Sleep Paralysis

Some don't know what this truly feels like, and if you don't, consider yourself lucky. First time I experienced it was at 28 years old. Before I get into this I'm making this thread because I want to hear some stories or thoughts from people who experience this. I also want quickly describe what it is from my own perspective, while also sharing my own experience from last night.

First off if I were to describe sleep paralysis it would be something you never expect, something that will eventually happen, and something you never know have fast you will escape from. Like 10 seconds in this state feels like an hour. Imagine being fast asleep in your bed, then your eyes randomly open, and your are trying to scream. Yet nothing comes out. At the same time there is either some dark negative figure in view, or you simply sense it around you somewhere but can't fully see it. Yet you can't move whatsoever. All you can do is lay there, and hope you regain movement. This could take anywhere from a few seconds, to a few minutes. Maybe even longer for some. Sleep paralysis is also never a fun or positive thing ever. It's not like you meeting your child self, or passed on relative in a calm zen way. It's like the most stressful, horrifying, deranged entity just messing with you until you can fully gain control of your senses.

Last night I had the worst, yet quickest sleep paralysis ever. I was dreaming of a bunch of people. One person kept complementing me while sarcastically saying they hate me. The dream kept deteriorating more and more, to the point even the dream started to mock me. Like making walls I couldn't climb anymore, yet everyone else could. I could feel them looking at me. Happy I couldn't make it over. Then I remember laying in a bed, and could feel my face being pinched. At that point out of nowhere I heard a voice clear as day say "I hate you" Then my eyes opened and I was being violently shaken by a horrifying shadow figure with a face like a demonic sloth skull. I remember trying to scream and nothing coming out. I was so horrified, yet somehow I was able to squeak out "You're not real." And was actually able to wave my hand though it, which made it instantly disappear. It only lasted 2 seconds. I've had episodes last over a minute, and instantly feel back asleep. Last night however, I was so horrified I was actually afraid to sleep. Which is crazy because sleep is like my favorite thing in life.

Sorry if that was a giant rant, but I had to get that out. I also hope people can either relate in some way, or want to share their stories. I feel like a weirdo in general because in my personal life I'm the only one who has sleep paralysis.

My scorpio moon friend had them. Also seeing dark figures. It sounds terrifying. I think I would have been traumatized.

It’s been a while since I’ve had one, I used to get them frequently but it’s due to trauma. I’ve been working on my trauma, maybe that’s why I don’t get em as much anymore? That along with night terrors.

I used to get a lot of sleep paralysis like a decade ago. Would search the internet like crazy to find any reason around it. Came across lots of information on sleeping straight on your back triggering it more than other positions for some reason. Ever since then I’ve been mindful of my sleep positions and haven’t really had an episode.

I’ve always been very big on giving off and receiving energy and have been intrigued by feng shui recently. Apparently having a mirror directly facing your bed is really bad feng shui and is believed to cause poor sleep including nightmares and triggering sleep paralysis. Coincidentally, I had a dresser with a mirror right in front of my bed when I’d often get sleep paralysis. I would also get nightmares here and there that would make me nervous to fall asleep even though I love sleep. The nightmares were still on and off after stopping the sleep paralysis until I moved to a house with a different room arrangement.

Avoid falling asleep on the back. In my experience all occurances happened when I fell asleep on my back, and too quickly.

Personally I love getting scared, and since nothing really does it for me anymore I kind of enjoy a good sleep paralysis every once in a while. The problem is, last few times were disappointments bc the moment I felt I was getting there, I intentionally tried to conjure up scary looking figures, ghosts, etc. Anything to scare the shit out of me! But nothing much happened, I was just paralyzed and then woke up.

I guess it's hard to deliberately scare yourself if you are aware you are doing it.

How I know I'm entering the zone: There's a feeling of euphoria, almost like wind blowing on the back of your head, neck. Hard to explain. That's how I know I'm about to have an episode.

Last one I had was when I was 18. I don’t like talking about it. I don’t want it to happen again. It was the most terrifying thing I’ve ever encountered where this demonic creature passed through my entire body and all I could do was lay there shaking all over until the demon passed through completely exiting through my feet. When I became fully conscious I was still shaking all over and trying to catch my breath.