Night Terrors? Sleep Paralysis? Just screwed up?

Not sure if I have Night Terrors or Sleep Paralysis or something else...When it happens, usually wake up within the first hour after going to bed. It tends to happen more often when I fall asleep on my back, but sometimes if I fall asleep on my stomach it happens as well. Basically I wake up to see a person (sometimes male, sometimes female) in my room. I yell at them to go away or get out of my room while I rush to turn on the light. Of course after a few seconds or by the time I turn on the light and grab my glasses it's gone. I used to think I watched too many horror movies and had a vivid imagination, but I'm 31 and I would've thought I would've grown out of it by now. I was a sleepwalker when I was little as well. I remember most of the experience the next day. I have read about it possibly being due to abuse or a traumatic event. My father died when I was less than 2 years old and I wonder if I have unresolved issues that are stuck in my subconcious that are causing this.

There are so many things that can be said about this issue. Severe ongoing nightmares can be caused by PTSD from a traumatic event in your life. Nervous breakdowns can cause you to see or hear things that aren't there. It is possible you are sensitive to the other side. My advise would be to see a doctor/psychiatrist or sleep expert to clarify your condition.

Hi ... you are not "just screwed up". After my Mom died, one night I awoke and swear I saw a "semi-transparent"
image of her at the door to my bedroom. She was holding
her hands out, palms up, and seeming to hold an image
of one of my cats. I looked at the image for a while,
then went back to sleep. My girlfriend at the time said
she woke up once and saw the same image. We didn't talk
about it until months later!

It is always the same image? Sit up and bed and look at
it. Do you recognize it? I regret not stopping and
trying to talk to this image, because it actually might
have been my mother.

First and foremost, try to relax and LIVE with these experiences you are having. Remember, there is more
in heaven and earth, Horatio, than is dreamt of in
your philosophy (Hamlet). The universe is big. Perhaps
you have a talent that other people don't have.

I am fairly certain that "night tremors" are different from "nightmares" in that you can't remember them after you wake up, so I would count that out. I don't know what your feelings are about the supernatural - is it possible that someone is trying to "communicate" with you? Or is it possible that, subconsiously, YOU are trying to reach SOMEONE ESLE? You might consider researching these possibilities in your waking hours in order to resolve it. Regardlesss of whether you believe that the person is another spirit of some sort or just a vision that your brain has invented, "monsters" usually shink when you confront them. Try to address the person in your next encounter, ask who (s)he is and what (s)he wants. If you can't do that, there is a meditation that I have used in the past. Before going to sleep, visualize a white light shining from within your body, and know that nothing can really hurt you. Let the light glow brighter and shine all around you as you fall asleep to protect you. Draw on your faith (whatever that may be) and strength from your higher power if you can. Good luck!

Just life.
I frequently sleep with my eyes open and rarely sleep more than 4 or 5 hours a night. I smoke, drink coffee, etc.
I can never 'go' to sleep - I have to stay awake until it happens. I have two children and am pleased to see they don't have any problems sleeping.

Advice?
I don't really have any.
But I use my time... never waste it.
Write, think, compose.
If you have a partner...?

Use all the time you have. Lead a fulfilling life.
You may not sleep any more but you may sleep more easily and wake more refreshed.

I wish you goodnight.

Actually that does sound like night terrors to me. I should know, I have them too and I've had them since I was a kid. Sometimes I don't get them for a long time (months or years) and then I'll start getting them frequently again for a while. For me it's usually triggered by stress. And it is possible to remember them or parts of them.

Everyone is different, so you have to figure out what helps you, but for me it's creating a calm environment before I lay down - usually listening to a favorite CD or watching a favorite movie before I go to sleep and using favorite scents. For more info, check out the link below. Good luck.