Sleep Paralysis Is it a Normal Phenomenon or a Psychic Event?
82Sleep Paralysis.
Throughout history there have always been stories and legends of Demons and monsters visiting us in the dark of the night. Dreams turning to nightmares as we lay our heads down to sleep. As the shadows form, and the moon slides down the sky, we awaken to find that we cannot breath. A heavy weight sits upon our chest, and to our horror a ghastly form leers at us from the darkness. We push up off of the bed, trying to escape, but find that we can't move. We are paralysed. The demon starts to stalk us from across the room, closer and closer until finally it climbs up onto our beds and leans towards us. Hearts beating so fast that we think they will burst from our chest, we silently scream. but nobody can hear us. Then darkness as we fall backwards into sleep, or is it a faint? No, It's Sleep Paralysis. We wake hours later, still covered in sweat. Our hands shake as we recall the demon in the night. Getting dressed we rush to the priest for absolution. 'Father please help me I am being possessed by a demon'. We wail. But is Sleep Paralysis a Normal Phenomenon or a Psychic Event?
The Priest tries to comfort us. 'Don't worry my son, I will exorcise you, and cast the demon out, it seems that you have drawn an Incubbus to you, I will send it back to hell'. You weep in gratitute, and pray for your recovery from this possession.
Succubus and Incubus.
Incubus and Succubus. In legend, an incubus is a male Demon that prays on women at night. The demon mates with the human woman to produce a child. It is thought that if the demon continues to assault the woman, then she will eventually die. In the same way that a Succubus will attack a human male. these legends stem from many countries, in fact the first documented evidence was from Mesopotamia, 2400bc. Scholars believed that many of the stories were made up by the human women to explain pregnancy outside of marriage. Over the years there are many different derivatives of the story, and of course many different names to identify the Demons.
Sleep Paralysis
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The Truth Behind Sleep Paralysis
My Experience
Sleep paralysis used to be believed to be paranormal, in fact in some countries that are still very superstitious, they believe it is a form of possession For example the Exorcist film. In fact it is usually a state brought on by stress. At night your body produces a chemical that rushes through your body to stop you sleep walking, your brain will sleep in co-ordination with your body. If you suffer from stress, the chemicals in your brain deviate from the norm, causing a part of your brain to wake up. But of course the chemicals don't go away. If all your brain woke up then the chemicals will dissipate. I suffer with hyperthyroid and hypothyroid. high and low bad thyroid. When it was high, I suffered with sleep paralysis a lot. Because my brain wouldn't let me sleep properly. Sleep paralysis will cause hallucinations, which is the origin of the Succubus and Incubus legends. Demons sitting on your chest in the night, aliens abducting you etc. The reason why you hallucinate is because, unlike other hallucinations caused by illness or drugs, in sleep paralysis you are literally just dreaming while you are awake. In other words, most of your 'asleep' brain is just dreaming, but the part that wakes up is still dreaming! Therefore the hallucination reflects off of your retina in your eye, and makes you believe that you are seeing an alien etc.Believe me when I say it is terrifying! I have had two really bad Sleep Paralysis episodes. The first one involved me being completely numb from the top of my head to me toes, and 'feeling' a hand pushing against my skin. It seemed to get closer and closer, starting at my feet and working it's way up my body. When it got to my chest, I started to panic. Common sense told me that I was hallucinating, but the primal part of my brain screamed Demon! All sorts of ideas went through my head. Was it real? Has science tried to explain away a real phenomena? Maybe it really was a Demon, or some sort of being. It felt Evil. I knew that it was probably my mind panicking that made me feel this way, but to be on the safe side I started praying. In my mind I yelled for God, and then settled on Angels. It seemed to work. Psychology? maybe. Perhaps by praying I calmed myself down. Or maybe it really did work and get rid of the Demon. Who Knows? The second time that I saw something, I realised what was happening, and watched a person walk around my bedroom! The funny thing was, it wasn't scary or frightening. It was a boy with a backpack on! Strange.
So what is the truth? I can fully understand 'seeing' somebody. As I explained above, it is a classic hallucination. But to feel somebody's hand running up my body? Not sure about that!
Maybe we are all wrong. Maybe it is another dimension overlapping this one. When Sleep Paralysis occurs, maybe our brains slow down, or speed up, to the exact vibration of another world. Scientists believe there are hundreds of Dimensions out there, overlapping this world. Who am I to argue with a scientist? I have had other Sleep Paralysis moments, but I don't very often see anything. All I can say is that, to see something is one thing. To feel them on your body is quite something else!
Symptoms of Sleep Paralysis
So what does Sleep Paralysis feel like? Every episode can be different for individuals. Some say they just go to sleep and then a noise wakes them, only to find that they are paralysed, but others have the same experience as me. It can happen even if you haven't gone to sleep yet. Imagine going to bed, feeling really tired but you can't shut your brain down. Thoughts spiral around your head. you just want to sleep. Then all of a sudden you hear a really loud buzzing noise. But it is not from outside, it seems to be coming from your own head. It gets louder and louder. Then the numbness starts. It is like your body is fed up of waiting for you to go to sleep so it decides to release the chemical to make you stay still while you are sleeping. Sometimes I have heard a choir in my mind. A sound so vast it seems that I am in an auditorium, listening to people singing and playing. It feels as though my head is hollow and as big inside as St. Paul's Cathedral. And then the numbness invades your body.
Incubus and Succubus
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There are a number of ways to try and stop Sleep paralysis.
1. Try not to get too tired. When we sleep to heavy, this can cause us to go into a very comatose type sleep. If a noise awakens us, then we are sluggish, and often it can cause this to happen.
2. Try not to get too hot. This can cause you to keep waking up, and if your body is very tired, it can bring on sleep paralysis.
3. Please don't go to bed stressed. If you do, you may suffer for it later in the night. Make sure you drink a hot milky tea or warm milk with honey, or just take a bath. Anything that will sooth you. And if all this doesn't work, try reading a book. Lot's of people fall asleep whilst reading.
And most of all, if you do have a night paralysis, please do not panic. Try and breath calmly, don't struggle as this will tire you out. And just lay there until it starts to go off. Count sheep, count to ten, pray, even sing in your mind. let your body start to realign.
When you do wake up fully, don't panic. Just get up, put the light on and drink some water. When you feel ready to go back to sleep, keep the light on and open your window. Get comfortable. And be reasured that it should only happen once in a night. When you fall back to sleep you should be fine. And remember, it is all in your mind.
I hope.
Copyright Nell Rose
Notes.
This started out as an answer to a question placed by kentuckyslone. I hope this gives him the answer he is looking for.
This was my experience, if any of you have had this horrible experience, please let me know below, thanks.
My Sleep paralysis was caused, mainly, by my bad thyroid. I was unaware that I had it at the time. Since then it makes sense. So please contact your Doctor for a blood test if you do start to experience this. Nine times out of ten it is because of a problem with your health. And please remember.
You are not alone.
Demon Possession is it Real?
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Alien Abduction
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It is very good that you don't let you been carried away by sensation in this, Nell. Congratulations for that!
The mind is a powerful tool, and we mustn't forget we are spirit and mind, through our souls in the first place.
I've had all kind of dream experiences, but not ones like these.
Although I consider myself therefore not as an expert, I can't help thinking that it is our own mind which produces these phenomenae. Our mind creates the whole world, in fact. That is something I clearly witnessed in one of my dream experiences. It is even not so much "our" mind in the end, but "the" mind.
There is a psychological side to it too, I'm sure.
People have a tendency to deny and oppress deep desires, mostly sexually colored, because of their belief sytems, or social context. Freud wasn't all wrong, you know.
It would therefore be very interesting to know the broader context of people who experience these phenomenae. To my view, one cannot see both separated from one another.
It has happened to me a few times. Mainly classic sleep paralysis; but there have been one or two that I am less sure of.
It is a very frightening experience.
