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Anyone else hear the buzzing?

by Courtney
(USA)

I don't know that I've ever had sleep paralysis happen at night. Maybe once or twice in the morning. But when I experience it the most is when I take naps during the day, which I try to avoid for that reason. It's the same old thing, like everyone else I can see and hear but I can't move.

But what I haven't heard about before is that, every time it happens to me there is a very loud buzzing or humming sound in my brain. It's like all the electricity in the house is running through my spinal cord. And even before the paralysis "sets in" I can hear it coming. It's very strange. I know what's happening with the paralysis but I'd like to know if anyone else hears the loud hum?

Kevin: Hey Courtney, Thanks for writing in. You've hit on a key insight with highlighting the fact that you usually only experience SP during naps. I believe this is due to the fact that depending on the length of your nap, you can be much more likely to wake up during a REM period, and thus be more prone to your atonia leaking out into wakefulness. More on that here. You could try changing the duration of your naps significantly and seeing if it makes a difference in the frequency of your episodes (e.g. if you usually take around 40 minute naps, try 20 minute or 90 minute naps instead. This could make it more likely to wake up outside of REM.)

In regards to the buzzing, others definitely experience the same thing and I've heard accounts of the noise and the electricity tingling feeling a fair bit. A dream researcher named Ryan Hurd, who's suffered from SP since he was 14 and devised ways to control it since, writes quite a bit about it in his book, Sleep Paralysis: A Dreamer's Guide, which you can read my review of here.

Warmly,
Kevin




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Anyone else hear the buzzing?

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Dec 13, 2010
 your not the only one
by: Robert

Hi I have read your story and I just wanted to tell you I have the same feeling. Its hard to describe and every time I try explaining it to my family or friends they say its just my anxiety and thei feel stupid. When this started happening to me 3 years ago I was convinced that something was seriously wrong with me. I have undergone extensive testing by many different doctors including a neurologist and cardiologist just to be told there's nothing wrong with me. I have often felt like I was losing my mind until I heard about s.p.
Dec 14, 2010
 what a relief
by: Courtney

wow Robert, it sounds like you went through a lot. but its nice to know I'm not the only one. thanks for your comment.
and thanks Kevin for your answer too. it was very helpful.
Jan 09, 2011
 I've heard it too
by: Paige

You're not the only one..I've heard this several times it's like a warning to me that it's about to happen...it honestly sucks when the buzzing starts..this sleep paralysis ruins my sleep pattern because I have it so many times a night
Jan 20, 2011
 yes i hear the buzzing. the dreadful buzzing.
by: anna

Yes. I hear the buzzing. It's dreadful and almost painful for me and it seems that when the buzzing happens is when I get the scariest of my "experiences", and like you, seems to happen when I take naps. It has been that way my entire life and I am 35. I am new to this site because I thought I was going crazy.
Jan 26, 2011
 The Buzzing...Yep.
by: Ami

No, you are most definitely not alone. I, too, hear the buzzing right before SP and it starts out a bit softly only to get louder and louder until it forces me a feeling of not being able to move at all, which is panic-causing a lot of the time, and then suddenly, just as the buzzing gets the loudest I feel like I'm being thrown down a swiftly spinning tunnel that spits me out into a lucid dream.

~Ami
Feb 06, 2011
 The Buzzing. . I Hear That..
by: Louise

I think it sounds abit like a train coming in the distance, getting louder n louder until the paralysis sets in. I can feel like my head is spinning (like when you drunk n lie down with ur eyes closed) and the buzzing starts, then the paralysis, voices/hallucinations n sometime like someones touching my face.. and sometimes wake up after with a pain in my head. freaky stuff! but I jus try and think while its happening that its not real
Feb 25, 2011
 Thank you for asking about the buzzing!
by: June

I have been reading about this sleep paralysis and was thinning what about the noise? I had not seen anything about the buzzing until I seen your question.
For me it is kind of like a buzz sound under water (that is the only way I can think of for describing it).
As the sound gets louder the paralysis sets in and gets worse the louder the noise, I try calling out, when I can't I get terrified and try to scream but all I can do is scream with my mouth closed. I could swear that this is happening to me while I am awake! This has happened to me in the mornings on weekends before I get out of bed for the day. This only started happening to me in the last year or two, one day talking about freaky dreams with my family I found out my daughter has been having the exact same dreams. Now this really freaked me out, I thought we were being stalded by a demon or something (I do have a religious background).
Good to see it is a sleep disorder?
Mar 07, 2011
 I hear that too!
by: Emma

