Is this sleep paralysis? i'm worried =/?

Hi, i started 5 five months ago, and it's happened about 5 times.

The first time, I was in bed, about to fall asleep then suddenly I could hear like a wind blowing, as if someone was blowing in my ear (no one was there). Suddenly i could feel my whole body feeling heavy and cold, and in seconds i felt completely paralyzed. My eyes and my jaw could move, but i couldn't talk or shout for anyone, and my whole body from my neck down i couldn't move. I eventually drifted off to sleep.

Then another time (today actually) I woke up, and i could look around the room, i could move my jaw, but I couldn't move at all. I couldn't shout or talk or anything. I could see the cat on the bed, fast asleep, and i just couldn't move. It was so scary. Then suddenly all my feeling came back.

Is this sleep paralysis??

I also have lucid dreaming a lot, is this connected? in some dreams someone's chasing me, and while he's chasing me i keep thinking "i wish i could wake up! if i let him get me i'll wake!".

Could these lucid dreams be connected in any way to it?

I've also been really stressed recently and a few nights i haven't slept all night then slept through out the days. My sleeping pattern is terrible since starting college.

thanks

Hi,
I have experienced something similar, and I know what you mean, it can be frightening.

It may be connected to your lucid dreaming (does this occur naturally or are you trying to initiate it & how?).

The body does paralyse itself when you fall into deep sleep.
This is a built in safety device we all have and prevents you from hurting yourself while you are dreaming.

Sometimes if you wake up suddenly, you may find you are still paralysed.

If you are really concernced, go to your doctor although my doctor wasn't exactly helpful.

You mention suddenly waking and hearing "wind".
Have you looked into Sleep Apnea (or Obstructive Sleep Apnea)?
This can have these symptons as well as feeling tired in the morning.

Do you sleep alone? If you sleep with a partner, ask them if they notice you snoring a lot (high pitched snoring) and even hear you stop breathing for short periods.

If this is the case, you need to tell your doctor, he/she will refer you to a sleep specialist.

This is can be serious if left untreated and affect you life too.

however, once treated, you will be amazed how much better you feel.

Hope that helps

Danny

Hi UK, I have had those dreams, trying to move an trying to get awake an coludn't. Not sure what causes or what to call them.

I've had similar experiences to yours. I'll just be lying in bed, and I'll be awake, yet it feels like I'm dreaming and I just feel very uncomfortable and weird. It's like I'm drifting in and out of sleep, so it feels like I'm dreaming while awake and aware. It's very odd and hard to explain. I just don't feel normal.

I think the two could very well be connected.

Usually sleep paralysis is when you wake up and your body doesn't

But what you experience is close enough as I often experience this as well as paralysis.

SLEEP PARALYSIS
SYMPTOMS

Inability to move the trunk or limbs. This can occur at sleep onset or upon awakening.
Hallucinations.These can be visual (You think you see something,)or Auditory (You think you hear things.) In some cases, the sense of smell is also involved.
Feeling of pressure. Like someone sitting on you or holding you down. Fear Even outright terror may be involved.
Occasional sensations of being Out of Your Body (OBE.)Floating or flying through the air. Feeling disconnected from your body.
CAUSES

A natural state: Sleep Paralysis is a natural bodily function that causes us to be paralyzed during sleep. It prevents us hurting ourselves or others during dreams. It's when it follows us into the waking state that it becomes a disorder.
Stress and anxiety.
Narcolepsy.
Sleeping on the back.
Puberty

You are in the sleep period called REM (rapid eye movement). At this point only the eyes (can) move - and then rapidly, hence the name.
Under certain circumstances, you can become conscious while still in this state and you have the dreadful feeling that your whole body is paralysed and you seem to be fully aware of your surroundings.

I had this quite a few times for a number of years - thankfully not for a long time now - and it was the nearest to a panic attack I have ever come.
However, IF you can rationalize with yourself at that moment, you can start to feel the sensations coming back, often first in your legs, as REM recedes.