Thank you for a useful and interesting hub. Sleep paralysis happened to me many years ago and was terrifying at the time, but since than I've recognised the early signs of it happening again and have been able to divert my mind to something else and avoid it.
A very interesting hub about Sleep Paralysis. My sister does suffer from this and I have forwarded this article on to her.
This interests me, Nell, because I have heard somewhere, I don't know where, that in dreaming every bit of what occurs or the spirits that people your dreams and the places you find yourself are constructs from your own experience and emotions. That makes so much sense to me that if you build from that then a theory of sleep paralysis dreaming would be that you may be trying to keep yourself from doing something that would trouble your waking self. The reason you can't flee or run after the dream spirit(s) that troubled you in the dream is because your true mind knows these are useless endeavors. The thyroid theory is very interesting, but I don't believe it having taken and not taken thyroid meds and had sleep paralysis occur anyway. I love those fantasy images!
Wow.... this is great information. I never knew about this before though I have wrote about sleep. I hope your tips will help us with sleep paralysis problem. Very inspiring hub, Nell. Again you give us useful information. I never hesitate to vote your hub up. Have a nice day. Happy New Year.
Prasetio:)
Wow I have had no experiences like that. I have had only one nightmare in my life and can't remember it, must have blocked it out. After Mom died I started having really sweet dreams but I could never remember then and even being sad every day, still a sweet dream at night. Now as I stand usually in the kitchen doing things I remember I had a dream but not a clue as to what. The brain is a very strange thing. Great hub! Up and awesome!
Polly
I've never experienced sleep paralysis,but i do have a reoccuring dream.I'm always either trying to find the correct road to work(Hosp.)or i'm in the hosp.and can't find the door to get out,once i was going to the lab. to take a specimen,i looked down at my hand and i was carrying a bucket of blood,now ,this is funny when i tell people,but really it was terrifying.The reoccuring factor is not the blood,it's being lost in the hosp.or not being able to get out once i've made it in.I probably need to see a psycho or an interpteter of dreams.LOL Nice read Nell.Thank you.
Cheers
I didn't know thyroid could affect you,I have it bad.I usually find myself calling for Jesus.But not had them lately.Maybe writing the poems helps to get my feelings out.I used to hear heavy footsteps coming up the stairs very slowly and I would be paralysed.I don't go to Church but my mind seems to call out to Jesus and it works too.
Hi Nell, great hub!
My family has legend about sleep paralysis, or the "ghost in the bed." My dad grew up in Ireland, and shared a bedroom with his three brothers. There was one large bed, and one small in the room. The smaller bed was the one that his grandfather died in. Supposedly, one night my father felt his grandfather laying on him, crushing him, and he was unable to move, and could barely breathe. He refused to sleep in the bed again, and one of his brothers took his place. The same thing happened to him. My grannie called in a priest, who performed an exorcism, but the family still believes the room to be haunted. My aunt won't even go in there.
I had my own experience with sleep paralysis once. I was overtired, and decided to lay down for a nap in the middle of the afternoon. I wound up having a strange lucid dream, knowing that I was dreaming but not able to do much about it. This has only happened to me a few times in my life. I was abruptly jerked out of the dream when I very clearly heard a child's voice say "Who's there?" I found myself laying in my bed, unable to move. The room looked strange, kind of shimmery. At first it was just a feeling, I KNEW someone was in my room, walking around, but I couldn't see them. All I remember thinking was "Why the heck is there a child in my apartment?" I lived in a small studio apartment then, and my one room had an open doorway onto the kitchen. I looked over there, and behind the doorway, I saw a figure standing in the next room. I lay there for a minute, trying as hard as I could to move. It was impossible. I told myself to just wiggle one toe, and after concentrating very hard, I was able to do it. When I wiggled my toe, it was like I blinked and woke up. I could suddenly feel that I was a awake, the room lost that strange shimmery quality, and I was all of sudden in control of my body again. But for a few seconds, there was still a shape where the child had been in the kitchen. It slowly faded to a dark shimmery spot, then disappeared. I jumped out of bed and hightailed it out of the apartment.
I'd never heard of the scientific explanation before, but it makes sense. Sort of. In a technical sense I buy it, but another part of me says that the intense feelings going through me during that strange experience were more than just a chemical reaction...
I actually ended my lease early and moved out of that apartment shortly after that happened. I was too afraid to be in there, especially alone, and began to suffer terrible insomnia. Moving seemed to do the trick, but I hope to god I never have to go through that again, it was one of the scariest moments of my life! Thanks for your hub. It's always good to know that others have had this happen as well, and that I'm not the only one who was scared out of my mind by it!
Nell, it must be very scary. Thank you for writing about it and sharing. I can't belief what all can happened to people. Thank you for an interesting hub.
Hi, Erin, it is terrifying isn't it? I have added a bit that I missed in the hub about what the symptoms are, can't believe I missed them out! I think it could be stress or illness that causes it, but who knows? all I know is that it is scary! thanks again nell
Hi, Christopher, I am glad you haven't experienced it, it is terrifying, I have spoken to others who have had this and their stories are bizarre! thanks again nell
Hi, Antoine, yes the mind is a very strange thing, I hope that one day this phenomena will be explained, I do believe that it is a medical condition, but who knows? thanks again nell
Hi, Christopher, it must have been awful, I remember the first time I had it, I was scared to death! Ughh! thanks as always nell
Hi,mysteryman, thanks for the comment, if you are the person that we spoke to last night, I would suggest just joining hubpages, it is a friendly place and we can help you to choose topics? thanks nell
Hi, Be-Inspired, thanks for stopping by, I believe that there are so many different interpretations of this, every one terrifying, so thank you, nell
Hi, viking, thanks for reading, and I am glad you found it helpful, I hope it will make your sister feel a little better about it, and realise that she is not alone, thanks so much nell
Hi, mega, thanks so much, you may well be right, I do believe that the medical profession don't necessarily understand the real meaning behind it, thanks for the added info and ideas, cheers nell
Hi, prasetio, thanks for reading it, I am glad it that it was of interest to you, and thanks so muc, have a great new year! cheers nell
Hi, Polly, I am glad you have never experienced this, it is horrible! I think you are so lucky to have nice dreams, even though you can't remember them afterwards, they can really warm you afterwards, thanks as always nell
Hi, Ruby, maybe I can help you? I think what it is saying is that you sometimes panic slightly, that you are not doing your job properly, or didn't in the past, carrying the blood around with you and also getting lost is just a sign of insecurity, you feel that you weren't as good as you had hoped in your job, and maybe you were letting people down, in your mind you feel that one slip up could cause somebody to be hurt, and the pressure was making you panic. of course in real life you come across as very confident, and you make others believe in you, but in your mind you panic like the rest of us. okay? hope it helps, I have read tarot cards for years and also trained to be a psychologist! so I think I may be right, but if I am wrong then I am sorry, thanks for reading, have a great new year! cheers nell
Hi, kathryn, it is horrible isn't it? calling for Jesus or just praying can help, anything to calm you down. Just remember it is an hallucination caused by your mind still dreaming even though you are awake, I hope it gets better for you, take care nell
Hi, Anaya, that really was a scary story! I wonder if it was something to do with the way the bed was facing, or lack of fresh air, also of course is the psychological fact that if one experiences it, others will feel that it is the same ghost, the strange shimmery room was exactly how I felt, in fact, if I didn't know any better I would feel that is was an overlapping dimension! that is what it felt like to me! I am glad that this has helped you, even though it is scary, we all seem to have had the same sort of experience, take care nell
Hi, Hello hello, thanks for stopping by, this is certainly a scary and horrible thing to happen, but as long as we realise that it is psychological then maybe we can relax knowing that it isn't anything else, thanks so much nell
Hi hi my dear Nell, :D, Everything that you said that is it you are correct. It is all those things.. Not all at the same time of course :D, but it is one of those things, yes it is. To determine which one is what people who have it must do. For we do different things for each one to be rid of it. So it can be medical and it can be spiritual and it can be dimensional. But my dear, it is never delusional! For all three of those things it can be are very real! :D love you Nell! LD hugs :D
Nell, we really must be alike as I have had similiar experiences. I thought that I was crazy. Thank you for sharing this!
