Every once in a while, I experience a sort of limbo type…

Question

Every once in a while, I experience a sort of "limbo" type of feeling, mostly
when I'm in a light sleeping state, because it usually happens when I'm waking
up from a nap. It feels as though my mind is starting to wake up, but my body is
paralyzed and still asleep. I can see everything around me, but I can't move. I
can see my surroundings (usually my room, sometimes the couch) as they really
are, but an ominous, shadowy presence will make itself known and begin
approaching me. I've been a lucid dreamer for years, even since before I knew
what it was, and in my "dream" I can tell myself that it's not real, and I just
need to shake my head to wake up. Recently, it's become harder and harder for me
to snap out of these episodes. I will wake up screaming at times, and when I ask
my boyfriend if I was talking/moving before I woke up, he always says that no, I
seemed fine. Is there a technical term for this type of state, and/or anyway to
prevent them?

Psychotherapist · Accepted Answer

Psychotherapist :

This is your dream. May I ask you some questions about feelings and meanings in
your dream and in your real life to make this more personal to you.

Customer:

yes of course

Psychotherapist :

A Sleep Paralysis is possibly a hereditary disorder in which one experiences
very frightening seconds or minutes of total body paralysis with little
respiration and eye movements (1)
[http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro00/web1/Takahashi.html#1]. A victim
in this state feels awake, but he cannot move or speak(2)
[http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro00/web1/Takahashi.html#2]. In
addition to the immobility, the common symptoms include feeling choked or
suffocated, hearing strange noises like footsteps and voices, seeing beings or
dark shadows, and feeling an existance of someone in the room (1)
[http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro00/web1/Takahashi.html#1]. Although
these symptoms often direct the victims to believe in ghosts, mistransmission of
neural signals in the brain causes Sleep Paralysis. When a person sleeps, his
brain sends signals to inhibit any muscle contraction (3)
[http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro00/web1/Takahashi.html#3]. If he
comes into consciousness before the brain sends signals to activate muscle
contraction, he cannot move his body, and consequently, become "paralyzed"(2
[http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro00/web1/Takahashi.html#2]http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/exchange/node/1740
[http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/exchange/node/1740]I wonder if you are
experiencing sleep paralysis."

Psychotherapist :

I put in the link about sleep paralysis to help you see if this feels like what
is happening. Lucid dreaming is a somewhat common experience and that you can
control things may help you to work things out emotionally. However Since these
episodes are getting harder to come out of you may want to see a neurologist and
have a sleep study? Sometimes people dream in parts of the sleep cycle when
dreaming dosn't usually occur and this can cause some difficulties. Most of us
dream in the REM cycle of sleep.It also sounds like you could be experiencing
night terrors..

Psychotherapist :

Night terrors usually occur in children but can also occur in adultsWhen you
hear how most experts describe night terrors, it is easy to see why parents find
them distressing. Children who have night terrors are usually described as
'bolting upright' with their eyes wide open, with a look of fear and panic, and
letting out a 'blood curdling scream'. These kids will usually also be sweating,
breathing fast and have a rapid heart rate (autonomic signs). And although it
will seem like they are awake, during a night terror, children will appear
confused, will not be
consolablehttp://pediatrics.about.com/cs/sleep/a/night_terrors.htm
[http://pediatrics.about.com/cs/sleep/a/night_terrors.htm] and won't recognize
you.This is a link a site about night terrors. I think if you are concerned it
is probably a good idea to find a neurologist who does sleep studies just to
check out if anything out of the ordinary is happening during your sleep cycles.

Psychotherapist :

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask more questions. If you
are satisfied with the answer I would greatly appreciate yourT pressing the
accept button. Thank you very much Karen

Customer:

Thank you so much, I've heard of night terrors before, but I've never heard of
the term sleep paralysis, and that is definately something I'm going to look
into further. I appreciate your help so much!

Every once in a while, I experience a sort of limbo type…

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