Reading Dreams

Hi i am new. I am 14 years old, and have been experiencing sleep paralysis from what I think is about 2 years now.
I have just recently found out about sleep paralysis, after all this time not knowing what I have been experiencing.

All the times I have experienced sleep paralysis, I am paralyzed and my body is shaking vigorously. Whenever I find myself like this, I used to panic causing me to struggle, which would jsut make things worse, and cause my body feeling like it was just vibrating more intensely. I would have to relax and get over my panic and wait until its okay to move again.

My first experience was qiute strange. It had a lot of dream and reality in it both.
I found myself in a cold dark building, and there were these group of people after me and they were yelling something, but I was supposedly "scrooge" from the book "The christmas carol" and meanwhile this is all happening, I am shaking intensely and it was really scary, because I couldn't move and these group of peopel were angry at me. So I kept saying (in my head) "okay okay I won't be selfish anymore"
Not specifically because I am in real life, just because Scrooge is a character of selfishness and an unloving man.

Other times, I am unable to move and find ghosts right beside me laughing.
Or a clown face right in front of me laughing.
Another time that wasn't relaly scary but quite weird, was when I was drifting off into sleep paralysis, techno music was in my ear , really loud. Sounded like a video game.

Anyway, so I've come to find out more about sleep paralysis, from my friend. He was into astral projection and lucid dreaming and all that, and sent me a link of a website about lucid dreaming, and in one paragraph it said something about sleep paralysis and when I read this I was ecstatic! I was so glad to have known that there is a name for this, and words put in to describe everything, for I had no idea how to explain this weird experience at night.

I still haven't told anyone about my sleep paralysis, not my family, no one. The only person that knows is the person that sent me the link about it. And I've read other websites that say that there are medication that can decrease sleep paralysis, and if this is true then I would tell my mother and go to the hospital. Because sleep paralysis happens a lot to me, at LEAST 2 times a week, and 4 tiems a week at the most. For the last two years.
If anyone can tell me if this medication thing is true, than I will tell my parents and ask them to take me to the hospital, but if it is false in not reducing any sleep paralysis at all, then I will not bother.

Well thanks for taking your time reading this. <3

Lately in my life i have been under alot of stress and got very angry alot. I have always been very interested in the supernatural, and since the past month or so i have been reading and watching tv shows about aliens. One i saw the other day stated that most 'abductions' were occuring during the state of sleep paralysis. I thought i had experienced this before, but it was not until last night that i actually realised that i havent. Before when lying in bed, i had been suddenly awoken with a shock. A woman was directly infront of my face staring ta me. She looked expressionaless, perhaps saddened, but she faded before i could get a long enough look. I thought it was a ghost. This event was about 4 weeks ago. Last night, i awoke in the middle of the night thirsty. I tried to get back to sleep, but as i was laying there, eyes shut i was thinking about how good it would be to be abducted by aliens. After what was literally 1 minute of my eyes being shut, my body shuddered. It locked up, and i knew exactly what was happening. I was REALLY scared, the most scared i had ever been. I heard the famous buzzing that occured with these *abductions*. I knew i had to get out of it, i tried so hard, but the buzzing got closer. I wanted to shout to my dad to help me, but i couldnt, none of my body could move. I was helpless. I felt sort of relieved when i realised it was a fly. It buzzed in my ear twice, but i hate it whhen flys do this. After the second buzz i managed to overpower the paralysis. I snapped out but felt so numb, my whole body tingling. My mouth was all over dry, drier then it has ever been. It took me a while before i could get up and stumble to my dad to tell him. It was about 4 in the morning. I couldn't sleep again for the rest of the night, for fear of going back into it. I now realise both incidents are related, and after researching i realise that STRESS is a major cause of these images. I totally relate with you, even after my first encounter. I hope it doesnt happene ever again, as it is the worst thing i have ever felt. I still shake now. I also learnt that it can be caused by sleeping on your back (i normally sleep on my side, but lats night i slept on my back). I am almost 16, and i do not want my whole life to be like this. Perhaps we should try not to be so stressed out. but it is really hard at the moment not to, with thigns going on at home and exams at school. I would really like to hear from you guys with any help we can give each other. Thanks

