Sleep Paralysis and Lucid Dreaming

insidious · 05-20-2016, 03:42 AM

Last night I had the craziest Sleep Paralysis Episode (only one in my life).

I don't know how it came about, but I remember 'entering' this state from my dream. First thing I noticed was that my body was really heavy and I couldn't move at all, as if some kind of amorphous 2-ton blob was weighing down on me. I have my eyes open, and I can see my dorm ceiling.

There's a fucking shadow-demon-anime-chick like the one from ME!ME!ME! ruthlessly gnawing my face off.

At this point I am in a full what-the-fuck-is-going-on panic attack and try saying/almost yelling but I literally can't say shit. I can breathe fine, but when I try to say something only air is coming out and no words (I guess I couldn't move my mouth).

It felt like hours but it only lasted probably ~1 minute. After it I kind of breathed a sigh of relief and was like "what. the fuck." Looked it up, sleep paralysis and it occurs pretty often in humans. After some research, it seems to be the result of my ridiculous sleep schedule over the past few months, along with the stress and anxiety that comes with being a college student. My family (and I) also has a history of sleep-walking, talking, and I might have experienced an episode of sleep paralysis from when I was super-young, but I don't remember it whatsoever.

Now I've tried lucid dreaming before and heard of sleep paralysis, but this was just a total WTF moment and like "damn this shit really exists and it's absolutely terrifying" kind of thing.

I should also lay off the L for just a bit.

Any of you experienced sleep paralysis? Statistically there should be at least a few of you. WEBmd says 4/10 people, but i'm not sure how much I trust that site. If you have, describe your experience. I'm very interested in hearing other peoples wtf stories.

Also if you've ever lucid dreamed before, that's fucking awesome. What was your experience like, how did you do it, what'd you do in it, and how many times?

For any who don't really know what Sleep Paralysis is, or what it looks like, here's a great video I found on it:

meow · 05-20-2016, 04:27 AM

After researching sleep paralysis and lucid dreaming, I've been able to have lucid dreams every other if not every night. As for sleep paralysis, all you have to do to prevent that is avoid sleeping on your back; face a wall or something when you're sleeping so that you don't have to see those shadows. I've avoided sleeping on my back and haven't gone into paralysis once.

My first lucid dream (gateway lucid dream?) was pretty short. I had been trying to lucid dream for 2 weeks or so (using the advice at the bottom of this post) and I was so excited when I became lucid for the first time. I was in this place where huge purple/pink mushrooms were everywhere and the ground had purple grass and shit. I saw this girl with a fine ass leaning on one of the giant mushrooms and started trying to fuck her (the primary reason I wanted to lucid dream was to fuck girls from my school), then I woke up. For some reason any time I become lucid and start thinking of sex, my mind just ends the dream... I hate it but obviously it's trying to get a message across.

If you want to lucid dream a lot like me, perform frequent reality checks throughout the day and ask yourself "am I dreaming?" each time. Also, write down everything you remember about your dream as soon as you wake up (even if it's as little as 1 word). This is cliche advice, but it's what allowed me to start.

mothered · 05-20-2016, 04:37 AM

I've experienced a few bits and pieces similar to yourself (example, unable to move), and at one point I was struggling to take a breath.

I haven't looked Into It and cannot say for sure whether It was relative to sleep paralysis. Your experience Is not something I'd like to go through. Seems rather tormenting.

insidious · 05-20-2016, 04:47 AM

(05-20-2016, 04:27 AM)meow Wrote: After researching sleep paralysis and lucid dreaming, I've been able to have lucid dreams every other if not every night. As for sleep paralysis, all you have to do to prevent that is avoid sleeping on your back; face a wall or something when you're sleeping so that you don't have to see those shadows. I've avoided sleeping on my back and haven't gone into paralysis once.

My first lucid dream (gateway lucid dream?) was pretty short. I had been trying to lucid dream for 2 weeks or so (using the advice at the bottom of this post) and I was so excited when I became lucid for the first time. I was in this place where huge purple/pink mushrooms were everywhere and the ground had purple grass and shit. I saw this girl with a fine ass leaning on one of the giant mushrooms and started trying to fuck her (the primary reason I wanted to lucid dream was to fuck girls from my school), then I woke up. For some reason any time I become lucid and start thinking of sex, my mind just ends the dream... I hate it but obviously it's trying to get a message across.

