[AspiringGenius]

Hi TSR,

Last night I was having a restless night. It happens often and I didn't sleep through from when I went to bed at 10:00 and 2:30. I then went and got a drink as I was thirsty and at this point I managed ti get off to sleep.

I had a rubbish dream about how I was lyijng in bed and couldn't get to sleep because my parents were talking too loudly in the next room. At this point I went to go and tell them to be quiet. I awoke physically- I could tell because my bedroom light was on and I could make everything out in detail. However I couldn't move at all and I saw a dark figure span the far end of my bedroom.

If I had to describe it, the dementors in Harry Potter would probably be the best description, but when I was younger I had a terrible fear of the grim reaper (to the point I couldn't even play the Sims...) and I associated the figure with that. I tried to scream but I couldn't even draw breath.

I don't understand, I've had nightmares before, but they've never affected me in this way. I've never been physically awake and unable to move and breath. This was all at about 3:00 and I have been too terrified to sleep since, I don't even know if I can bring myself ti sleep tonight I'm so afraid this will happen again.

My mother insists it's a nightmare, but I'm not convinced. The effects were all to physical for any nightmare I've heard off. Has anyone had an experience like this? Feel free to go anon.

As background info, I sleep with the light on and the dream was lucid- I dreamt about Greenland Vs New Zealand in the Olympics and know Greenland isn't a team.

Please help, is therre anything I can do to orevent this?

[Bellissima]

when you do this waking up paralysis thing (sorry can't remember official name) then seeing these wierd scary things like figures is really common. you were awake but you awoke in the really deep part of your sleep, and the thing that stops you moving around in your sleep didn't stop when you awoke suddenly, so you stayed paralysed. the brain imagines these scary things, don't know why.

as far as i'm aware, you can't prevent. you are fine though, it is really freaky and scary but no hard will come to you.

[Imayormaynotexist]

This is known as sleep paralysis. It can occur when you are going to sleep or when you are waking up. As far as I know, there is no cure. Some sufferers have this regularly, whereas other may experience it only when extremely tired. I wouldn't worry in that it isn't linked to psychiatric problems, but obviously it can be terrifying. Most "treatments" are the same as those for nightmares and really are only for comforting afterwards. One suggestion that worked for a family friend who was at university was having a roommate who gets up at the same time, who could talk to you/make sure you were getting out of bed and not unable to move.

[QuantumSuicide]

Sleep paralysis. Try to sleep on your side more often without your arms by your side if you don't do that already.

[DaneCook]

You're a wizard Harry.

[Piprod01]

(Original post by AspiringGenius)
Please help, is therre anything I can do to orevent this?

Don't sleep with your light on, I've had that happen to me once when I slept in a really weird position with the light on, was not a happy experience.

[mohsanrabbani]

(Original post by AspiringGenius)
Hi TSR,

Last night I was having a restless night. It happens often and I didn't sleep through from when I went to bed at 10:00 and 2:30. I then went and got a drink as I was thirsty and at this point I managed ti get off to sleep.

I had a rubbish dream about how I was lyijng in bed and couldn't get to sleep because my parents were talking too loudly in the next room. At this point I went to go and tell them to be quiet. I awoke physically- I could tell because my bedroom light was on and I could make everything out in detail. However I couldn't move at all and I saw a dark figure span the far end of my bedroom.

If I had to describe it, the dementors in Harry Potter would probably be the best description, but when I was younger I had a terrible fear of the grim reaper (to the point I couldn't even play the Sims...) and I associated the figure with that. I tried to scream but I couldn't even draw breath.

I don't understand, I've had nightmares before, but they've never affected me in this way. I've never been physically awake and unable to move and breath. This was all at about 3:00 and I have been too terrified to sleep since, I don't even know if I can bring myself ti sleep tonight I'm so afraid this will happen again.

My mother insists it's a nightmare, but I'm not convinced. The effects were all to physical for any nightmare I've heard off. Has anyone had an experience like this? Feel free to go anon.

As background info, I sleep with the light on and the dream was lucid- I dreamt about Greenland Vs New Zealand in the Olympics and know Greenland isn't a team.

Please help, is therre anything I can do to orevent this?

Whilst you were in this position did you feel in need from a higher being like god?

[Foghorn Leghorn]

It's called sleep paralysis. I used to get them as well could be pretty weird at time tbh, but nothing to worry about.