I am so happy to find this page. Im not sure if Im happy or scared. I have been having these nightmares since I was about 13. Im 21 now. I used to be into drugs pretty bad, I started when I was 13, and believed deeply that I had opened the doors to some kind of lucifer conciousness. I believed I had demons around me at all times and when I was on drugs they were inside me and giving me visions. I started having these nightmares way back then.
I was never raised to bellieve in spirituality in any way. My visions came to me on their own. The night mares would happen when I was falling asleep, I would think I was awake, and feel or see a dark presence looming around me, I become frightened and try to scream or move but I can't. Im being suffocated, and sometimes my soul is being pulled from my body. These nightmares used to happen at least once a week. I think Im awake several times, only to realize Im paralized again and still stuck between dreaming and being awake.

the last year I got into recovery from drugs, last march I had the nightmares then I just begun having them again this week march/04. When I finally pull myself out of it I turn on all my lights and walk around trying to stay awake but still feeling shaky and scared like there is something in the room with me. I feel silly when I talk about it.

If any one has any comments or suggestions feel free to email me Brandi_ring@hotmail.com and use the subject sleep paralysis so I dont think its junk mail

Hi everyone!
I would first like to say that I have never personally experienced sleep paralysis nor seen any visions exactly. From time to time I get a strong feeling that something is in the room with me, observing me, but I cannot see it. I generally force my mind away from the feeling, but it will usually persist.
Recently, I have been reading up on Wiccan and Pagan culture, Demons and other supernatural presences. I do believe that these things happen to normal people mostly, not insane maniacs. The similarity of these experiences encountered by different people in this forum are too disturbing to be disregarded completely. I sympathize with you all, and hope I never encounter the Black Cloud, or any other visions. In my research of the Wiccan and Pagan cultures, however, these groups of people would probably approach these visions as messages with hidden meanings. Perhaps the way to make them go away is to try and understand and interpret the message. This is my thought on the matter.
I wish you all good luck with your endeavors towards countering supernatural visions and sleep paralysis.

This Loneliness won't leave me alone.

Perhaps the way to make them go away is to try and understand and interpret the message.

I want to specify that last message a little more clearly. I urge you NOT to try and listen to these demons and do as they say, but, with a spiritual guide, psychologist, or other such expert, understand why or what is happening.

Regarding Sleep Paralysis, I have some scientific/medical information that might interest you guys.

From a website associated with Stanford University:

"Sleep paralysis consists of a period of inability to perform voluntary movements either at sleep onset (called hypnogogic or predormital form) or upon awakening (called hypnopompic or postdormtal form)."
Symptoms:
-A complaint of inability to move the trunk or limbs at sleep onset or upon awakening.
-Presence of brief episodes of partial or complete skeletal muscle paralysis
-Episodes can be associated with hypnagogic hallucinations or dream-like mentation (act or use of the brain)"

The information so far would confirm basically what everyone has said so far...however...

"Sleep paralysis is most often associated with narcolepsy, a neurological condition in which the person has uncontrollable naps. However, there are many people who experience sleep paralysis without having signs of narcolepsy. Sometimes it runs in families. There is no known explanation why some people experience this paralysis. It is not harmful, although most people report feeling very afraid because they do not know what is happening, and within minutes they gradually or abruptly are able to move again; the episode is often terminated by a sound or a touch on the body.
"In some cases, when hypnogogic hallucinations are present, people feel that someone is in the room with them, some experience the feeling that someone or something is sitting on their chest and they feel impending death and suffocation. That has been called the “Hag Phenomena” and has been happening to people over the centuries. These things cause people much anxiety and terror, but there is no physical harm."

Aha! Apparently, according to this research, the Sleep Paralysis cause the hallucinations, rather than the spirits/demons causing the paralysis.

Finally, How to Treat Sleep Paralysis:

In severe cases, where episodes take place at least once a week for 6 months, medication may be used. (See your doctor about this.)
You may be able to minimize the episodes by following good sleep hygiene:
-getting enough sleep
-reduce stress
-exercise regularly (but not too close to bedtime)
-keep a regular sleep schedule

so it seems that working out does help, as well as reducing stress...good intuition, guys!

Anyhoo, that's all for now, maybe I'll find something else to post that goes more in depth about the spirits/hallucinations. I hope my help is appreciated.

This Loneliness won't leave me alone.

