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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to ask whether anyone suffers from sleep-induced temporary paralysis and related hallucinations?

80 replies

holmesgirl · 19/05/2012 21:59

I believe they're fairly common and attached to stress/anxiety. Mine have been ongoing (sporadically) for over ten years now. They are so vivid and the hallucinations really are terrifying.

If you've had them or similar night terrors what are your experiences like?

Mine are pretty text book. I hear loud footsteps stomping round my bed, then feel a massive pressure on my chest and try to scream or force myself awake but I'm totally paralysed (I can feel my eyelashes flickering though...). Or worse, I have the hallucinations - usually a malevolent witch-type old lady coming towards me from the bottom of my bed. Hideous... :/

The first time it happened to me I was 21yo. My parents had just moved house (I was still at home) and I was convinced their new house was haunted - until I described what had happened to my mum - and a colleague - and they'd both had similar experiences in the past...

Tell me your story :)

OP posts:
WorriedBetty · 19/05/2012 22:34

No need to freak out, these demons have been around for many years. I have experienced it. It was a dark and freezing night in Edinburgh. I had been out in the cold, but when I went into my house it did seem unnaturally warm, but my room itself felt cold. I went to bed wrapped up in my duvet, feeling anxious but nothing unusual. I was still wearing the cotton thermals I had bought to guard against the damp November night, and I pulled the Duvet tight around me to compensate.

Falling asleep as usual, I woke to events that literally ran my blood cold. I couldn't move, it was as if a hand was on my chest weighting me down as if to drown me. Coming to somewhat I realised that I could not move my hands or feet. In short, I was paralysed with fear. The sweat was pouring off my forehead and into my staring open eyes, stinging them with salt and Oil of Olay deep clean cleanser. I honestly have never felt fear like it before or since. I could hear twisting and stumbling steps pace around my bed as, pivoting around the hand on my chest, the incredible beast that must be atop me. An Incubus was trying to relieve his restlessness. All at once I saw it! Manifesting before me- lips, then eyes, then a horribly twisted mangled sunken face. A few seconds later, I could hear him, a rushing and swimming sound in my brain and ears that deepened my horror and pulsed through my very soul. I could think of nothing but I could witness, witness the terrible evil that sought to consume me.

Then, I felt something I knew I shouldn't be feeling. A twitch in my hand, a new focus in my eyes. My fear was easing as I accepted his presence. The darkness cleared and my eyes searched over the patterns in front of me. I could feel his body clearly, hear my breath bounce back from his chest. Searching my face with his terrible eyes, he flashed recognition as something happened in my arm. He must have seen determination, and he pushed down and moved his face next to mine. I was terrified and my brain screamed as me 'Don't move'. but my hand did not listen. It went about as if possessed, it bent itself around and slid between us like a posessed thing - I could feel and smell damp hideous rags about his waist. It thrusted, It pushed. I heard a dull thud on the floor and the sounds of collapse. A sound like a hoof striking a door gave way to complete silence. In an instant, my fear subsided, the uncanny darkness n the room began to clear, and I could hear the soft click clock of my alarm again. Dawn light began to glimmer through the skylight. I had a few seconds to reach down and feel the body, and lacked the courage, but as it started to disappear, I swept my hand through the fading form. I looked at my hand, and only a dark sour dust remained.

But yours is a Succubus. HTH [Grin]

holmesgirl · 19/05/2012 22:35

@NicNoc, it's funny you say that re scepticism because mainly when people tell scary stories I think 'oh, that's just sleep paralysis/night terrors'...

However, I still think I believe.

OP posts:
Saltire · 19/05/2012 22:41

I get horrendous hallucinations - visual and auditory when i take tramadol.
I am not aware of getting them any other time and I don't get paralyss

RecursiveMoon · 19/05/2012 22:42

Gosh, what am interesting thread. I don't think I've experienced these things, but when DS was a newborn, we'd sometimes fall asleep when he was BFing, then DH or I would later transfer him to a Moses basket. I was very worried about co-sleeping, and if I woke up, I was often sure that I could see DS in bed with us, but it would just be DH's arm or a fold of the duvet or something. Once I saw my hairdryer next to the bed, and I was 100% convinced that it was DS. Any idea what that was all about? Exhaustion? Hormones?