[Beebumble]

Like others said it's sleep paralysis. It's basically your mind has woken up before your body. It's quite common.

[AspiringGenius]

Thankyou for the help, at least I know this isn't part of something more serious. Ive honestly never heard of this, nor experienced it. I hope this is a one off and doesn't happen again.

To he who asked: I did not feel in need of god, I was more concerned about being in the presence of a dark figure with the inability to even draw breath.

[Cephalus]

Yeah this is serious. Call Ghostbusters

[Kokopod]

I can't really empathise since I've never experienced sleep paralysis, but I can see how it would be distressing!

Maybe you could try and turn it into a positive experience? If this happens again and you get lucid, try sending out love to the dream figure. He/she is a part of you after all. I do this in my nightmares, and its really empowering to watch your tormentors turn into a friendly person or animal!

As for preventing the dream paralysis itself, I can't help you there

[AspiringGenius]

I don't know if zi should rebump this, but it happened again last night. I tried out some of the advice here and laid on my front with my arms up by my head, next to the pillow. I didn't see any figures this time, but it lasted much longer.

I hooe this doesn't becme a regular hinge, but I also did my own reading and found stress is supposed to induce this also. I haven't had a break from working since the Sunday before last, and two weeks Wednesday before that. I have spent a lot of time with my Nuffield Bursary placement and also my part time job, does anybody think this maybe to blame?

[Kazbian]

As others have said this is sleep paralysis. It can be terrifying, but it is completely harmless.

Yes, your stress may be a factor. I know this sounds bizarre, but I've heard from a few people that the best way to try to get out of sleep paralysis is to try to move one of your big toes. My friend (who experiences sleep paralysis regularly) says it's the only thing that can get her out of it. Next time I have SP, I'm going to try it.

[philistine]

Experienced it only once before, whilst attempting to quite caffeine, cold turkey. Absolutely horrific.

[IShouldBeStudying]

As others have said, it's called sleep paralysis.

It's so common, that there's a wide body of literature and even artistic bodies of work, the most famous being John Henry Fuseli's The Nightmare.

Nothing to worry about. Reduce your stress levels, try to sleep on your side and don't worry.

[M1011]

I had something similar once on holiday. Woke up in a pitch-black hotel room and there was a figure standing about 6 feet from my bed hunched over. I almost had a heart attack, and I never suffer from nightmares or anything like that. I spoke to it, I actually said "hello" to this hunched figure standing over me. So anyway, after 10 seconds or so I regain my senses, turns out it wasn't a hunched figure, it was the archway in to the kitchen area... I'd mistaken the internal architecture for some sort of creature...

Moral of the story, it's normal don't stress over it. I've never seen an archway monster again so you probably won't see a grim reaper again unless you start thinking about it all the time

[freddy]

(Original post by AspiringGenius)
Hi TSR,

Last night I was having a restless night. It happens often and I didn't sleep through from when I went to bed at 10:00 and 2:30. I then went and got a drink as I was thirsty and at this point I managed ti get off to sleep.

I had a rubbish dream about how I was lyijng in bed and couldn't get to sleep because my parents were talking too loudly in the next room. At this point I went to go and tell them to be quiet. I awoke physically- I could tell because my bedroom light was on and I could make everything out in detail. However I couldn't move at all and I saw a dark figure span the far end of my bedroom.

If I had to describe it, the dementors in Harry Potter would probably be the best description, but when I was younger I had a terrible fear of the grim reaper (to the point I couldn't even play the Sims...) and I associated the figure with that. I tried to scream but I couldn't even draw breath.

I don't understand, I've had nightmares before, but they've never affected me in this way. I've never been physically awake and unable to move and breath. This was all at about 3:00 and I have been too terrified to sleep since, I don't even know if I can bring myself ti sleep tonight I'm so afraid this will happen again.

My mother insists it's a nightmare, but I'm not convinced. The effects were all to physical for any nightmare I've heard off. Has anyone had an experience like this? Feel free to go anon.

As background info, I sleep with the light on and the dream was lucid- I dreamt about Greenland Vs New Zealand in the Olympics and know Greenland isn't a team.

Please help, is therre anything I can do to orevent this?

i experienced exactly the same thing about 2 months ago, i was awake im sure but my whole body was stiff and out of the corner of my eye I could see a man/figure wearing a white cloak and I could feel it was looking at me. It was very scary, it still sends shivers down by back when I think of it

[Pindar]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_people