This is yet another realization that I am trying to deal with. I am from a rual Texas town, and any talk of alien abduction or the paranormal is very taboo, so I am very uneducated when it comes to these matters. I am just looking for a little help with what I have been going through.
Since I was about 7 I have had what has been diagnosed as panic attacks. I never, nor did my mother, believe this was accurate. It happens sometimes every 3 months or so, but I have gone as long as 6 months without this happening, but never less. I lay down in bed, and everything seems normal. No depression, or anxiety. This usually happens around 3am. I feel pressure all over my body. I cannot get up. I cannot speak. It is like I am paralyzed, but I am totally awake. I thought (and was told) when I was younger, that it was just a dream, but as I grew older, I taught myself to make sure that I was aware of the time and my surroundings when I felt the beginning symptoms of this. Basically, I felt like my body would shut down, and then I draw a blank. The next time looked at the clock, it would be 2-3 hours later, but I felt like no time had passed, and I would have no memory of where the hours went.
The last time this happened, I saw a huge bright light and something drawing me in. I thought I was having a near death experience, and begged God not to take me for my daughter's sake. Then, once again...hours disappeared. Soon after this, I watched a special on alien abduction that referenced something similar to this. I never even considered alien abduction until this point. But, it really hit home. Can someone please give me some advice, or a web site, or something to help me figure out what has been happening to me.
P.S. I was on meds for panic attacks for only about a year, and discovered that this did nothing but make me feel carefree/careless. These things didn't stop happening, I just didn't care about them! I also never sleep through the night. I wake up at least 4 times a night.
Full Version: Was I misdiagnosed?
Unexplained Mysteries Discussion Forums > Unexplained Mysteries > Extraterrestrial Life & The UFO Phenomenon
I know there is a medical condition that causes paralysis when some people sleep. Upon waking, the person is still unable to move and this causes understandable distress. There have been theories put forth that people in the grips of sleep paralysis will sometimes have dreams (or nightmares from the trauma) that they assume to really be happening because they are still paralyzed when they awaken.
There may be much more to your experiences than this, but you may want to check this out with a sleep specialist. Just givin' my 2 cents!
Best of luck with this!
There may be much more to your experiences than this, but you may want to check this out with a sleep specialist. Just givin' my 2 cents!
Best of luck with this!
It sounds to me like Sleep Paralysis
What is sleep paralysis?
Sleep paralysis consists of a period of inability to perform voluntary movements either at sleep onset (called hypnogogic or predormital form) or upon awakening (called hypnopompic or postdormtal form).
Sleep paralysis may also be referred to as isolated sleep paralysis, familial sleep paralysis, hynogogic or hypnopompic paralysis, predormital or postdormital paralysis
What are the symptoms?
A complaint of inability to move the trunk or limbs at sleep onset or upon awakening
Presence of brief episodes of partial or complete skeletal muscle paralysis
Episodes can be associated with hypnagogic hallucinations or dream-like mentation (act or use of the brain)
Polysomnography (a sleep recording) shows at least one of the following:
suppression of skeletal muscle tone
a sleep onset REM period
dissociated REM sleep
Is it harmful?
Sleep paralysis is most often associated with narcolepsy, a neurological condition in which the person has uncontrollable naps. However, there are many people who experience sleep paralysis without having signs of narcolepsy. Sometimes it runs in families. There is no known explanation why some people experience this paralysis. It is not harmful, although most people report feeling very afraid because they do not know what is happening, and within minutes they gradually or abruptly are able to move again; the episode is often terminated by a sound or a touch on the body.
In some cases, when hypnogogic hallucinations are present, people feel that someone is in the room with them, some experience the feeling that someone or something is sitting on their chest and they feel impending death and suffocation. That has been called the “Hag Phenomena” and has been happening to people over the centuries. These things cause people much anxiety and terror, but there is no physical harm.
What else can you tell me about sleep paralysis?
Some people with disrupted sleep schedules or circadian rhythm disturbances experience sleep paralysis
A study found that 35% of subjects with isolated sleep paralysis also reported a history of wake panic attacks unrelated to the experience of paralysis
Sixteen percent of these persons with isolated sleep paralysis met the criteria for panic disorder
How can I stop the sleep paralysis?
In severe cases, where episodes take place at least once a week for 6 months, medication may be used.
You may be able to minimize the episodes by following good sleep hygiene:
getting enough sleep
reduce stress
exercise regularly (but not too close to bedtime)
keep a regular sleep schedule
QUOTE
Sleep paralysis is the experience of waking up (usually form a dream) and feeling paralyzed, except for being able to breathe and move the eyes. Hypnogogic hallucinations and sleep paralysis may occur together. These conditions are common in people with narcolepsy but can also effect others, particularly people who are sleep-deprived. Although a pretty terrifying event, these events are not physically harmful. There are two major types of sleep paralysis: common (typical) also known as CSP and hallucinatory (hypnagogic) sleep paralysis known as HSP.
Differences between CSP and HSP.
CSP is common and universal, HSP is rare and seems to be geographically episodic.
