#first time with sleep paralysis

[pastelaspirations]

How I beat sleep paralysis with the power of knowledge and my compulsive habit to research anything that I have the off chance to write about in a fic

DISCLAIMER: This is just how I beat it, people's experiences of sleep paralysis are different and some methods that may work for one person may not work for another.

Ya read the title correctly. I expect no one to read this, but I don't care. I must tell my story. In my special, niche way in that I can construct a story out of absolutely nothing with 5k words more than I needed to. So, come with me, as I recount the tale of how I successfully beat my first experience with sleep paralysis, armed with only the power of knowledge and my bad habit to extensively research anything that I might stick in a fic one day.

For some background; I have never had sleep paralysis before. Although, I have done lots of research into it in the past because I found it very interesting, not only from people's real accounts of it but from the ✧˖°.memes✧˖°. too. Your good ol' sleep paralysis demon memes. I also thought it might be interesting to write about one day! And because I pride myself on being... fairly accurate, I do a whole lot of research into things I may never actually write about because "what if one day I want to-"

So, I had a lot of prior knowledge to sleep paralysis, including what helped people wake up from it.

Additionally, I have insomnia. :D I haven't gone to a doctor to get it "officially" diagnosed, but I checked every box on the insomnia checklist. It's depressing, I know. I've had it for as long as I can remember. This is important to know as sleep disorders can increase your chances of experiencing sleep paralysis.

Insomnia makes my life very fun. Any sound or light can wake me up. Sleeping in a different bed prevents me from sleeping altogether. Being moved at all wakes me up. I wake up every time I need to toss over in bed, for example. So, just... it's g r e a t.

Anyway, this semester, two days of the week, I have to wake up at 6 in the morning in order to make it to an 8 o'clock class. It's bad. So, the night before, I take melatonin and at least try and go to bed early, all to attempt to combat my insomnia. However, my insomnia also likes giving me the problem of making it extremely difficult for me to fall asleep if I know I have to be somewhere in the morning. So, the days I need the sleep the most are ironically the days I get the least amount of sleep. :D

That said. The night before, I took melatonin and hit the sack relatively early. I also used a sleep mask just to block out any light in hopes that would help me sleep better.

Well, at one point, I think I was asleep? I am not sure. I felt like I was awake and just trying to sleep. Like, that weird, half-asleep daze, but you're still awake and not fully asleep. You get what I mean.

Suddenly, I feel all this movement and I hear all this sound. It's annoying, but I don't remove my sleep mask because I'm trying to sleep. Well, for some reason, I'm convinced my dog is on my lap, just tossing and turning trying to sleep.

Which is weird because he sleeps in my brother's room down the hall.

This does not concern me. I don't know why. I just ignore my "dog" as he's shuffling to get comfortable. He'll lie still eventually and then I'll be able to sleep. I just gotta wait it out.

Then. My bed starts jostling around even more. Now, I'm convinced my brother is in my bed. I DO NOT KNOW WHY, HIS ROOM IS DOWN THE HALL, WE DO NOT SHARE A BED. BUT I'M CONVINCED HE'S ON MY BED, FLOPPING AROUND AND EVEN OFF THE BED. JUST MAKING A WHOLE LOT OF NOISE AND SHAKING THE ENTIRE BED. BEING AWFUL.

This also does not concern me. For some freaking reason. You can see why I thought I was asleep now, huh?

I wanted to gripe at him. Tell him to knock it off, I've got to be up early in the morning and I'm trying to sleep.

But my voice wouldn't work.

I wasn't even alarmed, just thought that was weird. So, I just lay there, comprehending that, when my "brother" flopped off the bed. He then started banging around everything in the freaking room. He was being obnoxiously loud. Ridiculously loud. Banging on the walls, grabbing crap and throwing it around, he was deliberately trying to keep me from sleeping.

Now, I was ticked. I wanted to yell at him, tell him to KNOCK IT OFF. But still, my vocal folds wouldn't move. I couldn't speak even though my brain told myself to. I wasn't alarmed even now, all I thought was "Fine. If I can't tell you to shut up, I can sure as hell whack you-"

But my arm wouldn't move.

Now, I was concerned. I told my arms to move. I told my legs to move. Nothing moved. I told myself to scream. I remained silent. It was like the connection from my brain to my body had been completely severed.

My "brother" seemed to sense my irritation? Since he came stomping over and started violently shaking me in my bed. I couldn't fight back or scream, I was powerless. Then, he started pressing down on my chest. N o w, I was having a harder and harder time breathing.

All of this, mind you, I was experiencing completely blind because I couldn't remove my sleep mask.

I was beginning to freak out. Not only did I think I was going to die, but my brother.