If you want to lucid dream a lot like me, perform frequent reality checks throughout the day and ask yourself "am I dreaming?" each time. Also, write down everything you remember about your dream as soon as you wake up (even if it's as little as 1 word). This is cliche advice, but it's what allowed me to start.

I was sleeping on my back, that makes sense. I've always stayed away from sleeping on my back, don't know why last night was different.

Also that lucid Dream with the Pink/Purple mushrooms is hysterical

..
Alot of people love flying in Lucid dreams, have you tried that? If i were to Lucid Dream, my priorities would probably be:

1. Sex
2. Flying
3. Blow Shit Up
4. (Optional) blow shit up while flying, having sex, and blowing shit up.

Quote:For some reason any time I become lucid and start thinking of sex

I've also heard of this happening to some people in the odd reddit thread I read on /r/LucidDreaming. Maybe it's too stimulating? lmao

(05-20-2016, 04:37 AM)mothered Wrote: I've experienced a few bits and pieces similar to yourself (example, unable to move), and at one point I was struggling to take a breath.

I haven't looked Into It and cannot say for sure whether It was relative to sleep paralysis. Your experience Is not something I'd like to go through. Seems rather tormenting.

Sounds like sleep paralysis to me, I think. I'm no Doctor though.

I feel like my experience was a bit more brutal than if someone else would have one. I put myself on a pretty intense microdosing regimen (probably fucked up something with my seratonin), and that paired with not getting more than 5 hours of sleep for a few weeks in succession, most likely did me in.

I am definitely looking forward to my summer with no obligations

DarkMuse · 05-20-2016, 05:19 AM

(05-20-2016, 04:27 AM)meow Wrote: After researching sleep paralysis and lucid dreaming, I've been able to have lucid dreams every other if not every night. As for sleep paralysis, all you have to do to prevent that is avoid sleeping on your back; face a wall or something when you're sleeping so that you don't have to see those shadows. I've avoided sleeping on my back and haven't gone into paralysis once.

My first lucid dream (gateway lucid dream?) was pretty short. I had been trying to lucid dream for 2 weeks or so (using the advice at the bottom of this post) and I was so excited when I became lucid for the first time. I was in this place where huge purple/pink mushrooms were everywhere and the ground had purple grass and shit. I saw this girl with a fine ass leaning on one of the giant mushrooms and started trying to fuck her (the primary reason I wanted to lucid dream was to fuck girls from my school), then I woke up. For some reason any time I become lucid and start thinking of sex, my mind just ends the dream... I hate it but obviously it's trying to get a message across.

If you want to lucid dream a lot like me, perform frequent reality checks throughout the day and ask yourself "am I dreaming?" each time. Also, write down everything you remember about your dream as soon as you wake up (even if it's as little as 1 word). This is cliche advice, but it's what allowed me to start.

Can confirm this does not always help in regards to the sleep paralysis. I've seen shit come through my door/doorway and come crawling on the ground. (I can't read apparently) The best thing is to try and remember that you're sleeping. Once you get really comfortable with lucid dreaming you'll usually be able to react. The best thing I've tried is snarling at whatever it is with your face. Kind of squeeze it like you're gunna sneeze or make a scary face. Do it a couple times and that breaks it very well. Practice makes perfect. It is just a dream. Still scary as shit but Lucid Dreaming is also by far the most fun thing to do while you sleep Wink

If the face thing doesn't work, I found a couple places saying to try and move an extremity like your finger, toe or clenching and unclenching your fists. Toe wiggle seems to work best but some say coughing helps too but from what I've experienced, your chest is not gunna move very well. Good luck friend.