The "buzzing" for me is the scariest part as I then know what's coming! It's not really like a buzz for me but a really high pitched electric sort of sound, the same pitch, only getting louder and louder and then it starts to pulse. I then sense that there's someone else in the room with a hood on, who walks up from the doorway and bends down so that its face is up close to mine although I can't really see its face properly. Can't move a muscle even though inside I feel like I'm screaming out. I try and roll off the bed and actually feel like I'm lying on the floor but realise I haven't moved and still on the bed. The figure eventually goes away and then the noise starts to get quieter before going alltogether and then I can move again. Really horrible, I'm glad it's not just me x
Mar 07, 2011
 I hear that too!
by: Emma

The "buzzing" for me is the scariest part as I then know what's coming! It's not really like a buzz for me but a really high pitched electric sort of sound, the same pitch, only getting louder and louder and then it starts to pulse. I then sense that there's someone else in the room with a hood on, who walks up from the doorway and bends down so that its face is up close to mine although I can't really see its face properly. Can't move a muscle even though inside I feel like I'm screaming out. I try and roll off the bed and actually feel like I'm lying on the floor but realise I haven't moved and still on the bed. The figure eventually goes away and then the noise starts to get quieter before going alltogether and then I can move again. Really horrible, I'm glad it's not just me x
Mar 08, 2011
 Errors in spelling
by: June

I appoligise I didn't notice before that my iPad word correct changed a couple of my words, making someone think what is she talking about? Grrr

I wonder if this sleep paralysis could be caused by stress?
Mar 17, 2011
 buzzing and voices
by: jknight

It's only happened once but I heard familiar voices saying random things, after a while everything seemed as a foreign language and i couldnt understand at all. After the understanding was numbed i then realized I didnt know any of the voices anymore....following by a loud buzzing sound, as if a large bee were near me. I tried talking, nothing. Moving...nothing. I sleep on my side. I was very tired though iy was dark and i was hallucinatin...or dreaming with my eyes open.
Mar 23, 2011
 I've had the same sound
by: Anonymous

I have had a very similar buzzing sound in my head and ears and a weird tingling feeling in my entire body.
Mar 24, 2011
 Wake up to buzzing orbits
by: GinebraUrbana

I wake up seeing these colorful orbits and the sound they make is just as you all described it here...is like an energy field about to explode. The first experience was almost 5 years ago I woke up by the sound it was making and the first thing I see is this orange Orbit moving around my room...I couldn't move right away but I did scream out of terror and all of a sudden it was gone as well as the buzz.
Then three years ago I was also sleeping and then again this sound woke me up but this time the orbit was blue and it was moving around my room like the first one I screamed again and my mother came running to my room she then told me that she could hear me saying something like WHAT IS THAT..WHAT IS THAT but nothing was there at least she didn't see it, she also said that I looked like I was Hypnotized looking at something but I cant remember myself saying a word I know about my scream because it was so loud I scared myself.
And then last night I was sleeping and the same sound woke me up...bzzzzzzzz bzzzzzzzzzz...I saw a very light red orbit buzzing like crazy it was right in front of my bed so close to my feet...I almost had a heart attack...I screamed my guts out and covered my head under the covers...my boyfriend came to the room and he was scared too because he didn't know what was going on. I have been thinking about it the whole day ...for some reason I feel like whatever those things are they are watching us...God I don't know what I am saying. Could this be SP? I don't feel paralyzed most of the time but what scares the hell out of me is the fact the I wake up to the sound it makes and then the orbit stays for a bit until I scream and then it disappears. Any logical explanation, somebody?
May 11, 2011
 During Nap
by: Dr. D

Yes, back in college the exact same thing happened to me. I had not awoken during REM SP prior to this occasion. I had (& still have) horrible sleep patterns. I was taking a nap during the afternoon when I abruptly awoke to a buzzing/whirling sound that progressively increased in intensity. Concurrently, my face was getting pushed with greater & greater pressure into my bed. Suddenly it felt as if a blade of the ceiling fan above me flew off & slapped me in the face. I was so scared & stunned that I purposefully did not move a muscle & continued to lay on my side until I felt it was safe to look around. Keep in mind this was b/f medical school so I had no idea what was going on. My family doc has narcolepsy & explained to me what I had experienced was 'awareness of SP' & a 'hypnopompic hallucination'. I spent the few days b/f he told me this worried that the old townhouse I was renting was haunted.
May 17, 2011
 buzzing
by: jess

