True Terror: Sleep Paralysis

What is sleep paralysis?

Sleep paralysis refers to a frightening state that can occur as you are drifting off or waking up from sleep. When experiencing sleep paralysis, you will be awake and unable to move or speak. You may also experience some deeply disturbing auditory and visual hallucinations.

When does it happen?

Sleep paralysis occurring as you fall asleep is called hypnagogic sleep paralysis and happens as the body slowly relaxes as you fall asleep. If you experience it as you are waking up it is referred to as hypnopompic sleep paralysis and it occurs as you come to the end of a REM (rapid eye movement) sleep cycle.

Why does it happen?

The reasons that you may experience sleep paralysis are unclear but it is largely linked to a disrupted sleeping pattern, which can be a side effect of many other conditions. The occurrence of sleep paralysis has been linked to narcolepsy, insomnia, post-traumatic stress disorder, generalised anxiety disorder, panic disorder and other mental disorders, certain medications and substance abuse.

According to a review in 2011 around 7.6% of the world's population have experienced sleep paralysis at least once in their life. It is most common that those who experience it will only do so once or twice in their lifetime however there have been cases of people that experience it on a regular basis. Usually it tends to last for only a couple of minutes but there have been reports of it lasting much longer.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of sleep paralysis can include being conscious but unable to move or speak, although it can occur with your eyes open or closed. You may feel like someone is in your room, or pushing down on you and you may experience feelings of intense fear. You may also experience physical sensations such as numbness or tingling, or a feeling of floating or being dragged out of bed. Possibly the most frightening symptom of sleep paralysis is hallucinations. People have reported experiencing auditory hallucinations such as buzzing, hissing, static, humming, voices and whispers. Visual hallucinations experienced have included visions of a supernatural being entering the room and standing in the corner or at the end of a bed. People have also hallucinated the being climbing on top of them and sitting on their chest, this is often accompanied by a feeling of pressure on the chest and breathlessness.

Can it be treated?

Your doctor may be able to provide treatment for any underlying cause of the experience, like panic disorder or other mental disorders. You may also be referred to a specialist sleep clinic where you may be provided with anti-depressant medication which has been known to aid sleep paralysis somewhat.

In order to get such a referral your experiences would usually have to be happening frequently and disrupting your life to some extent. As the phenomenon usually occurs a couple of times over a lifetime it is not something that is usually treated, and there are not many options available.

Real Experiences

Lucid Dream Society reported thisisnotmyusername3's experience described on Reddit:

“My mind woke up and my entire body, including my face, was under the covers and unable to move; I couldn’t see a thing.

I worried for a brief moment when I discovered I couldn’t move, at all. Then things got scarier.

I felt an enormous amount of pressure on my chest; I had the feeling as though this spirit (or whatever it was) had its face only inches away from my own.

If this wasn’t enough, I heard inaudible whispers in both ears and pounding on the wall adjacent to the bed.

I began to cry because that’s all I could physically do and in my mind, I was screaming as loud as I could, but nothing came out.

I began to struggle, but I finally burst awake, sat up immediately, still crying. The room was silent.”

Metro reported another Reddit users experience:

‘So I am in my early 20’s and I use to have mild hallucinations when waking up without the use of an alarm while being unable to move. This was years ago and It never really bothered me, but it happened this morning, which was kind of my fault. So I hung a jacket from the hood of a closet door on the way in front of me the night before and when I woke I saw a woman standing their with the jacket on and her back turned. Somehow I assumed someone I knew was laying in bed beside me, I don’t know who. So I was trying to yell to the person beside me, then slowly the woman turns so I can see her from the side and it was my cousin, who died last year and was just starting at the mirror on the door. At this point I am losing my shit, but I can’t seem to yell out. Then all of the sudden I regain movement and end up yelling “You see her right? Right? WTF is happening!” I turn and their is just a blanket laying beside me and when I look back I easily make out just the jacket hanging on my closet door. I’m still freaked out.’

Another experience reported by user rebeccajaneali on Buzzfeed:

"I was living at home with my mum. I was unwell so I was in bed all day. My mum was home with me. I must have fallen asleep, as I never heard her open my bedroom door or walk across the room, but I felt her weight sit on the bed beside me.

I heard her pick up my cup of water as if checking if it needed refilling, and felt her brush the hair from my face. Then all of a sudden I was being choked. I felt hands around my neck.

I couldn’t open my eyes, as if they were glued shut, and I tried to raise my arms to break free but it was as if they’d been nailed to the mattress. I struggled to breathe and felt myself getting light-headed. Then all of a sudden it went, and I could open my eyes and move again.

My mum was nowhere to be seen. She was upstairs at the neighbour’s house."

Thought Catalog reported the following:

"I had the classic (I think) sleep paralysis hallucination. Was in a fuzzy state, believing I was awake. A shadow in a corner of my room started moving and an old lady got closer to me. First, her hands crawled up my legs and then she climbed on the bed and on my torso. I couldn’t breathe and my arms were locked on each side of my body. Worst sleep experience I ever had. Even worse than when my cat passed out after headbutting my bedroom door, waking me in the middle of the night."

Of course, it isn't all doom and gloom. Some people have reported positive experiences during sleep paralysis like comforting whispers and guardian angels. Some people have even reported having sexual intercourse with their 'sleep demon.'

Can it be prevented?

So I'm sure if you are in the fortunate percentage of the population that have never experienced sleep paralysis you probably don't want to, and want to know how you might prevent it ever happening to you (or maybe not, I don't know what you're into and your kinks. You do you).

A good way to prevent sleep paralysis is ensuring that you have a healthy and regular sleeping pattern. Try to go to bed at the same time each night and get the recommended 6-8 hours. Looking after your general health and exercise may improve your ability to sleep. You should try and avoid caffeine, alcohol and big meals before bed time and avoid use of illegal substances. Also, try and avoid sleeping on your back as this can make sleep paralysis more likely to occur.

Whether it happens all of the time or has only happened once in your life, sleep paralysis can be a deeply disturbing and intense experience. It is an ordeal I hope most of you never have the misfortune to encounter. Sweet dreams, goodnight and don't let the bed bugs bite.

I would love to hear about your own experiences with sleep paralysis! Have you met a sleep demon? Tell me about your experiences @curiouslycreepy on Twitter and @creepyandcurious on Instagram.

I have had some unsettling experiences of my own of sleep paralysis. Let me know is this is something you want to hear about in another story.

Stay creepy and curious, ghouls.