Is it an either/or thing? Maybe some instances are paranormal and some are a natural sleep phenomenon? Could aliens induce sleep paralysis in people they are planning to abduct? Whatever the cause, it will feel real to the person experiencing it and their body will react to their feelings/emotions, so it must be a terrifying and draining ordeal for those who suffer sleep paralysis.
Hi, Sa'ge, thanks for reading, you are so right! it is all of those things, but never delusional! and very scary of course! I hope you had a great Christmas, and tonight is New years eve! We will dance together across the pond! ha ha hugs nell
Nell, this is an extremely interesting hub. All explanations/theories sound so logical. I agree with Antoine Van Hove, but on the other hand...
Some of the experiences I had were very weird. One of them: I (while sleeping) saw my father lying on the coach in our family room. One of the elders in our church, wearing a black evening-suit (coat-tail jacket), were busy pouring boiling water on my father’s chest, rubbing it in. My father’s face was writhed with pain. I screamed: “What are you doing to my father.” And my father said I must not panic, he is undergoing a ritual that will enable him to travel through hell without getting burnt by the flames.
Next morning my mother phoned to tell us my father (three hours per car away from me) had a heart attack. Thrombosis. While I was “dreaming” he was lying on the coach in their family room massaging his chest with a vibrator. He did not realize the burning pain was a blood clot going through his heart. (He survived that attack).
This is but only one of a few weird dreams I had. Some of them might have been Sleep Paralysis, but others, like this one, must have been telepathy or whatever in this line.
Thanks for this article. This is truly a very interesting topic. The existence of dimension is also extremely interesting - I’ve read a lot about that. Enjoy this last day of the year.
Hi, Maranda, it is strange isn't it? I hate it when it happens, but luckily, it hasn't happened for a few years now, but I still remember it! urgg! thanks nell
Hi, CMHypno, it is frightening, I remember when I got it, I tried to be rational and realise that it was purely an hallucination that I was feeling and seeing, but when it happens you do start to regress into superstition, as I said, I did start praying! thanks as always nell
Happy New Year!
I am just happy if I fall asleep!Then all the crazy dreams come. Love reading you.
great hub! I'm the author of the book Sleep Paralysis and my view basically is that the event has biological causes but strong psychological and cultural levels that are important to not dismiss. People who have sleep paralysis (and I'm one of them) also tend to be sensitives/intuitives, and are more likely to report psychic events. the trick is how to use this scary occurance as a gateway into other extraordinary states of consciousness. But it's just as important to know how to wake up when you want and know how to protect yourself from harmful hallucinations. thanks for spreading the word about this important but misunderstood nightmare.
Hi, BJB, happy new year! thanks for reading it, lol I know just what you mean! cheers nell
Hi, Ryan, that sounds fascinating, I am amazed by how many people have had this occurance, and you have written a book about it! It is deeply embeded in our psychy how demons etc are real. Even though we know they are not, at times like this we start to believe them again, thanks so much, nell
Didn't read all the comments, so if this has already been mentioned...But sleep paralysis is also associated with the alien abduction phenomenon, with it's own versions (or maybe the same versions of the incubus and succubus) These things all emanate from the sub-conscious, and could even be related to ancestral memory. The famous fainting goats demonstrate that this evolutionary tweak is not just ours. Interesting.
Hi Druid Dude, you could well be right about the ancestral memory, I sort of remember about fainting goats, I will have to go and take a look, thanks so much nell
Awesome, and a little bit scary. I have Type 1 diabetes and I can always tell (when I wake up) when I've had low blood sugar because I have the most terrible, frightening, unusual nightmares. They usually involve mazes and trying to find my way out of a situation with multiple layers of puzzle and complication. I wake up sweating and stressed, with my heart racing.
Its interesting that your sleep paralysis issues were addressed by looking into your thyroid condition. Our bodies are so complex and the physical interconnected with the emotional in ways we probably will never fully understand.
Fascinating - thumbs up!
Hi, steph thanks for reading it, I am sure that your dreams are definitely connected to your health problem, it is strange how it works and why, but mine definitely disappeared when I got medication for my thyroid, how does it work? no idea! lol but it is fascinating, thanks again nell
Awesome hub, I love the way you interconnected the myth with reality and personal experiences. There are so many causes for sleep paralysis- I wonder if it will be useful if I write a comprehensive health hub on sleep disorders... Thanks again.
Hi, Docmo, thanks for reading it, I am glad you liked it, that would be a great idea for you to write a health hub on sleep disorders, I am sure it will be most helpful to readers, take care nell
Great hub Nell, I have never heard of this before, but find it fascinating. This explains many things I have wondered about.
Hi, bgigstead, thanks for reading it, it is fascinating but also terrifying! cheers nell
In the Philippines when a person dies in their sleep we call it "Bangungot".Perhaps the medical explanation is that their hearts gave out. Reading the first part of your hub gave me the goosebumps as it describes to a tee what I had experienced several times.Is it a hallucination?mental stress? Whatever the reason,it is a frightening experience.
Hi, SilentReed, it can be caused by stress, or an illness, I think what happens is that the chemicals in your brain get a bit muddled when you are stressed etc, and produce the numbing chemical that we all have when we sleep. If we wake up, it doesn't go off so quickly, so we tend to hallucinate or dream whilst awake. it is terrifying though, I hope not to get it again! thanks nell
I have never heard of it before. But what you have said makes sense. I have never had the experience...its sounds so frightening! Thanks for sharing it with us. 'Knowledge is the first step to power'...or something like that? :D It is good to be pre-warned.
Hi, shygirl, you are right there! Knowledge is the first step to power, it is scary, but can be explained, mind you, it doesn't help when you are experiencing it! lol thanks nell
No way Nell! I can't believe how similar your experiences are to mine!
One of the first times I got this most terrifying experience, I coincidentally got the 'loud buzzing noise' in my head which sounded like wind being blown through my ears. Plus I agree that it can happen when you get too hot, that's why I leave my window open all night if it's too hot.
Something that I use to help me is to sit up and shake my head for a second when I feel I'm going to get an episode or if I have just had one. I then sometimes watch a bit of TV or drink some cold water to distract me...
It's funny that you mentioned the incubus and the succubus, I was recently watching a documentary about a woman claiming that she had sex forced upon her during a sleep paralysis episode...creepy indeed!
Great Hub! :)
Dave.
Hi, Dave, it is spooky and horrible, the buzzing scares me to death because I know what's coming! and you are right, the best thing to do is get up and watch tv or drink something, thanks for coming back, cheers nell
Great hub. My first experience with sleep paralysis nearly scared me to death. I was sure that my new apartment was haunted. Some time later, a Google search put me at ease. I had never heard of or experienced sleep paralysis prior to that.
Hi Curtis, thanks for stopping by, it is terrifying isn't it? the first time I got it I was so scared I stayed up most of the night! I hope it has gone now? mine seems to have stopped, fingers crossed! lol thanks nell
I'm a 27 year old male who in the last month has had some unexplainable things happen that i never experienced before that i thought might like to hear and maybe shed some light on the subject.
It started one night when i was lying in bed and felt my feet being held down,a hand moving up along my leg and trying to arouse me sexually.I fought for a bit tossing and turning and when i lay there and refused i'd feel my whole body going cold and something on my face.I gave up in the end and turned out to be quiet enjoyable if i should say that.
Ever since i feel cold sensations on my body all the time and touches on my back,legs and chest all the time.The nights are pretty much the same as the first up until last night when i felt something really warm moving around my face and as i was lying sideways,i felt my head lift a bit and my mouth forced open lightly,as though it felt like a kiss,i'm not sure.
