Sleep paralysis - a quick introduction
Sleep paralysis is the state of being aware, yet unable to move. It usually occurs either during awakening or falling asleep. The condition may occur in basically anyone - those who are healthy, those with narcolepsy... it may even run in families thanks to specific genetic changes. It can be triggered by antidepressants, stress or sleep deprivation. Sleep paralysis is actually quite common and shouldn't be taken too seriously, as it is not proven to be dangerous.
There have been several different reports of sounds, sensations and hallucinations throughout episodes of sleep paralysis. For example, some people claim to have heard roars or whispers, felt as if someone was dragging them off their bed or even seen a dark silhouette next to their bed or lurking behind their bedroom window.
An episode of my own
The blinds have been lowered and the atmosphere feels a little abnormal. I've just returned from the city where I feel just as I still have a soul living inside my body.
As I lay in the dark, I think of the emotional emptiness and weakness which have been haunting me since I first woke up this morning. I had absolutely no desire to return here.
The night has conquered the room, leaving the only source of sound to be pressurized water flowing through the radiator and the muffled noise of cars roaming the streets. I've been tossing and turning for an eternity now thanks to the agonizing sleeplessness.
Eyes cracked open, nothing's changed.
The ceiling upon me, oh so gray, still staring at me through the nocturnal darkness.
Suddenly tomblike silence hits the ground. No more cars roaming the streets, no more water circulating in the radiators.
Fright passes right through me, as I abruptly feel someone’s hand wrapped around my throat. The hand belongs to a dark silhouette, which has appeared upon me all of a sudden. It’s holding me tight against the bed, strangling me softly. Is it an incubus?
I’m struggling, trying to free myself from it’s grasp, yet I fail. Even though I still feel my own body, I can’t move any part of it. It feels as I’m paralysed.
I try to yell for help, yet there’s no sound coming out of my throat. The silhouette’s injecting something seemingly fluid into my neck with it’s vacant hand and by my understanding trying to calm me at the same time. I haven’t stopped trying to break free from his grasp. Still trying to fight back. It’s not giving any result. I’m panting in the possession of a panic attack.
Finally, I’ve snapped out of it.
Eyes open wide, the silhouette has vanished. The room conquered by the night... Once again I'm surrounded by muffled sounds of cars roaming the streets and pressurized water circulating in the radiators.
April 12th, 2015.
@ Jõhvi, Estonia.
This was a true story about the one time I experienced sleep paralysis. The photo illustrating the story was found off Google and manipulated by me using an image manipulation program (either Pixlrr online editor or GIMP, can't really remember).
Have YOU ever been in a similar situation?