Nightmare during Meditation- kind of

[OceanSpray]

I have been trying out manifestation lately and a part of that is when I go to sleep I like to put on a meditation video from YouTube. I choose a different one every time, different creators, different videos, different goals, just to spice it up.

Typically I will listen and my body will feel heavy a good 10 minutes in and by 20 minutes I’m asleep. Sometimes I’ll dream later that night and sometimes not. But the meditation video is always long done by the point I’m waking up from anything.

Except tonight I put one on and got comfy and like usual my muscles became heavy pretty early and I was falling asleep. I thought. Instead I got caught in this like heavy half asleep half awake state and then started panicking. I felt like I was moving around and kicking and screaming and shoving at my dogs and hurting them but unable to the meditation to turn off. I really felt like I was trying to turn it off and that I really was trying to hurt my dogs because they were on the bed. Except that I wasnt doing any of that. I finally managed to fully wake and realized I hadn’t moved at all. The dogs are fine and sound asleep, the meditation has started over on a loop and the panic subsided.

But what the heck was that? Has anyone experienced anything like it?

 

[Riley Jones]

Oh man, that does sound super disorienting and scary—like your brain and body just weren't on the same page! I've definitely been in that weird half-awake, heavy-limbed limbo before, where it feels like you're trapped and everything's spiraling, but nothing's actually moving. It's wild how real it feels in the moment, right? From what I've heard (and felt myself), it could be something like sleep paralysis or those hypnagogic states that sneak up during relaxation—especially with guided audios looping and pulling you in that direction. Super common when you're drifting off, and it usually passes once you fully wake up, like it did for you.

You're not alone in this at all, and it's brave to share it—props for shaking it off and checking on your pups. Sweet dreams next time; maybe try a shorter track or one without loops if it helps ease back in? Hugs if you want 'em. What's your go-to meditation vibe usually?

 

[arfie]

congratulations? that sounds like a first manifestation to me. emphasis on "first" because the first always carries unexpected surprises, kinda like the surprises that accompany our first attempt to walk. 'tis nay a surprise when baby falls down on those first steps.

****coffee cup clink****

here's to hoping you'll have a surprise or two fewer on your next baby steps. it is a skill worth mastering.