Eh, I've had this since I was a preteen. If anyone wants to try, I've been able to induce sleep paralysis by taking a midday nap and, once I'm on the brink of sleep, "willing" myself awake. It usually takes a few seconds before I can move again. Kinda interesting experience.
I had this happen for the first time about two years ago. In my case, however, I was barely even able to breathe. A few tiny lung spasms were all I could muster. Physically paralyzed and in a state of absolute terror, I was somehow able to will myself to slowly, ever so slowly, begin to twitch a finger - then barely move my hand; arm; neck; and finally be able to move my chest to be able to breathe. It was like being born again.
Once awake and shaking with a mix of terror and relief, I had half a mind to hit the ER. Goddamn frightening, that. It happened three or four more times that year, although never as bad as the initial experience, and then it vanished - hopefully to never return. And it couldn't have been the night hag, for she was sleeping beside me throughout. That one-night-wife was none the wiser to the guy from Cha Cha nearly dying in the bed beside her.
“According to my coworker, a night hag is the spirit of a restless woman who enters people's bedrooms at night and either sits on their chest or has sex with them, she couldn't remember which”. Come November 7th I imagine that memory will snap right back into place!
When sleep paralysis happens to me I give myself over to it. I sink into a calm state, and let it be. Prior t that it would jolt and haunt me, almost making me afraid to sleep.
When it first hits I am jolted, don't get me wrong, but I realize what's going on, and I kinda just mediate myself into a calm state and enjoy the ride.
I had 3-5 instances of sleep paralysis per month from the time I was 4 years old -- in addition to hypnogogic and hypnopompic hallucinations. On April 20th, I started a high fat diet (ketogenic) to treat vertigo. I have continued on a high-fat diet since the vertigo abated and have not had a single instance of sleep paralysis since.
Isn't that interesting. That the same physical experience can be processed emotionally very differently.
Of course, I didn't have a deepest darkest fear of being locked in....
Once awake and shaking with a mix of terror and relief, I had half a mind to hit the ER. Goddamn frightening, that. It happened three or four more times that year, although never as bad as the initial experience, and then it vanished - hopefully to never return. And it couldn't have been the night hag, for she was sleeping beside me throughout. That one-night-wife was none the wiser to the guy from Cha Cha nearly dying in the bed beside her.
When it first hits I am jolted, don't get me wrong, but I realize what's going on, and I kinda just mediate myself into a calm state and enjoy the ride.
My attitude is: If I die I die.