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Confused and Paralyzed During Dreams While Waking Up

I don't know how to explain it, but a few times I have dreamt that I am laying there awake and paralyzed or keep going in and out of dreams, but I don't actually know if I am dreaming or actually awake.

It's like I keep waking up and trying to force my eyes open and move but I can't and if there is anyone else there I am saying to them that
I know I'm dreaming. Before I have dreamt i am laid there paralyzed while someone is breaking in to attack me.

What I don't understand is what is going on and am I awake really or are they just freaky dreams??

Kevin's Response

This is a really interesting connection you've hit on between sleep paralysis and dreaming. You see, experiencing paralysis as you are waking up is precisely linked to dreaming, because the paralysis you feel is left over from REM sleep, the period of the night where you do your dreaming.

The body paralyzes itself during REM sleep (the paralysis is known as REM atonia) to prevent it from acting out the dreams that are going on in your mind during this stage of sleep. When you experience sleep paralysis it is often because you have awoken during REM sleep and the atonia is a little slow to go away.

Sometimes that is all that happens, and it is just a short bit of paralysis that people are left with as they try to wake up (that can be disgruntling enough though!). However, sometimes the dreams themselves can carry over into this paralyzed transition phase, taking on characteristics of your environment, and manifesting themselves in what are called hypnopompic hallucinations. (Hypnopompic simply means it occurs when you are waking up. Hypnagogic is the opposite, meaning occuring when you are falling asleep.)


What you describe sounds exactly like sleep paralysis with some hypnopompic imagery. The incident of you seeing someone breaking in to attack you is a fairly common hypnopompic hallucination. As long as this is only occurring when you are waking up and not when you are falling asleep, this is virtually always completely benign, more common than you might expect, and just a product of REM functions outlasting your sleep a bit--not something to worry about at all.

So to answer your question of whether you are asleep or awake, you are essentially awake at this time but your body is still experiencing certain aspects of REM sleep. Pretty interesting, huh?

I hope this helps shed some light on what you are experiencing. If you have any follow-up questions or comments please don't hesitate to submit them using the "Post Comments" link below!

Warmly,
Kevin

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Confused and Paralyzed During Dreams While Waking Up

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Jun 24, 2010
 Freakiest of the Freaky
by: Teresa

I have dealt with sleep paralysis since I was seven or eight, I'm 32 now and I realize that I am not dying and if I were there is pretty much nothing I can do about it anyway. Man controls neither life or death but honestly speaking it is easier to say that after the fact instead of during. My concern or question is though, I have instances where I think I am awake walking in my house going about my normal routine until something appears out of the ordinary and I have to tell myself I am still sleep and at that point I clearly see the vast difference. Can anyone give me some feedback on this instance.
Jun 24, 2010
 A Lucid Dreamer Perhaps?
by: Kevin

Teresa, what you describe sounds an awful lot like lucid dreaming. For more information on that and to see if perhaps you are a lucid dreamer, check out this article:

http://www.end-your-sleep-deprivation.com/what-is-lucid-dreaming.html

If these are lucid dreams you are experiencing, really try to take that article in, because lucid dreams are amazing instances in our lives that can be cultivated and harnessed to better ourselves in the waking world even. Sounds intense right? Check out the article to see what I mean.

(If that's not quite what you mean, feel free to describe your experiences a little more.)
Aug 12, 2010
 Waking up and waking up
by: Anonymous

"Waking up" in dreams is fairly common and doesn't have to mean anything.
Sep 17, 2010
 Afraid to sleep
by: Anonymous

I have had sleep paralys alot this year but with mine, i fall into a dream where there is a spirit in my house. It attacks me and paralyses me so that I can't move or call out for help. I wake up in this way, trying to shout out and move but I can't. How do I stop this from happening? Its very frightening and I am really afraid to go to sleep
Sep 18, 2010
 Knowledge and Lucidity
by: Kevin Morton

Sleep paralysis and the dream imagery that often accompanies it can be frustrating, but the key to staying calm with it is possessing knowledge about how it occurs. You can learn about that here:

http://www.end-your-sleep-deprivation.com/sleep-paralysis.html

You may also want to look into lucid dreaming, a skill that can be put to use very effectively to combat and control nightmares.

http://www.end-your-sleep-deprivation.com/what-is-lucid-dreaming.html
Oct 19, 2010
 lucid nightmare
by: Anonymous

definately lucid dreaming! in my dreams i am stuck in the dream unable to move i also always have a few false awakenings ( when u think that u have become awake but infact u are still dreaming.. in some of my dream i can move around in my bed .. but can never get out sometimes i can just reach to my bedside table and get my phone. i know if im sleeping because i can never read the time its like a blur.. ive heard in lucid dreams that u cant look at such things like mirrors and phones they are just a blurr. i usually just scream in my dream trying to wake myself which i always do after a while.. the dreams are very realistic and terrifying.. for a while i was on prescription sleep tablets and i had these dreams constantly .. i am now on natural sleeping tablets and i still have them not as much. ive only had these dreams whilst napping during the day or on medication. dont think i have had them otherwise.. soo could this be the reason ure having them ? some people say they can control there lucid dreams.. unfotunatly i cant . maybe one day !
Nov 01, 2010
 I experience the same :|
by: Alex

I experience the same thing as the author and as the guy in the last comment - I'm awake in my sleep, I have false awakenings and I'm fully paralysed. But I never get attacked, and I never reach for my phone/look at mirrors. What really bothers me is the fact that it happens when I'm about to fall asleep. I manage to wake up after few false awakenings, but it often happens several times before I finally go into normal sleep. What may be the reason and what can I do to stop it? I'm only 17, I don't want to eventually become scared of falling asleep :|
Nov 03, 2010
 Opposite
by: CS

I have just read the above response and noticed you said "As long as this is only occurring when you are waking up and not when you are falling asleep, this is virtually always completely benign, more common than you might expect"; what does it mean if I am experiencing these hypnopompic hallucinations when I just starting to fall asleep but feel as though I am still half awake?
Nov 03, 2010
 HypnaGOGIC Hallucinations
by: Kevin Morton

Hey CS, experienced at the start of sleep these things are actually called hypnagogic hallucinations instead. The reason for the qualification in my post was that hypnagogic hallucinations are one of the four main symptoms of narcolepsy, although they are sometimes experienced in individuals without narcolepsy too. You can read more here:

http://www.end-your-sleep-deprivation.com/narcolepsy-symptoms.html#paralysis
Nov 22, 2010
 dont know whats real or not
by: Anonymous

when i dream and wake up it takes me about an hour to stop feeling the dreams and sometimes i dont know if i dreamt things or they real i wake up in the night and talk to my hubby for what seems like a long time before i suss hes asleep i hear sounds that are different to what other people hear and see shadows moveing fast that scare me and flashing lights and i feel things touching me like people pushing down on me i dont sleep well and havent done for some time am i loseing my mind help please
Dec 13, 2010
 my dream
by: bridgett

I was sleeping. I was dreaming of a tornado and them not letting me get in my car and leave school. I did not listen in my dream. I ran outside got,got in my car,and was sitting at the stop sign. The tornado picked me up in my car and spun me every where,I woke durring this. I was unable top move or yell. I was seeing my room I seen everything around me and I was seeing the dream at the same time. I was scared to death. Is this lucid dreaming? what is this?
Dec 25, 2010
 Paralysis before and after sleep
by: Ron

