night terrors?

[RavingLunatic]

The only thing I can add, other than sincere sympathy, is that I've had very realistic night terrors when I've been going through withdrawal from SSRI and SNRI meds. If that's a factor, you might want to consider the timing. Of course, there are probably a million causes for this sort of thing, so this is just a shot in the dark based on personal experience. Hope that crap goes away soon for you soon, Chet. Hang in there.

[dieblucasdie]

I know down here when you wake up and can't breathe/can't move, they call it "the devil riding your back"

just for the record: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_paralysis

I've probably mentioned this here before, but this happens to me all the time (probably 2 or 3 times a month) and it fucking sucks. Raised heart rate and panic are part of the physiological weirdness that's going on, so even though at this point I can recognize what's happening, it's still terrifying. Eventually my wife will shake me awake, and be like, "You were moaning in your sleep." And I'm like, "Yeah, no, that was me trying to scream as loudly as I could and not being able to."

[RavingLunatic]

I went on a few dates with a girl who had that real frequently, like, on a regular basis I'm pretty sure. I've had something similar--again, associated with prescription med withdrawal--but it's not exactly the same I don't think. Terrifying nonetheless.

[clare]

Eventually my wife will shake me awake, and be like, "You were moaning in your sleep." And I'm like, "Yeah, no, that was me trying to scream as loudly as I could and not being able to."

This. Totally. I hate it, and I hate that I'm conscious of it in the dream in an "oh shit, of course I can't scream now. I'm paralysed" way, and wake myself up *trying* to scream.