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Original poster

Wtf was that?!

62 replies

thevelvetcurtain · 11/08/2021 23:31

I was just getting to sleep and suddenly felt like something was falling on me from above. Felt totally paralysed in fear and tried to shout for my DP but couldn't move. Managed to snap out of it and now lying here with the light on, very awake, and very freaked out. There's nothing here that could have actually been falling on me from the ceiling - so wtf was that?!?!

OP posts:
HealthKick2021 · 11/08/2021 23:32

Was it a panic attack?

Member589500 · 11/08/2021 23:33

Sleep paralysis

ForgedInFire · 11/08/2021 23:33

A brief sleep paralysis maybe? It's terrifying

Original poster
thevelvetcurtain · 11/08/2021 23:33

@HealthKick2021

Was it a panic attack?
No, I've had panic attacks before and it was nothing like that, it was like I had my eyes open even though they weren't and I could see something falling towards me... no idea if that makes sense, it certainly doesn't to me!
OP posts:
Original poster
thevelvetcurtain · 11/08/2021 23:33

Off to google sleep paralysis... whatever it was, it was terrifying.

OP posts:
soupforbrains · 11/08/2021 23:34

Sleep paralysis? Maybe?

There is a phenomenon whereby just before you are actually asleep your brain has already ‘switched off’ the physical controls but not the rest and this can cause that kind of sensation. It’s probably nothing serious, but probably worth talking over with a medical advisor to be on the safe side.

MilesOfSand · 11/08/2021 23:34

Yes sleep paralysis, I think sometimes hypnagogic hallucinations too. Terrifying the first time and feels paranormal - but isn’t!

liveforsummer · 11/08/2021 23:34

You were a bit more asleep when you thought and it was sleep paralysis- terrifying! Like a really extreme version of when you are drifting off and get startled awake by falling off a cliff etc

MilesOfSand · 11/08/2021 23:35

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypnagogia

liveforsummer · 11/08/2021 23:35

*than you thought, not when

Original poster
thevelvetcurtain · 11/08/2021 23:35

Ok yes I've just googled sleep paralysis and read the NHS definition and it looks like that's what it was. NHS says it only usually happens to people once in their life but I'm still too scared to go back to sleep. Blush

OP posts:
youwouldthink · 11/08/2021 23:37

Sounds like sleep paralysis. . I used to have a lot of episodes but the last was a couple of years ago. Utterly terrifying!

Original poster
thevelvetcurtain · 11/08/2021 23:39

@youwouldthink I know this sounds a bit ott but I felt like whatever it was was going to like reach inside of me and grab my soul or something, I'm very tired and probably not making much sense but you're right, it's utterly terrifying

OP posts:
54321nought · 11/08/2021 23:45

sleep paralysis for sure x

Houseofvelour · 11/08/2021 23:51

Definitely sounds like sleep paralysis.
I get it when I'm overtired or stressed or fall asleep on my back.
When you can't move, focus on calming your breathing and wiggling your toes.
Trust me 😊

I hope it doesn't happen again but if it does, breathe and toes xx

GromblesofGrimbledon · 11/08/2021 23:51

[quote thevelvetcurtain]@youwouldthink I know this sounds a bit ott but I felt like whatever it was was going to like reach inside of me and grab my soul or something, I'm very tired and probably not making much sense but you're right, it's utterly terrifying[/quote]

It's sleep paralysis. I used to get it regularly. For me, once I knew what it was it was less frightening.

It's where the legends of the succubus and incubus come from.

GromblesofGrimbledon · 11/08/2021 23:52

Oh,and yes, as @Houseofvelour it was always when I fell asleep on my back utterly conked out. Never when I sleep on my side.

BringBackDoves · 11/08/2021 23:55

I used to get it too - often when staying away from home in a hotel. So terrifying. I started wearing an eye mask to sleep and it never happened again - I think it subconsciously reassured me I wasn’t seeing things.

And yes sleeping on back made it worse (and I loved sleeping on my back but hardly do it now)

Beecham · 11/08/2021 23:55

Sleep paralysis 100%
Triggers for me are being over tired any sleeping on my front
It's weird that no-one I know in real life has heard of it but I've read lots of threads on mn!

storminasnowglobe · 11/08/2021 23:57

I've suffered from a type of sleep paralysis for many years. In mine I feel like I am awake/conscious but I can't actually wake up. The more I try and force myself to open my eyes or move, the more panicky I become. I have learnt the best way to deal with it is just to say to myself "go back to sleep". If I can relax and get back to sleep then the next time I "wake up" I do it the normal way! It is still scary even though I've been experiencing it for years.

TheShriekingCrow · 11/08/2021 23:58

It’s horrible. I’ve had a few episodes. Sometimes I hear a loud noise or radio frequency type of noise, another one I’ve had a few time is my bed is slowly being tilted and I’m sliding off. I’m dreading what I’m sliding into. Shudder.

Houseofvelour · 12/08/2021 00:01

@storminasnowglobe

I've suffered from a type of sleep paralysis for many years. In mine I feel like I am awake/conscious but I can't actually wake up. The more I try and force myself to open my eyes or move, the more panicky I become. I have learnt the best way to deal with it is just to say to myself "go back to sleep". If I can relax and get back to sleep then the next time I "wake up" I do it the normal way! It is still scary even though I've been experiencing it for years.
That's the type I have. Horrible isn't it.
Ladyrattles · 12/08/2021 00:02

It is petrifying when it happens. I had a bad one last year and started sleeping with an eye mask, which weirdly helped with insomnia too.

PleaseReferToMeAsBritneySpears · 12/08/2021 00:06

WTF? This sounds awful. I've never heard of it before. You poor people!

StCharlotte · 12/08/2021 00:10

@BringBackDoves

I used to get it too - often when staying away from home in a hotel. So terrifying. I started wearing an eye mask to sleep and it never happened again - I think it subconsciously reassured me I wasn’t seeing things.

And yes sleeping on back made it worse (and I loved sleeping on my back but hardly do it now)

That's interesting - I only get it in my own bed but not if I've got the radio on. And yet I can sleep in hotels or strange places without issue and without a radio. Go figure...

I've also had full on out of body experiences. Terrifying and yet exhilarating, breathtaking even (not literally I hope!).