It all seems so unreal at times,maybe its something i'm imagining,but the more i say that to myself,i always end up wiping that thought as soon as it happens again.I hope someone is reading this that might have some knowledge in this matter or even some advice.Thanks.
I like your hub by the way Nell.I never knew anything about sleep paralysis and the affects of it upto now .
Hi, Nelly, it certainly sounds like sleep paralysis, I know that sounds strange but the one thing about it is the hallucinations. because you are awake, you presume that they whole of your brain is awake, but this isn't true, you have to remember that the sleep chemical in your brain, that releases into your body when you sleep, to make sure that you don't walk about etc, only releases when you are in REM sleep the fact that part of your brain has woken up doesn't change that, so when you open your eyes you are in fact dreaming! it is called awakened dreaming, and is one of the main causes of myths and legends talking about demons and sexual incubus, especially as you are young, your mind will automatically be aroused by this so called night demon, because of your hormones. don't worry, you are just dreaming or hallucinating, when it goes off, just get up, drink some water and open a window, make sure that you are totally awake hope that helps, okay? cheers nell
I have never experienced this and hope that it never occurs as it definitely sounds frightening to say the least. Thanks for raising awareness and giving people a venue to share similar experiences.
Hi, Peggy thanks for reading it, it is scary, I have experienced it a few times over the years, and I don't want it again, terrifying! cheers nell
Hey Nell,sorry i didn't reply,just home from work.I just read your comment and your right,it does sound strange but it certainly puts my mind at ease knowing that.Is it normal to experience this all day long sometimes and as soon as i lie down in the bed it becomes a lot stronger.Last night i was texting my girlfriend before i went to sleep and as i was doing this i felt something prodding me in the sides as though it felt like a hand with sharp nails and also on my neck.
Another question for you aswell if you don't mind me asking.Is there a possible cure for sleep paralysis or do i have to wait until it passes itself?Its bearable most of the time when its gentle touches but the sharp prodding frightens me a bit.
Thanks for your comment Nell,people would be very confused it it wasn't for hubs like this.
Hi, Nelly, I am not sure why you are experiencing it in the day, it usually happens when you are tired or just before bed, if you keep getting any pains from it, maybe you should go and see your doctor, I had a bad kidney years ago, and when I was asleep, I kept dreaming that somebody had stabbed me! my body was telling something was wrong when I slept. Maybe you have a sleep disorder that can be sorted out. Go and make an appointment and just explain everything that you have told me, good luck with it, and let me know how it goes? sleep paralysis usually goes of on its own, unless there is an underlying reason for you getting it, okay? go check it out! lol cheers nell
Ohh really?I've gone to the doctor recently and explained everything but she couldn't see what was going on so she took my bloods and gave me a prescription for some sleeping pills,she said she'd investigate further if it was still going on,not sure in what way though.
I'd be sitting down to my lunch at work(i'm a stonemason that works by myself so i do be alone for my lunch breaks),and i feel something touching my leg starting at the bottom and working up the leg and also sometimes it feels like a hand playing with my hair at the back of my head just above the neck.
I don't feel anything when i'm busy as i move around a lot only when i'm standing or sitting still enough to feel all this.
Would that come into the category of sleep paralysis or do you think its something else?I have so many questions that i would love to know the answer to about my problem,its something i never experienced before or heard of in my life.
thanks for your advice so far Nell..(emphasis on so far):)
Hi, Nelly, It doesn't sound like sleep paralysis if it is happening at work like this. I really am not sure what to think it is, maybe a nerve problem? I think that you should go back to the Doctor and explain, maybe they can do an Xray to see if it perhaps a trapped nerve causing the numbness. Sometimes you can have a problem in one place in your body, but it can be felt in another place too, for example my Kidney problem obviously hurt my back, but it also hurt between my shoulders as well, I would go and tell the Doctor, sorry I can't be more helpful, let me know how you get on? cheers nell
Hello, Nell
What an interesting topic you have. I have had some sleep paralysis during my younger years but instead of finding ways to avoid it, I made some personal observations, researches and experiments. In my own opinion, this is not a paranormal phenomena (but paranormal event can happen during sleep paralysis, who knows?), rather it is the inability of your body to respond to your consciousness. The truth is, you can easily escape from this trouble. How? Just try this, it works for me and to everybody I know: during sleep paralysis just move your toe, voila, you can now move with your body, fully awake and conscious. I have no scientific or paranormal explanation to this but anybody can try it. Thank you Nell. Rey M.
Hi, Rey, thanks for reading it, to start with I thought it was something supernatural, but then common sense did kick in and I realised that it was just hallucinations caused by the phenomenon, I eventually managed to move my finger and then the spell broke. But it was horrible, thanks for your added info, I really appreciate it, cheers nell
Nell,It happened to me. It was a few years ago. My family thought I was nuts. I felt like I was going nuts. It was very scary. Maybe if I can figure out how to write about it it will be a hub.
Tina
Hi, Tina, I know, it terrified me too, if you are going to write a hub, just put into words the exact feelings, it will certainly help people, cheers nell
Hi Nell. A very interesting hub. Wow. I have heard of those demons though. Not sure from where. Scary stuff.
Hi, Rhonda, thanks for reading it, I am sure it has probably been on TV, they do tend to do a lot of programmes about this sort of thing, strange though, isn't it? thanks so much nell
Very well explained. It kept me glued from start to finish.
Though I hope I never have sleep paralysis.
Thanks for the hub. :P
I get this a lot. Never understood why but now I do. Thanks for a great hub and a great read.
I had an experience 7 years ago, which is still clear in my mind. I had not been able to sleep, and at 6am decided to get up and lie on the sofa. I hadn't been lying there very long, when I looked towards the far end of the room and saw an elderly lady, standing next to the wall and looking at a painting which hung there. I remember noticing that she wore a lond quilted white dressing gown, which was covered in flowers. I also noted that she wore a very large pair of glasses. I then spoke to her, saying "who the hell are you?" She then looked at me and replied, "I am Mrs. Day!" She then looked back toward the painting and disappeared into the painting. Although this is the oddest experience I have ever had, it was completely real, and seemed perfectly normal at the time. The strangest thing though, is that when describing what I had seen to neighbours, they said that Mrs. Day, who used to live in my home before me, used to wear such a dressing gown and glasses. So, I don't know if it was a dream or not.
HI, Qudsia, thanks so much, I am glad you liked it, cheers nell
Hi, Kobus, it is scary isn't it? I am glad I could help shed a bit of light onto the subject, thanks so much, nell
Hi, Marcus, Wow, that certainly sounds like a proper ghost, if that happened to me, I would try and remember if anybody had told me that before, if not, then I would check out the paperwork from buying the place, and if all other answers don't come to anything, then yes I believe that you did see a ghost! thanks for commenting, cheers nell
Great hub! I suffered from this disorder when I was younger. I started believing that I was being visited by some perverted demon. I realized though, that it usually happened when I slept on my back. Some people think it can be related to sleeping apnea, but I think probably too much blood flowing to the back of the brain where the cerebellum lies to be the likely cause, since the cerebellum is located at the rear part of the brain and it is responsible for controlling voluntary movement. Of course this is just my own hypothesis, I am not a psychoanalyst or neuro- scientist. However in my case, it wasn't until I stopped sleeping face up that I stopped having this disorder. Thanks for the information and for helping demystify some horrific demon legend.
