Sleep paralysis. Experiences

One of the main reasons I chose to do project about sleep paralysis is that I experienced it myself. I had it about 4 times a year ago. The very first time scared me the most, because I had no idea what happened to me. I woke up in the morning and I realised that I cannot move, open my eyes or talk. I was able to hear my family talking in the other room, but I was unable to do anything. I got so scared that I my mind crossed so many thoughts like am I dyeing, what is going on, if I am going to start moving or I am paralysis forever or even I am going to die. I tried to scream, to shout for a help, but I could not do it even I tried really hard. I tried moving but it was so difficult it felt like someone is sitting on me or I am underground, tied up. Fortunately I managed to move my finger, which help me to wake up.

At that time I had no information about phenomenon that happened to me. Just a week after this internet exploded with various posts about people having this and trying to do it on purpose. Then I realised that what I had was sleep paralysis. I read all the stories about people experiencing this and most of them not only could not move but also were able to see various things in things in their room, they could see their dreams, which looked super realistic. 

I experienced sleep paralysis 3 more times. A few times it was before waking up and others before falling asleep. I cannot explain in words how stay it is to try falling asleep again after having it. All of the times I managed to wake up just by moving my finger or toe. 

The reason I had sleep paralysis was because I had exams that year, so I was not having enough sleep. 

I talked with my sister about this and turned out that she had it as well, except she was able to see a black shadow in the room. Moreover she told me that her best friend had it many times also before the exams. So it is very common to experience sleep paralysis when the person is stressed or has lack of sleep. 

All of these stories and my own experiences inspired me to explore it even more and create a project about it.