Sleep Paralysis

[ImTellinTim]

Re: Sleep Paralysis

Maybe that's why I've never experienced this. I always sleep on my side.

I always do too, and I had an episode about two weeks ago. When I was coming out of it I was trying to punch something on my nightstand

[slickdtc]

Re: Sleep Paralysis

I've also read that falling asleep on your side instead of your back helps too. Not sure how accurate it is but I created this thread the last time it happened to me. Fall asleep on my side every night since then and haven't had it happen again.

I typically sleep on my side too, but sometimes on my back. Now that you mention it, not that I've ever had sleep paralysis (as far as I can remember), but I have like jerked/twitched out of sleep and thinking about it it's almost exclusively when I'm on my back.

[SPTO]

Re: Sleep Paralysis

I almost exclusively sleep on my side though I did have one instance of sleep paralysis and I was strangely on my back. Let me tell you, that **** is scary! I woke up and literally couldn't move and was freaking the hell out. Luckily I was only paralyzed for a few minutes.

It's an experience I never want to go through again.

[Jr.]

Re: Sleep Paralysis

I sleep on my stomach.. Hopefully this never happens to me or I might suffocate

[ImTellinTim]

Re: Sleep Paralysis

I sleep on my stomach.. Hopefully this never happens to me or I might suffocate

You would never suffocate because of sleep paralysis. It poses no threat other than it scaring you.

[Jr.]

Re: Sleep Paralysis

You would never suffocate because of sleep paralysis. It poses no threat other than it scaring you.

If I can't move, and my airway is blocked somehow, wouldn't I suffocate?

[BurghFan]

Re: Sleep Paralysis

I sleep on my stomach.. Hopefully this never happens to me or I might suffocate

If I can't move, and my airway is blocked somehow, wouldn't I suffocate?

I happens to you on average every 90 minutes while you're asleep, or every time you enter REM sleep. If your airway isn't blocked when you're in non-REM sleep while sleeping on your stomach then it's not going to suddenly become blocked when you enter REM sleep and sleep paralysis occurs. Even if you did enter REM sleep with your face buried in your pillows, your brain can wake you up if it feels its not getting enough oxygenl

[AC]

Re: Sleep Paralysis

I feel like the opposite would be a bigger problem. Hyperventilation. If someone has an anxiety attack in the middle of it or something.

[Candyman5]

Re: Sleep Paralysis

I have had this happen 1 time that I remember. It was last year and I was sleeping with my face towards the wall and I woke up and had the feeling something was behind me but I couldnt move. Then I felt great pressure on my head and shoulder area like something was pinning me down and then felt something on my neck like a tongue, I tried to scream but it was like my voice box was gone. It felt like it was forever but I couldnt tell how long it was. The next thing I knew all pressure was gone then my roommate entered the room and turned the light on and I could move. All I know is I rolled over and jumped out of bed so fast that I started myself as much as my roommate by how fast I went. It was like having a E Brake on and continuing to press the gas then suddenly releasing the break and flying forward.

Was the scariest experience of my life and I was covered in sweat. Needless to say I turned on my tv and played xbox for a while until I calmed down. NEVER want to go through that again.

[slickdtc]

Sleep Paralysis

Had this happen last night, and I think 2 weeks ago as well.

This one was more pronounced. I "awoke" to a sound out in the living room, and I remember trying to stay still and kind of listen it out to see if it wasn't just a creak in the night. Then I noticed I was snoring... which I'm known to be a heavy snorer. It was terrible because in my mind I'm like there's a robber in the house and now he's gonna know someone's home because my snoring was getting louder and louder. Then I realized I couldn't even move! That's when it got a bit scary. As I started to, I guess, come to my senses I was feeling short of breath. Kind of feeling my throat closing and my snoring increasing. Just tried to work it out in my head, as best as you can when you're half awake and half asleep. My thought was to try to wiggle my toes first. As I concentrated on that, my breathing stabilized and I fully came to.

Thankfully, I know that this stuff happens so I didn't freak out but it was very weird. Had a ton of odd dreams last night. My wife's been staying with her mom to help her through some recent health issues, and I swore she was in bed with me but when I rolled over, nothing.

Just a strange night of sleep. I think falling asleep on my back is a terrible idea... that's when this seems to happen. Wouldn't surprise me if that's what triggered this. Like a half-awake dream where you feel a pain and awake with your arm numb or something like that.

[PhilliesFan13]

Re: Sleep Paralysis

Had this happen last night, and I think 2 weeks ago as well.

This one was more pronounced. I "awoke" to a sound out in the living room, and I remember trying to stay still and kind of listen it out to see if it wasn't just a creak in the night. Then I noticed I was snoring... which I'm known to be a heavy snorer. It was terrible because in my mind I'm like there's a robber in the house and now he's gonna know someone's home because my snoring was getting louder and louder. Then I realized I couldn't even move! That's when it got a bit scary. As I started to, I guess, come to my senses I was feeling short of breath. Kind of feeling my throat closing and my snoring increasing. Just tried to work it out in my head, as best as you can when you're half awake and half asleep. My thought was to try to wiggle my toes first. As I concentrated on that, my breathing stabilized and I fully came to.

Thankfully, I know that this stuff happens so I didn't freak out but it was very weird. Had a ton of odd dreams last night. My wife's been staying with her mom to help her through some recent health issues, and I swore she was in bed with me but when I rolled over, nothing.

Just a strange night of sleep. I think falling asleep on my back is a terrible idea... that's when this seems to happen. Wouldn't surprise me if that's what triggered this. Like a half-awake dream where you feel a pain and awake with your arm numb or something like that.

The three times this has happened to me all were when I fell asleep on my back. I always sleep on my side now. Have been since the last time this happened to me. It is a very scary thing. Especially when you are by yourself.

[Kearnzo]

Re: Sleep Paralysis

The three times this has happened to me all were when I fell asleep on my back. I always sleep on my side now. Have been since the last time this happened to me. It is a very scary thing. Especially when you are by yourself.

Same for me. I remember creating a thread on this back like 10 years ago. It's only really happened once to me, although I've had it happen again with slightly less scary results. The one time it hit bad, I was sleeping on my back, snapped to with what felt like an extreme case of tunnel vision, and then realized I couldn't move. This felt like it went on for an eternity. I was aware enough of my surroundings to try and scream for my parents (I was still in high school), but I couldn't make a sound. I just remember what felt like a heavy weight on my chest making it difficult to breathe, and I could have sworn there was "something" in the room. Although, given how scared I was when it was happening, there's a good chance my mind was messing with me.

I finally relaxed enough to calm myself down, and it subsided after a bit.

Definitely the scariest thing I've experienced in my life.

[oneamongthefence]

Re: Sleep Paralysis

Maybe its sleep apnea and your brain wakes up and your body doesn't sort of like a lucid dream. That's happened a few times but then I got my tonsils removed and haven't experienced it again. That was my theory anyway. I was a really heavy snorer too.