sleep Paralysis

[cronos0000]

since i was a teenager i have had issues with getting good sleep, most time when i sleep on my back there is a sudden feeling i get.

o suddenly feel heavy or like someone is on top of my chest.
won't be able to move, speak or blink my eyes, its like i am half dead...happened to me 3 days ago and i when to the internet and found the term "sleep paralysis"...i was so happy i wasn't the Only one. Anyone here going through the same thing ? how did you deal with this ?

 

[Maggot]

Occasionally I get it. Usually it feel like a heavy weight,or someone, sitting on my chest so I cant breathe. I just say "Wake up" in the dream and I do. It is disconcerting, and youre not alone.

 

[cronos0000]

you just say "wake up" i mean you are unable to talk at this moment.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

I get it, too. It's unnerving, but I've gotten used to it.

I have learned to recognize the condition while I'm experiencing it. I have also learned how to adjust my response to accommodate it, mainly to tame the tendency for fear.

I looked for a means to exert volitional control, and found out that other folks have managed it.

The whole subject seems a bit hokey to me, and yet, I've managed to accommodate it peacefully.;

Search on "guiding your dreams", and be prepared to use some judgement.

As far as I can tell, it's a bit of a mismatch between how the body enters and exits a state of paralysis as a normal part of the sleep cycle. The scary part happens when some conscious volition returns before the paralysis comes to a natural ending. It's really harmless unless your try to fight it too much.

I use a prescription sleep aid, and suspect that it can exacerbate the condition.

Greg

 

[cronos0000]

I get it, too. It's unnerving, but I've gotten used to it.

I have learned to recognize the condition while I'm experiencing it. I have also learned how to adjust my response to accommodate it, mainly to tame the tendency for fear.

I looked for a means to exert volitional control, and found out that other folks have managed it.

The whole subject seems a bit hokey to me, and yet, I've managed to accommodate it peacefully.;

Search on "guiding your dreams", and be prepared to use some judgement.

As far as I can tell, it's a bit of a mismatch between how the body enters and exits a state of paralysis as a normal part of the sleep cycle. The scary part happens when some conscious volition returns before the paralysis comes to a natural ending. It's really harmless unless your try to fight it too much.

I use a prescription sleep aid, and suspect that it can exacerbate the condition.

Greg

Greg, thanks a lot, you seem to know exactly how i feel. i will do some research on :guiding your dreams"
yes the scariest parts is when you are conscience of you surroundings and yet you can't be a part of your environment.

 

[Tex68w]

I get it almost weekly but I describe my experience as more of a night terror. It usually happens when I fall asleep on my back and happens nearly immediately. A lot of times my eyes open and I can see my surroundings in a muted sort of way and I get the feeling that someone is coming towards me or about to enter the room. Naturally I want to wake up and protect myself so I subconsciously attempt to wake my body up by shaking. Luckily my other half is usually there to help bring me out from it but it doesn't take away from the fact that I am frazzled and it usually takes another 30 minutes to an hour to fall back asleep again. It is more common than you think but it's not ok or acceptable IMHO.

 

[6AYoteHunter]

Worth getting a sleep study done. Have had patients with this issue that had sleep apnea.
​​​​​​

 

[cronos0000]

I get it almost weekly but I describe my experience as more of a night terror. It usually happens when I fall asleep on my back and happens nearly immediately. A lot of times my eyes open and I can see my surroundings in a muted sort of way and I get the feeling that someone is coming towards me or about to enter the room. Naturally I want to wake up and protect myself so I subconsciously attempt to wake my body up by shaking. Luckily my other half is usually there to help bring me out from it but it doesn't take away from the fact that I am frazzled and it usually takes another 30 minutes to an hour to fall back asleep again. It is more common than you think but it's not ok or acceptable IMHO.

same here. when ever i sleep on my back too.

 

[Strykervet]

I second the sleep study. You may have sleep apnea or breathing problems when you sleep. Wife or anyone sleep next to you? Are they awake while you are asleep, do you wake them up, have they ever seen you struggle for breath or have a hard time breathing? If no serious problems, then there is a medication that will make you stop having dreams altogether. I'm not a doctor but I've talked to a LOT of them and this has come up. They usually need for you to come sleep at their facility for a few nights. If you go to VA, then it shouldn't be an issue/cost.

