SP. Is it common?

[RockNRoller123]

I heard about Sleep Paralysis and I have to say... That sounds terrifying. All I know about it is what it is, and I heard that if you lay down on your side it almost never happens (something about cutting off stimuli) I want to start sleeping on my back because I heard you remember dreams better and I want to know how common SP is.

[Axel]

Yeah I never get SP because I sleep on my side. I want to try and sleep on my back but it's just soo uncomfortable. But I have had it once. Tell you what, I had it before I knew what it was and it was TERRIFYING! I got so scared (but now i'm not since I know it's normal) I couldn't move and I was just laying in bed trying to yell for my mom but I couldn't open my mouth! After a couple minutes of struggling I broke out it. But yeah it was a terrifying experience

[Barns]

Almost everyone gets SP. Once you are paralysed you are only moments away from a lucid.

[ninja9578]

It can be fun if you fully understand that it's not hurting you. It's like being whipped around in a carnival ride. Then again, you might not even feel anything, each experience is different.

[RockNRoller123]

What really worries me in the incubus thing. Could I, Should I choose, simply close my eyes. Because what I can't see can't scar me for life.

[Marvo]

Do not fear.

[Chris182t]

I heard about Sleep Paralysis and I have to say... That sounds terrifying. All I know about it is what it is, and I heard that if you lay down on your side it almost never happens (something about cutting off stimuli) I want to start sleeping on my back because I heard you remember dreams better and I want to know how common SP is. Sleep paralysis happens every time you go to sleep, you're just not aware of it. If SP didn't occur, then there's a good chance we'd be acting out all our dreams.

[goldentheponygirl]

I heard that if you lay down on your side it almost never happens (something about cutting off stimuli) I want to start sleeping on my back because I heard you remember dreams better and I want to know how common SP is. My first SP my eyes were closed and I could see the room and I was looking up as is I was on my back and felt like I was on my back, but when I woke up I was on my side. It was scary because it was hard to breath or move, the next time it happened it was not as scary.

[MrDamon]

A bit anxious about trying this myself although I 'do' want to.. Just gonna take a few days to reflect on it.. I'm the kind of person who wouldnt be too comfortable being consciously aware yet physically disabled.. Goes against my survival instincts.. Think i'l gradually wean myself in over the next few nights.. maybe let myself get almost to the point of SP and then turn in the bed.. Ya know.. peek through the keyhole of the door a couple of times before I turn the handle and open it.. Definately gonna do a bit of research on it today and gather as much info from other people's experiences as I can.. Think it will help me to get in the right frame of mind so I won't be scared.. Wish me luck..

[WaterSquirrel]

I only got it once, but it was awesome. I kept getting erections for no reason, though. I almost punched my... hmm

[Edeehem]

I've experienced SP several times. I never had an accidental feeling of it through regular sleep so my first contact with it was after learning the WILD technique. I knew what it was, how it would happen, I just didn't know what it would feel like. And I must say the feeling you get is pretty novel and unique. I perfectly understand that it could be terrifying if you didn't know what it was. My thoughs were more along the line of 'Wow, this is freaking weird...yet wonderfully interesting'

[h2oannah20]

i heard that auditory and visual hallucinations while in SP are normal, but what about ones where you can feel things touching you? ive had so many where im stuck with my eyes shut and can't move and all, and i'll hear noises but ill also like feel someone tapping my shoulder, holding my hand, or pushing on my chest. THATS the kind that scare me.

[Amelaclya]

Everyone experiences sleep paralysis, its natural to keep your body from moving while you are dreaming. It can be a bit scary if you happen to be awake for it, which happens to everyone occaisonally, even people who don't try to LD. At least, everyone I've ever spoken to has had at least a few experiences that could be attributed to it. I personally sleep on my side and although from everything I've read, SP is less common among side sleepers it certainly isn't impossible Just a few months ago I woke up thinking someone was in the room with me and hearing strange noises which continued everytime I started to drift off. It was really creepy and freaked me out. Of course, with the WILD techniques, the whole goal is to be conscious during SP. Personally I have never had anything really "scary" happen to me while WILD'ing (knock on wood). I mainly get the sensations of SP - falling or spinning in my case. Those are extremely fun, like riding on a roller coaster! I have never heard weird noises or seen demons or any of the other stuff people report though. I think everyone is different

[Sniper991122]

I love sleep paralysis because i've got like a 95% chance of going into a lucid right after it... once you know what it is its like the most obvious dream sign you could get and it happens to everyone at some point or another. wish it happened to me more often

[FunnyFairytale]

I heard about Sleep Paralysis and I have to say... That sounds terrifying. All I know about it is what it is, and I heard that if you lay down on your side it almost never happens (something about cutting off stimuli) I want to start sleeping on my back because I heard you remember dreams better and I want to know how common SP is. I get my SP's mostly on my back,but since they started to go into LD's it doesnt really matter how I fall asleep. Last night fell asleep on right side,went into SP for a few seconds and then straight into moving around. SP,as long as not feeling under attack,doesnt have to be scary. I start singing or talking to myself,it helps....well,atleast until I hear a giggle and something else babbling*LoL* but if I stay focused and interested,it becomes less scary.

[HakktHazard]

When I was younger the sensation of Sleep paralysis was my worst fear, as when it happened it felt like everything was getting distant and everything was going wrong. When I first got it when trying to WILD and recognized it, it was probably one of the best feelings in my life. Now I love the sensation of sleep paralysis

[Smee]

No reason to be anxious at all, S.P happens every night, the only difference is that in a W.I.L.D, you are conscious when it happens, the scientifical explanation I believe is that the Motor Cortex in the brain, which controls muscles of the body, shuts down. During W.I.L.D the sensation of S.P is exhilarating, all senses explode into action randomly and would probably beat any other experience I care to name. Last note: Fear not of anything, S.P or in the dream, or a nightmare. Does something that appears to you when your physically at your weakest fear YOU? yes, damn right it does. so if you see anything threatening you in your own head, get up and see how it likes being threatened. I hope my 2 cents are worth more than 2 cents, happy W.I.L.Ding ~ Smee

[Flavour of Night]

The often felt feeling of dread due to a perceived " malevalent presence" (thus the incubus/succubus lore) is quite common in SP. I went through three stages dealing with this: 1. Sheer terror! 2. OK, I know what this is, but this is still scaring me! 3. OK, I know what this is, I'm not afraid. Our attitude toward the sensations of SP do much to color our perception of SP. The more we experience SP and use our knowledge of what is really happening, the less distressful it becomes. Oh! If you "wake up" from a sleep paralysis ordeal, you'd better take stock of your surroundings. You might be dreaming, and if you're not accustomed to the whole thing, there might be a beastie there with you.. so make the best of it, and realize you're LD'ing. Pillows work well for fighting off the beasties... or talk to it, some of the ugliest beasties I've met have turned out to be decent family types.