a very strange experience

[dreamfollower]

one night I had gone to bed while my husband stayed up in the next room playing video games. I had fallen asleep and woke up later in the night, I could still hear faint game sounds from the other room, and I felt very strange, like I was stuck in some middle dimension between waking and dreaming. I couldn't wake up fully. I was lying in bed and there was a loud buzzing noise that got more intense as I slipped further into unconsciousness. my breathing was very forced. I tried screaming several times to get out of it but I made no sound. I had limited movement, I remember pulling my blankets up to my face as I tried to scream, and at one point I felt that my legs were wrapped in long strips of foam rubber and tried kicking them off and out of bed. I tried shaking myself and rolling around but I couldn't snap out of it. at one point my husband came in and out of the room, and I tried calling to him but couldn't. this whole experience seemed to go on for hours. It was very scary, it felt like something else had control of my body. when I finally woke up the next morning I felt exhausted. I have had a similar experience once before, but it didn't last nearly as long, and I was more paralyzed that time. sometimes when I am very tired, I can feel myself slipping into that buzzing state, but I try to avoid it. any thoughts on this?

[TAISIA]

That is S.P. It can be scarry until you learn that that is all it is. It is normal and many on this site have it from time to time. Next time.. try and relaxe, maybe this would be a good point to try and lucid dream...

[Serkat]

Yea I was afraid of it once too but actually... there's NULL reason to be afraid. Point is... if you're not afraid, nothing bad will happen. When I experienced it the first time it was just new and exciting. The second time was very similar and I actually felt a bit 'at home' so to say. I even started to experiment with it. Don't avoid, but enjoy! You can spin into dream scenes or try to play with the sounds or bodily feelings and see what happens. Don't try to move your body, don't try to wake up, don't try to scream.

[nesgirl119]

Originally posted by Korittke Yea I was afraid of it once too but actually... there's NULL reason to be afraid. Point is... if you're not afraid, nothing bad will happen. When I experienced it the first time it was just new and exciting. The second time was very similar and I actually felt a bit 'at home' so to say. I even started to experiment with it. Don't avoid, but enjoy! You can spin into dream scenes or try to play with the sounds or bodily feelings and see what happens. Don't try to move your body, don't try to wake up, don't try to scream. Actually, trying to move & get up wouldn't be such a bad idea. I do it at least 1x a week, & it kind of gives me a break! I actually had SP when I was 3, but I was never scared of it (even at that young age), b/c it actually helped me WILD back to sleep. And today, I use it as a stepping stone for 2 methods!

[Serkat]

For most people who experience SP and don't know enough about it trying to move makes them panic. I read articles which suggested that failed attempts of moving the real body may lead to an automated subconscious creation of fear in reaction to this attempt, for some people.

[Davide]

Well, I had heard a lot about sleep paralysis and how some people say it's the explanation for the legends about succubuses/incubuses and for some alien abductions..Before starting to study LD I had never experienced it(maybe because I always slept on my side). After this,.I managed to reach this state maybe two times. And it actually was a VERY interesting and fascinating experience, altough the first time I did feel some sort of eerie presence. The second time i heard voices. Unfortunately in neither experiences I managed to slip into a lucid dream...I wonder if there is a way to INCREASE the chances of sleep paralysis other than WILD and sleeping in certain positions..

[dreamfollower]

thanks for all the input. I have heard the sucubus/alien theories before and figured that was what was happening to me. next time I this happens I will relax and try to use it to go into a lucid dream!