Sleep paralysis

[CathyTre]

I think this is the right term - it’s a really weird thing that happens to me.

I’m not “woo” at all, although I was brought up as a Roman Catholic by quite traditional RC parents so…

At night, occasionally, not so bad now, I’ve had these horrible experiences of a demon, malevolent prescence in my room at night, like how people describe “ghosts” - you know, but EVIL, like a horror movie. You can sort of see it but not quite, but FEEL it like a low budget horror movie, and it feels real, like you’re awake.

I researched a bit and apparently this is called sleep paralysis and it’s a bit like when some kids get night terrors.

I’ve recently started a job where I work late - not nights, but til about half eleven or midnight sometimes, and this has come back.

It’s terrifying but I know it’s not real.

Any tips to combat it? I feel so tired as I often struggle to sleep after one of these - I know it’s not real, but it FEELS real.

If I don’t reply til tomorrow it’s cos I’m hoping to get back to sleep!

Try not to sleep on your back! That really helped stop me from getting sleep paralysis.

Really? I must try this - I usually sleep on my back I think. It’s honestly horrid - have you felt it? It’s like a horrible presence in the room that you think is definitely there… and then you wake up, although you thought you were already awake, and your heart goes like the clappers!

It happens when your brain wakes up before your body does.

Therefore stopping you from moving. You're inbetween being awake and asleep. It's good though that you are able to understand that what you're seeing or feeling isn't real.

Good advice from PP about not sleeping on your back

It does only seem to happen when I’m very tired but can’t switch off properly - like working late, really tired, drop off quickly and… WHAM daemon! In my room!!

I know it’s not real but I find it really hard to get off to sleep again cos I genuinely feel afraid.

I was just coming on to ask do you sleep on your back! Whenever I have sleep paralysis (it happened last night and I haven't had it for ages) or have a bad nightmare when I wake I'm always on my back. Apparently it can be connected to sleep apnoea (when your breathing becomes obstructed) and causes you to have a troubled sleep and sometimes wake abruptly. I'm not sure what can be done but I know being a healthy weight and not eating rich foods or drinking alcohol before bed will help.

I am a healthy weight - I’m five foot six and nine and a half stone so I think that’s sort of right (as far as I recall from years ago bmi thing). I don’t drink either, but I don’t have the healthiest diet and I work quite long hours quite late, although not nights.

Maybe I need to chill out w bit more after a late work (sometimes I do earlies and it doesn’t seem to happen as much then?)

Yep, I had it for years and yes, definitely when more tired. In celtic folklore it's known as the Old Hag, and I think it is more prevalent in females, but that might not be right.

I used to think there were burglars or some evil presence coming in the room and it would be dark as if my eyes were only open a bit, and I'd be unable to move. I would concentrate on just moving my little finger and if I could manage to do that, it would rouse me and I'd be fine. Well freaked out, but able to move!

For years now I've slept on my side, and if I roll over on to my back in the night I'll often get a nightmare but can't remember the last time I got sleep paralysis - thank goodness!

Hope things calm down for you and you can return to more restful sleep.

Thank you! Going to try to get back to sleep now, but I’ll definitely be interested in anyone’s tips tomorrow 🙂

It's very unpleasant. I've had it a few times. Always when I've slept on my back and when I'm extremely tired. I open my mouth to scream but nothing comes out. Freaks me out every time.

I get this occasionally and had it the night before last. I think someone is in the room..Either a burglar or evil presence. I call out and my teenagers kindly wake me up. They were still awake last time.

I remember once dreaming that the evil presence was clinging to my back and making awful snarling noises. The last time they were crouching by the side of the bed and touching me.

@Offmen

Try not to sleep on your back! That really helped stop me from getting sleep paralysis.

I agree with this - I’m much more likely to get SP and bad dreams generally if I sleep on my back.