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Original poster

Sleep paralysis

27 replies

HarriwithanI · 07/04/2023 05:29

It’s so blinking horrible isn’t it :( I’ve gone from 31 years of living with never having it, to the last 6 weeks having it most nights.

Tried all the methods on the nhs website to help avoid it but no luck.

Any other ideas from sufferers I’m happy to try anything! I’m actually scared to sleep now

OP posts:
Dizzywizz · 07/04/2023 06:57

That sounds terrible @HarriwithanI . I’ve not heard a lot about it - off to Google! Hopefully someone will come along with some more useful advice

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 07/04/2023 07:17

When you wake up in a paralyzed state don't open your eyes because that's when you'll see the entitty. Sleep Paralysis hapoens,when the mind is fully awake but the body is still asleep which causes the paralysis.

OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 07/04/2023 07:18

It is absolutely shit. I suffer with it more when I am stressed out and can't relax. I try and make sure not to get too stressed but that's easier said than done sometimes.

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Sleep
Lewiscapaldiscat · 07/04/2023 07:19

Are you anxious? I suffered this when I started uni and was stressed. It went on its own. I found noise in the morning trigggered it.

CatOfTrees · 07/04/2023 07:21

I'm sorry @HarriwithanI sleep paralysis is awful, I've been getting it a lot too recently. I wiggle the very tips of my fingers and toes, that usually helps me bring me round at some point. I also keep my eyes closed if I can and repeat something like "I am safe, this is just sleep paralysis, I'll be properly awake soon" in my mind.

RudsyFarmer · 07/04/2023 07:21

It’s a sign of anxiety. What has happened in your life over the last 6 weeks OP?

notacooldad · 07/04/2023 07:22

It us horrible. I ha e had it about 5 times in my life.
The first time it happened I thought I was locked in my body and was going to be trapped for ever.
I've not read the NHS website but after the first time it happened I learned to relax and go back to sleep and wake up gradually again.

Pahpahpotato · 07/04/2023 07:24

Oh you poor thing it’s absolutely terrifying. I’ve only had it a handful of times in my life but ugh, just thinking about it gives me the shivers. Hope it stops very very soon for you!

ShadowPuppets · 07/04/2023 07:29

Sympathies, frequent sufferer here. Have you thought about your sleeping position? I always get it when I’m sleeping on my back.

Also, don’t know if it’s the same for you but if it happens the very worst thing I can do is go back to sleep immediately, I have to wake myself up fully or I just go into loops of it. Horrible when I’m knackered but I know if I don’t I’ll just have it happen over and over so better to wake up, look at something on my phone and have some water, ground myself then go back to sleep.

Asummersday · 07/04/2023 07:30

Blinking like crazy brings me out of sleep paralysis within a few seconds….if you can still blink - worth trying that

ShadowPuppets · 07/04/2023 07:30

notacooldad · 07/04/2023 07:22

It us horrible. I ha e had it about 5 times in my life.
The first time it happened I thought I was locked in my body and was going to be trapped for ever.
I've not read the NHS website but after the first time it happened I learned to relax and go back to sleep and wake up gradually again.

Yes to this. As soon as you realise what’s happening you need to relax not panic or else it’s harder to break it. Sort of like the advice when you fall into water - the whole float to live thing.

femfemlicious · 07/04/2023 07:31

HarriwithanI · 07/04/2023 05:29

It’s so blinking horrible isn’t it :( I’ve gone from 31 years of living with never having it, to the last 6 weeks having it most nights.

Tried all the methods on the nhs website to help avoid it but no luck.

Any other ideas from sufferers I’m happy to try anything! I’m actually scared to sleep now

Have you tried prayer, praying to God about it before bed works.

Notatmine · 07/04/2023 07:36

ShadowPuppets · 07/04/2023 07:29

Sympathies, frequent sufferer here. Have you thought about your sleeping position? I always get it when I’m sleeping on my back.

Also, don’t know if it’s the same for you but if it happens the very worst thing I can do is go back to sleep immediately, I have to wake myself up fully or I just go into loops of it. Horrible when I’m knackered but I know if I don’t I’ll just have it happen over and over so better to wake up, look at something on my phone and have some water, ground myself then go back to sleep.

I have also heard that people only get this when sleeping on their back.

TruthRevolution · 07/04/2023 07:40

It's horrible. I find if I can focus on trying to move my toes it helps, and telling myself I'm OK.