Hi, mrod, thanks for reading it, you could well be right! I would never have thought of that, thanks for the added info, it could well be the answer to the problem! thanks so much, nell
Wow amazing hub. I myself have had two quite freakish experiences. 21 years ago when I was about, 8.5 months pregnant with my first child. Fell asleep watching tv in bed, was sleeping really soundly. Best sleep I had had in ages. Suddenly at 3.15am exactly, my eyes opened. It was like automatic, I had no control over it. The first thing I noticed was the time on my alarm clock. I could move my eyes but nothing else. At first I was so scared but then this feeling of calmness, came over me. Suddenly I felt as if I were floating, about 5 feet above my bed. I swear that I was, no joking! All these amazing colours started appearing. swirling around my room, like a cloud in the sky. It was very calming. The whole thing lasted 5 mins exactly. Then, my eyes started to open like normal. Slow not fast and I felt sleepy, like I had just woken up. Did not see people or anything though. That child that I had, has had the best of luck his whole life. I was never able to explain it. 3 years later, I moved in to a new rental property. One night I walked in to my room, to go to sleep. The room was ice cold and it never was like that. I got in to bed and felt a terrible feeling, deep in my gut. I sat up and looked around, when this horrible, disfigured ghost thing appeared to me. It and I swear, came through the wall at me with arms stretched out forward and hands open. You have to remember, at this point I have not even been asleep yet - I am scared stiff and cannot believe what I am seeing. I threw myself back in to the bed and covered myself entirely with the blanket. I pulled the blanket tight and held it down. This thing, whatever it was - hovered over my bed. I felt the bed move and it tryed to remove the blanket. There was like an electricity in the air, I felt it through my skin. After a few minutes it stopped, what ever it was gave up. It was definately out to harm me but I am not sure why? The best way I can describe this is to look at greek mythology. This figure looked almost exactly like Medusa. I stayed there all night with the blankets over my head. I did not come out, till the next day and I never sleep in there again. The loungeroom became my bedroom, till I got a new place. Never could explain any of it.
The spirit world is as real as the physical one we are used to live in. No matter how much we try to explain everything with our medical/psychological/chemical/reasoning ways, our gut feeling tells us we are in contact with the other dimensions. I had this experience too, specially during my youth. For me, after the buzzing sound, came the paralysis and then i would get out of my body and float around. Usually it was a peaceful experience and sometimes very spiritually liberating. Other times i felt hands touching my feet, or someone laying on top of me. Not one to be sexually harassed without a fight, i never gave in to the spirits advances. Later on in life, i got saved and followed Jesus and i can say positively that just calling on His name stops the whole experience right away and you wake up. It is better not to give in to sex with these spirits, because you can never be sure if it is a demon, an alien or an angel of God. Best thing is to ask it to identify itself in the name of Jesus.
Hi, skellie, thanks so much for your great comment, I really appreciate it, I do believe the first incident was prbably Astral Projection, it has been written about for many years but nobody has been able to study it, I am not sure about the second incident but I would have left too! cheers nell
Hi, skellie, thanks so much for your great comment, I really appreciate it, I do believe the first incident was prbably Astral Projection, it has been written about for many years but nobody has been able to study it, I am not sure about the second incident but I would have left too! cheers nell
Was happy to share my experience with you. Wow astral projection - I always wondered what happened. As for the other, I feel it was the house I was in - bad vibes. Look forward to sharing more of my weird experiences with you - great hubs :)
Hi, skellie, I think that must have been what happened, but the house bad vibes, I do know what you mean, apart from an apparition, even a bad feeling of the place can spook you out!
I have had some experiences like this as well. My body was "asleep" but my mind was wide "awake". I have had people come into the room where I was sleeping and have conversations. I later asked them if they were indeed in the room and said such and such. They confirmed that they did. It is terrifying to be aware of what is going on around you and not be able to move at all. These posts have given me some explanation and clarity.
Hi, Lisa, glad I could help, they can be terrifying, I think that as long as you don't panic, you get out of it quite quickly, but they are scary sometimes, thanks nell
I have never heard about this problem. Thanks for sharing this great knowledge.
Hi, dpatullo, thanks for reading it, I am glad you liked it, cheers nell
Wow, Nell - Your experience sounds scary! I've experienced a deep sleep that I had trouble waking from, but always considered it a 'bonus!'and just laid in bed until it shook itself off. No 'demon-like' stuff, though. All the other symptoms sound like menopause to me, and if none of the remedies here work, deep breathing is a good one and focusing entirely on something else might help too. Great hub - Excellent tips for those who may be frightened by the symptoms (and I can see where they would be!). Most Excellent, Nell!
Hi, mwatkins, you may well be right about the menopause, if something upsets your body in any way then it is possible that it can cause sleep paralysis, but it is scary! thanks so much, nell
When I was young sleep paralysis was a really scary experience because people always say that it got something to do with ghosts and demons :(
Hi, Seventh Isle, thanks for reading it, it isn't anything to do with demons or ghosts, it is simply hallucination and dreaming, I hope that helps, thanks so much nell
I have experienced sleep paralysis in the past. I had to use my will to get myself to wake up and move. I can't attribute the paralysis to any outside entity though.
Hi, Mazzastick, it is horrible though isn't it? I quite believe that it is just a chemical brain thing, but it is still a scary thing to happen, thanks for reading it, cheers nell
Don't hear many people talk about this one. happened to me once and it was by far (like 100s of times) more frightening than anything else I have ever felt. It was this feeling of absolute dread. I was living in a tent in the woods, so I was very stressed, which is why it happened, and what made it even worse, because even after the feeling passed, I was still lying there in a dark forest alone. Yikes!!
Hi, junkseller, Oh dear! I can't imagine a worse place to experience this! thanks for reading it, I hope you are okay now, cheers nell
woke up in the middle of the night to wind swirling on the left side of my bed...was confused - why was wind blowing? window and door to my room were closed....almost felt stormy like it was swirling...didnt feel scared, but was bewildered...lie awake for a while, and then heard a very audible 'ahhhh' sounded like a woman, she sounded satisfied, relaxed...am perplexed as to what it all means. night before, I woke up feeling as if someone was sitting down on the mattress, and then felt the pressure on a few other parts of the mattress, as if there were more people...can you shed any light on this at all??
Hi, Joan, thanks for reading it, I believe that you were probably having some sort of awakened dreaming. It can be quite disturbing, it may seem like it is real but it incorporates two things, one is that you probably felt a bit cold and woke up, but your mind was still asleep. When this happens it is a bit like an halucination, your mind is still 'seeing' things that aren't physically there, if you were asleep you would probably dream about the pressure on the bed etc, I have had this happen to me, it is strange but it is being awake when dreaming, hope this helps? thanks nell
It does appear;you and I have something specifically in common:we have just come to different solutions.Mine is to keep searching; yours is apparently found. Science, pseudo-science or something else? One day will all know: with wisdom as a given. Peace and good fortune Neil Rose.
Hi, Alastar, I do still like to get to the bottom of things, some of the theories above are probably true, but I never believe anything until I see it scientifically proven! lol thanks so much nell
You are correct in my opinion, that as we ponder, there is a scientific explanation for these things. Perhaps some of them are known, just not to the world at large yet. There is at least one mystery, however, that as long as we are in our present form, will never be explained...who came first, the chicken or the egg? lol..thank you Nell.
Hi, Alastar, thanks again, I think that we will always try and find out answers, but we will probably be completely wrong! lol that's why I love quantum physics, the answer is there somewhere!
iv had these alot! so much once that it did stop me from sleeping for a good two months! iv had the experiences of being held down and to stop it id have to try and breathe really fast and loud to get my ex partner to wake me propely it is very scary! the worst experince i have had like this i was so sure it was a spirit it scared me very much ! i was getting into bed one night my friends daughter was in the bed next me she is 8yrs old and my friend was in the room next door sleeping on the sofa, i pulled the covers up and closed my eyes im prety sure i was awake id just got into bed this was a horrible feeling of not being able to move then suddenly something strangling my neck for about 30-60 seconds i cant be sure of time exactly but im not sure if something was shaking me or i was shaking it to get it off of me i opened my eyes as my head is moving (shaking) and i could see like a grey smokey thing right in my face ( the 'thing' looked like if you light a lighter and look above itit looks like moving waves from the heat it was like that , like looking above a toaster at the heat rising ) as it stopped i sat straight up my chest and neck hurting trying to realise or even make sense of what had just happened two mins of sitting up my friends daughter sat up and burst out crying i calmed her down and said whats the matter she replied that a blue ghost was in my passage calling her she did not remember this the next day! iv also a few months ago been sleeping and been woken up by a hand sliding underneath my belly while i was lying on my side, the next day i thought nothing of it! the next night it happened again it feels as if someone is cuddling your side and belly or sliding there hand under to carry you, this time when i woke up i grabbed the hand and turnt my head back to see what was there i saw bright white line up to the ceiling it dissaperead, two days later i sadly had a miscarriage! im not sure what these expereinces are, i beleive it could be ghosts or simply my conciuos of being worried of being held down in my sleep that made me go to sleep with scared of weird things happening being on my mind! it scared me alot only some people belive me! i do not take drugs and was not drinking alcohol when these happened!
