ANDIt's crazy to hear how many people have had this terrifying feeling while sleeping. The second thing happened to me last night. I couldn't sleep and finally started to fall asleep around 4:30 a.m. when I felt something sit on the edge of my bed. I opened my eyes to see what it was and realized I couldn't move, I was very scared and although I couldn't see anything, I heard a man's voice telling me in my ear to “don't fight.” I was very scared and wanted to hit him, but I could only move one hand. The more I tried to hit him, the more pressure there was on me. Then I finally managed to move my other arm and tried to punch everything that was on top of me and then like nothing happened… it went away. I was so scared that I couldn't stop crying and thinking about it. I took a psychology course in which my professor explained that there was a term for this experience. This is called sleep paralysis… when your mind wakes up but your body is not fully awake and you experience these reactions. My mother told me when I was little to never sleep with your arms folded because you'll have nightmares. I swear it's true! This makes sense too.. I think the pressure and weight of your arms on your chest makes it challenging for you to breathe while you sleep and this in turn causes your mind to wake up your body as best it can… “nightmares”.
I hope whoever reads this doesn't have to experience such a terrible feeling. God bless you!
