sleepy dinosaur

last night,

i finally got a bad case of sleep paralysis.

for those of you who haven't heard of sleep paralysis,

"Physiologically, sleep paralysis is closely related to the paralysis that occurs as a natural part of REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, which is known as REM atonia. Sleep paralysis occurs when the brain awakes from a REM state, but the body paralysis persists. This leaves the person fully conscious, but unable to move. The paralysis can last from several seconds to several minutes "after which the individual may experience panic symptoms and the realization that the distorted perceptions were false.

The paralysis state may be accompanied by terrifying hallucinations (hypnopompic or hypnagogic) and an acute sense of danger.Sleep paralysis is particularly frightening to the individual because of the vividness of such hallucinations. The hallucinatory element to sleep paralysis makes it even more likely that someone will interpret the experience as a dream, since completely fanciful, or dream-like, objects may appear in the room alongside one's normal vision. Some scientists have proposed this condition as an explanation for alien abductions and ghostly encounters."

i felt awake,

i was fully aware of all my senses except sight

and it all started with something tapping on my back

like it was trying to get my attention

and, knowing that nothing should be in my room while i sleep, i started to panic

i could feel the tapping, yet i could not move or react

i felt like i was dreaming, yet i felt like i was awake

and since i felt this physical touch on me, i couldn't do anything but start to scream and yell

it lasted about 10 seconds

when i woke up, i immediately turned to my left (cause you know, since i was half aware that someone/something was touching me, i wanted to see what it was)

and there was nothing

i scanned around my room and just sat there on my bed, still shaken from the experience

"The paralysis can last from several seconds to several minutes "after which the individual may experience panic symptoms and the realization that the distorted perceptions were false"

this is from the scientific definition of sleep paralysis, but many believe that we really do see/feel

paranormal activities

i have heard many stories from various friends:

"my mother told me of a night she had sleep paralysis. she was laying in her bed on her side and could not move, but could look around. she saw a dark figure standing at the door. she wanted to scream but she could not talk or move. another time was when she was sleeping on her back, and she was half-asleep when she saw a demonic figure sitting on top of her. it began to choke her. she could feel the hands around her throat. she could only watch in terror, for her body couldnt move again. she then was able to say one thing: "jesus, help me." after that, the demonic figure dissipated and her nightmarish experience was over."

it is noted that one of the causes of sleep paralysis is sleeping with your face upwards (sleeping on your back):

The Nightmare, by Henry Fuseli (1781) is thought to be one of the classic depictions of sleep paralysis perceived as a demonic visitation.

But, as in mine and the below case, it can also occur while you sleep on your side:

"i was sleeping on my side when i noticed i could not move. i felt an uncomfortable presence inside my room, like it was looking right at me. something then grabbed my arm and flung it across the bed. i regained full consciousness after that and was terribly disturbed."

"Some reports read that various factors increase the likelihood of both paralysis and hallucinations. These include:

• Irregular sleeping schedules; naps, sleeping in, sleep deprivation
• Increased stress
• Sudden environmental/lifestyle changes
• A lucid dream that immediately precedes the episode."

now i wonder....

was it that ghost that lives in my house the one that wanted to get my attention?

.....goddamnit,

cant you see im trying to sleep