Ever since I could remember, I have had issues with sleep paralysis and hallucinations revolving around falling asleep and waking up. I'm a very sane 39 year old, who grew up in a rather religious family. Normally, about once or twice a week I see large, black orbs or figures in my bedroom as I am trying to get to sleep. I hear an old time radio when I lay my head down. It's the kind of radio that has a lot of static in the background and the songs are usually from the 50's. To top off the problems before I go to sleep, I have extremely vivid dreams and have woken up yelling, jumping out of bed, grabbing for the gun in the night stand, etc., on many occassions. If that weren't enough, usually a few times a week I wake up around 2 or 3 in the morning and find myself paralyzed with fear. The effects can last up to ten minutes sometimes. Most of the time I am in a panic from my dreams, which only adds to the problem. My heart is usually racing. There is an impending fear that someone is in the room with me, or more like they just walked in. You know the way sound in a room changes when someone walks in? That's what it's like. I am leary about expressing these concerns with my doctor. I've been a cop for 15 years and fear has never really been a big issue for me until these dreams and paralysis issues have gotten considerably worse. It is rare for me to get more than 3 of 4 hours of sleep in a row now. Any thoughts?
Dec 26, 2010
 Sleep Paralysis Treatment
by: Kevin Morton

Hey Ron, try checking out this book by a sleep paralysis expert named Ryan Hurd. I read it a couple months ago and it's got some really breakthrough insights for dealing with sleep paralysis--stuff that I've never seen anywhere else. Here's where you can find my review of the book and a link to get it:

http://www.end-your-sleep-deprivation.com/sleep-paralysis-treatment.html
Jan 05, 2011
 Scary!
by: Nicole

I've have had these dreams ever since i can remember and i'm only 20 and cause of that i have to sleep with someone or sleep with the door open, it mostly happens when i sleep on the edge of the bed i dream of something then i half wake up see the room i'm in and there will always be someone there or i can hear someone, examples this one time i woke up and i could see the room i was in then i heard this person breathing scarily in and out and as it did the whole room started to move and it freaked me out so much that i can barely move or talk at most and i closed my eyes tell myself to wake up but most of the times i can't. This really scares me help?
Feb 03, 2011
 I thought I was dead
by: Anonymous

I had this same thing happen to me this mourning. I thought I was dead. It scared the hell out of be. I feel a little better now after reading your article.
Mar 09, 2011
 im confused and concerned about the comment
by: Anonymous

what do u mean as long as its not occurring as u fall asleep?
Apr 01, 2011
 Concerned about sleep paralysis
by: Mona

My husband is on multiple medications and is battling cancer. A few minutes ago, he woke from sleep and was paralyzed - he also had shortness of breath. I walked by the room and he was unable to make any noise or movement to let me know he needed help. This episode lasted about 10 minutes. I called his doctor's office and spoke with a nurse and the nurse told me to get him to a local emergency room. He refused to go! He calls this "waking paralysis" and said that he has had it happened before but has had no incidence in many years. I worry that it might have been a form of a stroke or a reaction to a build up on one of his medicines in his system. Can you give me any insight on this since he refuses to go get checked out at the emergency room?
Apr 07, 2011
 *How to treat it*
by: Anonymous

When you go into REM,your brain releases a chemical to paralyze your body when you sleep, its deference mechanism. **Hold your breath next time, you will trick your brain and you will wake up normal**
Apr 10, 2011
 Feelin horrible and frightened
by: Scaredman

This has happened to me many times but some are just scary I actually had the will power to wake my self up by doing something that gives me energy like a catchphrase or a hand gesture. But I wake up and still in my dream. One dream was when I woke up and walk in my houses hallway then I see a shadow in my sisters room I run in and see her eaten by a snake and I cut up the snake but sometimes I can turn my nightmares into dreams. One instance was I was in a gothic house and a knight in black armor is swinging his axe at me but at that moment out of nowhere I'm a knight and slay him. And the dream right now I had was horrible. I wake up using my catchphrase I mentioned earlier but I wake in my dream but I can't move after screaming I use my catchphrase again and stand up but it's to hard to stand up and I get dizzy then I see a man who talks my native language that I don't understand then he talks gibberish and then sits in a corner rocking back and forth then I look across my door by the way I'm in my room but back in my old house those were the best days of my life but moved here so I hate it anyways I look across but I see my sisters room in our new house and the same man walks in. I get scared and angry and run at him then u wake and can't move. After a while I wake but that man who was talking my native language and gibberish I understand it now after the dream. NMR chest was heavy which mediums say is an evil presence in the room I'm scared but I know I have the will power to control my dreams but some dreams are horrific of mine
Apr 13, 2011
 help anyone? lol
by: Anonymous

I have been having these dreams for a long time but cant really remember when they started they are always scary i fall asleep and wake up around 2 or 3 although i dont know for deffinate what the time is. im awake but cant move i hear scary noises like the other night i heard a baby crying and i see different shadows or outline of what looks like people i try to move or call out to someone but i cant one dream i had i got up and tried banging on walls and smashing things to wake someone else up but no one ever comes. the scary part is it feels so real and the dreams are extremly vivid ive started to move my arms or fingers slowly when it happens and that usually brings me round but then when i try to fall back to sleep it happens again so i try and stay awake for a while then i can usually get to sleep normally. im wondering if mayby i should see a doctor about it or mayby some kind of councelor or shrink? please help?
Apr 14, 2011
 I can't stay asleep when i realize i am dreaming!
by: Anonymous

I've been trying to lucid dream, and the last time I had a dream I remembered(and this has happened other times before as well) I realized I was dreaming, but then either the dream ended or I woke up. Is there something I need to do to stay asleep when I become aware of my dreaming so I can control my dream?
Apr 14, 2011
 RESPONSE
by: Anonymous

I believe your eyes could possibly be playing tricks on you while you are awaking from the REM sleep, as Kevin answered to this person's experiences. It could be possible that you are even hallucinating, as Kevin also explained above. To explain the sounds, your senses could still be in some sort of dream mode or being hyperactive. I've had periods where I awake from deep sleeps and think I smell cooking food. You might even be sleepwalking. This is all most likely just your senses being affected by the REM sleep and the dark causing you to hallucinate, but if it does become VERY troubling, I WOULD say that you might want to talk to someone about it. Dreams are odd things, and sometimes CAN have an internal meaning to the dreamer.PS I am no professional,ok? I've just been looking up a lot about dreams lately.
Apr 16, 2011
 I too had this experience! Strange feeling it gives you!
by: kelly

I too had this experience. I was sleeping on my friends couch that faced the front door. I felt that strange feeling like when you forget where you fell asleep. The sun lighting up room like every other day and the room felt the same, as though I was awake. I just lay there (paralized, i guess) and was looking at the door and evey senario of who could might come in that door would happen. hen someone I know walked in something felt strange, or something odd would happen then I would wake up again to realize I was dreaming.. but again I was still dreaming.. and another senario would happen that was strange, and this started to scary me, and prayed to wake up in the real time.. I was like my brain didn't know what to expect when waking up, so it was making up it's own senarios until everything just started to feel right. I will never forget this..(I also sleepwalked alot when I was younger) I feel like the brain already expects, or is prepared to see everything that I see or go to look at as though things exist because we already know it is there, which I can see would give us a feeling of consistency and comfort in life, i think life could feel scary and chaotic if we didn't find connection to things that alreadt exist. Perhaps gives us a feeling of living in the now. I don't know if this totally makes sense..But this is the feeling this experience gave me. Weird!?
May 03, 2011
 Different then before...
by: Nate

Last night I awoke from a nightmare and was in a paralyzed state for what seemed like longer then 5 minutes. I kept telling my self in my head that I know this is only a dream and it's not real. After awhile I realized I was actually 100% awake but could not move. I closed my eyes and I immediately jumped back into the same nightmare. There was a demonic figure trying to open the door to my bedroom. When I noticed this I jumped out of bed and tried to close it. As soon as I touched the door I no longer had control of my body and the figure began to drag my around my house. I kept saying this is not real, I know its a dream and a weird demonic voice stated "Then prove its not real." Immediately I jumped out of bed and was awake covered in sweat. I used to get dreams like this when I was younger, 15 years ago but nothing this vivid.. Any comments?
May 16, 2011
 Assaulted during paralysis
by: Anonymous

