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I experienced something like this during a brief period in my teens when I experimented with lucid dreaming techniques. I would lie completely still on my bed i

I experienced something like this during a brief period in my teens when I experimented with lucid dreaming techniques. I would lie completely still on my bed in the evening, meditating until I started to drift off. First I'd feel my body go numb. Then I'd hear either a round of explosions or a roaring rush of wind. If I managed not to get too excited, I'd cross over into dream, fully cognizant of what had happened. I had one experience with sleep paralysis under similar circumstances: during one of these sessions, I was sure I had pulled myself out of the dream, but I couldn't open my eyes or move my legs. This lasted for about thirty seconds before control abruptly snapped back. I'm still not entirely sure whether this happened mid- or post-dream, but it certainly felt real in a way dreams never did for me. All in all, it was fun to experiment with for a while. I'd done a fair bit of reading on lucid dreaming, so the loud noises and sleep paralysis were expected and not concerning. Very interesting sensory experiences, among the few you can reach without recreational chemicals.

ssully 12y ago
I had a similar experience of sleep paralysis that you mention. It happened when I was between 10-12 years old. Around this time I was diagnosed with Epilepsy and had experienced a handful of seizures already. During the sleep paralysis episode I woke up with a racing sensation in my head. I couldn't open my eyes at first or speak. Eventually I got my eyes open and I tried getting up but failed. Needless to say I was terrified. Eventually I was able to get to the side of my bed, but when I tried to stand my legs just buckled and I collapsed. Finally I was able to speak and cry for my parents to help me. Luckily I haven't had a similar experience since and also have gone years without a seizure. My doctors thought it was related to puberty, which seems to add up. Though I do have experiences similar to what's described in this article as exploding head syndrome. Every few months, almost immediately after falling asleep, I will just be jolted awake. A few times its been because of a loud noise that isn't real, others I just jolt awake and have my heart racing. The first time it happened I thought I was having a heart attack or something. Now I am able to calm my self down almost immediately.
- cdr 12y ago
  My whole life, I've been able to reliably cause myself sleep paralysis. I just have to wake up facing a bright point light - like leaving the light on in a room before attempting a nap. (Diffuse bright light like sunlight doesn't generally do it.) No idea why.

ssully 12y ago

I had a similar experience of sleep paralysis that you mention. It happened when I was between 10-12 years old. Around this time I was diagnosed with Epilepsy and had experienced a handful of seizures already. During the sleep paralysis episode I woke up with a racing sensation in my head. I couldn't open my eyes at first or speak. Eventually I got my eyes open and I tried getting up but failed. Needless to say I was terrified. Eventually I was able to get to the side of my bed, but when I tried to stand my legs just buckled and I collapsed. Finally I was able to speak and cry for my parents to help me. Luckily I haven't had a similar experience since and also have gone years without a seizure. My doctors thought it was related to puberty, which seems to add up. Though I do have experiences similar to what's described in this article as exploding head syndrome. Every few months, almost immediately after falling asleep, I will just be jolted awake. A few times its been because of a loud noise that isn't real, others I just jolt awake and have my heart racing. The first time it happened I thought I was having a heart attack or something. Now I am able to calm my self down almost immediately.

cdr 12y ago
My whole life, I've been able to reliably cause myself sleep paralysis. I just have to wake up facing a bright point light - like leaving the light on in a room before attempting a nap. (Diffuse bright light like sunlight doesn't generally do it.) No idea why.