniques to stop a recent episode of sleep paralysis.
I woke to find myself in a strange position with my arms crossed on top of my body. And I could literally feel strong hands pinning my wrists to my chest.
I have to admit I was immediately petrified. The whole event was blurry, and I think I was having some dream overlap, but can’t remember exactly what now.
Stay calm and wiggle a finger
Two things sprung to mind after a moment of panic: stay calm and try to wiggle a finger.
The calmness I only managed with moderate success. But I did manage to focus my efforts on moving a finger. It felt quite odd – like my fingers were wiggling in different directions!
Eventually, I felt my arms loosen as well, and soon afterward I was able to shake the whole sensation away as I regained full control.
I then spent a few minutes doing some breathing exercises to ground myself and calm down, and then fell asleep again.
I think just knowing about the finger wiggling technique was enough for me to remember it when the sleep paralysis occurred.
Share your story of sleep paralysis
Have you had sleep paralysis? What happened, and do you have any suggestions to help others deal with it?
Please feel free to share your experience in the comments below.
So I woke up from this happening and I looked over and my 2 year old son was doing the same thing. Fighting to wake up, so I tried to wake him and couldn’t so not trying to hurt him I left him alone and let it take its course. knowing nothing would physically hurt him because its happened to me a few times. Any explanation on how it happened to both of us at the same time???
Hi Ray
Thanks for your comment. Unfortunately I don’t know why it happened to both of you at the same time. The only thing I’d suggest is that perhaps it wasn’t sleep paralysis he was having, but something else. But maybe it seemed more like it to you since you had just had an experience of it yourself. Do you think that’s possible?
Regards
Ethan
One time my stepfather brought home a book about the head of the church of Satan. My mother is religious and immediately got pissed at him for it. I was curious about it so I spent the night reading it. By that time, I’d had a scratched cornea for about a week but it wasn’t bothering me at all. When morning came, my eye all of a sudden started bothering me and I ended up having to go to the doctor. He told me he couldn’t believe I’d managed to last a week with this before coming to him and I didn’t know how to tell him that it didn’t start bothering me until I read that book. A bit later my mother woke up with an experience that I’m pretty sure was a case of sleep paralysis but might be a bit different. She woke up during the “witching hour” and was blinded. I’m pretty sure she told me she couldn’t move, but she was able to move her lips (something I’ve been told you can’t do during a bout of sleep paralysis). She said the sound was having a hard time coming out and she had a very powerful urge to kill her son. She couldn’t go back to sleep in the beginning because she saw blood every time she closed her eyes. She tried once again to call out to her fiance but when she was finally able to speak, her voice sounded demonic. I can’t remember if she said she was actually able to move her head to call out to him or not. She smelled sulfur (of course) and panicked but I think she said she was able to will herself through God (or something to that effect) to make it go away. I wanted to ask a question about the urge she had to kill my little brother. Normally during sleep paralysis, all I hear are stories of people who feel like there’s a presence who wants to do them harm. I’ve never once heard a story about someone wanting to harm another person and was wondering if that was possible.
On a side note, though I’m more logical than the rest of my family, growing up in a religious household has left me open to the possibility of something more. You know that quote ‘the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist?’ I believe that, if this devil really does exist, he works within the bounds of science so that his influence can easily be explained by rational means. That way, nobody would ever suspect him of any wrongdoing because there would be a logical explanation for all of it. With my story, you could argue that there was something attached to that book that decided to harm a couple of us in different ways. My mother is weak in a sense and susceptible (she’s had many “supernatural” experiences that have nothing to do with sleep paralysis) which is why this presence attacked her the way it did. On the other hand, you could argue that my sudden sensitivity to the scratched cornea was due to me reading for a period of time and that my mother’s little bedroom problem was the result of sleep paralysis made all the more terrifying by her personal beliefs. Interesting that there could be two explanations, but that the first one could be seen as the devil trying to cause malevolent mischief but in such a way that you’d have no choice but to doubt that it was ever really him. I’m not saying I believe, per se. It’s hard not to be skeptical of EVERYTHING when you’re someone like me. I’m just saying I’m personally open to both possibilities. Thanks for your time. :)
Hi Ana
Thanks for your comment and for sharing your interesting story and way of thinking. It’s very interesting to hear from someone who has clearly thought about what happened within two different frameworks. I suspect many people do similar things when trying to make sense of their experience, but you have very eloquently given a good example of the type of thinking that people might have.
Personally, I would believe your second line of thinking – which probably doesn’t come as a surprise to you or anyone else who has read my many comments in the past!
Regards
Ethan
I would like to add something. I can remember in detail two different dreams I had, pleasant ones they were. and those occurred 8 1/2 years ago. I can still remember them in detail today. I don’t think these were the average dreams. I can draw them on paper still.
Hi Mary
Thanks for your comment. I’m not sure I can explain the first experience you describe! It’s not clear if it was sleep paralysis, or if it was a tactile hallucination. Other readers have said they have had episodes where the hallucination was comforting rather than scary. So these things do happen!
Regards
Ethan
hum, I had this happen once at age 61. woke up, it was dark but I knew where I was. I was frozen and couldn’t move, not even my eyeballs and my eyes were open. I sleep on my right side which I pretty much was. suddenly I feel the mattress move downward very gently behind the small of my back, then again near the middle of my back, and again near my neck and top of shoulders. when the movement started I was not afraid. and by the time the movement was at the middle of my back I felt very at ease and peaceful. at the point of it being near my neck, I felt peace and comfortably went to sleep again. this is truth and if anyone can explain that I would love to hear it.
OK, I am so relieved. I have had sleep paralysis since I was four (that I remember) and continue to have it once or twice a month. I’m also a sleepwalker. My experience usually happens if I wake early in the morning and then try to go back to sleep. I am usually on my back when it happens. I feel a sense of dread, as though I am being sucked into a vortex of some sort, and hear a buzzing noise. Sometimes I try to go with it, but usually just wiggle out of it and start moaning, which scared my husband to death the first time – now he is used to it. I don’t see anything, but what is the origin of the buzzing noise?
Hi Regina
Thanks for your comment. The buzzing noise could just be an auditory hallucination. Many people hear things during sleep paralysis, ranging from full-on demonic screaming, to conversations to animal noises or just random sounds like buzzing. I’ve also read that some people feel that buzzing often comes before having an out-of-body experience or a lucid dream. So perhaps if you did manage to go with it, as you say you sometimes try to do, then you might find something interesting happens. Or not. It’s impossible to predict!
