130819 Learning about Sleep Paralysis
After my freaky experience, I did a tiny bit of research on sleep paralysis. Just in case, I started a Word document to keep track of my experiences, should I have anymore. I pray (pray) that I don't. Just because it's new to me, I thought I'd upload my first two experiences on livejournal. The following is taken directly from my document. Also, if you're curious, here are 2 sites that talk about sleep paralysis:
http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/sleep-paralysis?page=2
http://www.livescience.com/27621-sleep-paralysis-scary.html
Documentation of my sleep paralysis
1st Case
2008-2009 (junior year of high school)
I originally believed it was an incredibly realistic dream: My alarm sounded and - lying on my stomach - I shut it off. As usual, my dad opened my door to tell me to get up. Once I thought he left, as I was getting ready to lie back down, my dad came back into my room. He jumped on my back and held me down with what I thought were both his hands and feet. Each time I tried to move to get away, I felt an extreme resistance - again, what I believed to be him. But, then I heard him opening some small metal case with what I knew were needles. He said something to me and then stuck me in the back with the needle. I felt the pain, my whole body went numb, and I knew I was going to die. Then I woke up. I was in the same position. My body (muscles?) was sore and I felt the pain in my back.
Now (2013), I believe this was sleep paralysis combined with a frightening dream. I couldn’t move because of the paralysis.
2nd Case
2013, August 19
First day of fall semester of my senior year of undergrad
It was my first night with my new roommate. I normally sleep in a warmer-temp room, rarely with cold air conditioning. My roommate said she could only sleep in the cold by bundling up, so for our first night, I agreed. However, after waking up to freezing air blowing in my face (~5am) and being unable to fall back asleep, my mind was abuzz with thoughts, I was stressed, tired, and so I went to change the temperature settings a bit. I went back to bed and still couldn’t fall back asleep.
After maybe an hour or so, I finally was dreaming. It was a more realistic dream, because I was in my dorm room discussing the night with my roommate; my dad and brother Michael even showed up. Then, the dream ended and I woke up.
But, I couldn’t move. I was on my back, my left arm across my chest/stomach. I saw the dark room and my roommate still in bed, but I couldn’t move. I tried once, and felt an extreme pressure equally pressing down across my entire body. I became very frightened and worried, so I stopped trying to move. After waiting only a few seconds since releasing, I tried again, and experienced the terrifying pressure - fearful paralysis - once more. I was so scared and confused. So, I just laid there for a moment or so. Then, I don’t know if I “blinked” or took a breath, but I could suddenly move. I slightly changed positions, but because I feared my body freezing up again, I lightly used my muscles and carefully turned to my right side. I was so tired from hardly getting a good rest that I wanted to go back to sleep. However, I was so afraid that my body would become paralyzed like before, that I tried keeping myself awake for a bit - I wanted to at least see if my body was okay. I eventually fell back asleep, and was fine from then until waking for the day.
Whenever I recalled that moment, my heart becomes very frightened. I have my own reasons for why I don’t want the AC as cold as it was that night, but because I was so terrified of what happened and the circumstances they happened under, I want to tell my roommate that I am afraid to have the AC on at all due to what it may lead to. She decided to stay at a friend’s/boyfriend’s place Monday night, so I have the room to myself, but I’m still scared to sleep tonight. I don’t want it to happen again. I really am very afraid. I don’t want to sleep. I just hope it won’t occur again any time soon.
I have experienced many stressful events, relating to both family and college life. But, that stress far exceeds not being able to sleep due to the AC (and my roommate who I do like). I’m not sure if the AC/sleep incident and the start of my senior year are what lead to the sleep paralysis, but it doesn’t seem to be linked to my most emotionally wearing moments. I’m not sure why it occurred. Perhaps I was more stressed than I realized, it just wasn’t emotional.
http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/sleep-paralysis?page=2
http://www.livescience.com/27621-sleep-paralysis-scary.html
Documentation of my sleep paralysis
1st Case
2008-2009 (junior year of high school)
I originally believed it was an incredibly realistic dream: My alarm sounded and - lying on my stomach - I shut it off. As usual, my dad opened my door to tell me to get up. Once I thought he left, as I was getting ready to lie back down, my dad came back into my room. He jumped on my back and held me down with what I thought were both his hands and feet. Each time I tried to move to get away, I felt an extreme resistance - again, what I believed to be him. But, then I heard him opening some small metal case with what I knew were needles. He said something to me and then stuck me in the back with the needle. I felt the pain, my whole body went numb, and I knew I was going to die. Then I woke up. I was in the same position. My body (muscles?) was sore and I felt the pain in my back.
Now (2013), I believe this was sleep paralysis combined with a frightening dream. I couldn’t move because of the paralysis.
2nd Case
2013, August 19
First day of fall semester of my senior year of undergrad
It was my first night with my new roommate. I normally sleep in a warmer-temp room, rarely with cold air conditioning. My roommate said she could only sleep in the cold by bundling up, so for our first night, I agreed. However, after waking up to freezing air blowing in my face (~5am) and being unable to fall back asleep, my mind was abuzz with thoughts, I was stressed, tired, and so I went to change the temperature settings a bit. I went back to bed and still couldn’t fall back asleep.
After maybe an hour or so, I finally was dreaming. It was a more realistic dream, because I was in my dorm room discussing the night with my roommate; my dad and brother Michael even showed up. Then, the dream ended and I woke up.
But, I couldn’t move. I was on my back, my left arm across my chest/stomach. I saw the dark room and my roommate still in bed, but I couldn’t move. I tried once, and felt an extreme pressure equally pressing down across my entire body. I became very frightened and worried, so I stopped trying to move. After waiting only a few seconds since releasing, I tried again, and experienced the terrifying pressure - fearful paralysis - once more. I was so scared and confused. So, I just laid there for a moment or so. Then, I don’t know if I “blinked” or took a breath, but I could suddenly move. I slightly changed positions, but because I feared my body freezing up again, I lightly used my muscles and carefully turned to my right side. I was so tired from hardly getting a good rest that I wanted to go back to sleep. However, I was so afraid that my body would become paralyzed like before, that I tried keeping myself awake for a bit - I wanted to at least see if my body was okay. I eventually fell back asleep, and was fine from then until waking for the day.
Whenever I recalled that moment, my heart becomes very frightened. I have my own reasons for why I don’t want the AC as cold as it was that night, but because I was so terrified of what happened and the circumstances they happened under, I want to tell my roommate that I am afraid to have the AC on at all due to what it may lead to. She decided to stay at a friend’s/boyfriend’s place Monday night, so I have the room to myself, but I’m still scared to sleep tonight. I don’t want it to happen again. I really am very afraid. I don’t want to sleep. I just hope it won’t occur again any time soon.
I have experienced many stressful events, relating to both family and college life. But, that stress far exceeds not being able to sleep due to the AC (and my roommate who I do like). I’m not sure if the AC/sleep incident and the start of my senior year are what lead to the sleep paralysis, but it doesn’t seem to be linked to my most emotionally wearing moments. I’m not sure why it occurred. Perhaps I was more stressed than I realized, it just wasn’t emotional.