Sleep Paralysis

So earlier today I was reminded of some sleep paralysis experiences I've had and decided I would write up a description of one of the three that I've had. This will probably be a pretty large read, oh well, this blog needed something on it!

For those of you who do not know, sleep paralysis is just what it sounds like. When you are in a dream state, your brain initiates a paralyzingly effect on your muscles. Scientist think the reason for this is so you won't hurt yourself during dreams/nightmares. When you dream, a separate part of the brain is activated. While many parts of the brain are active while dreaming, this part is what allows you to dream during REM sleep.

Normally, the part that causes dreams will turn off, and then the part that paralyzes will follow. During sleep paralysis, both the dream inducing part and the paralyzing part are active while you are awake. You are fully awake. You can use your eyes and look around your dark room. You cannot move. The immediate reaction to not being able to move is fear. And once you are afraid during paralysis you will usually get into a loop, where the more afraid you are, the more afraid you will become. Soon, you are experiencing the most fear you have and literally, ever will experience.

The Crawler


It was around 3:00am and I was happily dreaming about something I cannot remember. Suddenly, I had this urge to just wake up. When I opened my eyes everything seem fine...until I tried to move. I realized that I was completely paralyzed. The worst part? I had never known this experience was possible. I had no idea what was coming next.

I looked at my door and it was closed. Why then did I feel someone or something had just entered the room? I was lying on my side so I could only look out onto my floor and towards the door, with my peripheral vision toward the back wall.

Then, in the corner where the door was something moved. It was black as pitch and moved very fast. It didn't look human and it was extremely mad. It darted up my wall near my door, crawling like some demon from a movie. I could literally hear the paint chips and part of my wall crumbling as it dug it's claws into the wall.

Eventually it moved up to the ceiling, pausing to look down at me. I was completely helpless, and words can't describe the terror I felt. I didn't know what was happening. It continued, very rapidly over the ceiling that was directly behind me, parts of the ceiling falling onto me. Since I couldn't move, I couldn't turn to look at it.

I felt the bed move as it got jumped down. I felt the blankets moving as it clawed its way too me. I could finally see it in my peripherals. It was all black, but I could make out teeth that were even darker. It got about one inch away from my ear. I had it's hot, loud breath in my ear. It said something that I can't pronounce. Like a growl mixed with some language I didn't understand. I rocked my body as much as I could. I couldn't hardly breath and I could't even speak. I tried to yell and was unable to even whisper. I thought I was going to die.

Finally, I was able to move and it just disappeared. There was no parts of the wall missing or any parts of the ceiling on me. I sat straight up in my bed and turned my light on. I was drenched in sweat and my heart was beating out of my chest. I had no idea what had just happened. I have had some pretty terrible dreams, and even some awake / sleep hallucinations (those are for another post), but nothing topped this. I didn't even tell anyone because I thought they would think I was crazy. I was completely and utterly terrified to go back to bed for the next month.

I have many more stories related to the subconscious, including: more sleep paralysis stories, a few lucid dreaming stories, sleep / awake hallucinations, and how I became an adept dreamer. How I treated myself to stop the nightmares during sleep paralysis (not the paralysis itself).

Thank you for reading and check back tomorrow, I'll probably post my other sleep paralysis stories.