topic Re: Sleep Paralysis ? in Among Friends

Sleep Paralysis ?

Allegheny — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 09:24:52 GMT

Our (DH & I) usual nightly ritual is for him to turn off the TV around 1:30am and head off to bed. I remain sacked out on the couch and fall asleep. Sometimes I will wake up around 5am and migrate into the bedroom.

Tonight was different. I was all snuggled up on the couch. At around 2:00am I hear this horrendous noise, like loud thunder directly around our house. I try to call out to DH but can't. Heart pounding I leap off the couch, trying to figure out what I heard. I turned on exterior lights, but of course can't see anything. I wander around the house checking but find nothing abnormal. Check on DH, he is sleeping.

I have no idea what I heard and am even questioning if I heard anything or just may be experienced an episode of sleep paralysis.

Thanks for lending me an ear as I won't be falling asleep until daylight.

Re: Sleep Paralysis ?

Nonametoday — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 09:30:29 GMT

@Allegheny wrote:
Our (DH & I) usual nightly ritual is for him to turn off the TV around 1:30am and head off to bed. I remain sacked out on the couch and fall asleep. Sometimes I will wake up around 5am and migrate into the bedroom.

Tonight was different. I was all snuggled up on the couch. At around 2:00am I hear this horrendous noise, like loud thunder directly around our house. I try to call out to DH but can't. Heart pounding I leap off the couch, trying to figure out what I heard. I turned on exterior lights, but of course can't see anything. I wander around the house checking but find nothing abnormal. Check on DH, he is sleeping.

I have no idea what I heard and am even questioning if I heard anything or just may be experienced an episode of sleep paralysis.

Thanks for lending me an ear as I won't be falling asleep until daylight.

@Allegheny I don't think you heard anything. I do think you had night paralysis and probably from being uncomfortable or sleeping in a different position. I have that happen when I fall asleep in the recliner. I will think I heard something which will awaken me. I have just about gotten accustomed to thinking someone is knocking on the window which will awaken me, frightened. It has happened so frequently that I know it is night paralysis, so I am not sure what I would do if that really happened. Probably shrug it off thinking it was nothing. But we have viewed the cameras after it happened, and nada. Nothing there. Just night paralysis. I cannot move when I hear it but when I am wide awake, jumping up, looking for things, only to find it is a repeat of what has happened many times before.

Re: Sleep Paralysis ?

Allegheny — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 09:40:32 GMT

@Nonametoday Thank you so much!! I was thinking may-be a tree came down as recently many of our old growth trees have been toppling over. Then I thought may be it was a support post for our porch giving way. But when I realized I couldn't yell out I started questioning myself. I've only had one episode of sleep paralysis previously. It really gave me quite a scare. I don't know how you are able to deal with having them so frequently. I am so glad you posted as now I can go bed and try and fall asleep.

Re: Sleep Paralysis ?

Lilysmom — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 10:33:31 GMT

@Allegheny, can you check with neighbours to see if anyone else heard it? Your DH did not hear it? I hear every noise around me. My DH does not. We live on a lake and, in winter it makes sounds which I have become accustomed to but sound like loans. It is the water under the ice.

I would talk to my doctor about it as well if it is night paralysis as described above.

I hope you find an answer. An unsettling experience to say the least. LM

Re: Sleep Paralysis ?

catter70 — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 11:40:24 GMT

I had sleep paralysis for several years on and off. It would seem like I was awake, but I could not move or speak at all. I don't know what caused it, but eventually it passed.

Re: Sleep Paralysis ?

CalminHeart — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 12:32:25 GMT

I've had dreams that I thought were real but weren't. I heard noise and talk. I finally figured out it's because I suddenly wake up - or the dream startles me and I wake up - during REM sleep

Re: Sleep Paralysis ?

chrystaltree — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 14:24:50 GMT

It wasn't sleep paralysis, that presents differently. It sounds to me like you had one of those realistic or vivid dreams they talk about.

Re: Sleep Paralysis ?