The sleep paralysis I'm familiar with is usually a dream where you "wake up" unable to move, sometimes in another part of the house. Generally there is a dark figure you can't make out, a shadow or silhouette of a man, and you are of course completely paralyzed, which has to do with evolution --your mind and body "disconnect" for the most part during sleep. You try to have a conversation, find you can't, and may/may not feel a wave of terror and wake up. It happened to me when I was 14-ish and I "woke up" in the living room and saw the shadow of my dead grandfather, who I never met and can't say why I "knew" it was him, sitting where my grandmother usually sat in the dining room, silent, smoking, wearing a fedora. I tried to speak, couldn't. Wasn't scared for some reason, I actually felt comfortable and went back to sleep --in the dream. Woke up in my room next morning and the door was chained locked (yeah, I chained it shut from the inside --come on, I was 14. ish.). That's supposed to be textbook sleep paralysis. For most people, it goes away as they age. I understand it can be due to stress too. Lack of breathing wasn't part of mine and I don't recall reading about that.

The VA doctor gave me script for, uh, Prazosyn or Prazosin --something like that. I'd never heard of it before. It basically makes you have NO dreams. It does nothing else and isn't supposed to have any side effects or stop working I'm told (but haven't researched since I haven't taken it either). When you stop, dreams are supposed to come back as it leaves your system. It doesn't affect your sleep or REM and doesn't help you go to sleep or stay asleep, unless it's dreams waking you, and is commonly prescribed for night terrors or unmanageable nightmares. I have chronic insomnia and part of that is horrible dreams/serial dreams when you can sleep. I still haven't taken it though, I guess it's not bad enough and I actually like dreaming, the good ones are worth it.

Good luck, lack of sleep sucks. Bad. For me, I HAVE to have a fan blowing on me and I HAVE to be either cool/cold or even naked with a fan if hotter than "just right".... Need the fan either way, summer or winter. Stays on low year 'round mostly but we have heat pump. My mother needs the same thing, some kind of noise to sleep. We both wake up at the drop of a pin. Having a good sleep schedule and turning the TV off or anything that can make you think (at all) is wise. And get comfortable. All this helps overall.

 

[Maggot]

I second the sleep study. You may have sleep apnea or breathing problems when you sleep. Wife or anyone sleep next to you? Are they awake while you are asleep, do you wake them up, have they ever seen you struggle for breath or have a hard time breathing? If no serious problems, then there is a medication that will make you stop having dreams altogether. I'm not a doctor but I've talked to a LOT of them and this has come up. They usually need for you to come sleep at their facility for a few nights. If you go to VA, then it shouldn't be an issue/cost.

The sleep paralysis I'm familiar with is usually a dream where you "wake up" unable to move, sometimes in another part of the house. Generally there is a dark figure you can't make out, a shadow or silhouette of a man, and you are of course completely paralyzed, which has to do with evolution --your mind and body "disconnect" for the most part during sleep. You try to have a conversation, find you can't, and may/may not feel a wave of terror and wake up. It happened to me when I was 14-ish and I "woke up" in the living room and saw the shadow of my dead grandfather, who I never met and can't say why I "knew" it was him, sitting where my grandmother usually sat in the dining room, silent, smoking, wearing a fedora. I tried to speak, couldn't. Wasn't scared for some reason, I actually felt comfortable and went back to sleep --in the dream. Woke up in my room next morning and the door was chained locked (yeah, I chained it shut from the inside --come on, I was 14. ish.). That's supposed to be textbook sleep paralysis. For most people, it goes away as they age. I understand it can be due to stress too. Lack of breathing wasn't part of mine and I don't recall reading about that.

The VA doctor gave me script for, uh, Prazosyn or Prazosin --something like that. I'd never heard of it before. It basically makes you have NO dreams. It does nothing else and isn't supposed to have any side effects or stop working I'm told (but haven't researched since I haven't taken it either). When you stop, dreams are supposed to come back as it leaves your system. It doesn't affect your sleep or REM and doesn't help you go to sleep or stay asleep, unless it's dreams waking you, and is commonly prescribed for night terrors or unmanageable nightmares. I have chronic insomnia and part of that is horrible dreams/serial dreams when you can sleep. I still haven't taken it though, I guess it's not bad enough and I actually like dreaming, the good ones are worth it.

Good luck, lack of sleep sucks. Bad. For me, I HAVE to have a fan blowing on me and I HAVE to be either cool/cold or even naked with a fan if hotter than "just right".... Need the fan either way, summer or winter. Stays on low year 'round mostly but we have heat pump. My mother needs the same thing, some kind of noise to sleep. We both wake up at the drop of a pin. Having a good sleep schedule and turning the TV off or anything that can make you think (at all) is wise. And get comfortable. All this helps overall.