I also only ever get it when I'm exhausted but have woken up through the night then gone back to sleep again. It never happens during the first time I'm asleep.

marshmallowsforbreakfast · 07/04/2023 07:46

It's honestly one of the worst things I've ever experienced. I also found sleeping on my back can be a trigger.

SageHoney · 07/04/2023 07:50

One thing that works for me - not as prevention, but to recover quickly when waking up to sleep paralysis - is going to sleep with a towel (ideally relatively large and kind of rough/textured) in my hands. When I wake up and am unable to move, the first thing that comes back is fingers/toes. Having something already touching my hands that I can grab on to brings me out much more quickly. I'd read advice about using a pillow, cushion, bolster, stuffed animal, etc., but none of those worked for me; I needed something I could access with just the tiny amount of motion my hands could manage when I'd just woken up in this state.

Nonamenoplacetogo · 07/04/2023 07:52

Do you work shifts op? I had a bad spells of it in the past and sleeping in the afternoon seemed to make it worse. When I researched it years ago, it seems shift workers were more likely to suffer.

Thelonelychicken · 07/04/2023 07:52

Being over tired triggers mine. I have to get up and get a drink or I just keep looping into it

Original poster
HarriwithanI · 07/04/2023 08:31

Yes work shifts & noticed I woke on my back this morning actually!
Ive moved house - actually about 6 weeks ago. I love the new house but my already toxic relationship with DP has become more strained as they find it “embarrassing their daughter is living in the slums”.

Today I’m off to church for my DS and 90% of the congregation is my family (small rural one) who listen to my DP. I look different (bright hair and tattoos) so automatically judged.

I didn’t think it was all affecting me but maybe subconsciously it is?!

OP posts:
Original poster
HarriwithanI · 07/04/2023 08:32

Thelonelychicken · 07/04/2023 07:52

Being over tired triggers mine. I have to get up and get a drink or I just keep looping into it

Yes! I found I get looped into it so came onto MN for an hour to break the cycle.

OP posts:
Myownbestfriend · 07/04/2023 08:36

Yes I get sleep paralysis too, have done a few years and it's horrible!
Its always when I'm on my front and I wake up feeling a huge pressure in the back of my neck, feeling like I can't breathe and trying desperately to move my head to the side but obviously can't lift it.

Wiggling your toes is meant to bring you out of it but doesn't seem to help for me.

Pp are right, it's meant to be linked to anxiety/stress but apart from that (I have generalised anxiety disorder), I haven't found any specific triggers for mine.

SoggyGround · 07/04/2023 08:40

I've had this and always appears to be when I'm sleeping on my back (unintentionally, as I avoid that position to avoid the sleep paralysis!).

Mine also involves waking up and not breathing.

I try to stay relaxed and start by wiggling one toe or finger and go from there but it's terrifying and that enormous gulp of breath when I can at last move is painful.

mustbefunny · 07/04/2023 08:51

Sleep paralysis is awful and I don't know anyone else IRL who has experienced it. The first time it happened was my worst experience of it, having never had it before, and also because it was part of a scary dream (I've also read it referred to as 'stranger in the room'). Now if I get it I agree with the toe wriggling and keeping calm. Also happens when I'm stressed or sleep deprived (first time it happened when my twins were small, unsleeping, babies)

mydudero · 07/04/2023 09:03

Ah it's so frightening I really feel for you. I went through a dreadful period of it when I was 19, it went on for months. I had just finished my a-levels, moved to a new area with my parents and started my first full time job. Big life changes is a definite trigger for me. If you can manage to keep your eyes closed it really helps you wake up quicker, opening them and feeling you're frozen, that adrenaline and fear kicks in for me and that's when I see shadows at the end of my bed/get the feeling of someone pressing on my chest 🙈 keep your eyes closed and focus on your fingers and toes, I imagine waking them up then working my way up my arms, legs etc all whilst keeping those eyes shut. It gives you something to focus on and breathe through.

Now it happens maybe a couple of times a year. When life has its ups and downs, I notice it happens during the downs when I'm feeling stressed/anxious about something. I must admit I find my advice above much harder to follow when it hasn't happened for ages and catches me off guard though.

Hope the phase passes for you soon xx

memesndmoreme · 07/04/2023 09:09

Have you started on any new medication? When I was prescribed mirtazipine I had awful sleep terrors and sleep paralysis.