Sleep paralysis

**Mjones** · 07-01-2008 04:22 PM

I've been experiencing sleep paralysis for a couple of years, now and then, mostly when I just take a nap in the afternoon, which I do sometimes.

However, the last two nights I've been experiencing it at least 4 times.

I have a few questions about it:

When it starts, I hear a lot of loud sounds and noises, from inside my head, and it feels like everything is vibrating, is that normal, and what causes it?
The only things I can move is my mouth (very little) and my eyes. This is often really scary, and before I read anything about it I never even thought of trying to stay in that state.

Tonight though, after reading about that it can be a direct gateway to LDs, I decided that I would try to wait it out... and I set my alarm to 5 am, and woke up, I then focused on going into that state, and I did...
I tried the breathing technique, but it didnt work that well, and I woke up from the SP, the second time last night I heard sounds, like a xylophone, then saw a black shape next to my bed...
Is it my mind playing tricks on me?

thankful for answers

//M.

**cornflakegirl3301** · 07-01-2008 07:01 PM

I'm new to this thread, but I have had lucid dreams before. I have experianced the sleep paralysis you have described (although never four times in one night!!) and actually this is why I quit trying to induce lucid dreams. I also had the vibrations and loud noises, and frankly I was terrified because I cannot move and cannot wake up, but I try to yell and scream because it is frightening! I have tried to calm myself down before and try to relax and see what happens but I am always too scared, but I always wake up (obviously). I dont know the reason for that or what that is, but if anyone does know I am very interested to know and how to avoid it!

**seeker28** · 07-02-2008 12:03 AM

Sleep Paralysis (SP) happens every time you dream, unless you have a serious sleep disorder. SP keeps your body still so you won't get up and act out your dream which, obviously, would be really dangerous! SP is often felt as vibrations, tingles, rocking, tilting, hot or cold, pressure, and other things. Usually you don't feel SP because you've lost consciousness already. Some people feel like their heart is racing and they are breathing fast. Some even feel pain. All of this is normal. Here is the wiki article on SP:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_paralysis

The sights and sounds you sometimes have with SP are called Hypnagogic Imagry (HI). They are sometimes also called Hypnagogic Hallucinations (HH). Many people see shapes, people, etc. Sometimes it can be really scary. However, all of this is normal. Here is the wiki article on HH:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypnagogic_hallucinations
From what I was able to find on WHY we have HI it is a processing of events, images, feelings, and such that you experienced during the day or over your lifetime. It is your mind shuffeling things around preparing to store them long-term. That is why the images and sounds can be so random and weird. I found two interesting articles about research into HI:
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/8.30/...es/s206232.htm
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/conten...t/290/5490/350

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