Regards
Ethan
Hello. A few minutes ago, it felt like someone was feeling on me on top of my covers….(I sleep with my face covered). Then, I felt something around my neck, trying to choke me. All I saw was black. But, I felt like as if I was not alone. I tried to scream, but it wouldn’t come out. Over and over, I tried to make a noise, but nothing came out. My husband was in another room and said he heard “muffled screams”, but ruled it out as a nightmare. When I got to get out of bed, he was in the living room and I asked him, “did you hear me”? His reply was yes, but he said he thought it was a bad dream, because if anyone was in the house, he’d know about it. I told him that something was choking me. We examined my body, checked the doors and the windows which were already locked. Next, he says for me to sleep with a bible. I’ve never had anything happened to me like this, and this have me really freaked out!!
Hi Lisa
Thanks for your comment. It sounds exactly like a classic case of sleep paralysis to me. It’s understandable that it has scared you so much, as happens to pretty much everyone, especially the first time round. With a little luck though, it will be a one-off. Have a look at the tips again for dealing with it, and try to put one or two in your mind before you go to bed, so if it happens again you’ll have some ideas for dealing with it, or preferably preventing it in the first place.
Regards
Ethan
Hi Ethan!
Sorry, for some reason the site is not allowing me to reply to your comments, but here it goes:
The windows opened only in my hallucination, when i came to my senses again they were closed but my eyes where fixed in the same spot.
I think it’s quite right, we provide this shapes and forms to the hallucinations…
It’s very common for SP suffers to have at least one good experience with a dead relative or such, I had one, but deep inside I knew that it was me, I create the image of my father and I could even know what he would say before he said it, so if we can overcome the fear I think we can control the hallucination, I was never able to, I’ve tried many times, but I’m sure some people can.
Hi there
Thanks for pointing that out – I’ll have to look into the comment replying problem.
I wasn’t sure about the window thing – sometimes people are sure things actually happened rather than thinking it was a hallucination, and it’s not always easy for me to tell what they mean!
I think controlling the fear is definitely a good goal to work towards, but it’s not easy. Part of the problem is that when you wake up into sleep paralysis, it can be very confusing and you might not have your full conscious and rational mind at your disposal. That’s why I think for people who are having regular sleep paralysis, it can be helpful to do some positive thinking before bed and remind themselves that it’s nothing to worry about, and that if it does happen, they’ll be fine. Sometimes a little auto-suggestion can go a long way.
Regards
Ethan
As for dealing with it, i found out a few things in my experience, first, don’t get too sleep deprived, when the episodes starts people tend to avoid sleeping to avoid the episodes, it doesn’t work as the sleep deprivation can lead to hallucinations on itself, when I tried to avoid sleep it came to such an extreme situation that a few times I could hear thoughts in my head and I didn’t know if they were mine.
When you are in an episode, try to move, I know it hurts and it’s exhausting, but try small, one finger, one arm, and try hard, it often works for me.
As for the hallucinations… well I know one thing, our mind tends to lend known shapes to unknown things, so I believe it’s the same thing for everyone but dressed in the representation your mind saw fit to explain what it couldn’t understand, as for what it is per se, I believe its just fear, pure raw unconscious fear, your mind is awake your body is not, so that’s the most vulnerable situation imaginable, that leads to the worst possible fear^^
Hi again!
Thanks for your comments – it was interesting to read about your experience with the Exorcist film. I’ve said to many readers in the past that I think we are very much influenced by the images we pick up in movies, books, TV etc, so it’s no wonder that a film like that then manifested in your sleep paralysis experience.
I think your tips are very valid – the moving a body part is especially useful as it’s a practical step people can take in the moment of confusion. Having some focus is very helpful, and effective too.
Regards
Ethan
I actually don’t remember my first episode, it’s about twenty years in the past now, and when it started it was so strong and so constant that I couldn’t remember any of the ones that happened at that time, but I can tell you the worst case:
When I was seven I begged my father to let me watch The Exorcist, my father was a wise man, he argued with me, he tried to convince me, but he said he would not forbid me, I was free to make my choice, I know its just a movie, but my father knew it would impress to much of my 7 year old mind, but he was all about teaching about choices and consequences, so I won, and watched the movie, the results where well, expected, I got terrified, couldn’t sleep for days and it took a lot of my parents to ease my mind, but the fear, it never got away.
This will help you understand why, when I developed sleep paralysis the demon automatically played its part, it was ingrained in my brain…
So my worst episodes are related to Pazuzu (the demon that took Regan’s body in the movie) I’m not a religious person, but this, this I cannot erase, so one of the worst was when I was in my early twenties I lived with my brothers, at that night i already had one episode, it was uneventful but the TV was on, and during the episode, I could see the tv, and an image appeared, it was a piece of wood atop a lot of garbage, and in it I could read “God is nowhere”.
So I was already frightened that night I went back to sleep after a few minutes and woke up paralyzed again, the fear took over really fast, and I heard a corner of my mind call to it call to Pazuzu, and it came, the body was Regan, but he was in and stood at the door, I tried to move, I tried so hard to scream to wake my brother up, God it was exhausting, then I started praying, I am not religious but I know Jesus name has tremendous power (it really does guys) so I screamed his name with my mind (remembering this brings tears to my eyes and I don’t know why) I screamed many, many times until I finally woke up.
Later that day my brother told me he heard me moaning, but he was too scared to wake me up.
Last night i had an episode, I believe it was right after I fell asleep but I’m not sure, I hate to check the watch when this happens because it’s always around 3 am and there is a meaning to it that I don’t like, anyway, I woke up paralyzed I’ve been suffering from this for many years now so I know the drill, then I try to move unsuccessfully I have to be fast before the hallucinations begin, I know this, but then the window beside my bed open, and the wind starts, it’s so strong that its hurting my skin, the fear take over and I can’t tell it’s not real anymore, the wind gets stronger and stronger, then the sky outside my window turns white and the noise is deafening me, than I’m awake…
Hi LTBessa
Thanks for your comment. That sounds like quite a disturbing experience. When you say the window opens and the wind blows, so you mean it actually opens and the wind actually blows in? Or is it part of your hallucination due to the sleep paralysis?
Regards
Ethan
Hi. I’m 22 yrs old and I’ve been experiencing SP since i was 17. I am actually looking for an explanation about my sp because it’s not like the usual ones which are the OBE and being pinned down by an entity. It’s more like being grabbed in the arms (sometimes legs) and being pulled or dragged by someone i can’t see. I have even felt it’s hairy hands once or twice.
Also, when i was not yet aware of this sp thing, i don’t see images whenever i had one but when i started to learn more about it, images of dancing shadows and other creepy things show up sometimes.