Hi, flowers, Wow! thanks for such an indepth look at your experiences. I would love to be able to say that it was sleep paralysis in the scientific way, but to be honest I don't think that anybody really does know the truth. I do know that chemicals in your brain release something to keep you still at night so that you don't go walk about, and you can halucinate if you wake too quickly because your brain is still asleep and dreaming, but from someone who has had such strange things happen to them, I do believe that it could well be something supernatural. The trouble is, people always think they no best, your friends many laugh it of, because it has not happened to them, but believe me, there is more out there than we can possibly know. Maybe you should try meditation before sleeping, or a mantra. Imagine a golden or blue ball of light surrounding your body, this is best done when you are sitting on or in the bed, just before sleep. imagine the light protecting you from harm, it should work. if it is psychological then it will train the brain to stop these incidents, or if it is spiritual then it will stop it that way too, either way is a bonus! good luck, and thanks nell
Very helpful information. So much that I never knew about what stress can do. God Bless You.
Hi, stars, thanks again, you are so right, your brain can produce some strange things when you get stressed, take care nell
The first time this happened to me, I thought I was going to die. The only thing that calmed me down was knowing that I was breathing. I wish I had time to write more about my own bizarre experiences with this phenomenon--it's happened many times over the past 25 years. I so appreciate your sharing your experiences; they are very relatable, for sure! I'm wondering--are you, as the writer of the book on Sleep Paralyzation commented--a highly sensitivie/intuitive person? I was happy he had mentioned that, as I am. Anyway, hope your sleep from here on out is quality; full of happy, empowering dreams! Take care, Laura
Hi, Laura, yes I am very intuitive, I have been psychic all my life, but I don't like saying psychic really because I believe the way that people like you and I, are something that scientists will be able to explain one day, thanks for reading, and I am glad that you found it so helpful, cheers nell
I've only experienced sleep paralysis a couple of times, and neither was frightening. No sense of being sat on or physically attacked, no strange people in the room. The first time I was having a dream where I was falling from a cliff and knew it was going to really hurt if I hit the rocks at the bottom. I willed myself to wake up, but did so so quickly that it took several minutes for my body to catch up.
The other time, I was sound asleep in my flat when the next door neighbor came home and slammed his door so hard that the bedroom walls shook. Again, I became conscious long before my body "woke up" too. Actually, I rather enjoyed the feeling of being totally immobilized, so maybe it wasn't true sleep paralysis and I'm just weird. ;D
Hi, JamaGenee, I did the same once when I was asleep and someone knocked on the door! my mind was saying, okay move! lol I think when someone has sleep paralysis with hallucinations, it can be terrifying, its the whole package, so to speak!
I had this in high school. I used to think a panther was getting in my bed and sleeping next to me when it happened. Or, when I got older and it happened, people were walking around my house. I got angry at that because I could hear them cooking in my kitchen, and I didn't want to clean up their mess. Both times were under a lot of stress. Never had the alien abduction or possession feeling, though. Guess I got lucky cause that would have freaked me out.
Hi, Stephanie, I know it is frightening, and you can see why people would think they had been abducted! the hallucinations are terrifying sometimes, but yes you are right, it is stress, funny how it happens though, horrible! thanks for reading, cheers nell
Hi, Nell Rose. Great hub I just stumbled upon. Well, I have experienced sleep paralysis in the past and want to relate two instances, one horrifying and one awesomely uplifting and beautiful.
I went through a period of some months where I would often awake in the middle of the night completely paralyzed and with the head of a white tiger hovering in the air over me, glaring menacingly and silently snarling. I would be so overcome with fear that I felt my heart would stop. I would try with all my might to move or scream and all I could manage was a tiny moan. My husband would turn over and say, Wake Up! and the tiger head would vanish. I never knew what was causing this and don't know why it went away, never to return.
Way more amazing to me is what I read in your hub about the heavenly chorus. Once, long ago, in the middle of the night, my head was suddenly filled with the most awe-inspiring music possible; the voices of many mighty angels in pure soaring harmony, oh words fail me! How frustrating; really, the sound was so above and beyond anything we humans can make. I told my husband about it the next morning, about how if only I could write the music and somehow produce it, the entire world would stand amazed. I wish more than anything I could share this music but I can't even recall anything specific about it; just that it would change the world if it could be heard. The lion would lie down beside the lamb, so to speak.
Great hub, Nell Rose, wow you generated a lot of response and brought back memories!
Hi, Silva, thanks for telling me your amazing story, its funny how most of us experience the same thing, especially the Chorus. it is hard to explain, the only way as I said was to think you were in a large hall with great acoustics, and the singing and music was out of this world, the white tiger is strange, maybe that is what you fear? our subconcious mind is a wonderful thing, but can be quite disconcerting! thanks for reading, cheers nell
I know exactly what you mean! In fact, I had one recently! Fortunately for me, I learned to lucid dream and I actually managed to gain control and cause it to go away! Then I woke up and was all sweaty. Felt very proud of myself though! Great article and very informative!
Hi, kripkrip, its horrible though, isn't it? thank goodness you managed to control it, makes you not want to go to bed! thanks for reading, cheers nell
I've only had this happen to me twice. I had my eyes closed both time so I didn't see anything. I also never felt anything or anyone near me. I just couldn't move, but I could hear what was going on around me.
At first it was interesting that I was awake, but couldn't move. But, after a few minutes I got worried and started to try and force my head to move. After about a minute I was able to move and fully recovered my mobility.
I do know that during sleep your body is paralized so you don't act out your dreams. Of course, things can go wrong for some. I've read what you all have posted, but I must admit I would be looking forward to a third time this happens...as long as my eyes are closed again so I don't have any hallucinations.
Hi, Jason, it is amazing how many people do get this, unlike you I would be terrified if I got it again! lol thanks for reading it, cheers nell
(I am indulging in the same, impatient-must-write-comment-no-time-to-read-other Comments! appologies to all other Commentationers, but the topic is soo cool.
Someone must already have mentioned 'lucid dreaming', but that is the core of my contribution to this Hub.
It has been years and years since I had the experience, but no one could forget that 'buzz' 'vibration' that is the harbinger of (whatever) this state of sleep this is, I remember it as a 'flash of static inside my head'. lol
(now go to sleep, clark, pleasant out-of-body experience!)
The static (for me) would be followed my a vibration that I would be sure would rattle my teeth out (no laughing from the Freudians out there! lol) the cycle of vibration would increase until it disappeared.
I think I saw reference in one of the Comments above about 'seeing through their eyelids'; another remarkable sensation.
I will now be a good neighbor and read all the preceding Comments.
As always, Nell, you have hit a nerve with your Hubifying.
Hi, Clark, it is a strange phenomenon thank goodness I don't get it these days! that vibration is the thing that spooked me out, I would love to be wired up to a machine that would read my brain patterns when this happens, mind you it will go of the scale! lol
I still can't download my phone to my pc, something to do with a driver? my phone isn't compatable for some reason, its driving me mad! any ideas? thanks nell
...unfortunately I am not very tech savvy, at least when it comes to phones, which is a shame*. I have photos in my phone that I can see (in the phone) but cannot get out. I think there is something about emailing it (from within the phone). But then again, push one too many buttons and you phone will turn up inside your computer monitor, ringing for you answer...lol
*the shame is that I will need to learn more about phones cause I am thinking about doing a "live video skype thingie" for the Saturday Night Drives** that we do at the Doctrine. So if I learn anything about phones I will be sure to pass it along.
