Sleeping paralysis. Do you ever experience them before?
By Heixyin
@Heixyin (175)
Malaysia
January 31, 2012 4:25am CST
Lately, I have been experiencing sleeping paralysis, whenever I lie on the couch. Sleeping paralysis is a state where you are half conscious and half in dream state. But you are fully aware your sleeping, and you cannot move your limb. For my case, there are time where I experience suffocation and immobility of my limbs. The more I struggle , the harder for me to breathe and move. I cannot shout nor open my eyes. But in the end I manage to wake up, and it's always due to lack of air. It's a pretty scary experience for me. I will break into cold sweat after that. Wow. I heard that we should relax and not struggle in such situation, but it's not easy, especially when I'm suffocating. Haha== . Do you guys ever experience them? Any other cure options?
1 person likes this
5 responses
@peavey (16936)
• United States
31 Jan 12
That happened to me just night before last, the first time in a long time. I think it was because I ate a lot of chocolate before bedtime!
They say that it has to do with the brain not being able to regulate the sleep that you get. I'm not sure how that works, but I still think it had something to do with the chocolate.
@Heixyin (175)
• Malaysia
1 Feb 12
Hmm, is it because of the heat? Eating chocolate causes our body to be hearty right? I think that might be one of the factor. Oh! Whenever I sleep with my hands on my forehead, in the afternoon only, I would experience sleeping paralysis. Oh well, now I would reconsider twice before taking a nap in the afternoon haha...:D
@peavey (16936)
• United States
1 Feb 12
It's not hot here; it's the middle of winter. I looked it up really quick and it said that sleep paralysis happens during REM sleep when we are sleeping lightly enough to wake up at the wrong time. Our bodies do experience a sort of paralysis whenever we dream that keeps us from hurting ourselves or others by acting out those dreams, but sometimes when our brains and our bodies are not in perfect agreement, we "wake up" while our bodies are still in dream mode.
Does that help?
@tessa9 (1085)
• Philippines
31 Jan 12
That seems pretty scary and very very serious. I think that you should go to a doctor as soon as possible and have it checked out. It is better to do it sooner that later because you can prevent it or even cure it. I think there are some triggers on how this could happen.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
1 Feb 12
I had it when I was younger, not so mich anymore and it was terrifying. I think the reason I do not have it now is because I am older, in my sixties, and do not fall into deep sleep that easily. I can breathe, but it is not being able to get up. It is like yuou are a wake, but you are not and sometimes it i so real, that you think you are in your own bed, but then things are different. I find that seeing that difference, for instance, the room may have the phone on a night stand when really it is on the bookshelf, makes it so you can go back to sleep again, that is close your eyes.
What bugged me was that I had this sleep paralysis on the morning that I had an appointment and thought I would be late because I could not move to get up.
@Mashnn (4501)
•
1 Feb 12
I have experiened something like that but not the problem with breathing. It seems to me as if you are experiencing what is called "sleep apnea" . I would suggest to you to consult your doctor.
@tatzkie23 (770)
• Philippines
1 Feb 12
I experienced sleep paralysis once in a while. I don't know what really cause it, but i noticed that i only having that when i don't sleep in a comfortable position. Sometimes, i tend to sleep with my arms raise on the back of my head, which i think that will block my blood circulation from my upper limbs. And then i just start to struggle or something, i know i'm aware, but i can't open my eyes. So what i do is that, i sleep in a comfortable position. And i think that works for me. 
