I have sleep problems too for the last year. I know what you are talking about and it's most likely your tired mind just playing tricks on you. You are probably falling asleep and then you start to dream and it wakes you up. Are you a very stressed or anxious person?

It is when your body is asleep but your mind is still awake. It happens to me often. It really use to scare me. I'd be asleep but also awake and I'd be paralized and just lie there and look at my room and weird things would happen like ppl would be next to me and coming closer and I use to have to wake my self up by like shaking my hand or head or trying to talk. It's embarrassing as well if your with other people. I did it for the first time in ages the other week and my partner was shocked because he saw me lying there with my eyes some what open and making a weird noise and bumping my hand he thought I was having a fit! It's frustrating and scary coz you feel like your not going to wake up and will remain in this barely concious state. I've researched it and couldn't find any treatment just that it happens to 15% of the population and normally when they have been stressed out or there's alot on one's mind so it makes your mind wake up before your body. Bit weird and sorta scary but yeah that's all I could find.

Thank you for both your replies. Yes I am a very anxious person. I went to the doctor about my sleeping troubles and he is referring me to a psychiatrist, believing that the lack of sleep is a symptom of a deeper problem. Thank you for letting me know that other people get this too- I couldn't find anything on the internet about it. Its so strange though, I see and hear things that aren't there but I'm also aware they aren't there as I hear and see them. Its very distressing.

I do not think you need to see a psychiatrist. Yes I also see and hear things that aren't there and it scares me and I try hard to wake up. When I was younger I thought it was ghosts. I work in the medical feild and have looked into it and it's basically from going to sleep when your mind is not clear and having anxiety so your concious and your un concious are almost fighting about which side takes over a dream .. causing a dream like state that occurs whilst almos awake. Going to a psychiatrist I believe won't benifit the situation and you will only be provided with not needed drugs. But do what you think is best. Personally I just think you need to de stress and clear your mind. I don't get it so much as I have gotten over my anxiety.

I have had this problem for years, I thought it would go away. I could go months maybe even years and it would start all over again. This disorder will happen when I first fall a sleep or early in the morning. I can feel it about to happen and I try to fight it, but never win the fight. My mind is aware of that something has happen but body will not move it�s like I�m paralyze. I�m saying if I could just move something, finger, toe or cry out for help I could get out of this state. When I�m in this state I feel my body is being high jacked, it like a nightmare only worst because you are conscious
and helpless to stop it or control it. When I come out of this disorder I felt drained, mad] and anger. In many instance I thought I was drying.

Yeah I get that feeling as well and I end up trying to move a finger for ages until I finally can move an its like a big breath like if I didn't pull my self out of my paralyzed state I'd die. It's your concious and ur unconcious fighting its annoying and you feel drained.

I'm so surprise that other people are experiencing this same sleep DISORDER,
I thought I was all alone with this problem. However, the latest episode was a down-right
nightmare, I had just got in the bed when this dream started I got up to go to the washroom, when I got the feeling something was larking in the dark, I turn to run back into the bedroom to get away from whatever was out there. What happen next is darn-right scary. This phenomenon is invisible, I can�t see what it is, it makes no sound, it has no shape, it get me. I try to fight it from getting me (I never win) , this thing take complete control of my body. I know I'm not sleep at this point, I'm fighting for control of my body, but I.m paralyzed from head to foot. I'm afraid if I don't fight I will die. These episodes only last a few minutes Until I started reading other people replies, I really thought these were evil sprites. I have been praying that they would stop, they really take a lot out me, I never sleep good after one.

Trying clearing your mind before sleeping ... its said that if you have lots racing through your mind then your concious vs sub conc almost battle .. causing strange dreams and a paralyzed like state. Try listening to a calming track or meditating. I get this less and less ... at one point I was afraid to sleep as I didn't wan't to go through this sleep disorder. But after purchasing a relaxing cd and really consintrating on clearing my mind they faded. Now I no longer listen to that cd but just keep calm and focused prior to falling asleep just thinking about breathing and then dose off. I haven't had one in a while. The last time I did my partner was awake and discribed to me the next day what he saw. He said I was squirming slightly and made a funny noise. In my mind I was trying to scream and trying to move a muscle and in my mind there's always a presence there like creeping up to me about to get me and when I finally pulled myself up the light was turned on (in my mind it was dark) and he was sitting up looking at me rather confused. Little bit embarrassing haha but it happens. It's just an over crowded mind and happens to 1 in 30 people.

Here is a website all about what we experience.. http://www.dreamviews.com/
Lucid dreaming, also known as dream consciousness or conscious dreaming, is dreaming while being aware that you are dreaming.

I've had terrible sleeping problems for the past few years now. I'm nineteen and I am not an anxious person but i am extremely stressed all the time. I experience these semi-conscious dreams and paralysis as well as extreme exhaustion. I have tried sleeping pills and anti-depressants but neither have worked. I have even tried meditating. The worst part is that i get about one night every two weeks where i actually fall into a deep sleep, but then i have horrible nightmares and wake in cold sweats. I am thoroughly fatigued and I wish I could just SLEEP!!!! Any help anyone? Please email with advice. I am desperate.