Increasing Frequency of Sleep Paralsis

by Courtney
(New Jersey)

I have had a few experiences with SP as a teenager but never frequent enough to really cause me to notice. Most of my unusual dreams at the time had more to do with flying experiences. But, over the past few years it has been slowly increasing.

Now I am 32 years old and I have episodes very often. Sometimes as much as 3-4 times a night for 1-2 week straight. Then it usually subsides for a few weeks and then back again with the same frequency. I have also noticed that it usually happens at the same time. Most of the time it does only happen when I am lying on my back, which I was able to control, but now it happens when I am sleeping on my side as well.

My experience is usually the same. I wake up with blurry vision but I am able to make out my surroundings. I am completely unable to move or speak. I try to get out nose and rock to "snap" my self out of it. I usually hope my husband comes in the room to rescue me, since it usually happens when he is getting ready for work. I have many times thought he had come into the room and walks over to me and wakes me of I have crawled struggling out of the room to him. Only to find myself "really" wake up, still in bed with him still showering or in the bed next to me.

During my SP I usually have a sense of panic, sometimes see figures or people in the room that are not there when I come out of it. I sleep on the left side of the bed and I usually sense a presence next to me on the side on me. But, lately I sense another coming for the other side as well. Sometimes I see a small crippled like black hand coming toward my chest. I try really hard to fight it because I feel that if I dont, I will die. When I try to relax and go with it I see vivid flashes of light and start to hear voices. When I wake I am very tired, but if I go right back to sleep, it will most likely happen again within a few minutes.

Because of the increased frequency, I am trying to figure out more and possible ways to prevent this. Although, sometimes I do wonder if it is some sort of "gift". I wonder if there is some sort of link to hormones and my menstrual cycle. Has anyone realized anything like that.

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Kevin: Hey Courtney, thanks a bunch for sharing your experience. For finding a way to prevent the increased frequency of your SP episodes I'd recommend reading Ryan Hurd's book Sleep Paralysis: A Dreamer's Guide, which you can find my review of here.

Warmly,
Kevin