I felt the mattress give with the weight of the person getting in bed beside me.

**unsur3** · 03-23-2010 01:18 AM

I knew that I was dreaming, but my heart still started to race just like so many dreams like this one before. It was heart stopping. I tried to ask in a repressed( like in a dream...) voice, "who are you?" The weight of another body was on my left side. my left hand wandered over and grabbed a hand that felt SO real and the same size as my own. Terrified yet still curious I reached over with my right hand and IT clutched my other hand as well. At first I started to giggle trying to psyche myself out that maybe it was an image of myself or a shadow. But when I moved my right hand(still clasped with it's hand) toward the face it snarled and snapped at my hand. terror over took me. then i realized that "it" was not "holding" my hand, it had tricked me and know both my hands were restrained. just a shadowy form, it leaned up and sayed,"now what do we have here?" and moved it's head toward my abdomen. I jerked awake and my hands were clutching my comforter that was softly brushing my bare stomach. The touch was SO real. The hands were REAL. I have often had dreams of voices calling me from doorways, but never physical contact like this. I had to turn my TV on to go back to sleep.

**Hailey** · 03-23-2010 01:36 AM

I don't know anything about a shadow man, but if it's a nightmare then I'm going to tell you about what my friend told me when I have something attacking/ scaring me in a dream.
One of the things she told me is sometimes it just helps to talk with with them, other than that picture crushing a ant with a meteor. I've even own a guy who's shot some bad guy in a lucid dream by making a gun with his hand and pretending to shot it.
The key is calming yourself down though and getting that it's just a dream, sorry I can't be of much help.

**KingYoshi** · 03-23-2010 03:08 AM

It could very well be hallucinations during SP/transition to the dream state. One time in SP, I felt someone lay down in the bed beside me and they started trying to kick me out of bed. I could feel the pressure from their foot jabbing me in the side. I stayed calm and then I felt a big thump and my whole body was knocked out of my bed. This scared me pretty good and knocked me out of SP. I was lying in my bed like normal and it was all just a hallucination.

I also heard someone running around my head one time. I stayed calm as a woman bent over top of me (inches from my face) and let out a death screech. I actually managed to stay relatively calm and transition into a lucid after that.

SP can definately be frightening sometimes, but most of the time its about as scary as a sleeping box turtle.

Of course it could have been a nightmare (if you had already been asleep when this happened). If you were in SP then it was most likely just some very vivid HH.

If it was indeed SP, the best way to deal with it is this: Keep reminding yourself/repeating in your head over and over that this all just a hallucination and you can't be harmed. Then try and sit back and experience the SP as if it is a horror movie (if it gets scary). Horror movies can be scary at times, but you know that it isn't going to hurt you. Just get in that observatory mind frame and reassure yourself when needed and I'm sure you'll get it soon enough. After you get through a few transitions, it'll get easier for you. Just try and stay as calm as possible. You can also keep reminding yourself, "As soon as its over I will become lucid." or "just a little bit longer and I'll be in a lucid." This can sometimes help you ride out the tide of frightening SP. In my experience, only about 20% (maybe even less) of my transitions are frightening. Most of the time its relatively smooth sailing.

This type of hallucination (the physical contact) is known as a "Tactile Hallucination," btw.

**J.D.** · 03-23-2010 03:01 PM

Bear in mind that you can also manipulate the hallucinations into something less scary, or even funny. For example, try to listen out for something you want to hear. One time I thought I heard a bang, but it reminded me of the start of a certain song. Right away, Bryan Adams' Summer of '69 started playing in crystal clear quality. Look out for things you can change into something nice by association.

**ClearView** · 03-23-2010 04:07 PM

Unsur3, just remember its all in your head. I for one, was freaked out immensly during sleep paralysis my first time. But, i've learned to enjoy it, as when I want it to happen it usually doesn't. It is amusing at how my mind tries to play games with itself. The mind is trying to outsmart me, however, I have already outsmarted the mind. If that makes any sense

You should've told the "shadow man" to bring you into the dream world. Then you can enjoy your lucid dream! Maybe this shadow man may be your DG. If you see him again, ask him some questions.

-CV

**Robot_Butler** · 03-23-2010 11:18 PM

Creepy

I get episodes like that all the time. The cool thing is, you can influence the hallucination by changing your expectations and how you react to the situation.

**unsur3** · 03-24-2010 03:17 AM

i am knew to this, so, please... what is SP and HH? I am aware that i am dreaming most times becuase the surroundings are different. but I alway try to roll with it because I am curious. I my dream recall is excellent. I find that when I tell other people it amuses them and helps me recall future dreams.

**ClearView** · 03-24-2010 12:43 PM

Hey Unsur3,

Here is what you want to know as a begginer:

Sleep Induction Techniques:
http://dreamviews.com/community/showthread.php?t=64760
Sleep Paralysis Techniques:
http://dreamviews.com/community/showthread.php?t=65007
Hypnagogic Hallucinations:
http://dreamviews.com/community/showthread.php?t=65425

Check out the tutorials section for more as well. Always remember, the search button is there to help

-CV

**KingYoshi** · 03-24-2010 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by unsur3

i am knew to this, so, please... what is SP and HH? I am aware that i am dreaming most times becuase the surroundings are different. but I alway try to roll with it because I am curious. I my dream recall is excellent. I find that when I tell other people it amuses them and helps me recall future dreams.

SP = Sleep Paralysis
HH = Hypnagogic Hallucination