I've had sleep paralysis for a long time. I used to have it often when i was younger. Nowadays i have one once in a while. Sometimes it's when i'm stressed and other times it just happens. It still freaks me out. This is what happens to me, i feel paralyzed, i feel myself breathing really shallow breaths, then i try to scream out and see if anyone who hears me can come help me move, but i can't scream. I start to get scared. Before this went on for what felt like a few seconds, but lately it's been feeling like it's longer. I'm afraid that one day i'll not get up from my sleep.
One time i felt like i got up from my sleep and had gone into the kitchen to make some breakfast for my son, but then realized that i was still dreaming. I had to wake myself up to get out of it.
Sometimes when i get myself out of paralysis, and i lie back down on my bed, i fall back to paralysis. That pisses me off. Sometimes it goes on and on unless i move into a different sleep position. A couple times i've even had to get up and not sleep anymore.
I've read other things, that this is something called 'awaking sleep paralysis' and that it's a stage before 'out of body experiences' but i don't really know what it is.

Hmm...Dr. Wojo (heh heh not really) is here...

I've returned after reading some more about Sleep Paralysis...
Alorna, do you have Narcolepsy? It is often associated with sleep paralysis.

I have to go, but I'll post more later. Ta ta for now.

This Loneliness won't leave me alone.

Narcolepsy

i don't know what i have...i don't think i know what narcolepsy is...i'm here to find answers if anyone might have one.

Hi again. Now that I have more time, I'll go more in-depth on what I've read about this topic.

Sorry to confuse you before :-( Narcolepsy and Sleep Paralysis are often closely related:
"Sleep paralysis is often associated with narcolepsy. Narcolepsy is a condition in which people are overcome with irresistible sleep attacks that occur unpredictably and at any time of day. These sleep attacks may occur at any time of day, while engaged in conversation, working at a desk, during meals, or while driving. These involuntary naps last for about 10 to 20 minutes after which the person will wake up feeling quite refreshed. The other major, and perhaps most distinguishing, feature of the condition is cataplexy, a sudden loss of muscle tone during excitement or arousal, such as laughter. The loss of muscle tone may be partial or complete. In the latter case, the person may even collapse. Although individuals remain conscious during a cataplectic episode, they may experience hallucinations during prolonged attacks and subsequently fall asleep."
However, having narcolepsy does NOT mean you will definitely have Sleep Paralysis, and experiencing Sleep Paralysis does NOT mean that you have Narcolepsy (Between 20-40% of the population experiences Sleep Paralysis in their lives, yet only 0.02-0.05% of the population is narcoleptic; however, 40-60% of narcoleptics experience Sleep Paralysis.)

Besides being unable to move or speak, people may "sense" a presense when they experience Sleep Paralysis; it may be perceived as an indifferent presence, and observing presence, or an evil presence. Sometimes the person hallucinates a real person or being that may attack them, etc. This is from where ghost stories and alien abduction stories come. It is important to note that there is NO SUCH presence; it is often generated by the brain, which may still be partially in that REM state of dreaming while part of it has awoken. I personally shouldn't pretend to know what the heck is going on in the brain during these hallucinations. However, some accounts of incidents have the hallucinations knocking over objects, or causing a change to the surroundings of the subject, yet when the person is able to snap out of it, nothing in the room has been changed.

"Among the best-known experiences associated with sleep paralysis is the sensation of a strong pressure on the chest or back. Most often it is on the chest since sleep paralysis is also associated with lying in the supine position. Often it seems that there is someone or something sitting on one's chest. Sometimes this entity may also be experienced as choking the victim, or just pushing forcefully on the chest, or even biting into the shoulder, or twisting limbs." The chest pressure may contribute to an attack by the 'sensed presence' that was mentioned earlier. "Sometimes the pressure or pushing on the body is felt to be so intense that the person feels as though s/he is being pushed/pulled into the bed."

Something interesting that I've noticed from all the accounts/research I've been reading on this subject is that many victims ARE able to control their breath despite feeling paralysis in the rest of their body. The only case that this does not apply is when they feel pressure on their chest.

Okay, this post is long enough for now...ask any questions if you have any, I'll be happy to answer them. :-) Cya later

All text in quotes was material written by:
Diagnostic Classification Steering Committee, Thorpy MJ,
Chairman. International Classification of Sleep Disorders:
Diagnostic and Coding Manual. Rochester, Minnesota: American
Sleep Disorders Association, 1990.
Or:
Kryger, Meir H., Roth, Thomas, Dement, William C. Principles
and Practice of Sleep Medicine, 2nd Edition. Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania: W.B. Saunders Company, 1994.

This Loneliness won't leave me alone.

What's different with me is that i don't sense or see a presence. It's just shallow breaths and paralysis. Only once did i feel pressure on my chest but i did not feel scared or that i was in danger...