Sleep paralysis is one of the most terrifying experiences I have ever had, and unfortunately for me, I've had quite a number of these episodes. It usually occurs when I've had a restless night, around 4.00 a.m. At the time, it feels natural, and it is hugely distressing.
As far as I know, I'm awake, and I am paralysed and can't move. Sometimes it feels like something sinister is holding me down. I try screaming in this stage of being, but nothing happens, then I try to thrash around, and nothing happens. I have learned over the years to tell myself it's not real and all I have to do is move my toe or a finger or even blink. That always works, and I am then released from this horrible experience.
I once remember one of these experiences with a friend sleeping in the same room with me. I tried screaming out to her, 'help me,' but I was frozen, and nothing could come out. As soon as I escaped from this horrible experience, I was able to sit up and wake up my friend. I was terrified. My friend calmed me down, and I eventually went back to sleep.
What is sleep paralysis?
Some cultures believe sleep paralysis is a supernatural phenomenon, including aliens, demons and vengeful spirits. Whilst the medical industry conclude that, in most cases, sleep paralysis is simply a sign that your body is not moving smoothly through the stages of sleep.
Out of Body Experiences
Another episode I often have, and too many to count, is an Out of Body Experience. This can happen during the night or early in the morning. I have written about these experiences more in this post about Out of Body Experiences.
Hypnopompic Hallucinations
Earlier this week, I had another strange experience, and it was the first time I've ever experienced anything like this on waking up. In saying that, I have had strange hallucinations coming out of general anaesthetics; however, this experience was different from that. I had another restless night, managed to fall back asleep around 5.00 a.m. and was in a dream state that I would describe as quite lucid. I woke myself up out of that dream, and as I opened my eyes, I saw a spider as giant as the span of my hand slowly crawling across the ceiling. I noted its legs were lifting relatively high as it was meticulously on my ceiling.
I sleep with a mosquito net because where I live, here in Australia, the mosquitoes are vicious. As soon as I saw this spider, I jumped out under the net, and to my astonishment, it was gone! I turned on the lights, as it was the first light of the day and still a bit dark in my room. I turned the room upside down, looking for this monster spider and couldn't find it anywhere. It wasn't in the bathroom, the bedroom or anywhere else in the house. I also sprayed with insecticide, and I have not found any evidence of that spider anywhere.
My curiosity got the best of me, so I did some Google research to see if something like this had ever happened to anyone else. I was amazed to find I'm not the only one! I concluded that I had had a hypnopompic hallucination. You can read other people's stories here.
I'm not convinced that my experiences are medical; I feel they are more of a spiritual or supernatural event as I do have psychic powers and have had many strange things happen to me in my life.
If you have found this page because of similar experiences yourself, note that you are not alone, and no, you are not going mad.
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