CSP is only unnerving for the sleeper but HSP is accompanied by a nightmare like hallucination.
CSP is of relatively short duration where HSP can last as long as seven or eight minutes.
One of the most important differences between Night Terrors and CSP is that CSPs occurs in Stage one of sleep and Night Terrors occur in stage four.
Different cultures throughout time have interpreted HSPs as different spirits or events.
Ancestral ghosts - Southeast Asians
Hag - Irish and Scottish
Cats - Chinese
Spectral foxes - Japanese
Djinn - Arabs
Guilt - Romans and the Egyptians
Witchcraft - Mexicans
Vampires - Europeans
Demons - Medieval Europe
HSPs are usually a vision of a small creature that sits on the victims chest. The creature then either compresses the chest or attempts to strangulate the victim. Almost all attacks have been reported by people sleeping on their backs.
Differences between CSP and HSP.
CSP is common and universal, HSP is rare and seems to be geographically episodic.
CSP is only unnerving for the sleeper but HSP is accompanied by a nightmare like hallucination.
CSP is of relatively short duration where HSP can last as long as seven or eight minutes.
One of the most important differences between Night Terrors and CSP is that CSPs occurs in Stage one of sleep and Night Terrors occur in stage four.
Different cultures throughout time have interpreted HSPs as different spirits or events.
Ancestral ghosts - Southeast Asians
Hag - Irish and Scottish
Cats - Chinese
Spectral foxes - Japanese
Djinn - Arabs
Guilt - Romans and the Egyptians
Witchcraft - Mexicans
Vampires - Europeans
Demons - Medieval Europe
HSPs are usually a vision of a small creature that sits on the victims chest. The creature then either compresses the chest or attempts to strangulate the victim. Almost all attacks have been reported by people sleeping on their backs.
What is sleep paralysis?
Sleep paralysis consists of a period of inability to perform voluntary movements either at sleep onset (called hypnogogic or predormital form) or upon awakening (called hypnopompic or postdormtal form).
Sleep paralysis may also be referred to as isolated sleep paralysis, familial sleep paralysis, hynogogic or hypnopompic paralysis, predormital or postdormital paralysis
What are the symptoms?
A complaint of inability to move the trunk or limbs at sleep onset or upon awakening
Presence of brief episodes of partial or complete skeletal muscle paralysis
Episodes can be associated with hypnagogic hallucinations or dream-like mentation (act or use of the brain)
Polysomnography (a sleep recording) shows at least one of the following:
suppression of skeletal muscle tone
a sleep onset REM period
dissociated REM sleep
Is it harmful?
Sleep paralysis is most often associated with narcolepsy, a neurological condition in which the person has uncontrollable naps. However, there are many people who experience sleep paralysis without having signs of narcolepsy. Sometimes it runs in families. There is no known explanation why some people experience this paralysis. It is not harmful, although most people report feeling very afraid because they do not know what is happening, and within minutes they gradually or abruptly are able to move again; the episode is often terminated by a sound or a touch on the body.
In some cases, when hypnogogic hallucinations are present, people feel that someone is in the room with them, some experience the feeling that someone or something is sitting on their chest and they feel impending death and suffocation. That has been called the “Hag Phenomena” and has been happening to people over the centuries. These things cause people much anxiety and terror, but there is no physical harm.
What else can you tell me about sleep paralysis?
Some people with disrupted sleep schedules or circadian rhythm disturbances experience sleep paralysis
A study found that 35% of subjects with isolated sleep paralysis also reported a history of wake panic attacks unrelated to the experience of paralysis
Sixteen percent of these persons with isolated sleep paralysis met the criteria for panic disorder
How can I stop the sleep paralysis?
In severe cases, where episodes take place at least once a week for 6 months, medication may be used.
You may be able to minimize the episodes by following good sleep hygiene:
getting enough sleep
reduce stress
exercise regularly (but not too close to bedtime)
keep a regular sleep schedule
Well, Fluffybunny, you sure did a better job with that than I did. 
What he said.
What he said.
QUOTE(JennRose @ Oct 22 2004, 10:01 PM)
I know there is a medical condition that causes paralysis when some people sleep. Upon waking, the person is still unable to move and this causes understandable distress. There have been theories put forth that people in the grips of sleep paralysis will sometimes have dreams (or nightmares from the trauma) that they assume to really be happening because they are still paralyzed when they awaken.
There may be much more to your experiences than this, but you may want to check this out with a sleep specialist. Just givin' my 2 cents!
Best of luck with this!
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There may be much more to your experiences than this, but you may want to check this out with a sleep specialist. Just givin' my 2 cents!
Best of luck with this!
[right][snapback]320800[/snapback][/right]
Thanks so much! I am definitly going to look into it more.
Great Info! I guess if I wouldn't have been so afraid that people thought I was nuts, I would have heard about this before. Thanks for your help.
Edit: removed unnessacery quote, Blood Angel
Edit: removed unnessacery quote, Blood Angel
You all are the best! I wish I would have found you a long time ago!!!!
Ace
Ace
You're very welcome! Keep us posted on what you find out. And welcome to the forums.
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