There were also times when the sp can’t get me back to sleep because of noises i hear like the sound of elves or an unfamiliar and weird music or song playing. I don’t force myself to wake up because i want the sp to turn into a lucid dream. However, noises keep me awake during the sp, prolonging my agony.
I’ve been researching about this type of sp but until now i can’t find any similar cases with mine. I am actually starting to doubt whether what i am experiencing is really sp or something else.
Hi there,
Thanks for your comment. I think that what you’re describing could well be sleep paralysis. It would take a long time obviously, but if you were to look back through the hundreds of previous reader comments here, you’d see that many other people have said they’ve felt like someone or something is grabbing them and pulling their limbs. So you’re definitely not alone in that sense. Some people just have more tactile hallucinations than auditory or visual.
I think that if you do like the idea of trying to turn the sleep paralysis into a lucid dream, then as many others have said, it is possible. Perhaps it will take some practice, but I several previous readers saying they manage to do it. Eventually maybe you’ll be able to block out the noises and go into the dream state.
Regards
Ethan
I sometimes have these when I’m awake… It used to scare me. But recently I’ve been getting used to being scared.. and the tips on how to stop it don’t help… When I do love something the “thing” I imagine slaps it down… luckily I share a room with my little sister so if she hears me coming he will try to move me. please give me advice on what I should do thank you
Hi there,
Thanks for your comment. I don’t think there’s much more advice I can give you other than the tips already in the article. I would suggest picking one or two in specific and keeping them in your head when you go to bed. For example, wiggling a little finger seems to work well for a lot of people. Try not to allow it to worry you too much, especially before going to bed. It’s important to stay calm, both when going to bed and also if an episode happens.
Have another look at the readers’ tips section – there ae lots of good ideas in there1
Regards
Ethan
Hey, thanks for the help! I had one just this morning where I was laying in bed unable to move and the ceiling light kept flickering on and off. Then a tall, lanky, dark figure strode in, seeming to not quite touch the ground with each step. He was at least seven feet tall and he moved so I could only see the ominous shadow from my peripheral vision. So instinctively, I panicked, but it was no good. Then I heard gurgling noises in my left ear and he grabbed my head and turned it towards him but his face was all black. I tried screaming but no sound came out. The gurgling stopped and then he let out an inhuman yell that was so deep and angry right into my face. I woke up after that, pretty freaked out. I’m pretty sure that was a demon or something because of the odd build and behavior but I’ll try some of these techniques. Thanks!
Hi Luke
Thanks for your comment. That sounds like an understandably scary experience indeed. I’m not sure whether it was sleep paralysis, or perhaps a false awakenings in which you dreamed you had woken up and then this experience took place with the tall figure. It might be that you don’t really know unless it happens again, which hopefully it won’t! If it does though, then do try to remember some of the techniques in the article.
Regards
Ethan
I had another episode last night, 21st november 2015, the last one being about 15 years ago, that episode etched into the mind, this one was certainly similar although not as severe or as long. This time I had only just gone to bed on my own, as my wife is away at the moment, I closed my eyes and just drifted off as normal, I don’t normally dream, but think of what I had done during the day and what I need to do in the following days, I was laying on my side as normal it was quite warm, so I had my arm outside the cover, I felt something, animal like walking on my bed and grabbing hold of me and shaking me, for about 30 seconds, then, suddenly I was violently thrown backwards, as if this thing had suddenly left my body, it was as if it had entered me and taken over for that short period of time and then left. I was able to then move and I woke up, I just lay there thinking about what just occurred and compared it to my previous episode, some 15 years before,( I have documented that episode on here a few years ago.) I felt that they were very similar, I must have gone back to sleep, but woke up much earlier than I would do normally. I am now scared to go back to bed tonight, so I will sleep on my lounge.
Hi Michael,
Thanks for your comment and it’s always nice to hear from readers again! I can understand why your experience spooked you and you didn’t want to sleep in the bedroom again. I do think it’s important to try and not allow it to change your normal sleep habits though, unless those are bad sleep habits! If it happens again, I’d recommend going into another room for 10-20 minutes, doing something light-heated and familiar, then go back to sleep again in the bedroom.
Let’s hope you don’t have another episode for at least 15 years though!
Regards
Ethan
im 14 yrs old and had SP many of times. in some cases it would happen back to back to the point to where i keep falling asleep unable to wake up. it’s been happening as far as i can remember. all of these comments about how they saw a demon figure or someone above them i’m not really sure about. it was one time where i fell asleep in school after our end of grade exam and felt like the teacher was a witch and put a spell on me but i gotten so used to SP that when it happens i’m not scared at all i just push as hard as i can until i wake up.
Hi Nevin
Thanks for your comment. As you might have noticed in the poll, it’s very common to develop sleep paralysis in your teens. It’s good that you’ve managed to get used to it and don’t allow it to scare you. Hopefully you’ll have founds some other tips to help you cope if it keeps happening.
Regards
Ethan
Oh the eternal wake up! I had this once, i was in a cruise ship, went to sleep really late because, you know, party, anyway, I fell asleep, then immediate paralysis, I fight to wake up, and succeed, no hallucinations, but a few seconds later I’m paralyzed again, fought again, awake again, but then paralyzed again, it happened 5 or 6 times, until I decided to stand up and not go back to bed that night, it took days for me to separate this dream from reality…
Hello all,
My first ever experience with sleep paralysis was when I was 18 (21 now).
It was like any other night in my house and I’m not the type of person who stresses over a lot, so my stress levels were fine. I went to bed and fell asleep watching adult swim. Around 3-330am I woke up unable to move. Being it was my first time I was absolutely terrified because I had no idea what was going on. I was able to open my eyes and I wish I didn’t. I saw a black figure standing at the edge of my bed, inching its way closer to me. Now, not knowing it was sleep paralysis and being a strong believer in demons and negative spirits, I had thought something had entered my home. Eventually I woke up. It continued to happen more frequently with each hallucination being more horrifying than the last.
It got to the point where I was being touched (or so I thought) by the figure. Eventually I took to the internet to find out what was going on. I then realized that it was sleep paralysis. I looked up a few ways to maybe make it stop. The one way that worked best for me was sleeping on my side instead of my back. Since then it has helped limit the number of times I go under it. The only time I ever sleep on my back is if I have someone else in bed with me because then it doesn’t happen.
They still happen from time to time, however. I hope anyone reading this who tends to wake up during sleep paralysis on their backs will give sleeping on their sides a chance.