** call in 'show' where we drive around Wakefield and people can call us as we do. Fun
Hi, clark, I will try the email thingy, hopefully it won't disappear inside the pc! lol I have watched a couple of your drives, I saw them on youtube! I love the hat on the dashboard! lol thanks again nell
Very interesting Nell. I have had my own encounter, true story. I was sleeping and woke up. I couldn't move or talk. I tried to scream for Ash and nothing. I knew something was wrong, but I saw nothing. I was then slung to the floor, but I never hit the floor. I was hovering belly first, some six inches off the ground. I couldn't move or speak. What was probably seconds felt like minutes. I was then thrown on the bed and able to move. Two nights later, my wife has similar experience. She couldn't move or talk. It grabbed her by the ankles, vut managed to finally move her legs. She saw black matter on the ceiling/corner of wall near ceiling. Still confused. Hope I don't sound crazy.
Hi, lyric, it started to sound like a classic case of sleep paralysis, until it got spooky. I think this is one of those situations that can't be answered, was it just an hallucination on both your parts, or maybe something else? demon, other dimension, choose whatever you think fits, I do believe you because I had a similiar well a few things happen to me, One night I woke up and felt numb, then it wore of within seconds but I looked up and saw a swirling cloudy thing on my ceiling above me, I jumped out of bed and went into a crouch, all this within about 2 seconds. my husband thought I was mad, but I saw it, maybe it was my Astral projection slinking home? or maybe something more. I remember one of my sleep paralysis was terrifying, I woke up to get a drink and when I got back into bed my brain obviously was still asleep and I heard that horrible buzzing, next second, I was on my back, I felt something crawling up me! like an unseen demon. I felt its hands on my ankles, then my knees, I was watching it! not physically you understand because there was nothing to see, but in my mind I could see hands slowly crawling up my body. knees, belly, then shoulders, I knew it was going to get to my face next and I panicked even more, so I started praying, now believe me this isn't something I do often in a conventional way, I am always having a chat with God or Goddess all depending on what I want to say, but this time I said the Lords Prayer, and voila' it disappeared. Psychological? I have no idea, Hallucination? maybe, and by praying my mind broke the circle, but who knows, all I do know is that I can see why superstitious people believe in demons etc! thanks nell
Nell, Hi there! I am surprised I never caught this hub when it was new. I have suffered from sleep paralysis several times and it is scary! I know what causes it, what happens and have finally learned how to avoid it from happening. It is a terrifying experience. My way out of it is to force that part of my mind that is awake to move any part of my body, usually I can force a slight movement in one hand and if that happens then fling the arm out. That breaks the spell and the fear disappears with the 'demon', for it brings my brain back into balance (I guess). Thank you for bringing enlightenment and knowledge to this condition.
Hi, Phyllis, it is terrifying when it happens, I try the same thing, the main thing is not to panic, but you can't help it sometimes! I mainly got this when my thyroid was either to high or to low, touch wood! lol Its gone away now! fingers crossed! thanks for reading, cheers nell
This was an excellent hub on a fascinating topic. It explains some issues I was having and I now feel a little saner. Thanks for a great hub.
Hi, Gemsong, I am glad you found it helpful, it can be a scary experience, thanks nell
Wow. This is truly one of the best hubs that I have ever read or seen. Excellent hub. Thanks for the tips and the very valuable information. I love reading your work and I really look forward to your future hubs. keep up the awesome work.
Hi, southernwriter, thank you so much! I am so glad you found it helpful, and I look forward to reading your hubs too, cheers nell
Hi Nell. Thanks for the post. I have had what I believed was sleep paralysis for about 4 days in a row. It was absolutely terrifying. I didn't have the demon thing (thank God) I just couldn't breathe and was screaming for my son, who I saw sitting at the table, ( and he was!) but he couldn't hear me. he said I Never said anything. It was the worst experience I ever had and never wanted to sleep again. I was reaching out to him, slapping the bed, screaming for help, and he never responded. He was 5 feet away and said I never moved. I was very ill at the time and we were in a hotel. I prayed it would never happen again.
Hi, weezyschannel, that's probably why you had it, anything that rocks the boat of your metabolism will cause this, it is terrifying, I know especially the hallucinations, hopefully this is the only time that you get it, I had loads when my thyroid was too high and too low, thanks for reading, cheers nell
I had about 7 or 8 total. Just one is enough. I told my son I was screaming so loud they should of heard me downstairs. but then the next night, same thing, but I could hardly scream at all. I tried really hard, but wow. Take care Nell. You have great hubs and interesting.
Hi, weezyschannel, I hate it, but hopefully, fingers crossed! it won't happen again to either of us!
A very interesting hub. Enjoyable to read. Flexi
hi, flexi, thanks for reading, much appreciated, cheers nell
My brother started suffering from this a few years ago and he had no idea what it was. I did some research and discovered it had a name. Since then he's been doing a lot of reading and research into it and now feels he can control the attacks. He believed it started due to abnormal sleep patterns caused by some very early work shifts which meant he never had a solid regular amount of sleep within a week. It was pretty scary for him to begin with but now he seems ok with it and the episodes haven't been nearly so frequent. Thanks for the Hub. There really should be more info out there about this condition.
Hi, Little Light, it can be a terrible nightmare in more ways than one, I am glad your brother has got it under control now, I agree with him about the sleep patterns, thanks so much for reading, cheers nell
What a fascinating read. I can't really comment on the deeper meaning of sleep paralysis but I have had a number of episodes over the years. It's something I can predict will occur because it happens frequenty when I am either 1) very stressed out or 2) am sleep deprived.
What is strange about my episodes of sleep paralysis is that they I seem to drift into them while I'm still asleep, rather than become aware of them after I've been asleep. Typically when I'm tired or stressed and lie very still in bed, I feel some kind of shift in my head. Then over the next 5-10 seconds I gradually realise that I'm finding it more and more difficult to physically move.
When this is occuring, I can either struggle to move straight away, in which case I usually 'snap out of it' or if I leave it longer I start to feel very afraid, and that there is a dark presence in the room. Sometimes I hear walking or muttering which makes me feel quite afraid. I'd love to be able to tell myself that there is nothing to be afraid of, but the pattern keeps repeating none the less.
On one occasion, something different did happen. I started to feel very light, as if I was floating out of my body slightly. If I could keep calm and avoid the fear aspect, and have experiences like that, that would be great. It seems to be a gateway into lucid dreams and all sorts of interesting things inf channeled correctly.
Hi, icount, sorry it took so long to answer, my stupid pc is playing up, I know what you mean, I used to get it when I was just drifting of to sleep, same thing, either get up quickly or find myself going deeper and deeper not being able to move even my hand, and yes I hallucinated too, the worse one was when I felt someone creeping up my body, I could feel their hands on my legs, then my stomach until I mentally screamed and it went, terrifying stuff, did you hear the music too? I used to hear orchestra music, sounded like singing or playing in a great auditoreum, echoing through my head, and I saw a man walk past me, I got it when I had a bad thyroid, especially when it was high, hope yours is better, mine seems to have stopped now, thanks nell
Dear Nell. Very interesting account of this phenomena. A lot to take in here. I hope you are well now. Blessings, Debby
Hi, Debby, yes thanks, it seems to have stopped now ever since my thyroid is better, but it was a nightmare! literally!, thanks for reading, cheers nell
Our hormones regulate so much besides the metabolism of our bodies. Glad you are doing much better. Love, Debby
Thanks Debby.
I know several people who have seen ghosts, myself included, and the most obvious similarity between all these experiences is that they happen at night, when the person has just woken up. Whenever someone tells me that they have seen a ghost, I always ask them if the ghost was standing at the bottom of their beds, and so far everyone has answered yes. I used to wonder why ghosts don't appear in the daylight to more than one person.
