1. Home
  2. Health
  3. Sleep Disorders
photo of Brandon Peters, M.D.
Sleep Disorders Blog

By Brandon Peters, M.D., About.com Guide to Sleep Disorders

Examining the Horrors of Sleep Paralysis

Sunday March 1, 2009

Sleep paralysis sounds unbelievable. You wake from sleep. As you lie in bed, you feel like someone is standing over you in the darkness. You try to move your head only slightly to take a subtle glance, but you can't. Someone -- something -- is surely holding you down. You attempt to struggle, to thrash your arms and legs, but you are frozen in place. Sheer panic washes over you as your paralysis lingers.

Though this may sound all too unreal, sleep paralysis is indeed a very real experience. Learn about this common phenomenon, including the potential causes and whether treatment is necessary.

Comments

March 12, 2009 at 1:25 am
(1) Cristina says:

This was a very useful article for me. Thank you very much :)

For the last 2 years or so I’ve had this problem ocurring every now and then and now that I know the explanation I feel so much relieved.
The first ever that it happened was actually because of a very stressfull event, related to sleep. Or lack of it. I was living in a student campus and had very noisy neighbours, who were partying several nights in a row, and when I tryed talking to them, they actually became violent, and all night would make fun and knock at my door and screem and such. And I was soo tired, I was all night half falling into sleep, half awaking. Now that explains things. And one night I had this awful nightmare it was to me then – I couldnt quite wake up, but there were surely people in the room and I could not move and felt helpless. Horrible, in one word. Next morning I took drastic measures to change the situation (changed rooms :) . But ever since, the “nightmare” reoccured – and I’d calm down telling myself that I’m awake and that it’s not real.

Now that I know why it happens, I think I’ll get over it ;)
Thanks again.

July 5, 2009 at 3:24 pm
(2) danny says:

i wasnt scared but it wuz shocking i couldnt move a muscle except my eyes and i coulda think. other than that..i couldnt do nothin but wait until it wuz over..it lasted about 30 sec…..i wuz so real

July 15, 2009 at 7:26 pm
(3) Kirstie says:

Had my first experience a couple hours ago. I woke up wondering what just happened and I quickly exited the room I was sleeping in. First I was woke finna go to sleep then I think I went to sleep. I had the door close my sister came in and I tried to move and say something to her but I couldnt. I felt like a hand moved me to the floor actually I thought I Was gonna be laying on the floor.But I said the Lord prayer and I woke up on the bed.

July 29, 2009 at 9:33 am
(4) DEE says:

I have lived with sleep paralysis and night tremors for YEARS. ive had some of the worst and most horrifying experiences ever. it used to occur on a weekly basis when i was a teenager. im 27 now and they dont occur too often but they still do. i had a episode last night. the loud noises, screaming, knocking and inablility to wake up or move around is the most terrifying. One time i felt like i was having a seizure in my sleep. my eyes were blinking so quickly , my mouth was twisting in different directions. it was bizare. ive told my parents about it as a teenager and young child but they didnt understand. oh well i just hope they dont come back as often as they did when i was younger.

Leave a Comment

Line and paragraph breaks are automatic. Some HTML allowed: <a href="" title="">, <b>, <i>, <strike>

Discuss
Community Forum
Explore Sleep Disorders
About.com Special Features

Learn how you can reduce your your numbers with these nutrition and exercise tips. More >

Keep yourself, and your family, happy and healthy this fall with these tips. More >

  1. Home
  2. Health
  3. Sleep Disorders

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.