I am a 32 year old woman who has suffered from sleep paralysis since I was a teenager. One night when I was about 17, I awoke from a dream that I was being dragged across the floor by my ankles. I woke paralyzed, unable to even open my eyes, but I felt the hands on my ankles and I was actually moving down the bed. When I finally could move, I was at the end of the bed. This was the scariest experience of my life until 2 days ago. I awoke from a nap where I had just been dreaming of walking in a crowd of people. Somewhere between the dream and consciousness, I felt hands on my body, one across my chest grabbing me, one prying my mouth open, I could actually feel a finger in my mouth, and one pushing my underwear down. I was paralyzed and could not move. I was so sure someone was in the room with me and I was about to be raped. Even after the paralysis ended, I could feel a cold sensation where the "hands" had been and my underwear felt out of place, though they were not. Has anyone ever experienced anything like this? I am afraid to sleep, which has never been an issue for me before, even with previous sleep paralysis experiences.
Jun 11, 2011
 REM paralyzes
by: Dennis

June 11, 2010 location at my office work time 2pm to 3pm..i slept at the sofa of our office...during that time...when i was sleep i feel i would to urinate so i decided to wakeup...but problem is i can't move mybody i'm on a rem paralyzes state...it looks like my eyes are open but not...looks like i can see the lights on the window but not...looks like somebody is on top of mybody straining me not to move...i tried to move mybody but i can't...i tried to drop mybody to the ground were i sleep just to wake mybody..but i can't...i'm fighting myself to wake myself-up...until...i gain control to move mybody...and when i woke-up mybody was very tired...looks like i haven't got rested...i don't know..i can feel some unexplained presences in the office...but i tend not to bug them..i'm already immune to there presence...or maybe there just playing with me...Please Help....
Jun 28, 2011
 paralyzed while falling asleep
by: liz memdietta

I been having this confused paralyzed dream for about five years know and I get paralyzed when im falling asleep but it makes me fall in to a deep sleep like if im so tierd.then something unexplanible comes next to me and is tellimg me something in my ear I just cant explain what his trying to tell me try to open my eyes but I will only be able to see infront of me and I can think and pray at it or curz at it thats how I know that im awKe then my teeth start pressing against each other they fill like ther going to brake this is unaxplaynable .. But if I put a cross by me I wont ever have this dream if u can call it that.. Y do I have this
Jul 06, 2011
 I think I am awake and getting out of bed
by: Mary

I have experiences where I am sleeping and I think I have woken up and am getting out of bed and then I realize I am still in bed and I can't move to get up. Then it seems like I do get up but I realize that I haven't and that I am dreaming. I go in and out of this, sometimes feeling like someone is outside my room or coming in and I am afraid. I can spend what seems like a long time trying to get up, thinking I am and the realizing I haven't moved. I believe I am going in and out of a dream, being almost awake and lucid and then falling into the dream again. I have to work really hard at getting myself to really move, really wake up, and get out of bed. When I do I repeat to myself that this is real.Sometimes the sense of someone being in my room is very frightening. I called out for help to a family member to help me wake up but I am not really doing it. What is happening?
Jul 09, 2011
 reguarding assaulted during paralysis
by: Anonymous

to the woman who commented above about being raped while in this state just want to let you know you are not alone. this has started happening to me at least once every two weeks where i am being held down by something evil and i keep resisting and saying no and it whispers in my ear to stop struggling.the more i resist the further away from waking up i feel i get. the harder i try to move my head or arms it seems they sink lower like into quicksand. i can not shout or scream sometimes i feel like i am whispering but i dont know if i really am or not. after what seems forever i recently have finally just given in. i always fight what ever this evil thing is but in the end i get so tired i cant anymore. when i come to, i lay and stare at the wall for a long time not able to move when i finally get up i have to walk around and turn all the lights on in the house slap my face just to make sure i dont fall back into the same nightmare cause that has happened alot. this is the scariest feeling i have ever had its been going on since i was 19 but now it has gotten more frequent. i am writing a psych paper on this being raped when paralyzed... so any others out there please share.
Jul 09, 2011
 Sexual Experiences During Sleep Paralysis
by: Kevin

To the commenters describing the evil-feeling sexual experiences during sleep paralysis, you both are by no means alone, as the commenter above suggests. In fact, sleep paralysis has long been known to take on darkly sexual natures for some. In fact, the famous 18th century painting "The Nightmare" by Henri Fuseli is thought to allude to this, where an incubus (a term used in many other cultures' names for sleep paralysis) sits on top of a seemingly paralyzed woman.

I wish I could offer more information on why this happens, but the only connections I can make without studying it more or experiencing it myself is that SP brings out fearful projections for most people, and REM sleep (whose mechanism REM atonia causes SP) is a sexually charged period of the night (the period of sleep where men naturally get penile erections and women experience processes related to clitoral stimulation). Combine fear and sexual processes, and you get the dark form of sexual encounters. That's the best I can offer at the moment, but I know it falls short of fully accounting for the insanely real feelings you both have during these experiences.

One more thing I can suggest though, and wholeheartedly, is to read Ryan Hurd's book about taking control of your sleep paralysis. It really sheds some empowering light onto how you can turn around the evil nature of many SP episodes and turn them into enlightening experiences. All the best!
Jul 22, 2011
 My thoughts
by: Toovin

Well, I'm early 20's and have been having these for about 5 years now. The first time it happened, I didn't know what was going on and just thought i was asleep still (as having some logic, i know that i cant see the inside of the house and the outside at the same time was a tip off, so i calmed down some) - i think acknowledging the fact that you are asleep at these times can really help you if its a bad situation that you have 'woken' up too. The time i actually told my self right off the bat that i am still asleep, and told my self to go back to dreaming, i slipped off back to my 'asleep' state pretty much immediately, which was alot better than struggling with it.

The past 3 or 4 times though, I have been trying to wake up when this happens - and i gotta say, its a struggle. I have only forced my self to actually wake up twice from these. The first time, i felt as if i was exerting all of my strength to sit up (or do anything for that matter), and after about 10 seconds of that, i sprang up so fast into a sitting position - it was like jumping up from a bad dream, and the shock you get when you finally have control again is kinda freaky and a relief at the same time.

Tbe 2nd time i was able to wake up was a bit more disturbing. I realized what was going on and wanted to try waking up from it, but the added stress just brought on some scary images and feelings. I tried to yell for someone to wake me up, but all i could do was moan, and it was the weakest and most helpless noise i have ever heard - that was the disturbing part. Either way, finally woke up and shook it off finally after about 10 minutes.

Otherwise, as for morning hallucinations, ive only had those twice, and they both involved spiders. I dont hate spiders, but i certainly dont want them in my bed when im sleeping, so thats the upsetting part about it. And when they look scary and evil, its not much of a help to stay calm. Either way, they go away after about 5-10 seconds: they just simply disappear after crawling about.

its amazing what the brain can do. Now if only i can try to have some fun with the 'lucidity' from this!
Aug 02, 2011
 .
by: Anonymous

Maybe 20 times now over the last 3 years (i am 21 now) i have suddenly woken up in bed completely unable to move and overcome with what i can only describe as sheer terror. I can control my eyes and look around the room but have no other bodily control. Each time has been different, i have (thought) i felt someone pulling on my arm from the edge of the bed and have seen people standing at the foot or side of my bed watching me...The first thing i do is panic and try to force myself to move or force out any kind of sound to wake my girlfriend, i am usually able to regain control within a minute and instantly jump out of bed grab the lights and look around. I never had the courage to talk to a doctor or anyone about this as i did not think anyone would believe me... just having recently researched this online and finding out so many others experience it is quite a relief, there is a lot of literature on hypnopompic states linked on this page and i cant wait to read through them to find out more about this state of mind.
Aug 04, 2011
 Might help to redude the sleep paralysis
by: Ann

I had the sleep paralysis and saw myself lying down quite often. I know how terrify it is. This might help:

Before going to bed: put something such as pillow behind your back making you sleep on the side rather than supine position, close the curtain making the room dark, avoid taking a nap in the day around 5-7 pm (which is extend sleeping to around 6 pm).

