sleep paralysis

[tilarium]

What's everyones take on it? I've only experienced it a few dozens of times myself, and each and everytime it's just as scary as the first. It usally happens if I wake very suddenly.. I know a couple of times I've pulled myself out of a dream just before something bad happens to me in the dream (I don't remember my dreams much, but one I do remember from a few years ago, I was falling and I pulled myself out of the dream just before I hit the ground.. I have a fear of falling, heights are fine, but falling, not so much). For me it's weirder because if I try and close my eyes again, they get forced back open.

[BallisticJW]

A lot people think it may be something supernatural, or paranormal. I can see it, I think half of the UFO 'Abductions' might have some roots in sleep paralysis.

But on the other hand, what if there is more to it? What if there is something they don't want us to know. I also think it could be our bodys way to protect itself from a traumatic event. Esp since your memories are hazy afterward. Have you ever done a regression or hypnosis?

Post back and lets us know!

[Adder]

I think people with high spiritual sensitivity have awareness of the unseen and so I might have a different view then most on the subconscious mind. Spiritual people are better at observing the information all around us, including that which is not used by the conscious mind. Its been proven by science that the subconscious takes in information which the conscious mind does not percieve, but which then directly alters our emotions. So I tend to view the subconscious mind as being faster and having access to more information then the conscious mind. I consider the subconscious mind to hold greater knowledge then my conscious mind and so any avenue I can have to develop a better understanding of its true content I welcome. I also think that spiritual energy is more likely to be communicated through the subconscious as a result.

During dreams the subconscious mind is able to operate without the demands of running the full conscious mind. This subconscious mind could be at its most powerful during REM sleep which is also when sleep paralysis occurs AFAIK. So I think sleep paralysis can be a powerful opportunity to gain greater access to a subconscious mind. I think that the nature of the experience promotes fear easily, but that is a product of the conscious mind and perhaps not the intention of the subconscious mind by creating that experience.

[skyslide]

What exactly do you mean by sleep paralysis?

[BallisticJW]

I think people with high spiritual sensitivity have awareness of the unseen and so I might have a different view then most on the subconscious mind. Spiritual people are better at observing the information all around us, including that which is not used by the conscious mind. Its been proven by science that the subconscious takes in information which the conscious mind does not perceive, but which then directly alters our emotions. So I tend to view the subconscious mind as being faster and having access to more information then the conscious mind. I consider the subconscious mind to hold greater knowledge then my conscious mind and so any avenue I can have to develop a better understanding of its true content I welcome. I also think that spiritual energy is more likely to be communicated through the subconscious as a result.

During dreams the subconscious mind is able to operate without the demands of running the full conscious mind. This subconscious mind could be at its most powerful during REM sleep which is also when sleep paralysis occurs AFAIK. So I think sleep paralysis can be a powerful opportunity to gain greater access to a subconscious mind. I think that the nature of the experience promotes fear easily, but that is a product of the conscious mind and perhaps not the intention of the subconscious mind by creating that experience.

This is true. For the most part I agree with you. I am not sure of the paralysis as a process or tool to acheive mental superiority but its an interesting theory.

[BallisticJW]

What exactly do you mean by sleep paralysis?

Here is the Wikipedia definition. They give you the basics of it but if you do some research you will find that it has roots as a body reaction from all kinds of groups, pagans, wiccans, UFO abductees, Christians and even yoga masters. I think it has a lot to do with belief, faith and spirituality like Adder wrote.

Sleep paralysis is paralysis associated with sleep that may occur in healthy persons or may be associated with narcolepsy, cataplexy, and hypnagogic hallucinations. The pathophysiology of this condition is closely related to the normal hypotonia that occurs during REM sleep.[1] When considered to be a disease, isolated sleep paralysis is classified as MeSH D020188.[2] Some evidence suggests that it can also, in some cases, be a symptom of migraine.[3][4]

Physiologically, sleep paralysis is closely related to REM atonia, the paralysis that occurs as a natural part of REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. Sleep paralysis occurs either when falling asleep, or when awakening. When it occurs upon falling asleep, the person remains aware while the body shuts down for REM sleep, and it is called hypnagogic or predormital sleep paralysis. When it occurs upon awakening, the person becomes aware before the REM cycle is complete, and it is called hypnopompic or postdormital.[5] The paralysis can last from several seconds to several minutes, with some rare cases being hours, "by which the individual may experience panic symptoms"[6] (described below). As the correlation with REM sleep suggests, the paralysis is not entirely complete; use of EOG traces shows that eye movement is still possible during such episodes.[7] When there is an absence of narcolepsy, sleep paralysis is referred to as isolated sleep paralysis (ISP).[8]

In addition, the paralysis may be accompanied by terrifying hallucinations (hypnopompic or hypnagogic) and an acute sense of danger.[9] Sleep paralysis is particularly frightening to the individual because of the vividness of such hallucinations.[8] The hallucinatory element to sleep paralysis makes it even more likely that someone will interpret the experience as a dream, since completely fanciful or dream-like objects may appear in the room alongside one's normal vision. Some scientists have proposed this condition as an explanation for alien abductions and ghostly encounters.[10] A study by Susan Blackmore and Marcus Cox (the Blackmore-Cox study) of the University of the West of England supports the suggestion that reports of alien abductions are related to sleep paralysis rather than to temporal lobe lability.[11] Some authors have warned of the possible misconnection between child sexual abuse (CSA) and hypnagogic/pompic phenomena and have noted that some clients after having described such an event to a fortune teller or psychic that the psychic may have suggested CSA.[12][13]