It doesn't happen to me as much anymore, but around age 16, I started getting episodes of hypnagogic sleep paralysis where I was not asleep, but still unable to move or open my eyes. Not the same thing as a dream, I guess, but you made me think of it.
More often than not, sleep paralysis is believed by the person affected by it to be no more than a dream. This is the reason why there are many dream recountings which describe the person lying frozen and unable to move.
Most of the time when this happens, I feel aware of my surroundings and I know I've been asleep, but I cannot open my eyes for the life of me. If I recall correctly, it usually happens during naps (it did today, which is what prompted the post). Now I wonder if it's a form of sleep paralysis or just a dream...
It sounds like it could be sleep paralysis. Mine always happens before I fall asleep, which they say is more rare. I've read (though I don't remember where) that if someone touches you during an episode, it will immediately break the paralysis. I've never had an opportunity to test that theory.
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More often than not, sleep paralysis is believed by the person affected by it to be no more than a dream. This is the reason why there are many dream recountings which describe the person lying frozen and unable to move.
Most of the time when this happens, I feel aware of my surroundings and I know I've been asleep, but I cannot open my eyes for the life of me. If I recall correctly, it usually happens during naps (it did today, which is what prompted the post). Now I wonder if it's a form of sleep paralysis or just a dream...
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