I know that I was dreaming and wanted to wake up but could not wake myself up?

Question

I know that I was dreaming and still in my dream screamed bloody murder to wake myself up but just could not do it. Litterally I felt traped inside my own mind and could not get out. My mother used to do this all the time too. She would wake up with her mouth wide open where she was trying to scream and her face would be red. (The same thing with me) It is really scary. What is this and why does it happen? Does anyone have any explanation about this at all? And could this turn into a coma?

Answer 1

Our body is designed with an inbuilt mechanism to protect itself from being hurt when in sleep a particular stray signal from the brain can make our body to respond to imaginary stimuli created by the subconscious brain.

This mechanism is achieved by releasing chemical to cause temporary paralysis of movement. In such a state the mind is very much aware of surroundings but is trapped by paralyses and subconscious brain activity where in the signal u r sending to the body to respond to wake up or any other action are totally blocked but and external impulse will immediately release the block ( like if anyone nudges or anything coming in form of touch or sound).

I faced many such instance when i found i was awake but could not do anything physically.

In one particular case I had a bad dream and was trying to wake up to avoid seeing the dream further my eyes were half open and i could c my cousin moving around the house but could not call out to her to help me. Finally I managed to make guttural sounds from my throat and hearing this she came n nudged me. When external impulse is received the block is removed in fraction of a second and u r into normal life again (its amazing fact) and there is no hangover so side effect u feel after waking up.

But man the sensation is scary. Believe me its an experience not even worth considering repeating.

Answer 2

i dont really get chu, is it like when you wake up you cant move or speak like your not control of your body and you try to speak but you cant yell or move your body even when your try to soo soo hard?

email me i think i could tell you what is it.

Answer 3

REM Paralysis.

When we are in REM, our bodies release chemicals which prevent brain signals from reaching our major muscles, which puts us in paralysis. That has the handy effect of preventing us from acting out our dreams in our sleep.

As we are just going to sleep, or just waking up, we can feel our bodies change -- it's a place where thoughts and dreams mix, environmental sounds and physical sensations become incorporated into our dreams, and we can be awake and aware mentally, but be unable to move no matter how hard we try.

The most commonly reported REM paralysis dreams include the dream setting being exactly the same as where the dreamer is sleeping, but will include an intruder, evil entity, or invisible force who torments or restrains the dreamer. These are sometimes called Incubus or Succubus dreams.

It only takes about a minute, once we are mentally awake, for our brain and body to reconnect, and to have full control again -- that's the time it takes for the signal-interrupting chemicals to be neutralized.

So, next time this happens, remind yourself that you're in REM paralysis, and it will pass in a minute -- it's the panic that makes it a nightmare. Many people who suffer REM paralysis nightmares stop having them once they learn what's really happening.

You might even try projection or lucid dreaming while you're waiting.