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The following is a visitor-submitted question or story. For more, you can submit your own sleep story here, or browse the collection of experiences and questions other visitors have shared here.
Sleep Paralysis Reoccurrence After 20 Years
by Billie
(Oklahoma)
I experienced sleep paralysis last night just after I fell asleep, 3 times. I, too, am relieved to find out that these episodes have a name and that I am not the only one to experience them.
I recall 3 or 4 times having SP when I was a young mother. I'm not sure that I didn't have them when younger, but am sure about these. The specific details fail me but I remember the terror. I recall the hallucinations being simple everyday things like hearing the washer running or the radio playing. Those things in themselves didn't
frighten me it was the fact that I was paralyzed and not able to move that was terrifying. Those incidents happened in the morning, usually if I had awakened and then went back to sleep. The last one that I can remember happened about 20 or so years ago.
Last night as I fell asleep my husband had his arm over me and I was lying on my back. I had just drifted off to sleep and felt a cat laying on my chest and heard or felt it purring. I thought one of the cats had gotten into the house without our knowing it. But, when I went to open my eyes to get it I couldn't move. I think I remember opening my eyes I'm not sure but there was no cat there. I tried with all my might to wake up and after a time, did actually wake and was able to move. I was alarmed but drifted off to sleep again.
The same thing happened for 2 more times. The third time I was crying and trying with all my might to awaken my husband to help me and wasn't able to move a muscle. I called his name or tried to and tried to shake his arm that was draped over me. I was so terrified
my heart was pounding. When I was able to move after this 3rd time I woke my husband told him that I was frightened. He held my hand to pray for me and I was able to relax enough to go to sleep without any more incidents.
When I was young I did think that it was some kind of spiritual experience. Back then there was no internet to look up similar experiences by others. I'm so grateful that I found this site to shed some light on what I have gone through. I'm also grateful that I haven't had it to happen as much as some of the others. It is such an unpleasant, helpless feeling.
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Interviews With Sleep Specialists: Insights Into the Worlds of Sleep Medicine & Sleep Business
America's Most Dangerous Disorder: What Is Sleep Apnea Doing To Your Sleep?
Sleep Debt: How Much More Will You Achieve When You Reduce Yours?
The Stages Of Sleep: The Journey Through The Night
Delayed Sleep Phase: You Want To Sleep But You're Not Tired Yet
Paralyzed at Night: Is Sleep Paralysis Normal?
Sleep In Words: Smart, Strange, and Funny Quotes About Sleep
Sleep Disorders In Children: What's Keeping Your Child From A Full Night's Rest?
Attacks of Pavor Nocturnus (a.k.a. Sleep Terrors, Night Terrors, or Incubus Attacks)
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The Zeo
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Sleep Paralysis: A Dreamer's Guide
Ever woken up paralyzed? A surprising number of us have, believe it or not. But few know the actual causes of this phenomenon, and fewer still how to exert control over it. Dream researcher and sleep paralysis expert Ryan Hurd shares breakthrough insights into how to do just that.
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