Hi Amanda
Thank you for your comment. Many people have previously commented that sleeping on their side seems to help reduce the likelihood of sleep paralysis. We do of course tend to change positions a lot in our sleep, but perhaps there’s something to be said for at least falling asleep on your side, and putting the idea into your head that you should try and stay on your side. So perhaps if you wake up briefly, your brain remembers to stay on your side. Thanks for reinforcing the idea though – it’s always good to get fresh support for the tips in the article.
Regards
Ethan
I don’t want to come off as an authority…I just want to share what has worked for me. This started when I was very young, and it hasn’t come back since I was in my twenties, and I’m 60 now. I think the thing that benefited me the most was reading Memories, Dreams, and Reflections by Carl Jung when I was about 17. I took the stance that I was doing this to myself,and therefore, I had the option to make it a pleasant experience. I maintained a calm attitude when it came on, and waited for the levitation, disregarding the ominous entities. Then I’d take control, usually flying out the window and taking flight around the town. As others have stated, I came to tell myself to “bring it on”, almost defiantly. I now use this to solve real problems when I go to sleep that otherwise would cause me stress. I select the problem consciously before I go to sleep, and I have awoken with it solved. On one occasion, I had a complete country song to write down in the morning. You may see this as silly, but that’s my point…you take the thing to whimsy if you want.
Hi Bob
Thanks for your comment. I don’t think it’s silly at all. Many famous people are reported to have found that some of their ideas, including songs, have come to them in dreams. And it’s known that some people are able to control their dreams through lucid dreaming, and perhaps use them to their benefit.
So I think if you’re able to do that, especially converting potentially scary sleep paralysis into something productive and positive, then that’s fantastic!
Regards
Ethan
Try to relax by thinking about something else… It helps when you try to shake your whole body … And just try taking deep breaths… After it happens, just go sit in a light room and praying will also make you feel better … I experienced it a couple of times and every time I experienced it I woke up on my back, so I would advice not sleeping on your back and before going to sleep think of happy thoughts…
Hi Mandy
Thanks for your comment and for sharing your tips. I think that thinking positive thoughts before you go to bed is a good idea in particular, as is spending time in another room before going back to sleep again.
Regards
Ethan
I have recently started taking B12. My Sleep Paralysis has declined from 2-3 time per week to 1 in the last 2 weeks. I’m not sure if it’s the B12 or not. I’ll wait and see.
Hi Mike
Thanks for your comment. I don’t know of any evidence for B12 specifically helping with sleep paralysis. But you never know, and it could be that in your case an imbalance was contributing to sleep problems, or perhaps stress or another issue which in turn affected your sleep. Let me know how you get on in a few weeks!
Regards
Ethan
This is the signal that your body is asleep, but you retain conscious awareness. It is the entry to a lucid dream. I welcome sleep paralysis . I have been a lucid dreamer most of my life. You don’t have any idea of what you are missing. It seems to me, as if most of the world is only half alive, and misses so much, because they lose conscious awareness during sleep.
Hi Mia
Thanks for your comment. I know that there are people like yourself who welcome sleep paralysis as a lucid dream starting point. Unfortunately most people just don’t have that kind of positive experience. Out of interest, how much of your sleeping time do you think is taken up lucid dreaming, compared to not having and lucidity?
Regards
Ethan
Last night there was an episode that had me so afraid that I forced myself to wake up completely before I tried to go back to sleep…the past few nights, I have been waking 2-3 times throughout the night to use the bathroom…last night was no different (frequent potty visits) but at 3:48 am I remember dreaming 2 dreams…they were super short and the first (different from the second and more a physical experience than a visual dream) kinda bled into the second (where I remember people, thoughts, and what actually happened)…anyway, this is how it went…I’m feeling like I can’t breathe. My nasal passages are blocked like I have a cold so I’m clearing my throat to get air and it feels like something is crushing my chest (imagine breathing thru a coffee stirrer with your nose plugged)…all of a sudden I’m in a hallway at a school and there are people picking a fight with a guy and when one attacker is about to stab the guy with scissors, we break it up (I’m either security or a teacher?) Everyone starts to leave except the guy with scissors…3 of us (all women) start walking away and break out in a full run with the scissors guy close behind…in a panic we split up 2 and 2 where me and another woman head out of the building…I remember thinking ‘run to the church’ which is where I’m not sure if I was awake or about to be…in full blown panic I feel extremely terrified, sweating with heavy breathing, and feel nauseous… That’s when I realize I need to use the bathroom and take the opportunity to wake up completely because I’ve been able to go right back to sleep in the past and continue a dream…I felt more frozen than pinned like I was having trouble deciding if it was real…i had trouble at first finding prayers and scriptures to call out…i had the urge to check my apartment doors and after doing so and visiting the bathroom i go back to bed…I’ve done this 3-5 times before…nauseous afterwards, once…I’m usually running from something or someone and after last night, I was convinced it was bc of a spiritual battle (I’m Christian and currently studying with other female church members about fervent prayer against the devil) and feel what I initially experienced (1st ‘dream’) was the enemy attacking and the second dream made me sense fear therefore waking me…that or I stopped breathing so my brain woke me by throwing me in a frightening dream…I’ve had dreams before where I was about to use the toilet and just as I was about to release, I woke up running to the bathroom bc I’ve learned the hard way that bathroom dreams mean WAKE UP and get yourself to a toilet! Lol
Hi Ella
Thanks for your comment. It sounds like you have a problem with bad dreams there, as well as possible some sleep paralysis when waking up. Have a look at my article about nightmares also – you might find it helpful.
Have you spoken to your doctor about the frequent wakings to go to the toilet in the night? It might be worth getting yourself checked out. And also perhaps try not drinking liquids in the last hour before bed, except maybe some small sips if you feel thirsty.
Regards
Ethan
Thank you so much for this article, the part i picked up on most that, really my body is sleeping, but my mind is very much on alert.The poll part was nice. Ive had sleeping problems about 7yrs now, light sleeper but also have several dreams per night. I looked for answers today because im scared to go to bed after last night, I woke after 30mins, couldn’t move, a vivid man with an evil look hovering over me, I wiggled & tried to scream but of course its just crackling of my voice and grabbed my husband very hard, I got up after i was SURE the “man” was gone, opened the door & left the hallway light on.
Ive yet to have one of these terrifying experiences since 6 months ago, and earlier 5 years ago (the same night my father in law woke & told me of his scary experience last night and my eyes got big and i told him “me too!” we were all living together at the time)
Im not a highly religious person but sometimes its hard to not think something spiritual is happening.
besides my father in law, I havent come across another person with these experiences so thanks again,its nice to know Im not nuts
Hi Tasha
Thanks for your comment, and I’m glad you found the article helpful. It’s also nice to know the polls are appreciated and useful. I can understand your point of view, and I think many people question the scientific explanation when faced with such a vivid and convincing hallucination. You’re definitely not alone in experiencing this, or in wondering what on earth is going on.