Still Raining — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 14:34:38 GMT

It might have been just been a dream or being shocked awake. I have done this and have so scared that I heard someone in the house. Just frozen in terror. Like really, all the dogs were still snoring.

Re: Sleep Paralysis ?

x Hedge — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 17:04:02 GMT

@Allegheny

Google: Exploding Head Syndrome

Re: Sleep Paralysis ?

Allegheny — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 17:17:42 GMT

Thanks everyone! Still at a loss as to what occurred. DH said he was still awake in bed and didn't hear anything. I've just chalked it up to some sort of sleep disturbance. Have ruled out sleep paralysis as only similarity was being unable to vocalize.

Re: Sleep Paralysis ?

Allegheny — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 17:20:22 GMT

@x Hedge wrote:
@Allegheny
Google: Exploding Head Syndrome

@x Hedge Bingo, that sounds exactly what I experienced. I am off to read up more. Thank you so much!

Re: Sleep Paralysis ?

x Hedge — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 20:27:23 GMT

@Allegheny wrote:
@x Hedge wrote:
@Allegheny
Google: Exploding Head Syndrome

@x Hedge Bingo, that sounds exactly what I experienced. I am off to read up more. Thank you so much!

You're very welcome. 💣

Re: Sleep Paralysis ?

depglass — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 23:33:31 GMT

They have been running commercials calling this paralysis a symptom of narcolepsy. Check with your doctor.

Re: Sleep Paralysis ?

likeitis — Fri, 31 Jan 2020 00:58:06 GMT

I'm usually pretty "up" on things like that, but I have never heard the term "sleep paralysis " learn something new everyday, I'm off to google!

Re: Sleep Paralysis ?

Anonymous032819 — Fri, 31 Jan 2020 03:05:30 GMT

Sleep paralysis is a normal part of sleep.

Re: Sleep Paralysis ?

Allegheny — Fri, 31 Jan 2020 03:37:30 GMT

@Anonymous032819 wrote:
Sleep paralysis is a normal part of sleep.

Yes and No. REM Atonia is a normal part of sleep. However below is explanation of what the term "sleep paralysis" refers to when an individual experiences it and what scientists believes to cause it.

Sleep Stages & Paralysis

During REM, the body goes into a state of paralysis known as REM atonia. This is a normal part of the sleep stage, when major muscle groups and most voluntary muscles are paralyzed.

Sleep scientists believe that sleep paralysis may occur when the transitions in and out of REM sleep and other sleep stages don’t go smoothly. The paralysis that is typically confined to REM sleep spills over to other sleep stages—and if you wake, you become aware of your body’s paralysis, and the frightening feeling of being unable to move or to speak.

Re: Sleep Paralysis ?

gramgrandkids1 — Fri, 31 Jan 2020 04:00:45 GMT

@catter70 I have experienced the same things you had but never knew what it was called. Glad to know others have had this and I was not only person dealing with these events. I find them very scary.

Re: Sleep Paralysis ?

gramgrandkids1 — Fri, 31 Jan 2020 04:04:23 GMT

@Allegheny big thank you for explaining sleep paralysis, you have really helped me understand what my body was going thru.

Re: Sleep Paralysis ?

Mindy D — Fri, 31 Jan 2020 16:05:27 GMT

Sounds like Exploding Head Syndrome.

Re: Sleep Paralysis ?

Bri369 — Fri, 31 Jan 2020 16:20:29 GMT

It doesn't sound like what you experienced was sleep paralysis. Sleep paralysis is not "normal" either. I'm not sure what you experienced, but here is the definition of sleep paralysis.

"Have you ever suffered an episode of sleep paralysis? It can be a tremendously frightening experience, one you’re not likely to forget. You wake from sleep immobilized, unable to move your body or turn your head. You try to make a sound, but you can’t open your mouth. You feel short of breath, with a strong feeling of pressure on your chest, weighing your body down. You feel a deep sense of dread or danger—maybe you even feel there’s a strange presence in the room."