So i just had for the 1st timewhat I've been told is sp. I'm 22yrs old and 6months pregnant, at 3:30am this morning i could of swore that there was someone standint beside our bed electricuting the bed my body felt to be shaking and I couldnt move.there was also the very loud buzzing noise which is what made it feel so real.suddenly it stopped and i rolled over to find noone there,dogs and hubby quitely asleep.I really hope this dosnt happen again or get worse.it we scary,I remember thinking I had to push hubby of the bed so he could save me,but i couldnt move.just as well,poor hubby.lol.
May 19, 2011
 you're not the only one
by: Sarah

I hear a ringing, but I definitely hear it too. The more I panic, the louder it gets. Ever hear strange voices?
Jun 15, 2011
 sort of
by: Anonymous

I clearly remember hearing the buzzing when i was around 5, but now it doesnt happen anymore, it dissapeared as it happened more frequently
Jun 24, 2011
 The buzz gets louder!
by: Chris

I have to admit that noone in real life understands.To get rid of my buzz i have to move. All my muscles are frozen, can not speak and it is a real effort to wake up! But thats not all, last night i didnt hear a buzz but it was my sisters voice, she was saying something and it got louder and louders and then strangely went into my ear (the noise was from surround)I am starting to hear more voices now, i hope this is not going to develop!
Correlations: Less sleep=more common buzz. Exam revision i was stressed and had no sleep, no time to relax.
Aug 09, 2011
 beautiful buzz
by: ukmar

when you hear the buzz it means Game On.. when people hear the buzz, that's when they freak out. The reason is that this is the beginning of you conscious dream state. at this stage people normally try to fight it.. The reward. For me as a young boy when this started first happening I use to freak out, trying anything I could to wake up. I felt terrified. But then one time I decided to face the fear, I got angry as demanded I see it through.. nothing bad happened. What did happen was I realized that in this state I was able to control my dream state.. what is happening to you all is a gift. If you face the felling of fear and instead embrace it, you will realize that this buzzing noise is the gate to your world of lucid dreaming.

so much to say so little room here to say it.. good luck, be brave .. and enjoy the trip!
Aug 31, 2011
 Reply
by: Saniya

I get these bunch of random sounds and voices that get louder and louder upto the point that it's kind of painful,and at that point I try to scream but my mouth is shut and I'm just kind of making internal noises. Maybe,I don't know,the voices are too loud. This happens at least two or three times in a row. I'm only fifteen and it's really freaking me out,I can't get used to it.
Sep 19, 2011
 Buzzing & strobing!
by: TJ

Yep the buzzing starts it off... I get the buzzing even when I'm awake/just dozing during sp times but my body and mind feels like it's strobing like a disco light! I try to ride it out but it hurts being in that state and have to try move to wake my self up! Luckily I dont get sp all that often ( 10 times a year ) but when I do it's all night around 10 times a night.
Oct 20, 2011
 I experienced the same
by: James

I have also gone through the same experience. It only happens once in a great while. One thing i dont understand is that it happens right as im falling asleep. like i just laid down and am still awake and aware of my surroundings and all of a sudden a loud scary buzzing sound fills my head and body except this past time its like i can hear a non-human voice sounds like its mumbling something. I cant move or do anything. I try to fight with all i got but i cant move. Its a very scary experience and dont know what to make of it. All a sudden its like im fighting it. i am only able to move my arms and use that to try and lift my head to check up on my baby who is sleeping right next to me, then its like it lets go and i grab my daughter and go in the living room. its like it followed me cause as soon as i lay down with my baby sleeping on me i feel it all over again and this time i feel something grab my foot. i have never experienced it at this level before but i know that something is going on because im not crazy and have regular dreams. how can this be a dream if its taking place in my own house. anyways after it felt like something grabbed my foot i started crying cause i just wanted to be left alone and as soon as i did its like i was all a sudden back in the same spot it all started as if i didnt grab my daughter and go in the living room and when i was back in the room its like it was leaving me alone and felt it go away, I dont know what it is or how to explain it . This isnt the first time this has happened but it seems as each time is getting more tense. I really dont know what to think of it. Im kind of relieved that im not the only one and the loud scary noise that comes over your body isnt normal.
Nov 03, 2011
 annoying sound..
by: Anonymous

this just happend to me last nite the noise just kept gettin louder and louder wen this happens to me, i try to close my eyes but sum how i can still see evrything..i try screaming but i cant...before the episode was over i actulyy made a crying sound while it was happening and my mom actully hurt it!
Nov 28, 2011
 Too scared to sleep NEW
by: S