Regards
Ethan
I had sleep paralysis last week where I saw a grey looking alien thing walk through the room and I heard a loud wah-wah over and over real fast like a laser beam sound. It only lasted like 5 seconds, then I pulled myself out of it. I’ve had it many times before so I know how to pull myself out of it. It was scary and I got a feeling of extreme dread where my lips and face felt like all life was pulled out of me. I can now feel when I’m about to go into it, I just stop trying to sleep for a few seconds re adjust myself in bed and try to relax that usually helps to stop it.
Hi Phillip
Thanks for your comment. It’s great that you’ve learned how to deal with sleep paralysis and are able to spot it coming on. I guess the trick now is to master that art to the point where you don’t get to the point of seeing any hallucinations.
Regards
Ethan
I’m 50 and started having sleep disturbances when I was 20. Typically, as I drift off to sleep, and just enter REM, I have a frightening dream, and become conscious and wake up, but can’t move. I try to move and wake myself up, but can’t. I sometimes have auditory hallucinations, and hear loud banging or swooshing (similar to descriptions of Exploding Head Syndrome). Often associated with the event is a very painful seizure-like pressure in my head. I was a regular pot smoker for 25 years, and the events didn’t occur when I smoked. I no longer get high, and this happens sporadically, about 1 to 3 times a week, but sometimes stops for a while. I’ve noticed no association with stress or lack of sleep.
Hi Rob,
Thanks for your comment. It does sound very much like sleep paralysis from what you describe. Have you had the painful pressure issue checked out by a doctor? It might be worth getting yourself checked out just to rule out any physical causes. I know that marijuana can be helpful for sleep, as reported anecdotally by many people. But then you have to weigh up the negative effects of smoking it.
Hopefully you’ll find something useful in the article to help with the sleep paralysis in the future.
Regards
than
Last night, I fall asleep on our couch. I was sitting while sleeping. Then there’s my dream. Someone’s standing in front of me he’s big and he almost reach the chandelier. I woke up and can’t move or even speak. He’s still there and trying to touch me. Then I felt someone on my back. She’s whispering that I have to move. I felt the man standing in front of me, he’s carrying me. I panicked and started to fight by moving. I finally moved my legs. Is this what you call sleeping paralysis?
Hi Sam
Thanks for your comment. I think it’s sometimes hard to tell whether you’re still half-asleep and the dream is mapping onto reality, or if it’s sleep paralysis and the accompanying hallucinations that happen. The main point though is that if you’re definitely awake, but unable to move, and perhaps seeing, hearing or feeling unusual things in your bedroom, it’s probably sleep paralysis.
Regards
Ethan
I’ve had sleep paralysis now since I was 13 (now 24) these past couple of years I’ve had it happen to me more regularly than ever before. Last year was my worst time for it. I’d have it happen to me at least twice a month, guaranteed! This year it has calmed down a lot, with me only experiencing it twice this year. I’ve never believed in demons/ghosts before I started with sleep paralysis, however I’m a believer now. I always ‘wake up’ unable to move, scream, do anything, I always see a black figure/shadow in my room, standing still just staring at me and I always have a feeling of a negative presence in my room. The experience is truly terrifying when it’s happening, I’ve never known a fear like it and I wouldn’t even wish it on my worst enemy.! I think a lot of the cause (for me anyway) is stress related, last year I was under a lot of stress and were suffering from severe depression, the sleep paralysis wasn’t helping my depression either so it did feel like a vicious cycle, this year I am in a much happier, stress free environment and I have noticed the changes from the lack of sleep paralysis I’m getting. So glad I found this site by the way! I was getting fed up of telling my friends about it and them looking at me like I was crazy!
Hi Lara
Thanks for your comment. I’m glad you found the article helpful. I think many people arrive here feeling like they’re going crazy, or fed up with people telling them they are crazy! And as you now know, for most people it’s just sleep paralysis. I know it can be extremely frightening, but the main thing I think is to tell yourself that it’s not ghosts or demons etc, and no matter how vivid and real that shadow figure seems, to remember it’s not real. It’s good that you’re under less stress now, and hopefully as that continues to be the case, the sleep paralysis will continue to lessen. I guess it’s a reminder for you in the future that if it happens more, then there’s something in your life which needs to be addressed and some action taken to reduce stress.
Regards
Ethan
I had sleep paralysis many many times. There was this time where there was these dark shadowy figures around me, they were looking down at me in my bed i was very scared. Then suddenly during sleep paralysis one of the shadowy figures stabbed into my side with something and it felt like it really hurt and it caused alot of pain i was fighting it the best i could but the more i tried fighting the harder it got to try moving, i couldnt move and i had a hard time breathing during this. There is another terrifying one i just had tonight its been awhile since i had it but in my sleep i heard something crawl onto the end of my bed but then it attacked me. I couldnt move i was fighting it again, it held me down but my first insinct was to pray and when i did it quickly went away. I had many more episodes of sleep paralysis and it can get very hard to sleep comfortably some nights.
Hi Emma
Thanks for your comment. That sounds like a horrible experience you had there. I think a lot of readers find prayer helps them, and to be honest, I think that within reason anything which helps stop sleep paralysis as quickly as possible is a good thing. Have a think about some of the other tips in the article as well. Maybe you’ll find something else which also helps.
Regards
Ethan
I had an experience last week that I told my girlfriend about, and she encouraged me to hit the internet and make sure I’m not losing my marbles. I’m not superstitious, at all, and believe in the power of the human brain, but the reality of my experience was terrifying beyond belief, as seems to be common. Needless to say I’m incredibly relieved to hear these stories and see the totally reasonable explanations. Here’s my personal experience of what the human brain is capable of:
I woke up and instantly felt the “presence,” felt completely restricted and unable to breath, move, or speak. I tried to speak, I think I was trying to say “f**k you” to whatever it was, but nothing would come out, and attempting to say something to instigatory seemed to make it intensify. I can say that the presence was conveying hatred and anger at me — it felt like it was undeniably reprimanding or chastising me for something. I was truly terrified and trying very hard to move something, anything, when finally my index finger brushed against my dog who was lying on the bed and feeling the fur instantly the paralysis broke, and I could breathe and move freely. This first part, by the way, occurred one other time to me, about 3 years ago, and was somewhat less intense. On this night last week though, it wasn’t done.