In a dream while you are sleeping: just calm down, relax and try to breath deeply and try to turn your face to the side suddenly when you are not trying to move yourself.

Hope it is useful.
Aug 28, 2011
 Worried
by: Anonymous

I had a dream the other day where all I can remember is that I could not move or scream, my heart I remember was pounding. I was paralysed lying in my bed face up. I did wake up eventually. It is now a few days later and have noticed my face looks a little swollen on the left side of my face. I am 54 and am worried if my be this was a small stroke. If any one has any info please reply.
Sep 13, 2011
 wierd scared and confused
by: eric 15

I'm going to make this short since it it 3:30 at night where I live at. But I just had one of those dreams and in It I imagined that I was trina th rapper and me and my freinds were playing basket then my. ball rolled into a dark corner and when I walked to go get it I disappeared and all I saw was blurr and I culdnt move an my eyes were hard to open. And I still have the chills
Sep 25, 2011
 Waking up paralyzed
by: Warren walker

Well waking up paralyzed is always the same for me but the weird part is that I've been reading more about this and my expieriences are slot like many others it's very frightning
The dream world crossing over to our reality I'm not so convinced this is mi expirience I awake my eyes are heavy from deep sleep I can only move my head so I started shaking my head frantically trying to wake then my hands start to move as well and but I can't talk and this is the worst part that some of you readers can relate to that blows my mind .. Thier is somebody in my room a dark figure moving about and making noises so I'm now desperatly trying to move and awake myself now and so my body goes into overdrive and I begin to move faster and this is where my expierience gets worst and is different than anything I've yet to read about .. I'm fully awake and mobile now but there literaley is still a being of some sort I'm my house moving around and making noises that somehow manifested from my dreams in some phenominal way so I go searching for it with a knife in my hands of wich I keep on my night stand but I never find it this is causing me serious insomnia this situation is out of control but now I know there is more intrlligance to this than well ever understand the way I figure where creating this situation somehow in our dreams and wich of now is also my reality .... Please comment I hope I'm not alone out here..
Sep 29, 2011
 My story
by: Diamond

I. Just had it around 5:am and I fell like it was because I had a hard time sleeping and when I finally want to sleep out of nowhere. I found my self walking up but not moving and then I saw this stange black shadow of a alien in front of me so I tryed closing my eyes but I feel like I'm going to die the weird thing for me was. I was facing the wall then I started hearing buzzing sounds and found my bumm starting to hurt and it felt like someone was hold a object to it then I moved my left leg and I was out of the trans so I had to look it up
one of the first times i had it was around 8or10 and I was at my grandma house in the living room and I found my self not moving but in font of me I saw a rope that was used to hanging then a woman in a dirty white dress was haning from there then all of a sudden she started to get in my face and I got out of the trans it sound like something of a moive but it was the scraest moment of my life so I tried repressing it as a dream but when ghost moment started happing to me like the acttic door was opening up and dog would bark out of nowhere all mean and look at the celling so i didn't know what to think but I'mnever really payed attenchen to it and digg into the house because it was hapenping at my house but I saw alien so I thought I was hunted or something but Ive been look on the net and found answers
Oct 14, 2011
 Reply
by: Warren

Thank you diamond for the comment it made me feel better about it. what happened in situations like ours is unheard of you hear about ghost and aliens and yeti and every strange thing under. The sun but this it's incredible no answers though .
Oct 14, 2011
 Lucid dream turned into nightmare
by: Sylvia

I experience lucid dreaming and probably sleep paralysis from time to time. I use to dream I can't breathe and thought I had sleep apnea, but the apnea test was negative. Sometimes I dream that I wake up, see my room, stand and walk, talk to people as in real life (false awakening) Then smth unusual happens and I realize I am still dreaming and I struggle to wake up but I can't. After reading more about lucid dreaming I started using the trick of jumping off tall buildings in the dream to wake up. After that I always wake up and know that I'm awake from the first moment.

Today I had a scary experience, just after waking up from a lucid dream turned into a nightmare, I wasn't sure if I was really awake or not. I kept asking my bf if I'm really awake, because the scenario was similar to the other false awakenings. It took me some minutes to realize I am really awake and not in the dream anymore.

Here is the dream I had: I was out in my neighbourhood with my bf and we went to an outdoor party. The people attending the party were strange, some wearing elegant dresses, others dressed like goth and wearing piercings. Then it got scary, one guest had an axe coming out of her chest like in a horror movie, I could see the blood and the wound. The others also turned into zombies. I told my bf we should leave, we found an excuse like his mother is visiting the next day and left. After this I realized it was a dream and wanted to wake up but wasn't able to. So I used my waking up trick: me and my bf went on top of a building which was close to the location of the outdoor party so the party guests could see us and I screamed "hey, over here". They looked and saw us and in the next minute they were coming after us on top of the building, but before they could reach us, we both jumped off the building and then I woke up (for real).

When I woke up I saw my bf next to me was also awake and asked him if I'm really awake or still dreaming, because I just had a nightmare. He confirmed I was awake but I still needed few minutes to reassure I was awake, as I previously experienced false awakenings when I see the same image and talk to him and it's still a dream. This never happened to me before, when I wake up for real usually I realize it right away, this time the dream was so real that I wasn't sure if I was really awake or not.

Did anyone else experience smth similar? And do you have any advice on how to check if you are really awake or still dreaming? Or how to transform a lucid nightmare into a normal or even pleasant lucid dream? Is it better to wake up using the trick or try to transform the nightmare into a nice dream? It was a strange and scary experience and now I'm afraid to fall asleep again.
Nov 03, 2011
 I cannot move or shout for help!
by: Jack

These events have only happened to me twice in my life. i am 17 years old.
I was sleeping in my room. Then it felt like i was awaken by my bedroom door opening. A dark human shape started walking towards me. The thing that was strange is that i was slightly floating above my bed? i was so frightened by this figure that i started to shout but i couldn't! I could open my mouth but no sound was coming out. After i relies this i tried to move my arms and legs but i was completely paralysed. I woke up and i was afraid to go back to sleep as i was so frightened. At the time i thought i had lost my mind as it felt so real.
But now that i have read some other peoples stories it's good to know that other people have had similar events to mine.
Nov 07, 2011
 IS THE DEVIL TRYING TO TAKE OVER MY BODY?
by: Dorothy

I have experienced this since i was about 9 but it has gotten worse i am 20 now. When i was younger i would have a hard time waking up out of my sleep just feeling paralyzed and screaming only for no one to hear me because they said it wasn't really happening. It scared the crap out of me. It stopped for about 4 ears and returned again. Since i have been in college the feeling of something standing over me, like a presence that i can literally feel is there and i am awake but i cannot open my eyes or move any parts of my body. It feels like i am fighting with all my might to wake up. One night i was sleeping and i felt something stand next to my bed and lift the covers off my shoulders and lean to look at my face. I felt the cover slowly slide off my body down to my waist and was fighting with all my might to wake up. After what seemed like forever i finally managed to move my head and look at my roommate who was across the room in her bed. She laughed and said i never moved. And that none of it had ever happened. I know that I'm not crazy and i know what i felt i don't believe its a dream. Should i see a psychologist ?
Dec 10, 2011
 Im not the only one then :)
by: Brissa Alva