Thank you!!! :) I just had a real vivid buzzing noise occurrence, combined with shaking and hallucinations and complete paralysis. It's like a train coming on and you can't stop it. Truly horrifying. I don't dare to go to sleep, trying to stay awake... I'm so glad I'm not the only one who gets this tho. Bless you all, hope you can sleep calm tonite.
Dec 23, 2011
 I thought i was the only one in the planet. NEW
by: Simon From Dubai

I am 24 now, and 6 year ago at 18(i had some stress related problems and abnormal seelping patters) so, in the morning of some day, when i was about to wake up, in just that split-second when i aware that you are waking up but still my eyes clothed i felt like all my body was paralyzed except the tip of my fingers, i couldn't open my eyes, screem, move or anything, the if i try to move but fail, Then there came the scariest day in my life, A great pain and strange noise, it was like a noise you hear inside a plane, when the plane has landed but not without the engine turned off (Best way i could describe it). Now, when ever i try to get up or do something, the sound and the pain gets 3 or 4 times bigger, which means, that you are more paralyses and the sound is quadrupled. Every time you try something, the sounded feels to run much faster than ever, there was no way i could stop it. After little attempt to fight it off, it, as i said got harder, and harder for... At last, i reached a point that let alone the greatest pain of all, but that unimaginably sound was enough to pass you out. And that is what i did, i just lost conscious, i lost hope to fight or even been part of my body. And when i lost all of that, i went to quite moment for seconds and heard this sound from my brain, as if a water were filling a cup, i heard that sound and then woke up. I froze in fear so much, that my legs couldn't walk, that i had to stand against the wall and walk at the same time to reach the bath room, it was in east Africa, so it was hope less to go to a doctor, but i did and was told i nothing was wrong. I seriously thought that, was how people get insane and felt like telling family i love them before something happened to me. In short those were the darkest times in my life.The worst thing was, i thought i was alone, checked the internet found nothing, i gave up and waited for my end. it happened 4 or 5 times then, after 2 months i left the country for other reasons and as my stress and sleep pattern were eliminated, so did the great terror. in the past 6 years after i've experienced 2 times an SP with the sound, and in those times both i greatly over slept, the second was today, and it was my fault, i didn't sleep all night yerstrday and over slept today for 12+. This time though, when i heard the sound i struggled with all my force and got up and decided to share this with other people. IT IS OK, You are not going to die, just take care of your sleeping times and don't worry too much about it. When i changed my life around, i experienced this only twice in SIX years, . And both times i was 100% responsible. wish i found this form right then, i had to be saint to everybody thinking it was the best thing to be before i die, i found comfort in reading someone's blog years later expericing the same thing, but was little late for me. Anyway, God bless and take care of yourself. you will be Just like before 100% . Ok, then God Bless (Sorry 4 boring you)
Mar 12, 2012
 buzzing getting worse NEW
by: C.C.

I'm glad I looked this all up, cuz it looks like the buzzing is pretty common. I haven't been doing anything out of the ordinary, no stress or anything, but the buzzing is getting louder and louder, to tell you the truth...I even start hearing a voice. I hope it doesn't get worse than this.
Mar 16, 2012
 buzzing came back NEW
by: Anonymous

First few times i experienced this was at our old house and usually occurred in early hours, i would seemingly wake up with feeling of utter dread and feel a presence in the room in the far corner but i couldnt lift my head to see it or scream out. also experienced the buzzing coming out of the back of my head and felt the bed shaking. seemed the only thing to stop it was to say the Lords prayer !!!
I was beginning to think it was a spirit thing (although i am a total sceptic).
When we moved house it stopped - big relief and again i thought well maybe it was a spirit thing and the spirit stayed at teh old house.

anyhow, it came back again in last 6 months. about 2 years since moving house (i am 45 y/old). only this time worse but different.
still got buzzing, still got bed shaking, still got sense of dread and fear but now had voices coming out of 2 speakers hanging on the wall (but in reality the speakers dont exist), and they sound like they are speaking through loudhalers, and i also could make out faces or people shadows, they were crouching down in a corner beside a dressing table (that doesnt exist in reality).

