Sleep paralysis and lucid dreaming

Common Questions and Answers about Sleep paralysis and lucid dreaming

sleep-paralysis

Avatar f tn It also seems to be hereditary, and as far as I know neither of my parents have had sleep paralysis, although my dad has had sleep apnea. Do I have sleep paralysis? If not, then what is it?
Avatar m tn s called sleep paralysis. It occurs when there is a miscommunication between the brain and the body during sleep. When you're in the process of trying to sleep, your body sends a message to the brain telling it that the body is ready to go to sleep so the brain can do the same. When your body enters sleep, your brain paralyzes the body during dreams (so we don't end up acting them out). Sometimes, your brain mistakenly wakes up during this time, but your body remains paralyzed.
Avatar f tn What you are experiencing is called sleep paralysis and hypnogogic hallucinations. Sleep paralysis happens when you start to wake out of a dream but your brain wakes up while your body is still paralyzed (during REM or dream sleep you are paralyzed so you wont hurt yourself acting out your dreams). The hypnogogic hallucinations are related. Do you have panic attacks or narcolepsy by any chance? My doctor told me both those problems make your specific sleep problems more likely.
Avatar f tn I'm not sure we have the same understanding of vivid dreams, but I suggest you take a look at Lucid Dreaming which is about taking control of vivid dreams. There is a lot on the web on this subject. I think it is next to impossible for one to bite him/herself while sleeping, that is contrary to the accepted "fact" that we all go into a physical paralysis when asleep, to prevent that sort of thing - so we don't turn crazy dreaming into self violence.
1544075 tn?1296026498 With sleep paralysis, part of your brain can still be asleep and so you can still be partially dreaming. For me, I can see the room and often dream that I can see someone or hear someone there or that someone is trying to break into the house. At the same time this "dream" is occurring, I can (for example) hear the shower going, my partner moving around the room, etc., but I am unable to move or fully wake myself up.
Avatar f tn There are two main types of scary phenomenons in sleep(nightmare and sleep paralysis) that are caused by two main scary symptoms of cardiovascular disease {palpitation and fainting (syncope)}.
Avatar f tn You sleep in cycles light sleep, rem stage is the dreaming stage. While in this stage your large muscles are paralyzed so you dont act out ur dreams and hurt yourself. Sometime during ur rem sleep u may wake for a few seconds (sometimes numerous) during this "hypnopompic" stage ur brain is still dreaming and ur muscles are still paralyzed although you can see hear smell (but not scream) this also known as old hag syndrome.
983679 tn?1276833336 If you are able to go to sleep concious, you will experience Lucid Dreaming. This type of dreaming is the most satisfying because you will remember every detail like if you woke up inside. Usually there is a big release of enery when this experience happens. Well I hope this helps. If you have additional questions just write to me or e-mail me.
2038180 tn?1329861306 During sleep, the body cycles between non-REM and REM sleep. Typically, people begin the sleep cycle with a period of non-REM sleep followed by a very short period of REM sleep. Dreams generally occur in the REM stage of sleep. Intense dreaming occurs during REM sleep as a result of heightened brain activity, but paralysis occurs simultaneously in the major voluntary muscle groups. REM is a mixture of encephalic (brain) states of excitement and muscular immobility.
Avatar m tn For the past year I have been experiencing sleep paralysis on a daily basis. Every time this happens I feel my whole brain buzzing like there is electricity flowing through it and it pulses slowly as more and more pain starts to accumulate. It gets to be so painful it feels like my brain is about to implode and no matter what I do I always feel extreme pain. I hear myself telling myself to wake up before the pain gets unbearable but it doesn't work most of the time.
Avatar m tn Your symptoms could be due to sleep paralysis. Disorders related to dreaming could occur with REM sleep behavior disorders. Here the person acts out the dreams. Your symptoms of seeing things could also be due to sleep disorders “Nightmare” or "Night terror" disorders . Here the person experiences symptoms of bad, frightening dreams which interfere with his sleep schedules.
Avatar m tn I'd say sleep paralysis is very normal and I know some people suffering from it pretty often. If it is a dream like Jerry, above, asked, then it is not that much of a problem, you can check some sleep-lucid dreaming forums to take control of it- but I don't think it would happen so often if it was. So maybe if you have a smart phone, or android you can download sleep tracking apps to see if you wake up in the middle of your REM cycle.