My freaking brother is the butthead who's going take me out, what the hell. What kind of stupid Greek tragedy is this-

So, as I'm lying there, still blind with the sleep mask, freaking out and slightly annoyed at this is the way I'm going to die, a thought suddenly flashes through my head. Just one, singular thought.

"Oh! This is just sleep paralysis!"

I kid you not, that is literally what I thought.

Suddenly, all my fear evaporated. I was no longer scared. I just immediately went right into the tactic I read people who experienced sleep paralysis use to wake themselves up from it. I didn't even hesitate, just immediately jumped into it like I discovered a solution to a hard video game puzzle.

I focused all my attention on moving just one muscle. If I could move that one muscle, I could slowly work my way to other muscles, until I could move the whole limb or the rest of my face. So, I chose one eyelid. The one that would be peeking out from under the sleep mask if it were open.

I commanded and I commanded my eyelid to open. I willed it to open, the strongest I ever willed it to open before. Until finally, it snapped open. All of a sudden, all the shaking by my "brother" and all the sounds abruptly stopped. It was like nothing had happened, I was alone in my room.

So, I... just flopped over and went back to sleep. As fast as an insomniac can fall asleep anyway. I remember thinking "wow, that was a lot less scary than I thought it'd be."

AND LIKE. IT WAS. BUT BEFORE I KNEW WHAT IT WAS.

As soon as I realized, I wasn't scared anymore. It makes me wonder what would have happened if I didn't have the sleep mask on. Would I have seen an actual sleep paralysis demon?? I had the auditory and physical movement hallucinations. Who's to say I wouldn't have had a visual one too if I didn't have the sleep mask on?

But imagine that. Imagine you're a sleep paralysis demon, you've got all the power, until suddenly, your victim thinks in revelation, "Oh! You're just a sleep paralysis demon! I know what to do now! :D"

J u s t a sleep paralysis demon. Defeated by the power of knowledge and the off chance of being written about in a fic.

#sleep paralysis #first time with sleep paralysis #overly long tumblr post #Granted I maybe did have a sleep paralysis demon #My “brother” freaking shaking me and trying to suffocate me #I just couldn't see him #My sleep paralysis demon is just a demented evil version of my brother #It's almost poetic; in a Greek tragedy sort of way #I told him that and he didn't know what to think about it

[askticcitobyshit]

Jack has no sense of personal space, especially with love interests close friends

#hes practically a sleep paralysis demon #i drew this so fast im sorry if it looks weird LMAO #also this is the first time ive drawn hair like jack's so if yall have any constructive criticism id like to hear it! #ticcijack #ticci toby #eyeless jack #toby rogers #toby rogers fanart #eyeless jack fanart #jack nyras #jack nyras fanart #creepypasta

[43sol]

glad they implemented the ‘skipping the scenes you already got’ option. don’t have to speed run hahaha

#fgo #Saint Valentino! Chaldea Bitter Valentine 2023 #fgo cu chulainn #just trying to light up all 5 of his cigs with a shaking hand #reasons why ritsuka doesn't get much sleep #fgo kid gil #fgo amor (caren) #fgo angra mainyu #wish this guy showed up but maybe he really was our sleep paralysis demon #fgo jason #nice jason = cursed #poor cu was stressed the entire time and it was great :) #i cannot remember his body suit and i cannot be bothered for a decent ref atm #arguably baby caren was very cute but i have to agree with cu #just like emiya - we're servants first! morals and ethics second! #cu pointing at caren: i DO NOT like this sassy little lass. #valentine's in march? no you don't see that

[novafire-is-thinking]

Last week, this post made it to my dash, and it reminded me of the experience I had a little over a week ago:

I woke up early in the morning with sleep paralysis, and in the middle of my twilight sleep panic, SOUNDWAVE showed up.

I’m dead serious—I remember him looking at me, and he didn’t have his visor on, so I immediately recognized him as my Soundwave.

And he proceeded to TELL me what to say to break the paralysis.

​I don’t remember exactly what he told me, and I chalk that up to my disorientation because Hello??? Soundwave is here????? Talking to me???

But I remember being desperate, and I wasn’t about to say no to Soundwave. lol

So I said the words as loudly as I could in my head, and within seconds, I was free.

It was…an experience, to say the least.

I’m still lowkey freaked out that it happened…but you know what? I’m glad The Blorbo in my head is finally paying rent. It took him long enough. zhdhfkgk

Thanks for the help, Soundwave.