It was strange, this has happened to me three times before. I am fourteen (fifth-teen on december 22). I always wake up around 2-4am. Today I woke up suddenly. I tried to move but couldn't. This had happened before so I decided to try to go back to sleep. But I couldn't, It felt as something bad was happening. I heard a faint voice, like if someone who had shrunk was asking me to help. I slowly moved my hand back and it was as If I was pulling the little person from the floor up to my bed. As if he tied something to my hand. When I slowly started to pull my hand up It felt as if the voice was becoming nearer. Then I suddenly snapped out of it when I gained full control. I went to my mom's room and slept the bad experience away :) It's kinda funny, when It's over it feels like a dream. Maybe it is. Well, it feels like I got a heavy load off my chest. I'm glad that I am not the only one. I thought I was going crazy.
Jan 02, 2012
 scary
by: Anonymous

I just had this happen this morning. It has happened before but it bothers me to no end. Usually its when I wake up and try to go back to sleep. I feel as though I'm awake and the bed will usually be shaking slightly like an earthquake. My heart will start to race and it feels like something is tightening the sheets around me (I'm very claustrophobic so this doesn't help). I will try to move, open my eyes, speak, but nothing. Finally after forcing myself to wake up I feel very out of sorts and my heart will usually still be racing. On occasions where my boyfriend is in bed with me I will try to call out for help but nothing comes out. Very scary. Glad I know I'm not the only one.
Jan 27, 2012
 Nightmares
by: Khris

Almost every single night call paralyze dream. Not sure as well if I am aWake or not. I can't move before I can close my eyes. I start to wear watch and look at the time so i know what time when about to close my eyes and ten minutes or half hour later I woke up from awful dreamt but then I am not sure if it was a dream because Most of the time I see myself as my spirit falling away from my body. Sometimes I seen myself somehow crying so hard and screaming PLEASE WAKE UP.... My spirit begging me to wake up.

I cannot help what to do because I have five times or more in one night and most of the night sometime I feel I don't want to sleep.
Feb 06, 2012
 Intense sleep paralysis
by: Anonymous

Last night as I went to bed I would fall in and out of sleep, each time when I would wake up I couldn't move my arms or legs, at one point during the night I experienced hallucinations of bein thrown around in my room. I called out to my roommates a d couldn't say anything Nd they couldn't help me, at another point during the night I had another Hallucination that a dark figured samurai was in my room I opened my eyes and he was there charging towards me with his samurai sword, the hallucinations and dreams felt so real and each time I woke up and couldn't feel my legs and arms longer then the previous time. I felt like I was being possessed by something, it was intense and the hallucination were so real, that's my story, has anyone had this happen to them multiple times?
Feb 13, 2012
 Same old dream for years...
by: Anonymous girl

I've had these type of dreams since I was a teenager. It always starts the same. A terrible feeling of fear coming over me, my brain feels like its humming from an overload, I'm shaking. Something is coming into the room, something I'm very afraid of. I try and wake myself up before it gets to me. I cant move. I know I'm awake. I try and make noises. Any sound I can, so that someone can wake me up (and sometimes the sounds that come out doesn't even sound human). I'm terrified of it getting to me.
Feb 25, 2012
 relieved but still scared :(
by: Olly :D

First I need to thank kevin and many others. I am no longer scared about these dreams where I can't move, but please someone tell me is it weird that I hear very loud pulsating noises during? I am still a little scared someone wrote on the comments above it was bad to have these dreams before you sleep, that just happened to me for the first time.. But I got out of the dream..I hope. Is it a bad thing that I had one of these dream things happen to me before I fell asleep? I remember the first time I ever had one of these I was down stairs sleeping on the sofa after a long and bad night of feeling dizzy and sick. Even though I was in my dream about my house getting repainted and having the floor done up, I was aware outside of the dream of my dad coming into the room, about to set off to work... I was asleep but slowly waking up, at first I couldn't move at all then after ages of trying to get up and move and trying to open my eyes I in the end did open my eyes and got up but I felt very weak but yet also very heavy, I was trying very hard to keep my eyes open... It was so hard even though I knew u was walking over to my dad, I was drifting in and out of my dream the only difference between the dream and the real life ( I remember them feeling the same) is in the dream I felt light and could hear but in real life like I said felt heavy and restricted and couldn't hear anything apart from the faint sound of my voice saying "dad, dad help me"and he said something but I couldn't hear a thing. I do not remember anything else.
Mar 02, 2012
 paralyzed
by: Anonymous

this often happens to me. I try to remain calm and tell my self just relax and you'll be fine soon. sometimethough i cant help but struggle and panic. regardless you will wake up to your normal self soon.
Mar 03, 2012
 Too much Rem sleep
by: Sandra

It is helpful, but I have a hard time understanding something, you see when I go to sleep at night everything is normal, my biggest problem is when I (Very rarely) take an hour or two hour long nap in the afternoon.My body paralyzes after about 20-35 minutes, and im still just falling asleep but I'm half awake and I literally have to force myself to speak if that is even possible, and sometimes it's not and I have to fall asleep then wake up about twenty minutes later. I thought rem sleep happened after about an hour of sleep...what is this then?
Mar 21, 2012
 hardly sleep
by: lee t

all my life i have talked and thourt in my sleep, the past year my mind has gone mental i see big spooky dead faces before i go sleep so it takes me a while. but the past two week its like im dead. i cant move so i dont get up, i wake up hours later confussed sweating and angry. takes me a hour to sort my head out. i take 45ml mertazipine a night and i have the past three year, why do i experiance this and how can i make it stop
Apr 05, 2012
 paralysis nightmare while beginniing to fall asleep! Almost scared to death!!
by: brenda

i have had numerous sleep paralysis, but the timing is different. it happens about ten minutes, if that, falling into sleep. last night i felt as if there was evil?? present-actually thought i physically felt it. of course, could not open mouth to scream for my husband, could not move limbs. finally, after slowing opening-almost peaking out of right eye out of fear-i can finally move, talk. but what worries me the most is that my heart is racing/pounding so fast/hard, scares to to death-almost!! i am 54 yr old woman, and when i do have these, i remember them being in beginning of sleep. can you give me any help? i sleep on side.
May 05, 2012
 Paralysis and pulsating lights/noise.
by: Anonymous

I have a situation, unsure if it is a dream.
It has happened three times in my life but not for at least twenty years.
I am aware that I am lying there, I am aware that I am completely unable to move.
There is a pulsating humming noise that is making me really sick and an extremely bright pulsating White light.
It is growing with the pulses and I can't stop it. I feel so sick and scared it is inhuman.
After whatever time I am locked into this thing, when I come to and manage to get up (I have to get up then whatever the time because it has been so traumatic) I walk around in a semi concouse state absolutely scared out of my wits. I find a corner and huddle up there so scared I shake. I will stay there for hours till people start to wake up.
Sometimes I am in bed and I feel the pulsing start slowly but then it drifts off. I want to experience it again to see what the he'll it is but I think I know. I just need to know if anyone else has had it.
Please contact me if you have
cavelieral@yahoo.com
Jun 18, 2012
 Don't be afraid
by: Anonymous

I used to have these kind of paralyzising dreams that I came to recognize it almost immediately when I am in it. My whole body will be paralyzed and I will start to fear that something is coming to get me or I need to move otherwise I will be stuck like this. I felt helpless at times like this because even if I will myself to get out of bed and reach for the door knob, it will be like an illusion and I will be still back in bed paralyzed. It will always feel like a losing battle because I feel hopeless and not in control. Recently I found my faith, last night I have one of these dreams again. This time I didn't do anything but I just called out to God. Suddenly I felt I couldn't say His name and was being muted. I got scared and started screaming (in slient) for Him to save me! Suddenly I was out and I no longer feel afraid. Maybe there is a scienfic explanation for all these such as there is one for this kind of condition. I just hope that my sharing might help someone not feel afraid anymore. We are not alone.
Aug 06, 2012
 Can you help me?
by: Abby