Avatar n tn It appears that humans have always experienced sleep paralysis and sought to explain it, resulting in well known stories of incubi and succubi--demons thought to sexually attack people in their sleep--as well as related tales from other eras and cultures". http://csicop.
Avatar m tn s almost like its a state between sleep walking and being asleep, I wasnt sure if I was going into like stage 2 of sleep and back to stage 3 instead of returning to stage 1 like I should (sorry if the stages are wrong I just recently started looking up the diffrent stages of sleep)
568812 tn?1379165794 All I knew is that it seemed so real and I would keep the lights on. I had the sleep paralysis also where I was trying to move but could not and trying to say, "Help" but the words would not come out. It was frightening. I would often recite the Lord's prayer. My daughter though has also had the paralysis in her sleep, so not sure if it is PSTD associated alone as she did not have the abusive childhood I did.
5621933 tn?1371092794 I can dream, get up and go back to sleep and dream the same dream. I have lucid dreamt since childhood and only recently realised it was an actual term or phenomenon. I have restless sleep and struggle to fall asleep a lot and cannot maintain a normal sleep pattern no matter how hard I try. I sleep for usually about 7hours but at the wrong time of day I also struggle to wake up. I just wondered if anyone else has these characteristics, or problems?
Avatar m tn I can answer your questions because i have the exact same symptoms and have been having them for years. I have sleep apnea and narcolepsy, and the hallucinations are caused by sleep deprivation. I hate the fact that i can't seem to get out of these dreams but i have recently found the solution. Get out of bed and do something for 5 or 10 minutes....i usually will come downstairs and check my email or just surf for a few minutes.
436338 tn?1204359355 Considering you are remembering the events upon waking, you are most likely coming out of REM sleep. If you're unable to move and aware of it, it is likely an episode of SP. Sleep paralysis usuallly produces very vivid scenes that can be very life like. With me I get it in all kinds of stages. It seems to manifest itself into very lucid dreaming.
Avatar f tn This would be a clear case of Lucid Dreaming and there is a lot of information on how to manage/use Lucid Dreaming - they may give you some ideas.
Avatar f tn I found the answer ny accident when browsing through a medical encyclopedia, it is called sleep paralysis, and is associated with Narcolepsy. Your body is entering the paralyzed state of REM sleep shortly after, or in the process of falling asleep, but your brain doesn't know you're asleep yet. This is often accompanied by vivid, frightening hallucinations, often mirroring whatever you were doing right before you fell asleep.
675347 tn?1365460645 I had lucid dreams (when you know, in the dream, that you are dreaming) But as soon as I do realize that it kind of gives me a shock, and I wake up! So I have no idea where this realization could lead. I've heard that lucid dreaming can be used to help solve problems in life, and give Spiritual direction. Also I don't seem to be able to do this at will. Does anyone have any experience with this?
Avatar m tn it definitely sounds like sleep paralysis i've had this for years....don't worry there is help and you will start to control it but you have to know what to do....no, you do NOT need Doctors and no you do NOT need any meds...and no you are NOT crazy...there are many people who experience this just like you.
Avatar f tn This would occur with someone who wakes and sleeps, wakes and sleep, etc, etc. I might be way off the mark too. No expert.
Avatar m tn Given your description it sounds to me like you have achieved lucid dreaming, that is you know you are asleep. See Lucid Dreaming I recommend the book by Stephen DeBerges (I think that is the name) he's with Stanford University. The options you seem to have it to engage the dreams with you conscious mind, first make sure you are dreaming - DeBerges gives some ideas on how to test without taking unnecessary risks. The other option, I have taken, is wake myself up.
10251584 tn?1408816557 For the past few years, I have been able to consciously recognize the different stages of sleep that I go through. One stage, for instance, is where my eyes are half open (friends & family have told me that I sleep with half-open eyes), and I see what's around me (the objects in my bedroom, etc), but my mind has already gone into the dream world. This combo of being asleep and awake at the same time sometimes alters the objects that my eyes see.
Avatar f tn The brief study on dreaming and Lucid Dreaming helped me better understand dreaming, and I also learned Dreaming takes place during REM sleep the (strangely) most restful sleep for rejuvenating one's body. I do not feel sleepy during wake times (not for an old guy at least) and so it seems I am getting a "good rest" even if not a "good night"... I get over the memories as soon as I get up and on my feet.