NicNocJnr · 19/05/2012 22:43

Gin - well, had you mentioned that before. It obvious you are being haunted by the Smurfs!
It's shitty, particularly when it's something not overtly scary as such - like you wouldn't necesarily be scared in the cold light of day (precisely when you are explaining it) but at the time feel like you're fell into some heinous dimension.
What is it though about people hiding? I still get that but DS is worried about people or monsters hiding in wardrobes or behind the door, I see people hiding in the same places and it seems a really common theme.

At what point does your brain say the most likely scenario definitely is an old lady/death/demon/child/smurf/dog/other will have hidden themselves away amongst all those clothes that no longer fit over your arse and will wait patiently until you are asleep to come and stand next to you looking sad or float about a bit before leaving. Thinking about it makes it even more bizarre that you feel so terrified and worry your heart will explode before anyone can help. Or that any of the really scary ones that are trying to kill you - they're so all powerful they have to sneak in the front door and wait it out but can just disappear through the wall when they leave?

Just realised I'm on my own tonight...eek! Ah well maybe this friendly looking glass of wine shall help me.

DoesItComeInBlack · 19/05/2012 22:44

I used to have this and it was terrifying I thought there was someone in the room but I couldn't move or speak. Then I would think I had woken up, but I could still sense someone in the room and when I tried to turn the lamps on I couldn't get any of the lights to work and then I could feel someone touching the bed. It got so bad that a few times when my DP came home late at night and came into the bedroom I would sit upbolt upright in bed, like Dracula in his coffin and just scream at him like a banshee. He had to wake me up by shout that it was only him, loudly, so the neighbours didn't phone the police.
Than I saw this psycologist talking about it on the TV and he said the way to stop it was to take control of the dream. When you become arare of the dream, tell your subconcious that this is what it is and you can start to change it and wake yourself up gently. It works a lot of the time too.

WorriedBetty · 19/05/2012 22:46

the Wine is evil DON'T DRINK THE WINE (hope its not too late Shock)

TheLaineyWayIsEssex · 19/05/2012 22:46

I have (mot for a while) experienced hypnagocic hallucinations, where I see spiders in the corner of a room, or hear the bed breaking. All of which are proved not real when the light is turned on. Before I knew what was happening, I would be terrified, but now it is fine

NinthWave · 19/05/2012 22:48

I've had this on and off for the past ten years or so, most recent episode was about a week ago. I dreamed I was screaming for help, but came out of sleep to find I was paralysed and could barely mouth "help" - was horrible.

I've had the dragged-down-the-bed feeling too, and the feeling that some shadowy figure was just out of sight in the room.

NicNocJnr · 19/05/2012 22:48

HG - It's not the only reason obviously but it certainly helps when it comes to explanations. It's very hard to fathom, I think, unless you've experienced it how very, very real it is. Swear blind till the cows come home real. Each to their own though.

Now WB on the other hand - who can explain that?! Wink

ginmakesitallok · 19/05/2012 22:49

I don't find it as scary now because I think that I realise I'm dreaming. No matter how illogical in cold light out day, at the time it seems perfectly likely that someone is hiding in your wardrobe at 3 in the morning...

holmesgirl · 19/05/2012 22:51

I've had the spiders thing Lainey. Running over my pillow; or sitting on my quilt near my face; or lowering themselves down from ceiling onto my face!!! On reflection, after starting to write this down and read everyone else's experiences I am coming to the conclusion I have a rough ride during the twilight hours!!!

OP posts:
LowFlyingBirds · 19/05/2012 22:53

I get these occasionally, a lot less frequently now -last one was a few eeks ago and probably several months since the previous time - in my early twenties i got them a lot more often.

Its not always a negative experiemce for me though, they were almost always enjoyable (if a little unsettling) when i was having them frequently.

When its a 'good' one i'll feel very content and too heavy to move, then like im floating and sometimes like im actually flying. Im fully aware that ima ctually in bed asleep but i can control the whole experience in a really lucid sort of way. I can decide where i want to fly, how high, how fast,what i want to see etc.