A lot of nights I have this dream Of a person covered in a bright white light and another person covered in a dark light are fighting. I try to move and yell stop, but I never can. Then suddenly the person in the dark light will turn his head at me and he has the scariest face I've ever seen. He'll laugh and point at me, and then I'm on the ground, screaming and curled in a ball. When I wake up, I'm still like that and I can still feel the pain. Nobody comes to my room when they hear me screaming anymore because they're used to it. I'm only 12 and this has been happening since I was 5. Can someone please help me?!
Sep 04, 2012
 feeling better!
by: Anonymous

i only do this if i take a nap during the day. i think i wake up, get out of bed and start doing daily stuff. i stop and realize i'm dreaming and can't get my eyes to wake. i manage to move my eyes only for a second and i don't realize i went back to sleep and went back to the same routine. get out of bed, do laundry,etc. i finally catch on it's still the dream. try to wake up and move, takes time but finally i move blink eyes and back to the same dream. i go through this over and over. when i finally force my body to actually wake up, it take awhile for me to realize, yes i'm really up this time! it's scary because i fear one of these time i'll never be able to wake up!
Sep 19, 2012
 Can't sleep been a few days now...
by: Jeffery Duncan

Well okay here I go. It was three days ago. And I laid down for maybe ten minutes still awake. I looked at the clock and it was 12:30 when I fell asleep. And what's odd about this is that as soon as I closed my eyes. It hit me I feel like my eyes was open and I was laying down with my girlfriend. And I could not move,talk or even controll myself. And I know this is werid but after alittle time I sept trying to wake up not only I couldnt move or anything. I seen my dad.. And he was controlling my like my arms. I tried waking my girlfriend up but could not even if I got one arm free.. But anyways he made me mess with her.. And also after that I seen alittle girl walk pass me in the mirror only time I seen her and I've had 17 of these dreams these year and once when I was 6. What do I do? I can't sleep bc I'm afraid to go to sleep again. I need help bad.
Oct 11, 2012
 someone or something wanted me to know it existed
by: carlos ayon

It was about 1230 when my gf woke me up to tell me she had seen someone outside my window. At first i was confused, but she seemed serious yet frightened so i chose to just go with it. She told me the figure was walking across the window headed towards the back door leading to my backyard. Then, i told her to be quiet and that if there was someone trying to get into the house that we would hear the door opening. We waited a couple of minutes but couldn't hear anything. She was really scared and decided to leave. I walked her to her car and then returned to my room. At first i couldn't sleep, i was wondering who it could of been whom she saw. I looked over to my little brother who was sleeping next to my bed. His window was open and i realized that if there was someone outside he might be in danger so i thought about closing it at the same time i was looking over i heard a high pitch noise. Then, all of sudden i looked up at my ceiling and i could see a group of lights over my body. One by one at a rapid rate i could feel each light hit my body as if i was being barraged by an energy machine gun. Whatever this was caused the paralyses. All i could do was stare over at my brother, and hoped that he would wake up and see what was happening to me. I tried moving but couldn't, i was scared out of my mind. I felt hopeless and just thought MOVE! why was this happening to me? After what seemed like an eternity i was finally able to move. However, i still felt as if the presence that had attacked me was still there so i chose not to be hasty and start waking up people. A couple minutes past by and i finally got the nerve to say something to my brother but as i was about to speak I felt the same thing happening over. This time it was more aggressive, i could literally feel my body move as the energy waves hit me. When it was over i woke up my brother and explained to him in a frightful tone what had happened to me. After, i directed him to close the window and blinds and told him to jump into my bed. We were awake for what seemed hours, it seemed my story made him scared to fall sleep so he stayed awake longer then me. The next morning he explained to me that after i had fallen asleep the same thing happened to him. He said that it felt as if someone was pushing down on his chest over and over, and that he too was paralyzed. The only part of his body he could move were his toes, he explained that when it was happening he tried scratching my leg in order to wake me up. We're both still uncertain about what happened and we just hope it doesn't turn into an every night thing.
Oct 14, 2012
 Stuck
by: Ana

I'm twelve years old now.and the first time I got stuck at night I was eight I was confuse and scary I tryed everything screaming , kicking but when I was screaming I heard myself but no one heared me.at first I though that someone was Coming to save but I realized that now one was coming I though like my hole family was dead or something.and I was tie up and someone was coming to hurt me but I did not feel any ropes on me I just said to me it ok don't be scared just close your eyes and go to sleep Nd then I woke up and I though something was really wrong but I left it aolny (: because I was just really happy that I was out of it. I'm twelve now and it still happens to me I always get scared at first but I alway calm myself down and now that it been for year I found I trick of getting out of it I start with my feet up I can move me toes a little so I just keep wiggle then and then it feels like I can me but I don't want to and then it feels like I am still stuck then I just get up but still stuck I thing it because my body is just now realizeing that its wakeing up but now I have learnd to deal with my uncle has it to that's where I thinking get it from no one that I know of has it in my family and I just resintly found out that my uncle has it to and he told me that it call sleep deprivation and I'm glad I now more about it now so I know what's going on well thanking for listen I will be on here a lot to tell people what happens while it goes on we'll thank you for your time and the girl who had the since she was eight our s old and now is 32 I think you should try to move your feet and start up and see if that works bye (:
Oct 22, 2012
 Confused
by: Meagan

This is scary it happens to me also and everytime I fall asleep its like a nightmare n I open my eyes n fight to wake up but can't . It only lasts for a min or so. I hav a lot on my mind also believe its stress n I'm not gettn enough rest so as I sleep away i strongly sleep away n it's hard to getup.
Nov 04, 2012
 Try not to be afraid
by: Kyle , UK

I've had these dreams now for a number of years, and they give you a bigger sense of fear than they do of being scared.. It's the fear that bothers you!

Once, I could hear banging noises, which were getting closer and closer. I was lying on my side towards the door which was slightly open. Upon these noises getting louder, the door swung open and there was a man pointing at me who swung around with the door and was just starring at me . The fear I felt was unreal, and it made me stay awake for hours as I could feel myself going back into this state.

Another time I could hear noises again, I could feel the presence of something in the room, after a couple of minutes I decided to open my eyes, and when i did I seen an old white lady face that was just staring at me no further than 10cm's away from my face .. It wasn't pleasant.

Lack of sleep, and even drinking alcohol can cause this, try not sleeping on your back as this seems to be a known factor too..

I wouldn't wish these episodes on anyone, as it really is frightening. I try tell people who have never experienced what happened and they don't see of feel the same fear I felt , and they think its just a normal dream. Apparently 1 in 3 will experience this in our lifetime, so we're not alone.

Good luck to everyone, and hopefully soon we'll find the answers as to why this really happens, and whether it is a paranormal activity , or just our brains playing tricks.
Nov 04, 2012
 couldnt breath
by: fergie

What if instead of some one breaking in all I could hear was a familiar voice? And it appeared that a friend came to help me move but I could not speak it felt as if I could bearly breath
Nov 07, 2012
 My Own Experience
by: Anonymous

I came here looking for an answer to my own personal experience. I had taken a nap from approximately 1.45pm-3.20pm and dreamt partly about my ex girlfriend. We have been broken up for a few weeks and I haven't seen or talked to her since but I miss her and was thinking about her before i fell asleep. Back to the dream though. In the dream I saw her at our former high school and chased after her across the quad until I got to her. I don't remember what we talked about but she was wearing a pink dress, brown boots, and a jacket. The dream changed to other things but somehow I woke up and there she was standing right on the side of my bed speaking softly and comforting. I don't know what she was saying but it was very kind. I tried getting up but i was anchored to my bed, especially my head. I just watched her for a little and the thing that bothered me was that I knew i was awake but she wasn't real yet was standing by my side. I tried to lunge my head forward while simultaneously gasping but couldn't move. She then disappeared. I heard her voice from behind me but this time it was maniacal and frightening. At this point I couldn't move my head the slightest bit. I closed my eyes and the talking kept going as my mind began spiraling inside itself. I accepted that there was nothing I could do and soon fell asleep and woke up again almost immediately. This time I could move and went straight to my computer and thus we are here right now. Im 100% positive that this phenomenon is explained in the above text so thank you.
Nov 11, 2012
 Sleep Paralysis
by: Anonymous

