Weird sleeping issue

[nmballa]

Kind of weird so i figure I would post this here. Sometimes I find that I awaken partially and can't seem to move. Like I'll have dosed off on a flight and I awaken enough to be conscious and aware that I am awake but I can't get my body to respond. Sometimes I awaken like this and have difficulty breathing as well. It's like I am fighting/forcing my body to try to move but I can't get my arm to do more than twitch. After awhile I start to be able to move and then I come out of it. Other times as soon as I come out of it I fall back asleep, repeat process. Have to admit it can be a rather terrifying experience. Does anyone else ever have this?

[Porterwake]

I've had those very very infrequently in my life. You want to wake up and you struggle to wake up and you know you want to.

I usually have come out of mine being mentally and physically exhausted after the ordeal.

I would suggest they are either abnormal bouts of night terrors and/or waking up during your paralysis sleep period.

[Zach M]

My first thought was, "that sounds serious. I would consult a doctor immediately". Then google told me different.


No need to lose any sleep over this — your doctor is right that what you describe is normal and not dangerous. When you're snoozing and you move into REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, the deepest part of the sleep cycle, your body becomes largely disconnected from your brain — this is why we don't hurt ourselves or our bed-mates during active dreams. Sometimes, the mind disconnects too early or too late from the body, leaving you unable to move voluntarily. This temporary condition is called sleep paralysis, and it usually subsides after a minute or two.

Though sleep paralysis is harmless, it can be terrifying, especially if you don't know what's happening to you. Someone experiencing an episode may have hallucinations, or have the feeling that someone is in the room or sitting on his/her chest. Hearing and smell can also be involved, as can the feeling of floating or flying. Sleep paralysis is also common — so common that many different cultures have their own names and stories associated with the condition:

Newfoundland An "old hag" with supernatural powers was thought to sit on the sleeper's chest and cause paralysis.

West Indies
A "kokma" or ghost baby was thought to jump on the chest of the sleeper and attack his/her throat.

China
"Ggui ya" or pressure applied by a ghost was thought to be responsible for paralyzing the sleeper.

Some researchers believe that sleep paralysis could even be responsible for recent reports of late-night alien abductions.

The exact cause of sleep paralysis is unknown. The condition is often linked to the sleep disorder narcolepsy — a condition that causes people to lose control over when they fall asleep — but people who don't have narcolepsy experience episodes as well. Sleep paralysis seems to run in families and is more common in teenagers and people who have panic attacks.

A few things you can do to lessen the chances of encountering sleep paralysis include:

exercising at least twice a week
going to sleep and waking up at the same times each day
getting enough sleep to keep you feeling alert and awake throughout your day
reducing or better managing the amount of stress you deal with during the day (check out Alice!'s archive on stress for tips)
If you experience sleep paralysis more than once a week for at least six months, a health care provider or sleep specialist might be able to prescribe medication that can help you regulate your sleep patterns and manage the episodes. Students at Columbia can call x4-2284 or log on to Open Communicator to make an appointment.

In the meantime, perhaps knowing that this is within the range of normal will help you move toward sweeter dreams.

http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/2551.html

[Wakebrad]

Does your butt-hole hurt after you wake up? Could be aliens. They love to probe.

[nmballa]

Well that pretty much sums it up. I guess I should have googled before I posted.

[vette74]

[Aubs]

[Wakeboarder3780]

I'm glad you shared, that was interesting to read about. Sounded insane.

[DCdave56]

Duuuuuuude, I've had this happen a few times in my life. Most recently it was accompanied with a nightmare that someone was in the room, I could even see an outline of an individual in the doorway. I couldn't for the life of me move or reach over to wake up my girlfriend. I have to admit it was the most terrifying nightmare I've ever had.

Craziness...

Glad you shared, I thought I was crazy too.

[8824]

[Nooga678]

I suffer from these (the old hags disease, not the alien anal probing) typically when I am not getting enough sleep (like shortly after the birth of both my daughters). It is the most f'd up feeling. Mine usually happen when I am waking up. I always have the sensation that I am falling deeper into something and if I don't make myself move I will go to far and won't come back. Knowing that it is harmless, I have tried to remain calm and explore the experience, but I always freak out and start yelling at my body to move. With mine, I never remember being able to see anything, always just in blackness. I also can relate to the repeat cycle as it will happen a few times in a row in the morning.

[Neognosis]

You should post this over at Unexplained-mysteries.com They can help you determine what kind of demon is possessing you.

[ky1e]

nmballa, does sleep apnea run in your family? The only thing that is abnormal is the waking up and being unable to breathe/gasping for air. It is probably something you should talk to your primary care doc about so he can set you up for a sleep study and make sure it isn't a serious problem. People with sleep apnea can die in their sleep if they don't get treated.

[nmballa]