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Sleep Paralysis

Sleep paralysis usually happens to people who have a sleep disorder such as narcolepsy, but can also happen to those who do not have narcolepsy (isolated sleep paralysis). In either case, it can be a frightening incident where one wakes unable to move to a brief period of time.

Every time we dream our brain sends out signals to paralyze the extremities so that we do not physically act out our dreams. It is completely normal and a necessary function of sleep or else everyone would be thrashing around in their beds. This paralysis usually wears off before we wake up.

During a sleep paralysis episode, the paralysis effect has not entirely worn off before the person starts to become conscious. Sleep paralysis is an element of REM sleep that encroaches on the waking state.

Essentially, the person is partially awake and partially asleep, and other elements of REM sleep can also ensue, such as experiencing vivid dream imagery (called hypnagogic hallucinations if falling asleep, and hypnapompic hallucinations if waking up).

If you ever find yourself in sleep paralysis and want to get out of it, simply concentrate on your pinky finger and try to move just that finger, then your hand, and by then you are usually out of it. Sleep Paralysis only lasts moments but can feel like a lifetime.  There is no danger at all to the person who is experiencing sleep paralysis.

The Link Between Sleep Paralysis & OBEs:

There has long been thought that Sleep Paralysis is related to OBEs. It has been my experience that this belief is true. I have had many episodes of sleep paralysis where spontaneous OBEs often immediately followed. I have also found that if I awaken in sleep paralysis, the feeling of being dissociated from my physical body makes it very easy to induce an OBE simply by will alone.

All of my sleep paralysis related OBEs have been etheric in nature.