Possible Sleep Paralysis

[Kieran]

Tonight would be one of the most frightening moments I've had since my child abuse.

I don't like self-diagnosing, as I find it unhealthy, but I simply did a Google search on the symptoms and Sleep Paralysis is what came up.

There are several things that I feel conflicted about, here: my hygiene is quite good. I go to sleep on time, I avoid sugar before bed, etc. All of the basic things that involve taking care of yourself and your health prior to going to sleep are things that I do.

Here's what happened: I've been stressing out a lot today for several reasons that I'm not going to get into, right now. I de-stressed by journaling, meditation and by taking a warm bath. I woke up at midnight and for some reason, and I don't understand this, started having flashbacks of my trauma, but no one had their faces on them. They had their skin on their face, but no eyes, nose, mouth, ears -- nothing. It didn't seem like a big deal, other than the fact that it was just creepy.

I got up, got some water and laid back to sleep. Five minutes later, it felt as though I was dying. I wanted to speak, and I couldn't. I just heard the "spoken" words in my head. I couldn't move my body and I could barely move my eyes. This lasted for several minutes and it was probably one of the most terrifying things outside of my abuse that I have ever experienced. I thought it was going to be my last day alive and now, I'm quite nervous to give sleep another shot. My time is now 5:05 AM, so I think that ship has sailed for tonight.

If anyone can relate to this, give me their opinion on what this could be and how I should go about treating it, I'd appreciate it. I looked up the treatment and it all seems pretty stupid to me, honestly. Most people I've read about who have SP are pretty great when it comes to sleep hygiene. If it is SP (Sleep Paralysis), then, I assume it's due to stress and PTSD? If it isn't SP, though, what could it be? I'll definitely speaking about this in therapy, but just wanted to hear other thoughts before I do.

 

[Friday]

Sleep paralysis is a normal & wanted thing that happens to very nearly everyone, every time they sleep. Without it, instead of twitching while dreaming, people would act out their dreams.

You've probably noticed it before, in other ways; from the floaty feeling whilst falling asleep (as it starts to come on, but hasn't quite yet), to feeling like you can't run in a dream (is when you're typically afraid enough to be partially waking up, so your brain is registering both the dream world, and the inability to move your legs in the waking world), or when you wake and your "grip" is lousy (try and squeeze someone's hand or pick something up and can't), or you kind of stumble out of bed / limbs aren't quite working all together right yet, or need to stretch before being able to sit up. That's all sleep paralysis in different stages.

Just like a nightmare partially waking you up, so you can't move right (running, hitting, etc.) in a dream, sometimes it happens in reverse; you don't fall asleep before the sleep paralysis kicks in, or you wake up before it wears off.

For most people that's pretty uncommon. It usually takes medication, illness, insomnia, or injury for the brain to hiccup turning sleep paralysis on too soon, or shutting it off too late, or not turning it on hard enough (fever dreams? People thrashing & flailing when sick? That's sleep paralysis not working right, because your brain is busy with the fever). And even if you know what it is? It can be absolutely terrifying. (Or it can't be, oh great, this again :wtf: dammit. Come on body. Get with the program.) But regardless as to whether it scary or annoying? It's perfectly normal. As is the anxiety response, btw. Because adrenaline will break it. For a pause, fear will turn the response on harder, because your body is used to trying to stop you from hurting yourself in a dream... But add enough chemicals? And just like bolting awake in a nightmare, bam! Awake and moving. You woke up in the middle of a nightmare, went back to sleep, and were a bit discombobulated is all. So your body went back to sleep before your mind did / you were still in the waking world while your body was all Zzzzzz. Point being? Very normal & nothing to be afraid of.

 

[Kieran]

Sleep paralysis is a normal & wanted thing that happens to very nearly everyone, every time they...

Thank you very much for the response!

I will say that I know no one who has ever experienced being unable to move or speak during sleep, even when under intense stress or overwhelmed with emotion.

Hearing you say it's common gives me a tiny bit of comfort, but it feels so terrifying that it's hard to believe that it's "very common." Perhaps it's scarier for people who have gone through trauma then people who experience SP for other reasons? I'm not quite sure, though.

Haha. You're awesome, I loved your answer, thanks for putting time into it! I'll have to read it again if it happens to remind myself of the things you said.

 

[joeylittle]

It's generally exacerbated by stress. I experience it at least a few times a month. Sometimes as much as a few times a week.

 

[shimmerz]

I will say that I know no one who has ever experienced being unable to move or speak during sleep, even when under intense stress or overwhelmed with emotion.

This used to happen to me all the time. And you are right, it is absolutely terrifying. I hope that was your first and last experience.

 

[Deadman]

Have you looked up 'night terrors' (not the same as nightmares)? They are pretty common with folks with PTSD. Sounds like that is what woke you up the first time. The second time is classic sleep paralysis.

I only ever had it happen to me the once. Its never happened again.

 

[Kieran]

Have you looked up 'night terrors' (not the same as nightmares)? They are pretty common with fol...

I've heard the term, but I never looked into what it really was. I'll definitely do that now. Thanks for that. Well that's good it only happened once, let's hope it stays that way.

 

[Fiadh]

I experience sleep paralysis and it does suck at first, but if you continue to experience it, which for me happpens when I know I'm stressed out or really 'buzzy headed'.

One thing I have noticed, is that I always seem to get them if I'm lying on my back for some reason- so since then I have change my sleep position. And if I get one, I kind of mentallly think through what @Friday post says- really think through that this is just my body not yet catching up, by the time I've finished going through the science in my mind I'm normally awake.

 

[Fadeaway]

I suffered from sleep paralisis for quite a few years. It peeks in your mid 20's. One trick is to sleep on your stomach. It is more likely to occur when sleeping on your back.

 

[lalazagna]

Another thing that helped me during, was focusing on trying to just move my pinky finger. I know paralyzed, so can't exactly move, but if you can manage it just slightly then it usually breaks the paralysis.

 

[Kieran]

I suffered from sleep paralisis for quite a few years. It peeks in your mid 20's. One trick is to slee...

Makes sense, as I'm soon 23. I actually was sleeping on my stomach when it first happened. Then it happened while trying to sleep on my back.

Another thing that helped me during, was focusing on trying to just move my pinky finger. I know paral...

I actually tried, but couldn't move my fingers. I actually could barely breathe, it felt awful. I can try it next time, but have Arthritis, I can't move my pinky finger much, regardless.

 

[Draiocht]

I used to get this a lot too. Definitely seemed to be related to me sleeping on my back. I was in a very stressful environment at the time, this was mainly before I left the family home. I got to a point where I had it so much it became familiar enough for me to talk myself out of being terrified.

I have no idea on the science of what I used to do (hearing all the explanations on it above was really cool btw) but I would try and go back to sleep when it happened rather than try to wake myself up. It felt like I was sinking down into myself. It was difficult to do, like if you really thought too much about what you were trying to do it wouldn't be possible.

The main things that used to upset me about it were this horrible tearing sound when I would try and struggle out of it - felt like my mind was being ripped out of my body (weird way to describe it but that's the imagery I get anyway) - and also I usually felt like i couldn't breathe. The covers ended up over my mouth and nose and I got terrified I was going to suffocate. I think that ties into my own trauma though. I had to really focus on taking controlled, gentle breaths.

I hope you don't get this again! If you do I hope knowing that you aren't alone and understanding what's happening helps you.