Was this sleep paralysis?

**Matt1** · 01-26-2013 12:19 AM

I 'wake up' in bed, but I can hardly move. I try wiggling some fingers, which I can do, but other limbs, I don't even sense them there, let alone move them. I try to turn my head and my neck is absolutely immobile, I feel pressure there when I try to turn, but it doesn't move.

I open my eyes a little and can see my bedroom (it is already light), but keep them closed, knowing I might see something I don't want to see.

I can hear the sound of a washing machine and the sound of a crowd talking. In the crowd I can make out the voice of a person I know, but I don't remember what they said.

In this state, if I tried to visualize something, aspects of it seemed to appear by themselves. Like if I visualized a book, what the book said generated itself, without any conscious thought.

I did NOT feel pressure on my chest, nor was it scary in the least (although it no doubt helped that I knew about SP before, but there was nothing creepy). At the end the noise I heard was replaced by the sound of the fan I keep on for white noise, at which point I was free to move.

So, what do you think, was this what is typically called sleep paralysis (SP) along with hypnagogic hallucinations or imagery?

**Darkmatters** · 01-26-2013 12:34 AM

Sure sounds like it to me! It's not always scary, and there isn't always pressure on the chest.

**Bansheet** · 01-26-2013 12:50 AM

Never tried it but from what I've gathered it definetly sounds like it. Also check this link if you wanna know more about it

http://www.dreamviews.com/dream-yoga...explained.html

**Sensei** · 01-26-2013 12:59 AM

Definitely sleep paralysis if you were awake and couldn't move. Dark matters is correct on this.

SP is the reason a lot of people stay away from LDing. Now you know what it is "actually" like.

**Matt1** · 01-26-2013 04:09 AM

Thanks for the opinions. I'm glad it was sleep paralysis, because it's easier to do a WILD if I know what this phase is like. It was so not scary, kind of cool to look back on, actually. I think the white noise helped, people talk about hearing creepy footsteps from their heartbeat, but what can be creepy from a continuous droning fan? And you can always keep your eyes closed.

**Sensei** · 01-26-2013 04:37 AM

That has always been my thought. People talk about seeing things, and I just think "close your eyes?" Haha.

BTW, you don't need SP to WILD. It is just one of the ways. Not sure if you knew or not.

**Matt1** · 01-26-2013 04:41 AM

Originally Posted by BrandonBoss

BTW, you don't need SP to WILD. It is just one of the ways. Not sure if you knew or not.

True, but I don't think I have a choice as to what I feel on the WILD ride?

**Sensei** · 01-26-2013 04:49 AM

Well it depends on the technique you choose, most here just require a WBTB. Find your own path to it though. To me inducing SP actually seems to be the easier way, people that can do it have more success. I haven't done it that way though.

**Scionox** · 01-26-2013 07:35 AM

Yup, sounds like SP, and SP is indeed usually not scary, more often we make SP scary by subconsciously suggesting things why we can't move, and sensations/hallucinations of it vary from person to person so yeah.