My Experience with Sleep Paralysis

Before I tell my story, let me introduce myself: my name is Thomas Clark, I’m 15 and the following is the story of, quite possibly, the worst and most agonizing nights I have ever-and most likely will ever- experience. It all started on a cool and rainy fall day. I woke up and began my usual morning routine.

First I woke up my little sister Christine and made us cereal. Next I fed our three cats while Christine made our beds and then, we packed up, and headed out to school. The day was very normal up until the night. I was really tired by the time I got home, so I just ate some leftover pizza, and fell into a deep sleep.

Next thing I knew was I was awake. I barely opened my eyes, as I tried to get up. But nothing worked; my legs and arms wouldn’t move, and I tried to yell, but no noise came from my mouth. I was extremely scared, and finally, my eyes began to slowly, but surely, open and adjust to the small amount of light cast by my bedside lamp. And I saw, sitting on the far end of my bed, my sister with her back towards me. I was forced to lay mortified in silence, although the presence of my sister comforted me slightly. A little later, my sister said something I couldn’t quite understand and seconds later, she rotated her fragile head 180 degrees and stared at me with a dark, dead face. I wanted to run or shout for help, but I couldn’t. I thought things couldn’t get much worse, but I was very, very wrong.

The morning after that I forgot to wake up Christine, feed the cats and eat. I quickly packed for school and jumped on my old Macbook Pro and powered it on. The mechanical whirring began slowly and quietly, and soon the screen came to life with a plethora of colors. I looked up on Safari: “i woke up unable to move and started seeing things”. I found something about a sleep disorder called sleep paralysis. Its basically when your eyes open while your body thinks your asleep so it renders you temporary paralyzed, and a side-effect can be hallucinations. I decided to give it a night. I shutdown the computer and the whirring slowed down, until it came to a stop. Then I realized all the stuff I forgot to do. I quickly ran into my sister’s room, where I found her in a peaceful, deep sleep. I woke her up and told we were late and that she didn’t need to make our beds. She got her stuff for school together in her backpack, while I feed our hungry, whiney cats. I didn’t speak of the sleep paralysis to anyone.

That night was cool and dark, and I must admit I was very worried about what may happen tonight. I decided to go to bed early, this time I left the lights on, and wrapped myself up in my warm, relaxing, fuzzy blanket and fell into deep sleep. And, not to my surprise, I woke paralyzed just as I was the previous night. But the hallucination was instantly visible thanks to the lights I had left on. Oddly, as I saw the hallucination in the bright light, I wasn’t scared. No, I actually felt a great sadness, which confused me until I realized what the hallucination was. I was my dad, and although I was unable to move, I felt a tear slowly travel down my face.

I don’t know exactly when, but with the comfort of his presence I quickly drifted to sleep. The morning after that, I went to wake Christine for school, but she said she was too sick with a cold. I asked if she wanted me to stay home to help her out, but she said she’d be fine. I was going to tell her everything, but I didn’t because I had realized that I was very late for school. I told her that I needed to go, and sped out the door. At school I told my friend Ben about my past few nights, but he seemed consumed in the video game he was vigorously tapping away at. When I got home I told my Christine about everything. She told me not to tell mom, because she would get too emotional. I did my homework and ate dinner, and after that I decided it was about time I get rest. Or at least, try and get rest.

Tonight, once again, I awoke to the horrible feeling of being unable to move. Although, unlike the previous nights, my room was completely empty. Nothing at all besides my mother’s old, wooden chair and the Macbook Pro buzzing quietly on its desk. It was a strange moment; part of me felt relief yet the other felt terrified. After what I can only guess was around five minutes of tranquility and peace, I heard something. It was a creaking noise; as though someone was approaching my bedroom. I braced for a terrible, morbid being to enter my room. I heard brief silence, and then my bedroom door slowly opened. I laid there in agony, imagining what could possibly be waiting on the other side. I began to imagine all the terrible, horrifying things that could enter my room. I shivered, but then I thought about how it could be my dad and maybe I could find out where he went. The being finally stepped in after what felt like an eternity of suspense. It looked worse than I ever could have possibly imagined; its eyes were extremely small, with large, dark pupils. And slowly, as it noticed my horrified expression, a grin creeped up its face, the ends meeting above eye level. The terrifying face traumatized me.

The next day I decided to end my life. I attempted suicide by overdosing on some expired medication, but my sister walked in just before I swallowed it, and as soon as she realized what I was going to do, she tackled me, and shouted for my mom. After explaining it all to Christine and mom, I had to go to a psychological therapist and tell him about my experiences. But, it’s difficult to describe the feeling of absolute terror and sadness I felt during those past days.