I have occasionally been unable to move after waking up after falling asleep on my back. I discovered that this happened when I fell asleep on my back with both my arms at my sides. If I sleep on my back, I make sure at least one of my arms is at least shoulder level or above. Since I've been doing this, the sleep paralysis hasn't returned. I don't know why this is??
Nov 15, 2012
 sleep paralysis
by: Anonymous

What is the best thing to do to not experiencing dis again... its scarred me a lot... please help me...
Nov 26, 2012
 Afraid to sleep
by: Tracy

This has happened to me a quite a bit in different times of my life. I am sleeping and I can’t wake myself up. I can’t shootout I can’t call out for help and someone or something is grabbing me or scratching my back or under my arms. I can see all around me but I cannot shout out I will wake up during the stress out and be afraid to go back to sleep. What is going on and does this happen to others?
Nov 27, 2012
 normal
by: Anonymous

I also wake up with these things happening to me I will wake up in the middle of the night.I will see a blanket moving.or spiders crawling on me or the walls.just the other night I saw a cord attached to a pillow.like I was being taped.I usually fling the pillow or blanket.I'm so used to these things happening to me I just go right back to sleep! They don't bother me anymore.its just weird that sometimes I will stare at it paralyzed and other times I will jump right up! I also yell out things! Sometimes it happens a couple times a week other time it will be over a month!
Nov 29, 2012
 Weird sleeping
by: Anonymous

Sometimes when I'm falling into a deep sleep, or am asleep I feel like things are spinning.. Sometimes while I'm alseep and having a bad dream I feel as if I cant move my body at all. I cant move, but my mind is able to function and I try to tell myself repeatedly to wake up, but its hard for me to do, but eventually I do. Another weird thing that happens to me is sometimes while i'm asleep i get this feeling as if something is sitting on me. Its like a pressure that sits on me or is moving on top of me and its hard for me to move as well and wake up. This is all very weird to me. This stuff didnt start happening till pretty recently. I've only had one really frightening experience with whatever this is. One time i was asleep in my dorm room and I'm assuming i dreaming.. anyways,in my dream i was in my bed and I woke up to this black figure hovering over me. I remember i tried to move and scream but nothing came out and it felt as if i was paralyzed from the neck down. I felt this heavy pressure on my chest. All i could make were little moans and whimpers. Then i just woke up. What on earth is going on?
Dec 04, 2012
 scary
by: Anonymous

Mine only happens when im napping ive never have it happen during the night. but i will be paralyized its like i am up and trying to get out of bed but cant. It feels so real that i keep thinking that i am up and pictureing my self trying to get out of bed. Its like im standing next to myself i see the bed the covers and room . Ive actually have had it literally made it feel like i was not breathing. In one instance i was paralyized and couldnt breath i was gasping for my breath trying to call my husbands name,the next thing i know im paralyized and couldnt move then my husband woke me up because i was fully awake when i saw him but it felt sooooo real like i was actually not breathing. why does it happen only at certin times. Its made me not want to take a nape during the day
Dec 05, 2012
 Fun thing to do while lucid dreaming
by: Anonymous2

once while lucid dreaming i was standing in a field i kept quietly telling myself "wake up!" over and over and every time i'd get louder and louder. eventually i felt myself waking up, but i was still dreaming so i said "No, go back to sleep!!!" and even though "i" was standing in the field, i felt my body/mind fall back to sleep and it felt like i had slammed into my bed. it was really fun but it really separated myself from my body, if that makes sense. i would imagine lucid dreaming would be great for people with problems with how they look.
Dec 08, 2012
 ?!
by: Anonymous

I dream when I sleep and when I wake up there is confusion between dream and reality ... what does this mean?
regards
Dec 09, 2012
 REM dreaming/loss of motor tone
by: Anonymous

I also have the same dream-sleep paralysis within 2 hours of falling asleep in which i feel a presence in my room but also know im this weird phase of sleep since my body feels heavy. in previous experiences, saying a prayer or trying to pinch myself somehow wud work to get myself to wake up entirely but this past time i cudnt wake up even tho i knocked my phone on the ground and heard it fall .. it seemed like forever till i finally could awaken. glad to know there are a lot of us experiencing the same thing so I feel less crazy! since this has started occurring more frequently recently, i started writing down what i do before i sleep to figure out what factors might contribute to the paralysis. i have noticed it happens more often when i eat right before i sleep. I def think sleeping on ur back contributes but this time i was on my side so who knows. good luck to everyone trying to deal with this as well
Dec 12, 2012
 Confused
by: Nicole

I have been experiencing sleep paralysis for a couple of years now and after alot of research I am trying to not be so scared when it happens. My question is how is it that when Im awake I know what sleep paralysis is and what to expect from it and to not be scared of it but when its happening I am terrified and have no idea whats going on? I really want to turn it into something good maybe link it somehow to my lucid dreaming..but when it happens i feel like im hyperventilating and that im never going to wake up.
Dec 12, 2012
 Sleep cognition
by: MaM

I have been having these sleep paralysis dreams since I was about 19-20 yrs. The first experience I had, I can't remember the dream but I remember hearing my seven year old nephew screaming (as if someone was trying to kill him),I woke and could'nt move. When I finally was able to, I went to his room to see if was ok and he was sound asleep. Today 12/12/12, I fell asleep and drempt numorous things but in between them I woke a few times but what woke me was, my heart was beating soo hard it felt like it was going to explode and my body was tingling like my foot wen't asleep but the intensity of it was by ten fold! I fell asleep on the futon in the living room, I woke up from both sensations scared, I looked up at the back rest of the futon and forced with all my might to grab the back rest and did pull up some but my body gave out and I fell back down on the futon and went back to sleep. When I started dreaming again both sensations came back and I dreamt a completely different dream but at the peak of both sensations I was in a room of my sisters house with my nephew ( the same one I heard scream but he was vast asleep) and he asked if I was alright and I woke but I was completely able to function, besides minor body tingling. I was curious to know what this is because I have had only two experiences of this sort, the first 2001, second today 12/12/12. I know it occured only twice but I have'nt gotten a good nites rest in a better part of a year. I'd like to know if these are an annual type cognition or are the dreams done due to the encounters of my nephew or could there be more severe dreams to come?
I was curious, but could natural supplements help the mind, such as 5-HTP or Meletonin?
Dec 15, 2012
 scary
by: Nikki

Early this morning I had about six dreams? Or maybye it was a lucid dream but in each dream someone would be out to kill me for example in one I was in my room and there was a low knocking that continually got louder and I forced my eyes open to my Heart beating really fast and the house was silent and with each dream I had I forced my eyes open because I was so scared and I knew I was dreaming and it happened six times??????
Dec 17, 2012
 I just call for help
by: Marcus

I used to find this experience scary when i was younger but now it is quite normal for me, especially during periods of stress or excitement. These episodes used to terrify me when I lived alone but now that I live with my girlfriend I can sometimes cry for "help". If on the occasion I am able to vocalize then my girlfriend just holds my hand at which point i stop to panic and wait until I wake up calmly. :)
Dec 19, 2012
 scared the s#!t out of me!
by: Colleen

Ive had sleep paralasis a few times since i was 19, i just turned 30, on the 12th. I woke up today around 3 something in morn, was on couch, tried to scream to my boyfriend as hard i could, but all that came out was a god awful pathetic moan! The worst part was, i felt something at my feet, and yelling at me, in an un human voice, and a different language. Im still shaking. Its been about an hour since i broke free from it, also, i felt a strange vibration. And the weirdest part was my cats face, he was laying across the room, with a look of terror, looking toward me. Any one ever have anything like that happen?
Jan 01, 2013
 cant sleep alone in night
by: Jenis

i cant sleep alone in night. when such moment comes i start dreaming as if someone is standing next to me but i cant see his/her face. M trying to open my eyes or lift my face to see but i cant. i try a lot but could not. I wanted to know why such things happen with me. why cant i sleep alone peacefully. Also if any day i sleep alot than regular that time also i feel the same. please help me out
Jan 02, 2013
 it is ok
by: Anonymous