After regaining movement and catching my breath, I made the mistake of mentally “acknowledging” what had just occurred, and almost instantly, the “presence” seemed to rush back into the room, but 10 times as intense as before. I was once again paralyzed, and this time I felt my bed began to shake. This I can only assume was me actually shaking. I know it was actually shaking, because my dog reacted quite obviously. I started hearing a chopping sound in my ears, similar to if you’ve ever taken nitrous or had a helicopter land on your head. At this point I shut my eyes as hard as I could and again felt for my dog, which again broke the paralysis.
I made the same mistake, and thought about what had just happened, and a 3rd time it returned (this could all have occurred in 30 total seconds for all I know – it felt like an eternity). Again the bed began shaking, this time violently, and my dog leaped off and ran away. I heard what sounded like low, deep murmuring, and despite the fact everything had been pitch-black up to this point, an eerie green light began illuminating on the wall in one discrete spot. Truly physically impossible. It grew brighter and brighter and the low murmering sound grew louder. I shut my eyes tight again, and this time when I regained movement I kept them shut until I had spun around and turned on my lamp. I’ve been sleeping with a light on for the past week.
Hi there
Thanks for your comment and for sharing your sleep paralysis stories. I completely understand how these episodes can make you question whether they really happened or not, especially when they are so vivid like you describe. But I think it’s important to remind yourself that they are just hallucinations, dreams or a mix depending on the person and the moment.
Hopefully you’ll have found some useful ideas in the tips section so if it happens again you’ll be ready for it.
Regards
Ethan
Here is my experience, if it can help.
I’m a user of marijuana for 4 years now and I’m 26. It helps a lot for sleeping, which has always been something random in my life due to heavy stress.
Even born in a loving and caring family, i’ve been a highly stressed child for biological or unknown reasons, unable to sleep for whole nights.
I learned at 22 what it means to have 8 hours of sleep.
Thanks but no thanks to marijuana.
Now the fact is that every time i tried to stop smoking, this unexplainable stress and urgency will come back to me and affect my sleep.
Then, i experienced the first paralysis. Choking, anxiety and the feeling of intrusion. The weight on my chest was as clear as a cow on a golf course. After the episode my first rational thought was that my girlfriend was laying on me. I realised she was way too far on the queen size bed. Then i panic. Then i google, then i panic more, then i found you and other stuff and i’m all ok now ahah.
Then it happened on a 2 week family vacation in mexico (craving for weed here) along with horrible confusing nightmares about people i dont know and waking myself up every 15 minutes in sweat by talking loud gibberish. That time i had my girlfriend as ‘witness’ and i could realise the impalpable nature of this disorder when i asked if she saw or heard anything. Nada. The was awake and i looked totally normal.
I’m someone who his overthinking his day and to stop using marijunana as a tool to get to sleep, i’m trying to stimulate my brain in a smart way before bed. With a book by example. Those times i felt like my brain lighten up the little of its left energy to consciously realise its time for bed. Also not forcing myself to bed even if my body is exhausted and i work the next morning.
Have a herb tea.
Have a book.
Quit coffee.
Quit drugs.
Think clear before bed, dont fall asleep in a state of confusion or questioning.
These helped for me.
With 9 to 5 and nightshifts, single parents and people with 2 job, its really easy to fall in a bad ‘go to bed’ habit which result in just dropping your exhausted body on the blanket and shutting off instantly,
leaving your brain to carry on the stress of the day into your night.
And then freaking out when you’re supposed to recover.
Bye.
Hi Stylo
Thanks for your comment and for sharing your ideas. From what I’ve heard, rebound insomnia is very common when people stop smoking marijuana, having previously found it helps them sleep. It can take some time to adjust to falling asleep naturally again.
Generally, I think you’re right in that it’s important to try to settle the mind, relax and go to bed with as peaceful a mind as possible. If you jump into bed at the end of a long day, your brain often decides to start processing everything and keep you awake.
Regards
Ethan
I’m 38, one of my earliest memories is of horrifying nightmares, of things I had not previously been exposed to. Once I was old enough to research these things, I found it was not just me. I was maybe 2yrs old and it is one of my first memories. I was still sleeping in my crib. It has stayed with me my entire life. I have this happen regularly, a few times a month. My husband is very aware and a thanfully light sleeper. He can feel my jerking, or hear the gurgle in my throat of my trying to speak and wakes me. The most terrifying for me is when I escape my body and I am in fact the evil presence in the room watching myself struggle to escape me. I know it’s just a dream but that doesn’t change the fear even as I tell myself “you’re dreaming”. I’ve heard gunshots, and little kids run into my room to get in bed with me. I’ve been given headless dogs to play with as an experiment by shadow people. I’ve spoken to several random people in my room, in my home, all of whom have appeared to be recently deceased. I’ve seen my door open/close and entities enter and exit. I have been truly terrified to dream. I try very hard not to pay attention to it after the fact and that seems to help with the return of dreams. I’m still in the air about explanation. There are just some things that I cannot accept are science explained.
Hi Julie
Thanks for your comment. As unpleasant as these stories sound, I’m not sure that they are due to sleep paralysis. It seems that they all take place in dreams, rather than you being awake and not able to move in bed whilst seeing and hearing things. Have a look at the article about night terrors and nightmares. You might find some information there which can help you deal with the vivid and scary dreams you have.
Regards
Ethan
Hi there. I think I experienced sleep paralysis for the very first time about 2 weeks ago. I always fall asleep on my side facing the wall and this night was no different. In the middle of the night I woke up to something breathing very hard, in an angry way, on the back of my neck and I heard some noise in the background like rustling. I never felt like my chest was being crushed or having a hard time breathing. I did feel like I couldn’t move my lips so I said a prayer to make this thing go away. Since this happened I have not been able to sleep throughout the night in fear that this thing will come back.
Hi Camille
Thanks for your comment. It could have been sleep paralysis, yes. I think it’s important to try not to allow worry about things like this to ruin your sleep. I know it’s easier said than done, but really it’s good to try to stay calm and not go to bed thinking it will happen again. But if it does happen again, hopefully you’ll be able to tackle it better having read this article. Try to remember some of the techniques, such as staying calm and wiggling a finger. They do work well for most people.
Regards
Ethan
Hi I was just wondering what the following expirence might be considered, because it seems close to sleep paralysis: You wake up at 3:00 or 4:00 am, and you’ve had one of those sleepless nights. (The ones where you believe to not have had any sleep, but you really have slept the whole night.) you toss, turn, and sit up for 10-15 minutes, and decide to try and sleep again. So you lay back down, and as you drift off you feel this pressure on your head and you can’t move. This noise, almost like a fan goes off in your head. You can’t move, until it goes away. Or you fight it and it goes away right away.
