Sleep Disorders Forum - sleep paralysis treatment

Hi, My name is Brad. I'm 21 years old and I have been knowingly been dealing with sleep paralysis for about 5 months now. I have had attacks with in the last 2 years or so.

Lately It seems I don't want to sleep at all as I'm terrified. I have experienced various symptoms of sleep paralysis. Pressure, the presence, terror, unable to breath, ringing in my ears, hallucinations, lucid dreaming, out of body experience, other worldly experiences, communication with people ( hard to explain. )

As strange and embaressing as this is. I literally slept in my parents room the other week. It was that bad. I collapsed on the floor on the way there and had an attack. I'm so terrified of the attacks that I literally faint and loose strength due to the fact I deprive my self of sleep out of complete fear. In fact Right now I have not slept for 36 hours.

The hardest part is with my job I don't have a set schedule. After complaining to management for nearly 6 months I landed a full time schedule only to have my shifts snatched away from me by staff members who have been with the company longer. That on it's own has taken a huge toll on me. I typically work one shift one day and a completely different shift another. I do have time to sleep, I just can't get a regular pattern going, nor do I have the desire to try to sleep due to my problem. It doesn't seem to matter in which position I sleep. I can have an attack on my side, my back my stomach. I can even have them sitting. I've been listening to calm music but it's really loud right now as to keep me awake. It's 10:12 PM where I am located and I have to be up for 4am, and get to work for 5 am.

My mother's friend suggested taking Coffea Cruda as sort of a natural sleep aid. It's supposed to help me relax and calm down. Make it easier to sleep. Well... It made me fall into an attack quickly. I let the three granules melt under my tongue as directed. Laid down on my side as I'm most comfortable that way and BAM ! I couldn't move and I got that familiar ringing in my ears that only seems to grow louder and terrify me greatly.

I will be doing my best to avoid all forms of caffeine and avoid as much sugar as possible. I sort of became reliant on both those things for a while back because I wanted to stay awake and avoid the attacks. I know it probably hasn't helped me any now, but I just figured if I stay awake I'll be okay. That's not the case.

Any advice ? Any help ? What should I do ? Do many of you suffer from this same Sleep disorder ?

Thank you for your time. Even if you don't reply, thank you for reading my story.

-Bradley