#I’ve officially reached a whole new level of brainrot #I’m out here having spiritual experiences (ʘ‿ʘ) #I strongly prefer rational explanations for things but I’m also spiritually inclined and a bit superstitious #so this weird experience is throwing me for a loop #I’m aware of the brain mechanics behind sleep paralysis #but I’ve had sleep paralysis experiences before and this is the first time someone (real or fictional) SPOKE to me #I know it could just be my mind using an advanced trick to recalibrate itself to waking reality #but I can’t bring myself to rule out other meta possibilities just yet #I have. so many questions. #nf.note

[heartshattering]

5 AM

Just me and my overactive mind facing the nighttime again 🙃

#hopefully the meds work but while waiting for them to kick in I get so damn nervous #and sometimes I do get nights where even on my full dose my anxiety is too overpowering and I just. Do Not Sleep #I mean I do eventually but not without spiraling first :') #way before I was prescribed sleep meds my longest was 3 nights without sleep while on a VERY stressful trip #I felt like I was gonna die and I did not sleep until I got off the plane and was back at home #(this was like 15 years ago already but it still haunts me fhfgsgdh) #my best friend and I were having a conversation today #and she was like 'not sleeping can make you hallucinate right?' #and I was like :') I get the hallucinations in other scenarios too #BUT I also get what she meant #not sleeping is really bad for me mentally which is why I can't do 'sleep restriction therapy' #and fun fact #a lot of my OCD obsessions revolve around sleep!!! #which is 'awesome' because laying in bed with insomnia makes my OCD flare up so like #the two get to feed off each other and make my life a living hell!!! #and don't even get me started on my sleep paralysis episodes #(which I like to think of as just my brain misfiring but that my aunt tells me is saints or demons trying to talk to me) #'cause she hallucinates too but hers are like 'spiritual' or whatever #same with my mom's hallucinations as well #and to add fuel to the dumpster fire of my mind and body is the fact I've been overcaffeinating again #which I've known not to do ever since I was in middle school and saw the pediatric cardiologist who specifically said 'hey don't do that' #fast-forward to adulthood and I still haven't learned how to handle anything #like. I have heart meds and sleep meds and migraine meds and IBS meds #and yes meds are good but like. I know you need to incorporate lifestyle changes as well #which I do for like 2 weeks until the next time I fuck up #I've been so irresponsible lately but like. ESPECIALLY today #didn't eat #took some meds on an empty stomach and forgot to take my other ones at all #had too much caffeine #stressed out over some stupid situations thanks to overthinking

[italiantea]

had my second ever sleep paralysis the other morning and idk guys i think my sleep paralysis demon might be my own mother

#she was there the first time too lmao #crazy how vivid sleep paralysis hallucinations can be lol coming from someone whose dreams are mostly just vague visuals #i felt her hands cupping my face #it was warm and everything. crazy #the ho rambles

[bluesey-182]

my husband falls asleep before i do so i usually go to the living room to read or watch tv but now im terrified to leave him alone in the room at night for any amount of time because he keeps waking up to something in the bed that looks like me and he thinks is me until he gets up for whatever reason and finds the real me in the other room and when he goes back to the bedroom the thing is gone. but last night the thing was talking to him and i asked him if it sounds like me and he said "it sounded a little different but i thought it was because you were tired". like what the FUCK is in my house. and how do I make it stop. also idk if this is worth noting but both times our dog was in the room with him and had no reaction

#i thought maybe it was sleep paralysis but he says he can and does move while this is happening #text post #it's freaking me out so bad bc I've had hallucinations and delusions my whole life and this shit is not fucking helping #I don't think he's making it up bc he would never pull a prank like this on me #the first time it happened i thought it was weird but eventually brushed it off after a few days but this time it spoke to him #i had to get up tonight to use the bathroom and i was terrified to go back to the room in case i found something in my spot #but also i have a Thing about looking into mirrors in the dark bc I've hallucinated really bad like that before #and there's a full length mirror behind the door so i had to close the door and walk passed it to get to the bed and now im so anxious #i feel like crying #did something come out of the mirror? idk what's happening

[obnoxiousarcade]

Hi tumbles! Fun fact

#i am like. soo Normal about sleep paralysis. I've done a lot of research so much and ive been trying to inflict it on myself for like #. at least 5 months? #i never post about her because thats like. whywould any one be weird about Sleep Paralysis. no one does that #< including no one on tumblr so i cant reblog sleep paralysis posts. so like? #fox (vulpes vulpes) on the internet for the first time #oh yea im trying again. will update you guys on results #< voice of a girl who will most likely fall asleep.

