Sleep Paralysis

[Magneto2.0]

How do you fall back asleep when you're in a state like that?

Well, usually when I'm suffering from it, it's in the early morning hours (2-4 am), so I'm already considerably tired. Also, there's really nothing you can do, so going back to sleep is really the only option. I've tried to break out of it, but I cannot.

[Popeye_Card]

Jesus Christ this is the most frightening/annoying thing I've ever experienced. For those who've never endured this, it's basically you wake up but you can't move at all. Not one limb. You are awake, you are conscious of your surroundings and your thoughts, but you can't move at all. It's scary and I hate that crap. Only way out is to go back to sleep. One time I had it, my wife hit me (accidentally) and it broke me out of it. Other then that, it's been basically me trying to fight with my body to move.

Ergh.

Hey, this used to happen to me quite often. Magneto, how old are you? It freaked me out so badly that I went to see a neurologist. As it turns out, it's quite common (and harmless) for men in their 20's. I'd wake up, shoot up in bed and basically be rendered helpless. My girlfriend witnessed it one time and it scared her to no end. It's really not describable to people who haven't experienced it. Lemme guess...every muscle in your body is tense and you can't speak at all? It feels like being trapped. Yes, the only way out of it is to fall back asleep.

Yeah, it's happened to people I know, I talked to doctors and they told me the same thing. I'm 28, but it's happened to me since I was in the 9th grade. Not often, every 2 or 3 years, but still enough to worry me. And yes, the way you described it is exactly how it is. It's pretty much the most helpless feeling you could have.

Hmm. This hasn't really happened to me, but over the last year I'll often wake up in the middle of the night in fear that I'm going to choke on my own saliva or tongue or something. Then I look and feel around, and I'm not drooling or anything that would make me think that.

I hope that isnt a sign of sleep apnea or something.

[Popeye_Card]

I hope that isnt a sign of sleep apnea or something.

Crap.

Sleep Apnea Symptoms
Common sleep apnea symptoms include:

Waking up with a very sore and/or dry throat
Occasionally waking up with a choking or gasping sensation
Sleepiness during the day
Morning headaches
Forgetfulness, mood changes and a decreased interest in sex
Recurrent awakenings or insomnia

A decent amount of these describes me. I guess I need to make a visit to the doctor.

[ghostrunner]

I hope that isnt a sign of sleep apnea or something.

Crap.

Sleep Apnea Symptoms
Common sleep apnea symptoms include:

Waking up with a very sore and/or dry throat
Occasionally waking up with a choking or gasping sensation
Sleepiness during the day
Morning headaches
Forgetfulness, mood changes and a decreased interest in sex
Recurrent awakenings or insomnia

A decent amount of these describes me. I guess I need to make a visit to the doctor.

Doesn't everyone have a few of these, aside from the choking?

[wart57]

I hope that isnt a sign of sleep apnea or something.

Crap.

Sleep Apnea Symptoms
Common sleep apnea symptoms include:

Waking up with a very sore and/or dry throat
Occasionally waking up with a choking or gasping sensation
Sleepiness during the day
Morning headaches
Forgetfulness, mood changes and a decreased interest in sex
Recurrent awakenings or insomnia

A decent amount of these describes me. I guess I need to make a visit to the doctor.

Doesn't everyone have a few of these, aside from the choking?

I don't have the decreased interest in sex......

[Popeye_Card]

I hope that isnt a sign of sleep apnea or something.

Crap.

Sleep Apnea Symptoms
Common sleep apnea symptoms include:

Waking up with a very sore and/or dry throat
Occasionally waking up with a choking or gasping sensation
Sleepiness during the day
Morning headaches
Forgetfulness, mood changes and a decreased interest in sex
Recurrent awakenings or insomnia

A decent amount of these describes me. I guess I need to make a visit to the doctor.

Doesn't everyone have a few of these, aside from the choking?

That's true, but on a consistent basis?

I've also recently taken up snoring.

[G. Keenan]

I've had this. Definitely scary as hell. You try to scream but no sound comes out.

[cardinalkarp]

I've had this. Definitely scary as hell. You try to scream but no sound comes out.

So are you actually awake, or do you just think you're awake?

[G. Keenan]

I've had this. Definitely scary as hell. You try to scream but no sound comes out.

So are you actually awake, or do you just think you're awake?

You really are awake. For some reason your brain turns on but your body doesn't. I haven't had it for years, but it was terrifying.

edit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_paralysis

[Tambourine Man]

I've had this. Definitely scary as hell. You try to scream but no sound comes out.

So are you actually awake, or do you just think you're awake?

You really are awake. For some reason your brain turns on but your body doesn't. I haven't had it for years, but it was terrifying.

That's a great way to describe it. I wasn't even able to open my eyes and was always trying to roll over, anything to snap out of it.