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I'd Like To Hear From Those Of You Who Go Through Sleep Paralysis

A MyNarcolepsyTeam Member asked a question 💭
Collinsville, IL

If you suffer from sleep paralysis and it started before the age of smart phones and google, how did you react? How long did you go without knowing what was happening?

April 12, 2023
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A MyNarcolepsyTeam Member

I do. Not as much as I use to. It started when I was a teenager. Always seemed to be while I was having a nightmare.

April 13, 2023 (edited)
A MyNarcolepsyTeam Member

I tend to think there is a little overlap between the medical side and the spiritual side of sleep paralysis

May 30, 2023
A MyNarcolepsyTeam Member

I originally just thought I was scared of suffocating. Like I thought I would suffocate if I was underneath the covers and the paralysis was just me panicking so I would hold my breath to try to wake myself up which was scary because I thought I was suffocating.

May 17, 2023
A MyNarcolepsyTeam Member

I honestly thought there was something seriously wrong with me, thought I was crazy or there was something evil after me. My friend convinced me it was a demon and that I needed Jesus Lol

May 4, 2023
A MyNarcolepsyTeam Member

I absolutely hate sleep paralysis. It makes me afraid to go to bed at night. I always get it as I am falling asleep - unlike many others who get it when they are waking up. I have only found three "tricks" that have truly helped managing and dealing with my sleep paralysis.
1. When I am stuck in the middle of it - I focus all of my energy and brain power on moving one finger. Once I move one finger, I do not stop moving it over and over again while I focus everything I have on moving a second finger. This usually helps me move my arm, which once I can move my arm I can usually jerk myself up and awake.
2. When I am stuck in the middle of it - I count to three (over and over and over again) while focusing all of my will power on literally throwing myself out of the bed...it really helps if you are sleeping on a couch or a bed that has a safe falling distance with no obstacles in the way. I usually focus on taking the arm furthest from the edge and try to fling it across my body.
3. DO NOT THINK ABOUT IT!!! - Every time I fear sleep paralysis or think about it, it happens. I try to make my mind just as exhausted as my body. When I know my body is fatigued, but my mind is wide awake, I will play mind puzzle games (sudoku, crosswords, word searches) that are NOT on a tablet or phone but I have to physically solve the puzzle in a book. Typically, exhausting my mind when my body is exhausted helps avoid sleep paralysis the most.

April 19, 2023

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