This has happened to me whenever I wake up and had one of those “sleepless nights”. I’m not sure if this is just lucid dreaming, I don’t think it is.
If you could help me figure out what this is it would be much appriciated.
-Jenna
Hi Jenna
Thanks for your comment. To me, that does sounds like it could be sleep paralysis. People have all different kinds of visual, auditory and tactile hallucinations during these episodes. But the main point is the feeling of being temporarily unable to move. So that in itself makes me think it’s sleep paralysis. The pressure you feel and the noise are probably simply your particular symptoms accompanying the paralysis.
Regards
Ethan
Hi I’m Thomas I’m 27 years old, my first experience was at 7 years old. the first time was the most scariest. I woke up to a little noise then in front of my door was a shadow outline of something. it was at that point my body completely froze. I was awake but unable to move no matter how hard I tried to and the longer I stayed in that state the fear my mind had was increasing dramatically. it was nothing I’ve ever felt before it was like all the darkness and evil in the world was watching me in this form of a shadow and the atmosphere around me. this went on for about 8-10 minutes then I snapped out of it. I’ve had about 10 attacks total from my age of 7 to 27 years old and 1 of these attacks I can’t get any answers to is 1 night I woke up got out of bed turned and faced my bed in the middle of the night and just stood there overlooking my bed for about 4-5 hours. I wasn’t doing anything my mind was half asleep. A few times I remember this feeling of rush through my body it changed temperature each time this rush came over me. this was the only time that has happened, the rest being stuck in bed not being able to move. as the years went on I learnt to overcome this fear by filling myself up with anger when it takes control of my body and I can’t move. now if you focus that anger on what ever is in front of you you will not snap out of it you need to focus that anger just into making yourself angry only not directing it at what ever is doing it it working for me idk about others but just like to share my experience and how I had approached it to stop it while it happens.
Hi Thomas
Thanks for your comment. I’m not sure about the episode where you say you stood up and faced the bed for hours. Are you absolutely certain it was hours, and that you were really stood up? It could have been an out of body type of experience which seemed like hours, but was shorter in reality.
In terms of the rest, it definitely seems like sleep paralysis. I’ve not heard of the technique of making yourself angry, but I think it in some ways falls in line with my theory that focusing your attention on a specific thing can help a lot. For some this is a religious call, for others a physical focusing on a finger wiggling. And for you filling yourself with anger. I’m not sure it’s something I’d want to advocate because it sounds like it might leave you feeling distressed afterwards. Have you tried filling yourself with a positive emotion instead as an experiment to see if it helps? It would be interesting to know if you can change the focus but get the same result.
Regards
Ethan
Thanks for the reply back Ethan Ye I’m very sure it being hours i had a digital alarm clock next to my bed and as I got up I seen it at that stage I was like semi conscious when I did get up but after that in don’t really remember anything after that until I woke up standing next to my bed from like 1:20am to 4:45am and to why my anger works is because when I do make myself angry it starts pumping adrenaline throughout my body in turn waking my body up snapping me out of that sleep paralysis there’s nothing really else that helps me but that. my mind gets so overwhelmed with fear that even trying to move a finger tip wasn’t happening at all and as for trying to think good things at that certain time Was just not happening at all only the anger guides me out of that situation IV had a really rough life so it’s easy for me to get this way.
Hi Thomas,
You’re welcome, and thanks for clarifying that timing point. I wonder then whether you were sleep walking in combination with other parasomnia sleep disturbances. I understand what you say about the anger being easier to manifest and deal with the situation. Maybe in the future you’ll find a different way to deal with it, but if it works for now then you’re the one to decide how to manage it.
Regards
Ethan
Hi! Thank you for the useful information! This morning I had a dream in which I am lying on the bed, doing something on my cellphone and my mom is caressing my head, gently reminding me to go to sleep. I am about to follow her advice untill I realize that I live alone. Panic gradually builds up when I notice that this ‘not-mom’ is made of thick, dark smoke. The entity transforms into three ‘smoky beings’ who surround me at once…one sitting atop my chest, another grabbing on to a shoulder and the third, pressing my head to the pillow. I struggle under their collective weight but am paralysed and unable to speak. The one on my shoulder starts nibbling, trying to ‘eat’ me and soon the other two are chewing away. I have a brief experience where I can actually see myself being held down from up above. An inner voice urges me to fight back and I start chanting mentally all the mantras I know (am a Hindu). The struggle continues for some more time and the weight gradually disappears. I wake up, exhausted. Soon after, I hear loud barks from a pack of street dogs outside, this goes on for a good ten minutes. I check the time…it was just past 3 a.m. It was an unsettling experience.
Hi Amrita
Thanks for your comment. I may be wrong, but from what I can tell you didn’t experience sleep paralysis, but actually a bad dream in which you had the entities holding you down. It’s something completely different when you’re actually awake but hallucinating this kind of thing. Does this make sense?
Regards
Ethan
Hi 45 minutes pinned to the bed 5 am 5.45 i came round been up since 3am my partner gets up at 5 so i nodded off to sleep or I thought I had, I thought my partner was lying next to me but i could hear her walking round I couldn’t move I tried shouting but couldn’t do nothing she left at 5.35 am I lay there for another 10 minutes it is scary but I’ve had this happen loads of times always feels like there’s a presence in the room or someone holding me down so I guess I’m not the only one, this was last night let’s see what tonight brings.
Hi Rick
Thanks for your comment. You’re definitely not the only one, that much is for sure. If it does happen again and you find your self unable to move for such a long period of time, try doing the finger wiggling trick. Hopefully it’ll help you snap out of it sooner.
Regards
Ethan
It happened to me many times as i was over my dad’s house i woke up several times in the night each times i woke up i was paralyzed i did not know what was happening i didn’t know what happened by side of me. Feeling pain on my chest that happened about 15 -10 times that same month i think its a demon or an out of body lucid dream.
Hi Joseph
Thanks for your comment. I think that waking up feeling paralzed and with a chest pain sounds exactly like sleep paralysis to me. If it happens again, try and remember some of the tips in the article. Especially try and focus all your attention on wiggling a finger or toe and keep doing that until you can move more of your body.
Regards
Ethan
I never ever woke up to find myself paralyzed. I am a lucid dreamer, so am aware I’m asleep and have actually chosen to wake up when in a situation I see no solution for. The first time this happened, I was sleeping and felt two hands – one on my throat and one on my stomach – trying to drag me down through the floor. I struggled to stay – and told myself to wake up. I couldn’t. I tried to move and after a lengthy struggle was able to. But I could still feel the warmth of the hands on my throat and stomach. Even when I got up and went to talk to my roommate – the hands were still there. Every time I’d try to sleep… I was sooo unbelievably tired… the hands began dragging me down. Eventually I rolled onto my side in hopes that the hands couldn’t get a grip and it worked – I could feel them trying, but not able to hold on to pull me down.
