Sleep Paralysis

M

Maniac

Elite
So I had an episode of sleep paralysis this weekend... i feel like I should post this on the light side because I'd have s**t myself if I'd have been able to move!

It was horrendous, probably 10-20 seconds where I woke, could not feel myself breathing, I was unable to move from my side or speak, hearing only the breathing of my other half beside me.

I wanted to shout for help but couldn't, I was totally paralysed. I thought this is it, I'm going to die without being able to say goodbye. My other half will wake to me dead on the other side of the bed.

Then after a short period I felt a shudder and was able to breathe and move again...

Reading on the NHS website it's common though unusual to experience more than once in life.

I don't ever want to experience it again.
 
Wow, that's a sh1t yourself moment, but I suppose you couldn't even do that :oops:

It makes you wonder if this happens more but because your a sleep, you don't know it's happening ??
 
firebobby said:
Wow, that's a sh1t yourself moment, but I suppose you couldn't even do that :oops:
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:lol: The ice needed breaking.

Hopefully the first and last time Maniac. :)
 
I have suffered from this for about 10 years now, i have maybe 5 or 6 episodes a year...I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy, no idea why it started but once you know what it is you can learn to control it somewhat...i know exactly how you feel mate, the blind panic the first few times it happens is very overwhelming
 
This occurs as already pointed out in REM sleep (or stage 3 sleep) when we dream. Brain wave activity becomes identical to when you are wide awake but muscle tone drops dramatically giving the disturbing perception of paralysis if you do in theory wake up in this stage. People often describe this as truly terrifying experience.

What really rocks my boat is that in REM/dream sleep your brain can considerably distort the perception of time where people apparently dream several hours of events in minutes or less....

Cheers :D
 
Never heard of this to be honest but it doesn't sound nice, so is it like when you suffer a dead arm from laying on it but its your whole body thats paralised?

Tim.
 
TitanTim said:
Never heard of this to be honest but it doesn't sound nice, so is it like when you suffer a dead arm from laying on it but its your whole body thats paralised?

Tim.
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Perhaps, I really can't compare it. Total paralysis, I couldn't move anything, eyes, arms, nothing, just total darkness and my own thoughts. I could hear everything, that was it. That's where the panic sets in as I could hear but not speak or move and I thought I would just die as I couldn't feel myself breathing either. It's likely I was shallow breathing as you do in R.E.M. sleep and that I couldn't detect breathing hence thinking all functions, voluntary and involuntary had stopped and this was my last few moments. I still can't quite believe it, it was like a dream but one where you are fully aware. The moment my chest started to move was a very happy moment indeed.
 
It sounds familiar to when people are put under general anesthetic, but although they are paralyzed and asleep, they can hear and feel everything.
 
Have had this twice, oddly both times when sleeping at friends house. It's a very strange and frightening experience, almost a sort of dreamlike state. I don't recall the return to be able to move, I think on both occasions I fell back to sleep and awoke as normal.
 
Lance said:
Have had this twice, oddly both times when sleeping at friends house. It's a very strange and frightening experience, almost a sort of dreamlike state. I don't recall the return to be able to move, I think on both occasions I fell back to sleep and awoke as normal.
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I think that's called drinks spiking ;)
 
Maniac said:
Lance said:
Have had this twice, oddly both times when sleeping at friends house. It's a very strange and frightening experience, almost a sort of dreamlike state. I don't recall the return to be able to move, I think on both occasions I fell back to sleep and awoke as normal.
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I think that's called drinks spiking ;)
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:rofl: :rofl: Yeah, just how friendly is this 'friend'...?
 
The forum never fails to amaze me with the information that comes across.Ive never heard of sleep paralysis,as has been said must be a frightening experience .
 
I have had this once, I was never really sure if I was dreaming or not. I woke up and felt that I had to force myself to breathe, It was a very strange experience. That was 30 odd years ago, it's never happened since.
Cheers, Dave
 
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