Sleep Paralysis

[poliphilo]

I had one of those sleep paralysis dreams last night- and knew- even as I was having it- that I was asleep- and all I needed to do to get out of it was wake up. This didn't stop it from being uniquely awful. The experts say that sleep paralysis accounts for most experiences of incubi and succubi and witches and vampires and abducting aliens- to which I nod my head and say, "Yes, but I've never ever made the mistake of thinking one of these things was anything other than a dream." I was being attacked of course- in this instance by an evil child- a boy with whom I'd been having a peacable conversation only moments earlier. You'd think that finding yourself unable to move would be terrifying enough, but- no- you're also always under attack- and threatened with some kind of violation. I wonder why this is.

Comments

[red-girl-42.livejournal.com]

I've had dreams like this, but I've also had situations in which I wake up mentally, but I'm completely unable to move. Usually I hear a loud ringing in my ears as well. I'm conscious of being in bed, and I want to open my eyes or move, and I simply can't.

It's incredibly terrifying. It used to happen to me a lot when I was a nanny. I would take naps when the baby napped, and I was always paranoid that he'd wake up crying or something and I'd be unable to respond. I think, however, that in such a situation (where something external woke me up) I probably wouldn't have the paralysis. I don't know.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I've had that too. You think you're awake, only you can't be really.

I think you're right- if there had been a real external stimulus- like a baby crying- you'd have woken up straight away.