Sleep Paralysis

[the_randomizer]

Is there a way to experience this for the uninitiated? Can you train yourself or "set yourself up" for a better chance of It happening?

I've heard sleeping in a supine position (like on your back) increases your chances of entering sleep paralysis. But I despise it; I've had it multiple times and it's plain and simply unnerving. During those paralytic states, I've heard my name being called, people talking in low whispers and a tangible sense of pure terror. I know I'm awake during these episodes and I can see the surroundings in my room (it helps having the light from a back porch light bulb enter the window), but I feel a tingle go down my spine, I try to rock back and forth and eventually I can move. It still creeps the heck out of me to this day.

When you're asleep your body is supposed to be pretty much paralysed. This helps prevent you falling out of bed or acting out our dreams etc. We all know however, that there are certain people for who this doesn't happen, those who sleepwalk or sleeptalk for example. Sleep paralysis is simple the situation where for whatever reason, you have the usual immobility that you get from sleep, only you have not fully fallen asleep yet.
There is nothing supernatural about the experience, its just unusual that's all.

That's correct, when you enter REM sleep (the restful part of sleep), we enter a sleep-induced paralytic state to protect the body from harm but the sensation can be frightening.

 

[Guild McCommunist]

I've heard sleeping in a supine position (like on your back) increases your chances of entering sleep paralysis. But I despise it; I've had it multiple times and it's plain and simply unnerving. During those paralytic states, I've heard my name being called, people talking in low whispers and a tangible sense of pure terror. I know I'm awake during these episodes and I can see the surroundings in my room (it helps having the light from a back porch light bulb enter the window), but I feel a tingle go down my spine, I try to rock back and forth and eventually I can move. It still creeps the heck out of me to this day.

Yeah, sleeping on your back is a big cause. I always seem to be on my back when it happens.

But I've never had this "unnerving" hallucinations you're all describing. I feel the paralysis at times when I'm still in a dream (which is what I'm guessing happens to you guys) but I guess my dreams are a little more, um, "bright"?

Hearing the tales of Dan Harmon, Pentagon Hero is probably better than hearing low whispers.

 

[EyeZ]

I've never experienced anything like the stories i've read here, not too sure whether i would like too either

 

[DeMoN]

Seems like a disproportionate number of people on this site experience this. Could it be caused by playing video games?

 

[digipokemaster]

i had it a couple of times though what wakes me up from it is my body starts to shake or feels like it shaking but i have been trying to do it so i can have a atral projection. i have a couple of time lately seen images of people some of who i know and some i dont know at all pop up and a tiny bit of nature type background like a forest or the ocean and valley of flowers al kinds of flowers

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[Dash_2]

I've actually had this happen to me twice

the first time it happened i had falling asleep in the guest room and woke up around 3 i saw the clock and in my mind there were people stealing from the house and i could not move and not do a thing i thought it was scary as hell i was in my mind yelling and everything no one heard a thing that night woke up around 6 and was just happy i could move again.\

second time i had falling asleep in my room i was sitting on the edge of the bed and decided to lay down well i fell asleep like that and i woke up and hear yelling coming from my sisters room in my mind i ran there hit the wall and the door was locked i remember banging on the door and yelling when i woke up it was time to go to school :|

its pretty strange how that happens but yeah those are my stories

 

[gokujr1000]

I'm not sure if my experience was or is Sleep paralysis but I'll say it anyway and if it doesn't fit under the Sleep paralysis category maybe someone could provide some insight.

Basically when I was younger about 5,6,7 Around that time/age/whatever I was laying in bed and I was about to fall asleep. Now this might sound a little tricky/hard to understand because it feels hard for me to describe but basically right as I fall asleep I wake up and walk outside of my room. As I walk outside a strange witch/demon thing attacks me then I wake up. Now the weird thing is I woke up in the exact same position that I fell asleep and woke up in when I was having this dream. So I'm not sure what I actually experienced but the way it happened scared me shitless and I don't think I'll ever forget it o.o

 

[mameks]

Had this a couple of times. Scary as all hell.