Also @meow I think I read somewhere that sex in lucid dreams are common do to the blood flow in ya dick and your brain being like damn, it's time to fuck boi so let's improvise. But that's how I got started lucid dreaming. I was super young like 5 or 6 and I just remember deciding to fuck this chick in leopard print lingerie which is puzzling because do 5-6 year olds even have sex drives? Idfk.

mothered · 05-20-2016, 05:21 AM

(05-20-2016, 04:47 AM)insidious15 Wrote: Sounds like sleep paralysis to me, I think. I'm no Doctor though.

I feel like my experience was a bit more brutal than if someone else would have one. I put myself on a pretty intense microdosing regimen (probably fucked up something with my seratonin), and that paired with not getting more than 5 hours of sleep for a few weeks in succession, most likely did me in.

I am definitely looking forward to my summer with no obligations

It may well have been, and that was scary enough for me.

I cannot Image what you would've felt like with your experience. I appreciate you sharing It with us. It's certainly very Informative.

insidious · 05-20-2016, 05:23 AM

(05-20-2016, 05:19 AM)DarkMuse Wrote: I've seen shit come through my door/doorway and come crawling on the ground. The best thing is to try and remember that you're sleeping. Once you get really comfortable with lucid dreaming you'll usually be able to react. The best thing I've tried is snarling at whatever it is with your face. Kind of squeeze it like you're gunna sneeze or make a scary face. Do it a couple times and that breaks it very well. Practice makes perfect. It is just a dream. Still scary as shit but Lucid Dreaming is also by far the most fun thing to do while you sleep If the face thing doesn't work, I found a couple places saying to try and move an extremity like your finger, toe or clenching and unclenching your fists. Toe wiggle seems to work best but some say coughing helps too but from what I've experienced, your chest is not gunna move very well. Good luck friend.

Yeah I'm hoping this never happens again, but this seems like some good advice.

When it happened to me last night, I was so surprised b/c it was the first time it occured (that I remember) that I was basically just thinking "Holy Shit wtf", but if it happens again I'll probably be more prepared an know what to do.

But shit coming through your door and crawling around? that sounds terrifying. I sincerely hope that doesn't happen to me.

But I will try Lucid dreaming over the summer. Sounds like a cool thing to try out and maybe keep in the back of my mind stress-free.

(05-20-2016, 05:21 AM)mothered Wrote: It may well have been, and that was scary enough for me.

I cannot Image what you would've felt like with your experience. I appreciate you sharing It with us. It's certainly very Informative.

Thanks for the Solidarity and appreciation Smile

DarkMuse · 05-20-2016, 05:24 AM

(05-20-2016, 05:21 AM)mothered Wrote: It may well have been, and that was scary enough for me.

I cannot Image what you would've felt like with your experience. I appreciate you sharing It with us. It's certainly very Informative.

Honestly terrifying shit. Like in a dream it's a lot more fuzzy but like sleep paralysis is a completely different ball game. Feels a lot more real and it is god fucking awful. I haven't had any recently thanks to my previous advice thankfully.

GateK33per · 05-20-2016, 05:34 AM

Mother of men that's the craziest one I've heard so far. I know lots of people who have this happening to them, here we would call it "Die spook druk my vas". It never happened to me personally (touch wood), but whenever I hear something like this I would point it to a medical/psychological issue, because I refrain from believing in unseeing things making contact in anyway with the physical world.

As for lucid dreaming, I try to fall asleep with something crazy on my mind, like having sex with Lucy Pinder, Abella Anderson, Mia Khalifa, Aletta Ocean, Cytheria or someone at work or one of my 2 hot friends, lol, then it just takes off from there, I became the best pornstar in my dream. Not fully able to control it yet, but stress from work or home plays a huge role and throws me off many a times.

mothered · 05-20-2016, 05:35 AM

(05-20-2016, 05:24 AM)DarkMuse Wrote: Honestly terrifying shit. Like in a dream it's a lot more fuzzy but like sleep paralysis is a completely different ball game. Feels a lot more real and it is god fucking awful. I haven't had any recently thanks to my previous advice thankfully.

I've heard from other members here that It Is quite terrifying.

Is there anything that yourself or anyone knows of, that can actually minimize or perhaps stop It altogether? Or Is It something that just happens without control and prevention? Sorry for the questions, but apart from not knowing too much about about It, It's good to read advice from those who have first-hand experience.