Sleep paralysis ....

[Tzu]

I was wondering if any of you have ever actually witnessed sleep paralysis in a patiant while on duty?

We have a young lady staying with us at the moment, and she went to bed last night and was awakened by what she said felt like the 'presence' of someone on top of her pushing her down. She couldn't move or open her eyes and the duvet was floating just above her body with a lot of movement in it, like someone was patting it all over. She said she could 'feel' a presence. She managed to shout at it to get away and she said she used Jesus' name and it stopped. She then lept out the bed and ran to my son who was still awake downstairs. She was very shocked and upset.

I am wondering if it was something evil . But I have also read about sleep paralysis and hallucinating when this happens. What do you think?

[jschut, BSN, RN]

Night Terrors?????

Now that reminds me of something my oldest daughter used to do when she was still little, about 5-6. About 11pm, every night, she would come down the stairs screaming like crazy! Then, try to get on the trash can in the kitchen to go to the bathroom! Every night, I would have to guide her to the bathroom, and get her set on the toilet. She would go, but still not be awake.

One night, I carried her back to bed, tucked her in, and she started screaming, "No Mommy! Don't make me go back in there! The monster is in there! Not in the store!" I shook her, slapped her face (not as hard as in the movies though;)) and she still wouldn't wake up. I ended up just holding her till she calmed down and was resting peacefully. I don't know if I did the right thing or not, but that was almost 20 years ago.

Does this sound like anyone else's problem?

Julie :)

[Tzu]

Originally posted by colleen10

That afternoon we got a call that his nephew (his father's grandson) was killed in a car accident on Tuesday evening.

Very creepy...................

Very sad colleen. Must have been quite a shock, especially after a dream like that.

I was once dreaming in the morning just before I got up, that my dad had been fired. I woke up and he walked in from nightshift about 10 minutes later and told my mom he had been suspended for giving his boss a mouthful. Weird!

[Tzu]

Originally posted by Julielpn

Night Terrors?????

Now that reminds me of something my oldest daughter used to do when she was still little, about 5-6. Does this sound like anyone else's problem?

Julie :)

Yes my sister's child had this. He's 14 now and fine. I wonder why those that have had the problem of sleep paralysis, mainly seem to have a scarey experience and not a pleasant one?

[MartyL]

I had a few of these same type of episodes at different times in my life. I don't think however, that they were stress related. Once it was when I was about 17 years old and I felt a cold draft, I tried to open my eyes but I could not, then I heard my friend's dad call my name and since I couldn't respond I next felt a harsh squeezing on my hip as if he were trying to wake me. Finally, I was able to open my eyes and turn to push his hand away, the cold feeling left and I woke to find noone there. My friend's dad was asleep!

The next time, I was in my bed and again I felt cold and I was unable to move or open my eyes. I felt a cat jump on my bed on my pillow and heard him growl. I tried to scream because it felt evil, but I could not, then just that suddenly the "feeling" left and I was able to open my eyes.

Although there are medical explainations for these events--namely the sleep paralysis, I can't help but feel that it may also be a connection to the spiritual realm. That may sound goofy, but since I believe in life after death it makes sense, that during this "sleep-paralysis" we may be more in tune with the spirit world than when we are fully conscious. I don't think I am dreaming when this happens because it happens when I am trying to awaken and the "dream" I had been having has nothing to do with the new "event" just before I am "released" and able to move.

[Jenny P]

Renee, okay, I'll call you a nut case since you asked us to. Seriously, I have had prescient dreams also, but I've never been frightened by them. They just HAPPEN, and I take it from there. They are mostly about people that I care deeply for, and I have had them since before my mother died (when I was 8 ); so I just think that she is helping me through these times.

Dennie, night terrors are totally different than sleep paralysis and hypnogogic hallucinations. Night terrors are relatively rare in the general population, although someone who has them may have them fairly frequently. Night terrors are very frightening, for the person who witnesses them: the person who has them may be unaware that they occurred. For more info, go to this web site.

http://www.nightterrors.org/

The difference between sleep paralysis and night terrors is when they occur in the sleep cycle: sleep paralysis occurs during Stage 1 sleep ; while night terrors occur during Stage 4 sleep, the soundest period of sleep which occurs just before REM sleep.

Another site that explains sleep paralysis and such is

http://watarts.uwaterloo.ca/~acheyne/S_P.html

[DixieKGirl]

I glanced at the site on night terrors, and the whole deal with having open eyes reminded me of something that happened nearly 6 years ago. I don't think I have night terrors (at least I hope not), but thought yall might find this funny or scary. I think it's funny until I think about a child of my own doing it to me someday, then it seems kinda scary. Anyway, one night during the wintertime I was all bundled up in my bed in a sweat suit type gown and a comfortor and blankets, etc. My mom woke up hot, so she came to ask me if I was hot too (it was just the 2 of us) so she could turn the heat down. She said that she came in my room and shook me to wake me up, and when I moved a little she said "Aren't you hot?". She said that I then rolled over to face her, opened my eyes and said "I am the earth", and then simply closed my eyes and rolled back over. I shared a bedroom with one of my brothers until I was about 11, and he told me all kinds of strange things that I said in my sleep (once I recited different cominations of the numbers which made up the # of the highway that ran near our house - every combination but the right one), but this one definitely takes the cake!

