[Enyapla]

I get this weird experience when I'm heavily tired or heavily medicated. My dreams are hazy when theyre usually wildly vivid. They seem like what people who cant see experience when they take off their glasses. Suddenly I wake up, but my body is too heavy to move. My it feels like my soul is being sucked from my chest and dragged through the floor. I am blind, i can't move, I cant yell despite trying. I know I'm awake but I dont know how. What is this? Does anyone know?

Originally Posted by Enyapla

I get this weird experience when I'm heavily tired or heavily medicated. My dreams are hazy when theyre usually wildly vivid. They seem like what people who cant see experience when they take off their glasses. Suddenly I wake up, but my body is too heavy to move. My it feels like my soul is being sucked from my chest and dragged through the floor. I am blind, i can't move, I cant yell despite trying. I know I'm awake but I dont know how. What is this? Does anyone know?

This sounds like sleep paralysis. I have experienced it myself several times. It is terrifying. My understanding is that it occurs because there is a hormone released when we fall asleep in order to keep our body still and safe to prevent sleep-walking etc. Sometimes, with stress and a disrupted sleep cycle, the brain wakes up suddenly before the hormone has worn off the body. So when you say you can't move, you can't. That is literal. I don't think there's anything you can do in the moment...as frightening as it is you just have to wait for your body to move again. I believe it doesn't last more than a few minutes at most but of course that can feel really long when you're scared.

I think the important piece for improving things is to look at your stress and sleep cycle...in order to prevent or decrease episodes of sleep paralysis. I recommend consulting with your doctor. He/she could even refer you for a sleep study whereby you'd be monitored by experts while sleeping so they can look at the sleep cycle and figure out what's gone awry. As you know, sleep is SO important for health, mood, immunity etc. I have not experienced sleep paralysis for a while now and when it was happening to me I was going through an intensely stressful period in my life and my sleep was terribly broken. I think that's why it happened. Until I read about it, I thought I was imagining it or dreaming but I knew I was awake and could not move...I tried to scream but my vocal folds were temporarily paralyzed. I couldn't even raise an arm...until it passed. I'm not sure if I ever explained blindness with it.

Just so you know, when I read about it I learned that during episodes of sleep paralysis, some people see images of a monster or demon etc. That's because the mind is frightened and cannot understand so it conjures an image to explain it. I have not seen such images but other people report it and I just want you to know in advance in case that happens to you.

Please check with your doc. So sorry you are going through this. Be well.

Just noticed that you mentioned heavy medication. I don't take meds but that may be causing it in your case. Please consult with your MD and pharmacist.

***I am not a doctor and only offer thoughts and support on PC.

[Skeezyks]

I used to experience sleep paralysis. Somewhere I read one is more likely to experience sleep paralysis if one sleeps on one's back.

[sarahsweets]

My husband has sleep paralysis sometimes but it is because of his narcolepsy.

[MickeyCheeky]

That sounds scary, Enyapla. I'd suggest to talk to your doctor about this and see how it goes from there. I agree with HopefullyLost1211 that your meds may be causing this. I'm so sorry, I hope you'll feel better soon. Feel free to PM me anytime. Let me know if I can do something to help you. Wish you good luck! Let us know how it goes. Sending many hugs to you