Bad ones, the emphasis is on the paralysis. I'll feel it coming in a whooshy sort of way, like i can count down to it but do nothing to stop it. Most of the time i cant breath (and i dont think thats an hallucination, because when i manage to wake up i am gasping for air) and im terrified because i know i wont be able to breatha t all unless i can wake myself up. Sometimes i hear ds calling for me, he always sounds terrified but i cant move and cant breath and i can feel every muscle straining but nothing happens. Im shouting but it stays in my chest if that makes sense, i cant get it out. Again, im very lucid during all this, i know whats happening, that im in bed, that ds is almost certainly not calling me but theres always that worry that something is happening to him and i cant get there and obviously the whole not breathing thing is pretty stressful!

Ihavent noticed any particular pattern to when this happens.

NicNocJnr · 19/05/2012 22:53

WB how rude! This is nice wine, it's not evil! It's got a horse on the label and everything! Grin

However, I have all ready had a small one so won't have any more. If I have a bad night I'll tell myself off for not reading your post sooner!

NinthWave · 19/05/2012 22:58

Mine seems to come on if I go to bed very very late, or have very interrupted sleep for the first 2 or 3 hours of the night.

I've also done the thing of being convinced that my baby was under the duvet somewhere.

holmesgirl · 19/05/2012 22:58

I say have another little wine NicNoc :-) I'm enjoying a tiny one.

OP posts:
SpangledPandemonium · 19/05/2012 22:59

I was terrified that it was paranormal for a long time.
Or that I was going mad.
I can control it a little now, when I start to come round, I remind myself that it isn't real and will pass. But I have never found a way of preventing it in the first place.

And it looks like my children have the same thing. At least I can reassure them. I started with the shaking bed thing just after The Exorcist was released. My poor mum was more scared than me Grin

SpangledPandemonium · 19/05/2012 23:01

I have come round to find myself with the baby in my arms. She was fine but wide awake!

UnfortunatelyNotAMummy · 19/05/2012 23:07

I sometimes think i see HUGE spiders, the size of dinner plates, running around the walls. Luckily i'm not scared of spiders but at first i was convinced they were real. Now if i see them when my husband is in the room i say 'i can see a spider' and he'll say 'its not real' and i say 'i know but it looks real' so i'm awake at the time enough to have a conversation. Is this the same thing?

Groovee · 19/05/2012 23:09

I have what I think are dreams where I am trying to wake up but am unable to wake up. It's like I just cannot waken up and I think I missed dh coming home and it turns out he's never been here.

PfftTheMagicDraco · 19/05/2012 23:11

I don't have the paralysis, but I have the hallucinations. I have found myself at the bottom of the bed, cowering and crying, in the bathroom curled into a ball.

Insects is a common one for me, as is a nasty presence over the bed trying to kill me. Fucking terrifying. Happens most when I am stressed, but not for a while now.

QuintessentialShadows · 19/05/2012 23:12

... And I am trying to scream, and I can hear that my voice is not working....

It is horrible.

PfftTheMagicDraco · 19/05/2012 23:12

NicNoc, yes - When I am having the dreams, it is like I am aware that I have had them in the past, yet each time I am convinced that THIS ONE is real, and because I have had that dream thought process, there is no convincing me that it might not be real.

holmesgirl · 19/05/2012 23:21

Unfortunately yes it's a hallucination. I'm an arachnophobe so effing terrifying - real or not Shock

OP posts:
xkcdfangirl · 19/05/2012 23:24

Yes I've had these. It's quite a common phenomenon - as previous posters have said it is just brain waking up before body.

I find it interesting the way that the rationale that the brain makes up to understand the experience depends on the belief system of the person experiencing it. An evangelical religious type who believes in the existence of demons is more likely to experience it as a demonic power which can be banished by uttering the name of Jesus (though actually sayng any word out loud would successfully wake you) - a Fortean-type might experience it as an alien-abduction-and-experimentation trauma - a more realistic person might experience it as a burglar-intruder. You are less likely to interpret the experience as a phenomenon that you have no personal belief in the existence of (though its not unknown)

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