I think I experienced sleep paraylisis

[dodgernoot]

Here is the story. My 4 year old is sick. The routine is the same with every kid. Sick kids get in beds with parents. But to avoid getting the 3 month old sick (whose also in our bed) I elected to sleep on the couch so the sick kid would come to me.

So she goes to bed about 8pm. I fall asleep on the couch around 10pm. Between 1045ish and 4ish AM she gets up to drink water/puke/pee about 5 or 6 times. I'm literally taking a series of 45 minute naps. It is seriously messing with my sleep cycle and this undoubtedly contributes to whatever it was I experienced.

Now it's about 1:45am and the kid comes into the front room wanting a drink and to sleep with me. After we get settled it probably takes me about 10-15 minutes to fall back asleep.

2:35am I wake up (I think) to what sounds like a ring of keys hitting the floor or wall repeatedly. The way I am situated my back is to my wall with my feet pointed toward the front door. Next to the front door is the key hook. The sound, however, is coming from the opposite direction. Closer to the hallway or playroom. My first thought was the cat was playing with something because it can't possibly be the keys. It couldn't reach them and the cats were locked away in the laundry room. That's when I go to get up and can't.

I wasn't scared or panicked, more annoyed at first followed by mad. I could see the light from the hallway was on but I couldn't physically move my head to see the hallway itself. I could see the TV and cable box which is how I knew it was 2:35am. I could see everything else in the front room. I could also see and feel my daughter cuddled next to me. My first thought was that I am laying in such an awkward position that I can't really move and I will be real sore in the morning. I quickly realized that this wasn't the issue.

There wasn't a pressure on my body. I didn't fell like someone or thing was holding me down. I just couldn't move. Like an invisible barrier was preventing my body from changing its position. This lasted for what felt like 15 to 20 seconds. Again, I wasn't panicked. I was pissed (at myself maybe) that I couldn't move. On top of this, I can still hear the sound that woke me in the first place.

Not knowing what to do but that I have to get up to check this noise out, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath to calm myself. After the breath, I felt my body completely relax. Like it broke free from suspended animation. Not only that, but as I felt my body release and I move to get up, I feel lighter than I should. Kind of springy and able to move much more easily than normal.

So once I'm up I don't hear anything. All of the keys are on the key hook. Nothing is out of place. No one is awake. Nothing in the hallway or playroom. I check the laundry room. Both cats are laying on the floor. Nothing unusual there either. I walk back into the living room and look at the clock. It's 2:40am.

And that was it. The kid woke me up about an hour later throwing up. But no shadow people. No mysterious figures. No intense pressure on my body. Just a noise and the inability to move for what seemed like 20 seconds. Maybe it was a very lucid dream? Maybe the heat radiating off of my child gave me a fever dream (is that a thing)? Whatever it was, it sure felt real to me.

[Siberian13]

I get sleep paralysis quite a bit. No one really knows what causes it. Sleep deprivation and stress seem to be the main triggers. Could also be repressed emotions too. It’s weird not being able to move your body but your mind is fully awake. I’ve noticed it happens more if I sleep on my back vs. my sides. Also happens if I wake up in the morning and then try to go back to sleep. I get hypnic jerks sometimes when falling asleep. A lot of people get those jerks but some just don’t realize it and it doesn’t bother their sleep.

[asujbl]

I get it a few times a year

[Bader]

I’ve experienced this a few times and it’s always during a nightmare don’t really remember the dream just the fact that I know I’m awake and can’t physically move my body or get up so I usually just close my eyes and drift off back to sleep.

Ps. I’m not one to judge but a 3 month old should be in the crib as it is the safest and not in any bed, that’s just a tragedy waiting to happen.

[Chuck Bartowski]

Out-of-body experience

[TheFrenzy]

I’ve had it twice, but both were accompanied by the “shadowy figures” phenomenon which is pretty freaky.

Then there was the time I was dead asleep and my wife punched me in the chest. I jolted awake and she was sitting upright in the bed beside me. I asked her what was going on and she said: “You were talking to the Devil!” Then she passed out and was fast asleep. I don’t even think she ever really woke up. She just punched me and accused me of satanism in her sleep.

[Siberian13]

Originally Posted by TheFrenzy

I’ve had it twice, but both were accompanied by the “shadowy figures” phenomenon which is pretty freaky.

Then there was the time I was dead asleep and my wife punched me in the chest. I jolted awake and she was sitting upright in the bed beside me. I asked her what was going on and she said: “You were talking to the Devil!” Then she passed out and was fast asleep. I don’t even think she ever really woke up. She just punched me and accused me of satanism in her sleep.

She seems like a fantastic person to me.

[jason122883]

I've had it many times. Years ago I would get it 3-4 times a week. Now I get it like once a month. I have had it so many times that it no longer bothers me. I just break free and go right back to sleep

They do say you wake up during REM sleep, which is your deepest sleep. So a lot of your nerves are shut down, and you wake up, but they don't. For me I can normally wiggle a finger or toe first. Do that for 10-15 seconds then it triggers the rest of my body.

Never had any of the shadow figures or anything. Just unable to move. Twice I was unable to breathe. Those times were definitely scary

[Whodatiz]

I’ve experienced this a few times. The first time it happened I woke up and could move my head slightly but the rest of my body was frozen. It literally felt like someone was sitting on my legs.

Freaky stuff.

[TheFrenzy]

Originally Posted by Siberian13

She seems like a fantastic person to me.

You jest, but she an almost pathologically nice person. Basically the complete opposite of me.

Originally Posted by jason122883

I've had it many times. Years ago I would get it 3-4 times a week.

That sounds beyond terrible. Did you ever get the super high-pitched ringing in your ears that would gradually shift into a bone-rattling bass? Sort of like an insane theater-test of the audio system?

[Wombat]

Step away from the Fentanyl.

[tacoma34]

I got it one night in Prague after a few nights of heavy drinking. Saw someone in the corner of the hotel room, couldn’t move or say anything to my buddy in the next room. Talked to him about it the next day and he said he had it too. But he said he’s been having it happen to him for a few years. Was kind of creepy to have it at same time though