Sometimes when falling asleep, I go into a state where I can't move at all !
Question: Sometimes when falling asleep, I go into a state where I can't move at all or open my eyes?
It hasn't happened for months so I figured it just stopped. But it happened again last night.
Sometimes When falling asleep or waking up, I can't move at all. Its like my whole body is paralyzed.
I can't open my eyes, all I can do is breathe very heavy. Last night I managed to make moaning sounds, in order to get my husband to wake me, but I wasn't loud enough. It only lasts maybe 5 minutes but it scares me.
I am currently in the middle of switching doctors and insurance so I don't really have a professional to talk to at the moment.
It feels like I've been drugged. It usually happens when I fall asleep on my stomach, which isn't too often.
Does anyone have any clue what this might be? I have tried looking it up and didn't find anything.
It really scares me when this happens.
Thank you very much,
Answers:
It sounds like sleep paralysis, which is actually quite common with varying intensity.
I've had it once in my life and it was terrifying, so I really feel for you.
Go to a doctor to get a proper diagnosis - some of my friends suffer from this too, and coincidentally we all have trouble with sleeping. Insomnia, disturbed sleep, etc.
Try not to drink caffeine, eat or exercise four hours before bed and see if this helps.
You could also try relaxation tapes and deep breathing so your body is relaxed before you go to sleep.
I'm not entirely sure of the causes, I'm not sure anyone is, but see a doctor and they may refer you to a psychiatrist or hypnotist or sleep therapist [basically anyone in the know !] and help you sort this out.
Good luck, and I hope this goes away soon. I know it's horrible.
Experience
It's called a catatonic stupor. It happens to lots of people. The thing is this - you are not acutally awake. You are asleep and dreaming. This feeling of not being able to move is the origin of the word nightmare... where you felt that a mare had come and sat on you, and you could not move from underneath her.
http://www.webmd.boots.com/sleep-disorde…
The above link is for Boots the chemist
I went to the site and put sleep in the search box. It came up with several suggestions including the very first one SLEEP PARALYSIS. That is the page in the link.
It says that it is NOT dangerous, but can be frightening.
Hope it helps and good luck.
you may be Astral Traveling also---
if you don't believe in the supernatural/islam then don't read on because this WILL sound stupid =)
basically, in islam, we believe that when you sleep, depending on the position of your arms and legs, jinns [creatures who are given free will, like humans but we can't see them] can take over your body. there are good ones and bad ones, i'm not sure about the ones who take over your body when you sleep but they're there. now this happens often when sleep either flat on your stomach or your back [can't remember which] with your arms straight by your side and your hands flat, fingers pointed forward and same with your legs - not bent but long, flat, toes pointed upward.
i think its something like that =S
me =)