~Katrina

Oh, and for those who may be wondering... I actually took a diagnostic stress test at my university's counseling and wellness center about a year ago; a few months after going through a major breakup I felt like I needed help. The tests say that I have extreme anxiety and severe depression, so I started seeing a counselor with the university (since it's free to students and confidential). In all honesty she only made me feel worse about everything that had happened, and put negative thoughts into my mind that weren't previously there, like "why do you think he didn't find you lovable enough for him?" when I had never said or thought about me not being lovable. I was like thanks a lot! I just never went back after that, and haven't talked to anyone (as far as a doc) about it since. I just moved here a couple of years ago for college, and my doc back home left family practice to work for a private company doing workers' comp or something, so I don't really have an established doc that knows me anymore. Any suggestions?

[Tzu]

Originally posted by DixieKGirl

~Katrina

... I actually took a diagnostic stress test at my university's counseling and wellness center about a year ago; a few months after going through a major breakup I felt like I needed help. The tests say that I have extreme anxiety and severe depression, so I started seeing a counselor with the university (since it's free to students and confidential). In all honesty she only made me feel worse about everything that had happened, and put negative thoughts into my mind that weren't previously there, like "why do you think he didn't find you lovable enough for him?" when I had never said or thought about me not being lovable. I was like thanks a lot! I just never went back after that, and haven't talked to anyone (as far as a doc) about it since. I just moved here a couple of years ago for college, and my doc back home left family practice to work for a private company doing workers' comp or something, so I don't really have an established doc that knows me anymore. Any suggestions?

Hi Katrina,

Some people benefit from therapists and some don't. I don't have much time for them personally and prefer to work through my problems myself. I'm sure there are some who need a therapist though if they cannot deal with a problem. Therapy is really just talking about whatever bugs you or perhaps about a crisis that is going on in your life. If you have a friend who is interested in listening, then that is really all you need. To be able to keep talking it out, till you are sick of the subject and feel the need to move on with your life.

I adopted a little girl and she was having counseling before she came to me. As soon as I took her over, I stopped the counseling because I didn't like the way the therapist operated. Long story short, her ideas to me, were making the problem worse. All the kid needed was a safe home where she felt loved and not rejected. That was several years ago, and she has come a long way now. This is a kid that therapists said may never come right basically.

If what this therapist said to you did not make you feel good about yourself, then who needs that? It takes all types to make up this world, and I'm sure you and your ex were just not compatable. In time you'll meet someone who you click with, who likes you for yourself. But don't worry about the therapists comments. She just may not be a very good thrapist. It's like doctors, sometimes you have to change doctors to get the right one. I'm sure therapists all have their areas where they work best. Perhaps relationships is not her speciality. Forget what was said and move on. If you are really battling, try another one. But if they don't make you feel better and more positive about yourself, then they are not worth going to. And always remember, times heals! :kiss

[Aussienurse2]

I had two experiances of this phenomonen during a particularly stressfull time in my life, I honestly thought that I was going to die if I closed my eyes. Terrifying, but not since then. I toddled off to the doctor thinking for sure he was going to call the men in white coats but he told me that it is quite common he decided that it was a panic attack and gave me some dimazapan.

[Ryan_W]

What you are describing is sleep paralysis. I used to work as a coordinator in a sleep disorders clinic and we saw this frequently. It is more common in children, but happens with adults also. It normally happens as the patient falls asleep, but can happen upon awakening also. Usually a low dose of klonopin was prescribed before bed.

[Tzu]

Originally posted by Ryan_W

What you are describing is sleep paralysis. I used to work as a coordinator in a sleep disorders clinic and we saw this frequently. It is more common in children, but happens with adults also. It normally happens as the patient falls asleep, but can happen upon awakening also. Usually a low dose of klonopin was prescribed before bed.

Hi Ryan,

What causes the hallucinations then when this happens? And why are they always scarey experiences ? Why never any nice or funny experiences?

[casperbjs]

There is a book that I read that is called, "Embraced by the Light."

The author is Betty J. Eadie. It is about near death experience. It is a really good book to read, it made me stop and think about my life!

[Tzu]

Originally posted by casperbjs

There is a book that I read that is called, "Embraced by the Light."

The author is Betty J. Eadie. It is about near death experience. It is a really good book to read, it made me stop and think about my life!

Thanks casper, I love reading books like that, I'll try and get a copy. Also the video by Ian McCormick entitled 'A glimpse of eternity'. Excellent testimony. He's an Australian chap who does a lot of surfing. He was once bitten 4 times in a row by a couple of box jelly fish, most lethal creature in the world. He should have died. He had a near death experience. It is the most wonderful video to watch. Think I have watched it about 5 times LOL. Worth trying to see. :)