Sleep Paralysis - The Nightmare of All Nightmares

[Huuballawick]

For those of you who don't know, Sleep Paralysis is a state of being "awake" but "asleep" at the same time.

When you go into REM Sleep, your body goes through atonia, which is a state of low muscle tone. That's the "Paralysis" part.

During Sleep Paralysis, you are aware that you are awake, but you find that you cannot move any part of your body, whatsoever. You are not fully paralyzed, however, because you can still move your eyes. You can see around the room essentially...but you probably DON'T want to see around the room.

During Sleep Paralysis, there are terrifying Hallucinations, loud deafening sounds, bright flashing lights, and feeling that your very life is in danger. You panic and try to move, but you can't.
You're trapped in your own body, having to live through the terrors going on around you.

For me, it happens every. single. night. If I don't fall asleep quickly, it happens again...and again...for hours on end until I finally gain the strength to jolt my shoulder to the side, thus, waking me from this living nightmare.

I have no idea what to do....all the doctors I have talked to said that there is no real cure for it.

Does this happen to anyone else? I wouldn't wish it on anybody, but it would bring me some peace if I knew I wasn't the only one who was going through this.

Please no tl/dr or anything like that. Don't like it? Don't post.

[angel_259236102]

My friend had it for a bit, I think in the end for her it was because of her sleeping pattern. This whole staying p to the wee hours then going to school early in the morning stuff ******** iwth her sleep schedule, and apparently caused them.

She didnt describe it that bad, and I only saw it happen to her 2 times, one a school in the morning, and once at a friends house. I didnt get it the first instacne but by the second I had been told a lot about it so I shook her out of it.

But yeah, for her she just sleeped in a decent normal pattern. I dont know about you though.

[Yevpraksiya]

I have had sleep paralysis several times. I've had hallucinates too and it's horrible. It doesn't happen nearly as much as you though.
Have you been to overnight clinics aka sleep clinics?

[raining castles]

I've unfortunately suffered from this for many years when I was growing up. It is truly the most terrifying thing I've ever experienced in my entire life.

Only thing that worked for me was to stop sleeping on my back. It only ever happened when I was sleeping on my back (how I always used to sleep), so I forced myself to be a side sleeper and it doesn't happen anymore (you can actually get pillows that are specifically designed to help you sleep on your side). I've heard this has been helpful for other people as well.

[Emo Lollipop]

It has a lot to do with stress.If there is something happening in your life causing stress that is probably what it is.

[nevermind0930]

raining castles

I've unfortunately suffered from this for many years when I was growing up. It is truly the most terrifying thing I've ever experienced in my entire life.

Only thing that worked for me was to stop sleeping on my back. It only ever happened when I was sleeping on my back (how I always used to sleep), so I forced myself to be a side sleeper and it doesn't happen anymore (you can actually get pillows that are specifically designed to help you sleep on your side). I've heard this has been helpful for other people as well.

This! Mine were as bad as the OP's, and sleeping on my sides helped get rid of them.

[Nova Mistral]

Have you tried experimenting with lucid dreaming? You may think that these episodes control your life, but they really don't. I used to have them, too. Overtime, I managed to stop being scared of them and the inability to move, and therefore stopped seeing scary images. Being scared = brain shows things related to that emotion. The lucid dreaming helped me to gain control of my feelings with more ease. The last time I had sleep paralysis, all I saw were butterflies and it felt like I was floating, and it was an overall pleasant experience until I could finally move again.

When people tell you you're going to be scared, of course you're going to be scared. You're half asleep and your body runs on impulse. You just have to "reprogram" yourself to stop being scared. Best to do so when you're conscious. Don't be scared of it. Be prepared.

(This is assuming if everything else doesn't work. Like the others said, sleeping on sides, being relaxed and maintaining a good sleeping schedule usually works.)

[Ni-Ni-kun]

._. I don't have it per say but I've actually found entire forums talking about this condition. So yes -you are not alone- maybe search up some forums and articles on it online? Maybe those people have already written how to deal with it.

[Upperclass Hero]

I have it...If you let it scare you, you will continue to get it.

From my experience, the more you think about it, the easier it will happen.

Also, start going to bed at around the same time every night. I noticed that most of the time that I get it is when I'm extremely tired and unable to stay away even if I tried.

When you get into those seemingly endless cycles (I get them, too) instead of just trying to shake yourself awake, (this is what I do) relax and fall back asleep.

And like other people have said, sleep on your side.

When this started happening to me I embraced it...it's like a gateway to lucid dreaming and if you concentrate you could probably control what hallucinations you have

[Huuballawick]

Upperclass Hero

I have it...If you let it scare you, you will continue to get it.

From my experience, the more you think about it, the easier it will happen.

Also, start going to bed at around the same time every night. I noticed that most of the time that I get it is when I'm extremely tired and unable to stay away even if I tried.

When you get into those seemingly endless cycles (I get them, too) instead of just trying to shake yourself awake, (this is what I do) relax and fall back asleep.

And like other people have said, sleep on your side.

When this started happening to me I embraced it...it's like a gateway to lucid dreaming and if you concentrate you could probably control what hallucinations you have

I sleep on my side and go to bed at the same time every night, and there isn't anything I am stressed about. I actually have it pretty good right now. I have tried lucid dreaming, and it doesn't seem to work.
The only thing I can do is acknowledge that it is happening, and tell myself that none of it is real, and I will wake up eventually, which I never do. If I just let it happen like someone else said, it gets worse and worse. I can try thinking about all the happy things in the world, and nothing is made any better. I can hum tunes in my head and just think happy thoughts, trying to divert my attention away from all the things happening around me, but that's it.
I don't let it scare me. Like I said, I just tell myself it's not real and try to laugh at it, thinking about the humorous side of it ( If there is any ), and just sing a song ( It will make you glad ).

[Bubsy]

Increase your amount of sleep. Sleep with an alarm.

When you believe you are in a state of sleep paralysis, just go back to sleep. As odd as that may sound.

Do you play video games?