http://www.arts.uwaterloo.ca/~acheyne/S_P.html
That is a great link for all kinds of information and history on the concept.
I suffered from it for a long time, starting at age 17.
I still have aware sleep paralysis happen to me a handful of times a year. I have, however, learned to avoid it. Though, like my brother, can seem to "feel" when it is going to happen. I think it has to do with the kind of tired I am. You know how its possible to be tired, but not sleepy, or sleepy, but not tired? Somewhere in that scale, there is a specific feeling where its like "hmmm, its gonna be one of THOSE nights again." A third feeling, stress, also seems to be related. Like if I am the right combo of sleepy/tired/overthinking something, its more likely to happen.
Since I actively have stopped sleeping on my back, its rare that I experience it anymore. I did get a crazy annoying ASP about a month ago while napping (on my back) on the couch. I began to awake and I had my eyes open, and was trying SOOOO hard to wake my body. I knew what was happening, but would drift back to dream state, with my eyes open. Then when drifting back to consciousness I convinced myself that a friend (who was due to come over later) had already arrived and was gonna try to startle me in my sleep. I "felt" like the friend was in the room, but of course he was not. It was only mildly frightening. But the physical struggle of wanting to wake was lengthy and troublesome.
But at night? I agree with this web site synopsis at the end of the quiz. It can be "LIFE CHANGING" in the sheer horror that one feels when the related sensations come about with the paralysis. Luckily, I got so angry, so SO ANGRY one day after a particular horrible episode (which I attributed to aliens or demons) that I finally told someone about this horrible thing. Immediately the first person I told was like "Ohh! Darren, you gotta know, this is nothing but a normal and easily explainable phenomenon." I am so GLAD someone told me about it, becuase I was about to totally freak out. The lack of control and fear that becomes part of daily life after a few dramatic episodes is really quite surprisingly intense.
Tell people about this, because I found more people who thought it was demonic, or ghosts or what have you, and it was such a relief to find out that it was literally and proven to be, "all in my head."
Apparently, only a small percentage of people who have the aware sleep paralysis ever have related phenomenon occur. (feeling of a presence in the room, sitting on ones chest, overwhelming sense of dread, etc) But for those of us who have, its a giant bucket of suck.
However, the sensation of "leaving the body" is pretty entertaining. Although I have scarcely experienced that without the onset of terror.
The brain is really fascinating.
I wonder if this is related to what happens to me when I drive. I hate to admit it, but I fall asleep at the wheel an awful lot. I have never dozed for more than 2 or 3 seconds. I have noticed though, that when I do, I usually start dreaming, immediately. And, in many cases I HEAR the dreams before my eyes close. I will hear scenerios in my head, and when my eyes shut, I see them. But that moment when my eyes are open, it seems that audio is real. I recall one long drive in Texas where I actually responded outloud to a comment I heard. I quickly pulled over, realizing that I was about to drift off. I didn't "hear" anything, but I did "hear" something in my head, I was vividly dreaming with my eyes open while driving. Its a horrible sensation, mostly due to operating a vehicle and knowing how dangerous it is to be getting sleepy.
Have any of you dealt with these things?
sleep paralysis page
That is a great link for all kinds of information and history on the concept.
I suffered from it for a long time, starting at age 17.
I still have aware sleep paralysis happen to me a handful of times a year. I have, however, learned to avoid it. Though, like my brother, can seem to "feel" when it is going to happen. I think it has to do with the kind of tired I am. You know how its possible to be tired, but not sleepy, or sleepy, but not tired? Somewhere in that scale, there is a specific feeling where its like "hmmm, its gonna be one of THOSE nights again." A third feeling, stress, also seems to be related. Like if I am the right combo of sleepy/tired/overthinking something, its more likely to happen.
Since I actively have stopped sleeping on my back, its rare that I experience it anymore. I did get a crazy annoying ASP about a month ago while napping (on my back) on the couch. I began to awake and I had my eyes open, and was trying SOOOO hard to wake my body. I knew what was happening, but would drift back to dream state, with my eyes open. Then when drifting back to consciousness I convinced myself that a friend (who was due to come over later) had already arrived and was gonna try to startle me in my sleep. I "felt" like the friend was in the room, but of course he was not. It was only mildly frightening. But the physical struggle of wanting to wake was lengthy and troublesome.
But at night? I agree with this web site synopsis at the end of the quiz. It can be "LIFE CHANGING" in the sheer horror that one feels when the related sensations come about with the paralysis. Luckily, I got so angry, so SO ANGRY one day after a particular horrible episode (which I attributed to aliens or demons) that I finally told someone about this horrible thing. Immediately the first person I told was like "Ohh! Darren, you gotta know, this is nothing but a normal and easily explainable phenomenon." I am so GLAD someone told me about it, becuase I was about to totally freak out. The lack of control and fear that becomes part of daily life after a few dramatic episodes is really quite surprisingly intense.
Tell people about this, because I found more people who thought it was demonic, or ghosts or what have you, and it was such a relief to find out that it was literally and proven to be, "all in my head."
Apparently, only a small percentage of people who have the aware sleep paralysis ever have related phenomenon occur. (feeling of a presence in the room, sitting on ones chest, overwhelming sense of dread, etc) But for those of us who have, its a giant bucket of suck.
However, the sensation of "leaving the body" is pretty entertaining. Although I have scarcely experienced that without the onset of terror.
The brain is really fascinating.
I wonder if this is related to what happens to me when I drive. I hate to admit it, but I fall asleep at the wheel an awful lot. I have never dozed for more than 2 or 3 seconds. I have noticed though, that when I do, I usually start dreaming, immediately. And, in many cases I HEAR the dreams before my eyes close. I will hear scenerios in my head, and when my eyes shut, I see them. But that moment when my eyes are open, it seems that audio is real. I recall one long drive in Texas where I actually responded outloud to a comment I heard. I quickly pulled over, realizing that I was about to drift off. I didn't "hear" anything, but I did "hear" something in my head, I was vividly dreaming with my eyes open while driving. Its a horrible sensation, mostly due to operating a vehicle and knowing how dangerous it is to be getting sleepy.
Have any of you dealt with these things?
sleep paralysis page
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