sleep paralysis

I have been reading about many topics relating to LD and sleep paralysis is one that has inerested me. How does it occur/how can you do it?
The ironic thing is that I hava a friend who i was talking to recently and the topic came up about sleep and dreaming. Well this friend said that something happened to them that i found was very similar to sleep paralysis. She said that she was like falling asleep but then caught herself but when she did, she could not move or speak or anything; she also said that there was a wierd feeling to go along with it.
I would just like an explanation of how it happens and works.

Its simply the brain sending a chemical through your body. When your falling asleep, the brain sends it through your body to immobilize it. It does this so that you won't act out your dreams physically. Usually we're not conscious enough to remember it, but we all experience it every night.

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Originally Posted by masashi14

I would just like an explanation of how it happens and works.

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Hello Masashi and welcome to Dreamviews.

If you want a simple explaination:-

SP happens in the transition period when going to sleep.
The body is asleep but the mind is still awake and conscious.

Regards.

Hi Masashi -

I just found this site while researching sleep paralysis, which I have experienced several times [EDIT] I get the hypnapompic variety - on trying to wake up.

Wikipedia actually has a really great article about the phenomemnon. It's fascinating how SP has influenced cultures throughout history.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_paralysis

I should say that for me, sleep paralysis is a totally creepy experience, not necessarily something that you want to try to acheive. I first experienced it wihout knowing what was going on and it was terrifying. Many people who experience SP also get halucinations, which wierdly almost always feel like there is something malevolent just out of view (or sometimes in view! eek!). I think it's strange and very interesting that so many people get the same sensation.

Now when I get SP (usually I'm sleeping in, or sleeping on the couch, or other non-standard situation), I know what it is and I can try to control a) my fear and b) what's happening. I actually learned to be OK with the SP and kind of go with it, but man, it's still got this sensation like a movie whose soundtrack just shifted into an ominous minor key. You know something ain't right.

Just my two cents!