It started out infrequent, but by the time I had my first kid it was nightly… and I was soooo tired. The last time it happened I just thought… I give up Do what you will. The moment the thought formed I knew I didn’t mean it – but suddenly it was like I was in a maelstrom of dark and wind and hands tearing at me. Then the thought… let us have your baby and we’ll leave you alone. I thought/screamed no and “God, get them out of here”, and it was over. And never came back again.
The problem with the scientific explanation is that it doesn’t explain why that stopped the dreams for me.
Hi Angella
Thanks for your comment. That sounds pretty horrible indeed, and I suspect tied up somewhere with natural parental worries about the safety of a child. You’re definitely not the only one who has found that prayer helped them. Just look at the quantity of people in the poll who feel that prayer helps them stop sleep paralysis. And I’ve thought about why that might be quite a lot over the months that the poll has been open and I’ve read people’s stories such as yours.
Obviously being an atheist I naturally think of other possibilities other than the actual help of the power people of various faiths call upon. Sometimes I wonder if it’s purely the strength that it gives people, or perhaps it helps ground them in their daily reality by connecting them to something that is a big part of their life. And I also wonder if it’s kind of like a psychological version of wiggling a toe or finger, in that by focusing on something very specific, it helps to break out of the chaos and uncertainty of sleep paralysis.
That of course is just my personal opinion about it. At the end of the day I don’t think it’s really important why it works. If it helps people to end something that is very frightening, then that’s all that matters. Whether you find that wiggling a finger, blinking, calling on God, or simply focusing your energy on it stopping, I think if it works for you, then great.
Regards
Ethan
Hi im janine i just want to share my dreams just now its my day off here in korea so that’s why i soak my to sleep skyping my husband.. i cant stop coughing while i’m trying to sleep but all of a sudden i woke up with a black creature on top of my body i try to scream but i dont have voice i’m trying to fight i keep struggling i scratch its face and i can feel its smiling it very weird the first thing i remember before it happen is i felt on the side of my head it numbs i felt that something is going to happened so i open my eyes then it just happened… im awake but not totally awake i dont understand..
Hi Janine
Thanks for your comment. Do you often find yourself coughing while lying down trying to sleep? If so, you should get that checked out by a doctor. It could be that you have experienced sleep paralysis, but it could also have been a dream in which you thought you had woken up. I’m not entirely sure from your comment. Did you feel paralyzed at any point when you woke up and before you managed to scratch the face of the thing you saw?
Regards
Ethan
Last night I had a real creepy one. I’ve experienced sleep paralysis for some time now, and I’ve learned how to remain calm during it, until last night.
I woke up, recognized the symptoms of sleep paralysis and prepared to wait it out. I was pretty calm… Until I heard something tell me that it doesn’t care about my logic or reasoning. It doesn’t care if I know it’s sleep paralysis. It told me that it was holding me down and that’s all that matters right now, and then I saw something in the corner of my eye. At that moment, it disappeared and I regained my movement. It’s fun to be unique, but I’d rather get a normal night sleep…
Hi Isaiah
Thanks for your comment. It’s great that you’ve learned how to stay calm usually during sleep paralysis. I think that’s a really important aspect of dealing with it. You’re definitely not the only one though, as I’m sure you’ll have seen from the quantity of people who have left comments and responded to the polls. Though of course I’m sure you’re unique as we all are:-)
Try to hold onto that ability to stay calm, and maybe use one or two other techniques in the article.
Regards
Ethan
I’ve experienced it 3 times in my life… First was when I was 11 or 12, I was laying in my bed trying to fall asleep, as my grandmother was wishing me a good night rest. But that moment froze and it lasted for good 5-10 minutes. She didn’t move or say anything and I could move only my eyes, but even then I wasn’t scared. It was like I didn’t have any reason to move at all.. But then my grandmother’s face morphed in to the something far more terrifying then anything I have ever seen in any of the horror movies. That was my first and last encounter with the sleep paralysis at the beginning of the night.
The second time it happened was when I was 14. I was sleeping at my cousins home, in a bed across hers. There was a small gap between us. I remember it was morning and I was stubbornly staring at the window, when all of a sudden I felt strange presence in the room. It was a tall, pale and skinny humanoid thing, looking much like Rake. It was standing next to my bed and my face. It took me a while to remember that it was the same monster that hunted me in my dreams when I was little; the nightmares happened often when I was 5yr. old all the time until I was 15… It also spooked me a lot to find out that it looks just like the infamous Rake, the creepy pasta.
And the third and final time I experienced it was a month ago. I have to state that I’m currently 18yr. old, so I just hope it will end soon.
I was sleeping in my room and then woke up in the middle of the night. It was the first time I was aware of sleep paralysis and that made me even more scared. At first I thought it was just a “visit” from my old nightmares and I was expecting a “friendly” scare from my old buddies, Mr. Black Wolf and Rake umm… but no.. there was nothing. I just felt a lot of pressure on my chest and a lot of heat centered on that same chest area; funny thing though, whenever I was touched by the monsters from my nightmares I would feel the same heat at the same place, connection??
Anyways I managed to completely wake up by thinking very hard about moving again. That’s when I got interested in this sleep paralysis.
Each of the following examples were different, except for the “pressure in the chest” thing.
They were very terrifying, and even though I would know what is happening, if it happened again, I wouldn’t be able to turn my rational part of brain on and react like an adult. So best way is to prevent it from happening.
Also it is good to note that every time this happened I was under a lot of stress, pain etc. I guess that was just additional strain on my body and mind that helped in manifesting sleep paralysis, of course me being tired and not having enough sleep is also one of the factors.
Thx for the post, it is nice to know the reason for this. Even though I didn’t know the scientific part of it, I suspected it had to have some explanation. I am open minded about creatures like demons and monsters (though my brain knows better then to believe in it), it’s nice to know that is was just me hallucinating because of the dreams and reality overlapping and that it wasn’t a satans deed. :P
(p.s. sorry for any typos in advance…)
Hi Mixa,
Thanks for your comment and for sharing your sleep paralysis stories. I’m glad you found the article useful and that you have the scientific explanation to back up your feeling that there was a logical explanation.
Hopefully it won’t continue, but if it does there are loads of useful tips you can try and put into action. I especially recommend the wiggling a toe or finger idea as it worked for me, and also anecdotally seems to help many people.
All the best
Ethan