I also know what you mean I get that all the time and really you are awake but only your brain and continuous functions work like your eyes, lungs, and heart. The rest of your body is not awake. And when your body sleep you can't move them and when half sleep you feel a annoying tingling felling.
Jan 02, 2013
 What was it?
by: Anonymous

I've had sleep paralysis alot of times but it goes away when I force my eyes open.They say "When the demon rides your back, it's because you've been disrespectful to your elders". I was sleep and all of a sudden I heard my 3 year old brother say "Tae, Tae" Btw: (My name's Tae) and I said "Huh" then he said "I wanna watch T.v" then I woke up and my T.v was off. Only thing about it I remember falling asleep with the T.v on , And my brother wasn't home that night. It was around 3 Am
Jan 03, 2013
 I have this too!
by: Sheena

I have been dealing with this since early teenage years. I wake up but can't move. My issue and frustration came from not being able to breathe and then going into panic mode. I was able to get myself to a point to where I am able to make noises so someone can come to my rescue. I use to see images, like a dark shadow looking at me. At the age of 28 I still have this issue. Mainly when I am sick and I am too weak to fight my way back to movement. Yes that's right..I fight myself out of it and sometimes I snap out of it with my heart racing head pounding and feeling like I have a huge anchor pulling me back down. I pray when I am sick and ask to not have to go through that. It works! When I'm not sick I find myself being able to jump up before paralyses kicks in. Sometimes I am not even dreaming I can just be laying down and it happens.
Jan 05, 2013
 End of the world
by: Anonymous

I felt something strange happen 2 nights ago I had just gotten in to bed or so it seems. And my mind was still very active yet I was very tired. I laid in bed and listened to the sounds of my refrigerator and concentrated on the sound . As if in an instance the sound stopped and I felt as if the room around me was shaking and the darkness of the room got darker . I could see my room but was asleep . I remember in that instance feeling worry that my life was ending. And I remember then my eyes opened and everything was normal. It was bizarre because I felt awake and asleep at the same time.
Jan 08, 2013
 Just had the worst one
by: GC

Have had these attacks for years. Yesterday was the worst one. My husband usually has to get me in an upright position for me to come out of it. Until that happens, I am DEAD WEIGHT like a rag doll, my head lolling freely about. Usually 5-10 minutes. Yesterday, after 30 min, he called for help. I remember trying to tell him to call 911 or my grown son for help. He could not understand me. I was repeating to my self that I was dying this time. It really scared me. They stood me up briefly, still like a rag doll, and applied cold rags to my face. I came out finally. I am always worn out for an hour or two.This all lasted about 45 min.
Jan 09, 2013
 First sleep paralysis experience.
by: Ashley

I just woke up from what I believe was sleep paralysis. I felt like I was getting held down and saw people standing around me.. I guess it was the dream i was having mixed in with my waking up. So strange... My dog was sitting next to me looking at me like wtf is wrong with you!? Lol
Jan 10, 2013
 the reoccuring dream the recent one
by: Autumn

At least once or twice a month i have this dream, I'm running in the street from a man who is trying to murder/rob me, when I think im escaping, I freaze in place, or i cant move.
The other dream scared me, extremely. At 3 am today I was dreaming that I was in a deep narrow cave. My freinds mom was there too. She had a ring that she had dropped down the long cave, which was why us 2 were in the cave, I went to pick up the ring, but when I reached for it I saw there were Now somehow two rings. I don't know why, but oi conected the two rings together. when i did that the rings formed an eye. It was a deep brown with a dialated pupil, it had veins everywhere, it had specks or blood in the eye, and iit was leaking. It looked so real. When i saw the eye I images a woman. My freinds mom then said we dont want anymore freinds and we left quickly. Please I know its long but im scared
Jan 13, 2013
 Fill my house
by: Anonymous

So last night I fell asleep and I dreamt about being in my bed and not being able to move while some people start to fill my house with dirt except for my room but I couldn't get the door open when I thought I was awake because of the dirt behind it. It just kinda scared me and I was wondering what it meant.
Jan 13, 2013
 rem nightmares....
by: Anonymous

Hi i have had these type of dreams frequently since i was about 13(now 25) and i have always found them quite disturbing. It normally happens when im very tired usually after a long weekend, and i normally know before i try to go to sleep that it is going to happen. It could happen ten times in one night.I will start to drift of to sleep and it will feel like my bed is starting to rock slieghtly,then my head will start to buzz and i will feel an impending evil presence as it gets closer, the buzzing gets louder.It feels like it will kill me if it gets to me but when i try to wake up i really stuggle it feels as if my eyes are shaking all over the place when i do wake up i find it very hard not to go back to sleep(feel so drained and tired).As soon as i do go back to sleep it happens allover again so sometimes i just stay up for a few hours i havnt had it now for a couple of weeks because i have been keeping well rested.I have a lucid dream naturaly nearly every night, almost always know when i am asleep, so can manipulate my dreams in my favour probably why i am so saceptable to them sleep paralysis nightmares. Anyway i have found that if i stay well rested and keep my sleep patterns regular i will not have them. Hope this helps,

Jamie.
Jan 16, 2013
 Horrifying Dreams??
by: Rain

Ive had a reoccurring dream for a while now.. It happens in different ways every time though, with different people in the dream. Its like Im so exhausted in the dream and it feels like Its happening for real. In the dream I find myself trying to wake up or stay awake, but my eyes are so hard to hold open. And I try to get up and walk around but I stumble around like a drunk and fall every time. My mom was in this recent one I had the other night and I begged her to help me, and he laughed at me and told me I was faking it. I couldnt keep my eyes open, but they wouldnt close wither. It felt so real and I panicked because I thought I really couldnt wake up... But this cant be an hallucination because I woke safley in my bed right? I wasnt really trying to walk down my hallway, and I didnt really fall... But I felt it.. I didnt know if I was dreaming or awake...please help???
Jan 18, 2013
 Scary and Awful
by: Anonymous

I was in a state of trance last night where i wasn't asleep but i wasn't awake and i saw a small human body sitting and leaning against the side of my bed. i couldn't see its face and i went to shove its knee. It show under my bed and started to pull me under too. i tried to scream, but my trance-like state wouldn't allow me. I finally shook it off and woke up only to realize that i was still getting tugged under my bed. i freaked out and grabbed my crucifix. Help Please
Jan 23, 2013
 Half awake
by: Lawrence

I keep having dreams and I feel like I am half awake while I having them why is that
Jan 27, 2013
 Frozen body!
by: Anonymous

Hi! I dont know with whom should i discuss this. I had a very bad dream at 3am and when I tried to come out of it..I realized that I can not move my body..My eyes were wide open but body was frozen. As that dream was also very horrible I took time to calm down my mind. Still this happened for may be third or fourth time. Can you tell me something about it.
Mar 09, 2013
 Does This Relate?
by: Anonymous

Dear strangers,
I've experienced almost the same thing as the first person stated. I'll sometimes wake up in the mornings and feel restrained... Like I can't move, can't breathe, but I'm gasping for breath and it feels as though I'm going through a faint series of spasms that are oblivious to the people around me. What's wrong with me?
Best regards,
-Anonymous

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Welcome! This site is continuously being created by students of Dr. William C. Dement's Sleep And Dreams course at Stanford University.

We made this site as a call to action for people all over the world to live healthier, happier, safer, and more productive lives by learning about their own sleep. We have faith that reading the information provided on this site will motivate you to be smart about your sleep deprivation and strategic about your alertness in order to live life to your fullest, most energetic potential.

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