I understand that. I used to have those serial/awful/frightening dreams. I found that most of that is caused by something whirling around in the sub conscious that hasnt been dealt with. Clear that and the bad ones should clear up. "Knnow the truth and the truth will set you free." can be valid.

Some no doubt are caused by other physical problems.

 

[oneshot86]

slam a six pack before you hit the rack

 

[Rthur]

Might try some Melatonin, this has helped family member with sleep problems.

R

 

[Forgetful Coyote]

This shit scares the hell outta me. Seems to happen most frequent early mornin after a night a drinkin. The only time little child fears(grim reaper in the closet) type stuff ever got to me/scared me. Fuckin hate it. Never tried to "cure it".. so no idea how to help there bud sorry.

 

[Dougie308]

I have severe obstructive sleep apnea and use CPAP to great effect. Sleep paralysis was an issue for me before treatment an it was scary as hell at first. I would suggest contacting a sleep center (most bigger hospitals have them and they are usually covered by insurance).

By the way. Paralysis is actually normal during sleep. It is one of the body's mechanisms for preventing injury while sleeping. But like any other function, it can get screwed up.

 

[cronos0000]

I have severe obstructive sleep apnea and use CPAP to great effect. Sleep paralysis was an issue for me before treatment an it was scary as hell at first. I would suggest contacting a sleep center (most bigger hospitals have them and they are usually covered by insurance).

By the way. Paralysis is actually normal during sleep. It is one of the body's mechanisms for preventing injury while sleeping. But like any other function, it can get screwed up.

thanks, i am reading about CPAP now.

 

[Maser]

For me it doesn't happen too often, but when it does not only can't I move, but also I have this feeling like I'm falling. The only upside to it is that when it happens, it's the signal that I'll be lucid dreaming soon which is so fun and I wish it happened more often because I normally don't remember my dreams, but when I lucid dream, I not only remember but also am in complete control of what's going on in the dream and can wake myself up anytime I want in case I fuck up the dream.

 

[cronos0000]

This shit scares the hell outta me. Seems to happen most frequent early mornin after a night a drinkin. The only time little child fears(grim reaper in the closet) type stuff ever got to me/scared me. Fuckin hate it. Never tried to "cure it".. so no idea how to help there bud sorry.

in my case it never happen to me dury the day, only at night, i wish there was a better and clear explanations for this.

 

[ZiaHunter]

Get it on occasion and it is very unnerving. Generally dreaming something is holding me down and have to fight my way out of it. Usually wake up flailing and hope I don't smack my better half laying next to me. Takes me a awhile to get back to sleep. Don't have sleep apnea but bad seasonal allergies that restrict my breathing during certain times of the year. Not fun waking in the middle of night with the feeling you can't breath.

 

[demolitionman]

I would be curious to see if there is any correlation to folks who struggle with these sort of night terrors or paralaysis and those who don't. Wonder if the amount of physical activity during the day can prevent such situations. I'm so exhausted I can't imagine not sleeping well. I'm too tired to have such odd things happen and me be coherent of it in my sleep.

If I had to guess, folks who stay up late, don't have regular sleep schedule, don't excersize much or intake lots of caffeine or alcohol, sugar or unhealthy calories would be most apt to have issues.

 

[cronos0000]

well for me, drink helps keep it away, just too drink to notice anything till the next morning.

 

[Forgetful Coyote]

in my case it never happen to me dury the day, only at night, i wish there was a better and clear explanations for this.

I meant early early morning ( 3-5am ) while still asleep.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Nix the six-pack. The problem with this is that alcohol in large doses is a depressant, but in small doses is a stimulant. As the kidneys reduce the blood alcohol, it reaches a point where it wires you awake, and there's no cure but time. Very frustrating.

The best sleep aid is no sleep aid, but many of us can't manage this. I'm one; my manifestation of PTSD is sleep panics/nightmares, so I need the pharma, provided by Prescription by the VA, and slowly refined over decades. I am actually getting there with only a fraction of what was once normal. Good deal!

Trying to sleep is counterproductive. I read (in a recliner) until I nod. I get out of bed of sleep is not happening, it just frustrates me and raises my level of awakening. Bed is for sleeping, not for driving oneself to distraction by trying to do something that's not likely. I make it a firm policy to limit fluid intake for the last 2-3 hours of waking, because that 3AM whizz call can leave my mind churning when I get back to the sack.

The cat. Adorable, worships me. This can get to be pretty obsessive for the cat, especially when she wants her affection at 4:30AM,

I don't hit my cats, ever. I move them as many times as it takes to give them the message. If they get surly, I have a small water pistol around me somewhere (purely as a self defensive measure, to conserve on Band-Aids).

greg