i keep telling myself during and after that it isnt real but i just cant help being afraid to go to sleep.
Apr 14, 2012
 sleep paralysis NEW
by: Anonymous

Initially, i felt a jolt as i was driftig off to sleep. Later i felt like i was levatating off my bed and i heard a buzzing sound. Similiar to my phone being on vibrate. I screamed my daughters name (with no sound) but as i was waking i was making a sound like i couldnt open my mouth. Something was definitely in my room, bc i moved a cup of liquid from my nightstand specifically to prevent me from knocking it over by accident. But, when i placed it on the floor, the next morning before my feet hit the floor, the cup had tilted over. When i woke i thought i may have been laying on my phone. Not only did i hear the buzzing but i felt it. I wasnt laying on the phone nor did anyone call or text me. No alarm either.
Apr 14, 2012
 sleep paralysis NEW
by: Anonymous

Initially, i felt a jolt as i was driftig off to sleep. Later i felt like i was levatating off my bed and i heard a buzzing sound. Similiar to my phone being on vibrate. I screamed my daughters name (with no sound) but as i was waking i was making a sound like i couldnt open my mouth. Something was definitely in my room, bc i moved a cup of liquid from my nightstand specifically to prevent me from knocking it over by accident. But, when i placed it on the floor, the next morning before my feet hit the floor, the cup had tilted over. When i woke i thought i may have been laying on my phone. Not only did i hear the buzzing but i felt it. I wasnt laying on the phone nor did anyone call or text me. No alarm either.
Apr 18, 2012
 Buzzing noises during sleep NEW
by: Stephen

I was sleeping last night and sort of woke up with a buzzing noise right through my head, wasn't a nice feeling at all, i knew i was sleeping and tried to open my eyes but i couldn't, it must of taken me about 30 seconds or so to open them then the buzzing went away. I've been trying to find out what can cause this to happen, wouldn't wish it on anyone at all. Would appreciate any comments back thanks.
Apr 26, 2012
 same here NEW
by: Anonymous

I've had this happen to me twice and both times it's been the same thing. It starts out I hear a high pitched ringing noise so I open my eyes and it almost feels like a dream but I know I'm awake. And I can't move or scream and then I start shaking almost like convulsions. So I told my dad about it and apparently he has it happen to him too so I'm thinking it's hereditary. It's so scary and both times have been when I nap during the day.
Apr 30, 2012
 I experienced this last night - first time in many years! NEW
by: Freddie

I think it's been covered in enough detail now. Basically it's a big relief if you thought you were going crazy!

I experienced this a couple of times in my adolescence. The first time I was terrified: paralysed, with an ever increasing sound of humming/buzzing/droning similar to a mechanical sound (jet engine/truck/etc). The sound also modulates or throbs in a distinct rhythm.

As a young boy, I thought it was a UFO come to get me so I was well and truly terrified!

Of course, the aliens didn't get me, so next time it happened I guess I paid a bit more attention. I discovered that I could mentally affect the speed of the rhythm which led me to understand it was just a mental phenomenon.

Strangely, I had the same experience last night - the first in probably 20 years for me. I remember feeling scared because I'd forgotten about it.

Don't freak out - you're not crazy - it's not aliens - it's just sleep paralysis coupled with some hallcinatory effects. Enjoy the ride if you can!
May 01, 2012
 Painful buzzing in my head NEW
by: Mickey

This has happened to me a different points of my life. Started when I was a teenager. But it doesn't happen all the time. I swear I'm awake when it happens to, but I guess I'm not. I close my eyes, and hear comes this terrible buzzing sound in my head. It gets louder and louder to the point that its extremely painful. I try to yell out for help and I can't. It happened twice last night. I saw myself trying to get out of bed. I saw my blanket hit the floor. I managed to get to the kitchen and tell my husband my head hurts so badly. Then somehow I found myself back in bed and very alert. I laid my head down again, and hear it comes again, only louder and more painful. Again I can't yell out, I try so hard to get up and again slowly walked to the kitchen but he wasn't there, but coming up stairs. I told him my head is really hurting with this buzz. But its all very slow motion. Found my self back in bed and woke up I guess. I looked around. Everything was normal. No blankets on the floor..nothing. That is so very very scary. I don't hear voices. Just that awful pain as the sound becomes louder and louder. Makes you afraid to lay down to sleep.

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