Sleep paralysis ....

Published

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 :confused: . But I have also read about sleep paralysis and hallucinating when this happens. What do you think?

Hi Dixie,

Towards the end of my college career I was going through a rough time. I was mildly depressed, having slight anxiety attacks, trouble sleeping. I had never felt like that and knew something was wrong so I decided to go to the on campus medical/counseling facility for help.

I guess all kinds of things were bothering me and when you added them up it made for one big ball of stress. I was overloaded with classes, missing my family, trying to prepare for graduation and "the real world", plus it was around February and March which has got to be the coldest absolutely most depressing time of the year here in Pennsylvania.

Anyway, I was first seen by a medical doctor who did a physical to rule out any physical problems that would be causing my symptoms. The doctor was great and immediately had me see one of the counselors in his office who did an evaluation and diagnosed me. They put me on Paxil to help with the anxiety and sleep problems and had me register to meet with a therapist on campus.

I have to say that the counselor was absolutely horrible!!!! First, he was just a grad. student and it was obvious that he was trying to rush me out of his office. He told me that I should go to the nearest Border's bookstore (which was two bus rides away) and get a self help book. HELLO!!!! I can't even get out of bed to go to class! Then he said that I didn't need to see him again as my problems stemmed from issues with my "career" and he referred me to the campus career center.

That made me feel really bad, like was I making this all up and am I a loser because I can't handle stress?

I gave up on him, took the Paxil and spent more time talking with my roommates about how I was feeling. That made all the difference in the world.

I think therapists are great if you can find the right one for you. Just like any profession there are good ones and bad ones and if you happen to get a bad one it doesn't mean there is something wrong with you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Originally posted by Tzu

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.

I do have another boyfriend now (100% improvement over my ex!!!). :) I can talk to him about anything and everything that bothers me, and that is a big help. I just still feel like both of us deserve to live with a happy me instead of a stressed out *****y me who fusses and cries and complains all the time. :rolleyes:

Has anyone heard of the Midwest Center for Stress and Anxiety? (They have a website at http://www.stresscenter.com) I was wondering if anyone knows whether or not they are reputable. They offer a self-help program that is supposedly great, but I'm a REALLY POOR college student right now, and I can't afford to spend that much money on! I saw an infomercial on it a while back during the wee hours of the morning that kind of caught my attention. It looks pretty authentic, but it's not hard to forge info, and companies do it all the time to make money. If anyone's heard about it please let me know what you think or if you would recommend it! Thanks!

~Katrina

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Originally posted by Tzu

Hi Ryan,

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

Tzu -

That would be the million dollar question! The theory is that these are dream-type states. I haven't read any research that has looked at the content differences of the hallucinations.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have had this happen to me once as well. When it happened I think I had been asleep for awhile but I am not sure anymore lol. Somehow I was trapped under water, I could not breathe, I could not move, I felt my chest ache wanting air, my arm muscles were contracted as hard as they could. Finally something happened and nearly launched out of bed. I was sweating like crazy and gasping for air. Scared the living daylights out of me. I think it has to do with sleeping on your back too because that is the position I was in at the time. Luckily, it has not happened since.

Nick

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hmm, I wonder did I kille this topic lol.

Nick

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Only if you dreamed you did beforehand! lol

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Are we the only ones to have experienced this sleep paralysis? Does anyone have any other explainations? Very curious about it now.

Nick

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Wow, this is a neat topic! I've never experienced sleep paralysis-thank God, but i know many people that do and they say if they say a prayer it usually snaps them out of it. 'I've heard sleep paralysis referred to as 'the devil riding your back' anyone else ever heard of such?

The people that i know who have experienced it says it's like an evil presence standing over them and they can't scream, move or anything! I do recall them saying that it mainly happens if they sleep on their back.

Next time it happens try saying a prayer and see if it works.

Good luck and God bless.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion