Tinnitus Talk Support Forum

It's an interesting experience. I had it long before tinnitus.

I've never had it.

How long did it last? Did you see any hallucinations during it?

@martinberryhorse Yes! I have had it twice!

Does it happen often for you @Vassili? I'm not looking forward to experiencing it again, hoping it was just a one off.

@Bill Bauer It lasted probably 15 seconds for me. I panicked when I couldn't move my arms and just fought to move something, felt like I was sinking into death. I didn't see anything, but I did hear a flurry of whooshing noises that increased as I fell back into sleep and went away as I fought to wake up completely.

@Steph1710 Glad to hear it isn't happening too often, awful sensation.

I used to get it all the time. I would force myself to relax, and not try to move. Then it would wear off quite quickly.

It happens because the mechanism that makes us immobile during sleep so we don't act out our dreams hasn't worn off at the same time as us waking up. So although we are awake, we are still immobile as though we are asleep.

Its opposite is sleepwalking; the mechanism that makes us immobile has stopped working, but we haven't woken up.

It happened to me once when I was 16-17 (now I'm 33). I woke up and could not move a muscle, I could only think about it, plus I could not breath properly. It lasted 10 seconds or so. Also I remember that my eyes were open and I saw my room but, at the same time, my dream continued. It was very weird. Actually, maybe it happened couple of times, I just don't remember.

I haven't experienced it in a good long time, but woke up to it quite a lot when I was younger and it used to freak me out because it always when hand in hand with the feeling of somebody choking me or a weight being placed on my chest so I wasn't able to breathe properly. Nasty shit!

Experienced it twice. Once upon waking, I hallucinated a blue demon sitting on my chest, spitting hornets at my face lol. And one other time, when I was falling asleep at night. Could not move for several minutes while still awake. Freaked me out. No hallucinations that time, though.

Quite often actually.

@Leila Yes I definitely felt the weight sensation too, like it was pushing me under a pool of mud, really freaky.

@ALS That's wild, sounds like a DMT trip.

@buttercake Have you gotten used to it? Or does it freak you out every time?

@Vassili The breathing difficulty is very disturbing.