Thread: The Woman

Cool story.

Indeed. Is it possible that I've stepped out of the realm of sleep paralysis into that of night terror?

Nay good friend

Originally Posted by StareHed

Nay good friend

Cheers. Do you have an argument with that? I have a friend who has night terrors, really don't think I want to go there.

Not really, I just liked your avatar a lot.

Awesome. Why don't you try to find her in your next LD and ask her who she is?

Talk about seductive, evil women in dreams. Really mess up the crap outta ya. :/

Originally Posted by Tarsso

Awesome. Why don't you try to find her in your next LD and ask her who she is?

That's a good idea actually, but:

Originally Posted by lucidmax15895

Talk about seductive, evil women in dreams. Really mess up the crap outta ya. :/

that's the other side of the coin
Whatever it was, I sensed it was real mad for interrupting... whatever it was up to. And yeah, if the folklore just happened to be true I don't want no hell-babies. The child support would be evil... so to speak.

Bro, I am talking out of experience here. My dream guide is a really young girl, has a hot body, and is a vampire. She is really really evil, and is more powerful than me, someone who has been LDing for almost nine years now. I tell you, having a DC, especially a dream guide like that is NOT pleasant. It's worse than torture, y'know?

Originally Posted by lucidmax15895

I tell you, having a DC, especially a dream guide like that is NOT pleasant.

Sorry, new to this and not familiar with the acronyms - DC? (And, is there an acronym guide here somewhere?)

The first thing that springs into my mind is that you were experiencing what is known as hypnopompic hallucinations.

It may also be that you awoke from a slow wave sleep cycle (which is the stage right before REM sleep). People often report feeling very groggy and even impaired if they wake up during this phase. It can last for 30 minutes, at times.

It's also during phase 3 (slow wave sleep) that has the highest occurance of night terrors, sleep-walking, and other wonderful parasomnias.

Have a look at these links for further reading...

Sleep / Sleep Cycles
Slow-wave Sleep

EDIT: A DC is a "dream character." A DG is a "dream guide." And here is a list of other useful acronyms that are used quite casually around dreaming communities

@Serenity - thanks so much. It sounds like what happened, and probably resulted in a fantastic mix of all the above.

Despite never having woken up 'groggy', hallucinated or sleep walked, I think the nail head has been hit. Oh, and thanks for the acronym linkage.

The first thing that springs into my mind is that you were experiencing what is known as hypnopompic hallucinations.

This. Another name for it is Old Hag Syndrome, because a lot of people who experience it see an old hag or a similar entity sitting on their chest or somewhere in their room.

Interesting and frightening experience. Have you read about SP on wikipedia? Apparently in other cultures they call it "ghost pressing on bed.", "the witch riding your back" and other similar things... very characteristic.

Originally Posted by Lucille

Interesting and frightening experience. Have you read about SP on wikipedia? Apparently in other cultures they call it "ghost pressing on bed.", "the witch riding your back" and other similar things... very characteristic.

Yeah, I read that. The demon on your chest is a great image.

I do wonder sometimes if we just say "nah, it's all dreams and hallucinations", but really there is another plane of existence, where those creatures run freely. Or if we can meet each other there.

That raises philosophical questions... if something has an important effect on you, isn't it real in a way?
In any case it fascinates me but also really scares me for some reason. I definitely never want to experience that.

I've certainly felt the chest pressure before (scary as hell), but never seen any kind of image resembling a person. And similar to your case, I have experienced following a bout of lust. Hazel called it...you've had your first encounter with the 'Old Hag' although it seems she was not old nor unsightly. Seems like this is the kind of experience that gives rise to the idea of asSuccubus.

I am inclined to believe it is a trick of physiology where the body's order of operations is jumbled by an unexpected intrusion of consciousness. My parent's had told me stories about a haunted room in my uncle's old house, where supposedly anyone sleeping there would experience this phenomenon. Self-fulfilling prophecy, or something more?

If it is to your tastes, I suggest a mantra that Clarity once mentioned on this forum, it goes something like this:
I am protected by pure white light, and only beings of pure white light may interact with me. (said before sleeping)
It's very simple and comforting. I've found this type of saying helpful after these haunting experiences to allow me to feel confident and safe in exploring my dreams.