What Do These Symptoms Suggest?

I've had some trouble researching online to find an answer based on my symptoms. No, I haven't seen a doctor yet because I do not have insurance. This doesn't happen all the time, but it's always and only when I am sleeping. There will be times where I will have it several days in a row and then it stops for a couple of months. It's been going on for about 4 years now, but back then I can only recall it happening a couple times a year. Now it is more frequently.


What happens is I start off by getting this weird prickly or electrical sensation that begins in my legs and it travels up my body until the feeling seems to 'explode" in my mouth. At this point i'm in total paralysis, my jaw clenches up, I can't breathe, and I try to yell for help and I can't even speak. But, I am conscious enough, for the most part, to distinguish my boyfriend sleeping next to me and to realize what is happening. I can see my surroundings during these episodes. This sensation that travels through my body comes in waves. It almost feels like I am being electrocuted. Between these waves I get some movement back, but it disappears just as quick when the sensations come back. My boyfriend has witnessed it before and described what he saw as this-i was tensed up, jaw clenched, trembling in intervals, and had a blank stare during the entire episode.


Sometimes afterwards I don't even remember the episodes ending, I just go right into having very disturbing dreams and other times I am up for the rest of the night with restlessness or symptoms similar to a panic attack.


What could this be and is it something to be extremely concerned about?