[babacontainsmultitudes]

babs i love you !!!!!! mwah mwah

CAL!!! I LOVE YOU TOO MWAH MWAH

This me (eepy):

This me when I see you:

hehehehe

#mwah mwah mwah mwah mwah #asks #💜 #eepy for real all day every day #Dude last night I *actually* went to bed at a good time (12) #And like fell asleep #And as punishment you know what happened? #SLEEP PARALYSIS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE #well probably the first time? #Anyways it was awful lol #:/ that was 4 hours into sleep and then I only fell back asleep at like 9am #*SIGH* #ANYWAYS sorry needed to vent about the horrors lol ILY ILY MWAH MWAH

[amygdalae]

one time I read that if you get sleep paralysis you should try to wiggle your big toe and it'll wake you up. it's worked flawlessly for me the handful of times I've gotten it. hopefully this helps ❤️

Ooh thank u good to know! Luckily the last few times I've had it I've been able to calm down pretty fast and drift back off but that is good to know in case I have a proper bad time with it in the future

#i had really scary sleep paralysis as a kid but the times ive had it as a grownup have been luckily pretty chill or even kinda nice #but i do worry about having a scary one because i always feel a lil fear at first and do wanna be prepared in case like #it happens and i cant calm myself down

[dandyshucks]

crawls in here coughing and wheezing... everyone is so niceys to me.....

#sobs and collapses djfjndlsl #anyways good-.... well not good morning anymore. good afternoon everybuddy DJDKSL #i spent two real life hours this morning after waking up the first time in like... semi sleep paralysis ??? #idk what it is but it happens sometimes where i cannot wake myself up and im on the cusp of being awake but i cant open my eyes or move LOL #and then i will finally be able to wake up for like three seconds before sleep drags me under again and then im stuck again #its so frustrating and drives me nuts 😭😭 #BUT IT WAS SO NICE TO SEE KIND TAGS AND EVERYTHING FROM LAST NIGHT YAY THANK U ALL DJFJDKL #everyone so niceys to me :3 #i want to draw more for ppl but I'll see what im capable of today fjdksl i am going traveling w parents tomorrow for a medical thing #(not for me but for one of them fjfkdl im just going along so i can perhaps purchase yarn bc they have a craft store there !!! yippee !!!) #anyways so i have to ... do stuff today to be ready for tomorrow and then yay hurray maybe i will draw after i get stuff done #dancing and grooving and boogying down djdkdl kicking my feet and becoming The Smiler reading over tags and rbs :] #dandy.cmd

[rarestdogebutmemey]

Oh pog I just aged

#I WASN'T #EVEN PAYING ATTENTION #Ok but like I'm gonna see the Mario Movie for my bday with a bunch of friends and I'm excited for it and it'll be awesome #which is on Saturday soo not the same day but STILL #and also sleepover at my house with two of my close friends hell yeahs #I'm a sleep paralysis demon I don't get out much 😭 #and I'm totally prepared for my voice to get hoarse because I'll be talking a lot #because I barley talk #or I just whisper and mumble idk #uuh yeah 🔥 AUTISM 🔥 #I remember when I first found out I had it like 2 or so years ago and I was like #ooh shit EVERYTHING makes so much more sense now #only thing I don't like about my autism is my struggles with directions #like if it's not written down me step by step in a very specific and detailed way I'm gonna have a hard time #other than that being autistic is nice I love being a deranged fucking GREMLIN #I'm getting VERY off topic UM #back to playing Cuphead for me #still gotta S rank all the DLC bosses #/ #rambles

[gimgr-patient-xero]

y'know, it's kinda funny how the more stressed about life in general you are, the more you need that routine to get things done right, the more difficult it is to actually sleep/convince your body to leave the bed/actually go and do that thing.

and then when you want to just enjoy your time for a bit after doing a bunch of work, you find yourself sitting around scrolling through Reddit or Tumblr instead of doing that fun thing you promised yourself you'd do after getting some work done.

and then you feel bad that you didn't do that fun thing but also feel bad you didn't keep working since it wasn't worth stopping, so you're just kinda existing like 'what now?'

#late night thoughts #can't sleep #can't be productive #can't get things done right #insomnia? #sleep paralysis? #responsibility for my own actions and heqqing messed it up #schedule #consistentn't #love feeling bad about this stuff #indecisive #indecision #first post #and it's this #hahahahhahahahhahahahah #sometimes wonder if my younger self had the right idea #but that ain't good thoughts anyways #not sure why i'm writing this part #but oh well #time to play nier i guess #not sleeping #anyways

[hella1975]

ms girl, go to sleep. im worried for your health

anon baby i haven't had a good night's sleep in years

#but i will admit the past four nights have been horrific #got sleep paralysis for the first time in years and every night since ive either been having Fun Nightmare Time #or just falling asleep at 4am/waking up every hour #and then my mate gives me shit for my uni attendance GIRL IM TRYING WE CANT ALL CLOCK OUR EIGHT HOURS #ask

[vessels-cape]

Sleep paralysis is a bitch

#had it for the first time last night #and I don’t feel right today #0/10 would not recommend #scary shit #sleep paralysis

[afterlifeoftheparty]

good morning everyone

#slept like shit and had sleep paralysis for the first time ever? but we move i'm good now. last day of 7 days in a row at work 🥳 #julie.txt