First of all, don't panic. You are experiencing Sleep Paralysis.

I've been living with SP since I was about 12 years old, it's frightening, frustrating and indeed very bothersome because it robs you of sleep (personally, I can't sleep after a night of on-going episodes).

There are numerous 'explanations' for SP. Some people say that it's 'spiritual', while the scientific community has a perfectly good explanation for it as well. There are even those that believe that we're dealing with Alien Abduction here (read somewhere years ago that the buzzing sound is actually due to the astral body being pulled into another dimension where it is experimented on -hence the physical pain you may feel sometimes).

Personally, I have made peace with my SP. While I do accept the medical explanation, I am also open to a 'spiritual' explanation because I've just seen too much, dreamed too many things and experienced lucid moments especially during sleep-wake phases which, medically speaking, I cannot explain.

I am now 36, they say SP is supposed to go away with time but mine has only worsened. I now experience intense audio hallucinations, lots more sleep-wake episodes, I have a difficult time breathing and I even feel more pain than before (around my legs or abdomen). I used to fight it and I found that when I fight it, it frightened me more so by making 'peace' with it, I discovered that it's easier to pull myself out of it.

Also in my personal experience with SP, I have explored things like Out of Body Experience, it's kind of scary at first, but again, I've learned to embrace the fear. Now, I just enjoy the ride. I pay closer attention to the voices but I usually forget - completely - what was said to me, no matter how hard I try to recall. Whenever I feel that sensation of a "presence", I ask questions like "Who are you" "what do you want" or "do you have something to tell me". Sometimes I get an answer, sometimes I don't, sometimes, I feel physical pain when I ask too many questions.

I've come to realize that this is, on some weird Freudian level, my own subconscious mind... but then again, what are demons and angels but our own subconscious, right? Right.

As far as the medical explanation is concerned, I also believe there are triggers. Something I'm doing is causing this 'CHEMICAL' reaction in my brain, so I've analyzed this as well. I've noted that I experience SP when I drink a lot of coffee, when I am under a lot of stress or when I go to bed angry or emotional (sad, depressed, etc). Now that I have overcome my fear of SP, I find that I sometimes WANT to have SP! Sounds weird, I know, but it's kind of like a roller coaster ride... it scares you but you want to do it anyway.

Some people say you shouldn't sleep on your back, but it happens to me when I sleep on my belly, my side, it doesn't really matter. I find that I can pull myself out of it by relaxing, then wiggling my toes the minute I hear the buzzing sound approach. If you wait until after the buzzing sound has 'consumed your head', it will be more difficult to pull yourself out.

Don't fight the paralysis, that's the worse thing you can do... just ride it out, learn from it. Nobody has ever died from it.

Waterloo University did a great study on SP.. I'm sure if you Google this, you will find tons of info on it.

Wow thank you very much for all the feedback. Yes it is scary. It happens to me when I sleep on my belly and on one arm usually. I try to avoid that position but it is my favorite to relax and go to sleep to so sometimes its difficult. So have you ever let it ride out and not pulled yourself out of it. That is another thing I am wondering, as speak of the dying thing. What happens if you dont pull yourself out of it? I will try the wiggling of the toes trick next time, hopefully that helps. I am an avid coffee drinker and diet soda drinker and form the comment of the caffeine usage possibly triggering it, maybe I need to try cutting back. It was strange though I did not have it happen while I was pregnant. Also, I too have had dreams that have come true as you, etc.. Never any outer body or heard voices or sensed a presence. Honestly, I am a little worried on how I would take that experience.

If you don't pull yourself out of it, the paralysis becomes more intense but it will fade out within a short while. Not everyone is the same, but you might feel pain in your muscles (kind of like a 'charlie-horse' or knots), you might have a very bizarre and lucid dream that seems so real, you start to believe you are awake, or you might just not experience nothing more than the buzzing sound (which will get very loud in your head). But it will go away on its own, it will start to fade. I'm estimating these episodes do not last more than 60-90 seconds but I can't be sure since I am in a sleep state and what I think is shorter may actually be longer or vice-versa.

Like I said before, it doesn't matter in which position you sleep (at least that is the case for me), SP can strike even if you sleep on your head. LOL.

If you didn't get it while you were pregnant than it's probably because you drank less caffeine or were more relaxed and were overall eating better, keeping calm with little or no stress. I had only 2 episodes when I was pregnant.

As far as the OBE's, if you're not inclined to the spiritual than don't mind this. I tend to believe that science and the spiritual are more connected to one another than people want to believe, which is why I've used myself as a sort of guinea pig in order to explore my own subconscious and push my body/mind to the limit.

IF you want to have a OBE, then as the episode begins, simply roll 'out' of your body, as if you are rolling out of bed. It is VERY bizarre, you might feel yourself floating/flying ... it's a great sensation once you get over the fear of heights and gain control. You might even find yourself in the most unexpected place, such as your neighbors living room. You can always pull yourself back by visualizing yourself in bed and of course, by wiggling your toes.

By the way, I forgot to mention that there are a bunch of postings about SP also in the 'Mental Disorders' forum. I don't know why someone would start a conversation there, since this is clearly a sleep disorder.

well I've been through exactly what you're going through and i have learned that this is not really a disease (sleep paralysis).I've done SOOOOOOOO much research on this, because its happen to me so repeatedly.And of all my research,I've found out that this is called Astral Projection or an out of body experience and this is no alien abduction!!!It happens to everybody whether they recall/want it or not,but when it happens,and u are aware that means that your body has fallen asleep and your mind is awake hence u not being able too move, and the vibrations is u trying to get out of your body which is basically what astral projection is (leaving your body).And the noises is common i heard it happens when ur almost leaving your body and u catch radio frequencies.dont worry this has no pain involved in it what so ever just tingling feelings,Another thing that u don't have to worry about AT ALL is dieing u will not die!!!! And if u leave ur body u will come back to your body no matter what!!!! and u shouldn't be afraid at all there is nothing to be scared of I've heard astral projection is awsome u can do anything that u want and go anywhere u want its wonderful i have yet to experience it, well u might think im crazy or u might not believe me at all.And if in any way u don't belive this or this is against your religion in any way than just go with the sleep paralysis stor

Hope i helped cuz few ppl seem to kno about this and claim it as sleep paralysis

-Lexi the intelligent 12 year old ;D