Hi, Muldania, yes I agree with you, most people see ghosts at that time of night because of the fact that they are awake and dreaming at the same time, unless of course they really are seeing ghosts, and its because our brains are in a different state, I think ghosts are one of those things that will never be proven, but you never know! thanks for reading, cheers nell
Interesting hub. Now that ghosts and demons are explained well in this hub, I don't have to be afraid of the dark again. :)
Hi, BeatsMe, you never know! lol!still best to keep your eyes open! thanks for reading, cheers nell
Very interesting hub and informative. It gives me something to really think about. I have had only two experiences that seem like sleep paralysis but I can't be sure. They were both several years apart. The first one I was living in an apartment complex with my husband and kids. One night I felt as though I was just barely coming out of my sleep or maybe that throughout most of it I was slowly waking up. I felt something grabbing my legs and holding me down. I was scared to open my eyes. I'm not sure how long had passed when I finally opened my eyes because for a while I was struggling to move my head. Finally, I was able to look but I didn't see anything. Then, I heard a voice that sounded like my aunt who had passed away three days prior. She called my nickname and that was it. The second time was even more frightening and happened just a few years ago in the place I'm living at now. I was having a nightmare. In the dream I had noticed something evil and was trying to get away from it. Suddenly, I felt arms around me. They were very pale with long nails and they wouldn't let go. I tried to yell out but couldn't. Then, It seems I had woken up and opened my eyes although I can't really be sure but I was looking towards the wall lying on my bed and the arms were still around me. I kept trying to call out to God and was clawing at the hands in a desperate attempt to make them let go until finally I was able to squeak the words out. It then let go. Those are my experiences. Thank you for letting me share. I hope I don't have any experiences like that again.
Hi, it definitely sounds like sleep paralysis to me, the scary thing is that people in the past always thought when it happened it was demons in the form of succubus and inccubus, who knows? maybe they were right, and we try to explain it in a way that is scientific, either way its a terrifying thing, hopefully you won't get them again, thanks for reading, cheers nell
Search Remsleep or Hypnagogia. Its ether that or you have a medical condition and should consult a doctor.
Thanks!
I always thought it was ghost like.... Now i feel better knowing that part of our body induces us to experience such a scary feeling... Thanks so much i learned a lot from this ...
Thanks kleo, it can be very scary, but knowing it is just our bodies can take the panic away, and hopefully restore calm. And hopefully this will stop it happening, glad you found it helpful, cheers nell
Its a very interesting hub.Voted up!
Thanks jirel, glad you liked it, cheers nell
Your article on sleep paralysis was excellent. I wrote a similar article on the subject based on my experiences, but in no way does it compare to your details and research. You have my most sincere complements.
Oh yes... I added your link to the end of my article. Suggesting it be read. I often get readers who are concerned and want to know more about this subject. I feel your article will be so much more useful to them.
Thanks Nick, sleep paralysis is a terrifying thing if you don't know whats causing it, so I am glad you liked it, and thanks for the link! I will come and take a look! cheers nell
Hello Nell,
I must say, your dream experience actually terrifies me. I have never had the phenomenon you describe happen to me. However, I have experienced dreaming about falling - and just before I crash I wake up. Those get a bit tense! This was very interesting. Good one!
Thanks for reading, john, yes people all around the world have had this happen, and it can be terrifying. In a lot of countries they actually do believe its some sort of demon, of course we know its hallucination, but its still scary! thanks!
If someone has never had a sleep paralysis phenomenon happen to them, it's really hard to describe it to someone who doesn't believe in such a thing. It's so frightening and lifelike. I've had these happen before and it's always scary to try and go back to sleep for fear that it will happen again!
Hi, lifestylepets, yes they can be terrifying! the best thing to do is get out of bed, walk about a bit, then maybe get some water, then try to sleep again, but yes its horrible! thanks for reading, cheers nell
How scary for you Nell but at least your pretty sure now it's related to the thyroid issues. I have had the kind of dream where I am trying to wake up but I can't. Then while dreaming I am trying to walk and I can barely move. I feel like there are weights on me. Eventually I wake up and realize I was dreaming and in a very deep sleep. Thanks for sharing your story and for the great tips. I hit every button and will share this.
Hi, Minnetonka, it is so scary when you get it, I know that people do get it for a number of reasons, but sleep paralysis in my case, I hope! was caused by my thyroid, but it can happen to anyone, thanks so much for reading and the share, etc, nell
Great hub, thanks! I just read a book by a young man who suffered from this and came to the conclusion that it is kind of a combination of both--physical and paranormal. I feel like it's kind of like that too--like the physical trigger opens a door to other stuff to come in, although the pressure on the chest and so forth, I think that is definitely just a misinterpretation of normal events and physical processes.
I had this happen to me a few times when I was in my 20s. It was scary but not awful. I didn't feel overly freaked out, but then again, I have an interest in odd things. Interesting that it hasn't happened again since then.
Hi, CR, you may be right about the physical trigger opening a door, I have often wondered that myself, I am glad you found it interesting, it just scared the wottsits off of me! haha! thanks for reading, cheers nell
Interesting hub, Thanks for your comment Nell,people would be very confused it it wasn't for hubs like this.
Hi, louromano, glad you found it helpful, it can be a frightening experience, but we have to remember that it is a physical thing, and lots of people do experience it, thanks for reading, cheers nell
Have had Sleep Paralysis since childhood... used to scare me a lot now just used to it ..used to happen 4 - 5 times a week in my 20's-30's now i'm in my 50's maybe once every 2 months ... Had some pretty out there experiences including hearing a 1000 piece
choir .. one thing thats always present is the warning before hand ...the buzzing that goes off in my head..
Hi ,Frank, I feel sorry for you, its a nightmare isn't it? literally! That darn buzzing! I know just what you mean, it scares the life out of me because when I hear that I know whats coming! and of course the choir! in any other circumstances that choir would sound amazing! I always say that it sounds as though they are singing in a huge building like St. Pauls Cathedral! Try to calm down before bed and not be stressed. Read a book, and drink warm milk or chocolate. Even go to the docs and get some diazipan. The reason being that I think its caused mainly by your struggling not to go to sleep and so part of your brain stays awake and then it starts, good luck and thanks for reading and commenting, nell
...what is it about age, there was a time that I could almost bring on the Lucid Dreaming (or whatever you might choose to believe it is) provided I got up early enough and went back to bed without waking up *too* much.
No matter what, it is that buzz ( for me I perceived it as a buzz that turned into a vibration that resonated my skull) that is so unmistakable! lol No one who has had this experience more than once would not recognize what everyone here is describing.
Unfortunately, now it is a rare occurrence...once in an early morning I will wake, refuse to get out of bed and as I drift off to sleep....pass through that 'vibration zone' but I seem to have lost the sense of consciousness-balancing that lets me slow my decent, rise towards consciousness and drift down, slower until I hit the zone again.
Ah! the lost adventures of the young (weird) person! lol
I'll bet that this is a good indicator of a person being the personality-type clark (as the Wakefield Doctrine would define it).
Hey thanks Nell! and the Commentators for reminding what strange things are available to us every day. ...sort of
Hi Clark, lol! I might have known you would enjoy the 'buzz'! lol! I didn't mind it, but it was the paralysis that scared the whoohaa out of me! thanks for reading as always, nell
Nell Rose.
These subjective accounts of sleep paralysis offer good objective reasoning for such imposing experiences.
DF
Hi DFiduccia, thanks for reading, they can be quite terrifying, but as long as we know that they are purely caused by chemicals in the brain, and try to keep calm they should go away, I am glad you found it helpful, thanks!
Christopher Price Level 2 Commenter 17 months ago
Interesting hub Nell. I'm happy to say I've never had such an experience, but information like this is good to have in case a family member should ever go through it.
CP