[Martinelv]

I had a major episode of Sleep Paralysis last night and, unusually, it scared the b'jesus out of me. I couldn't control the fear well enough to rationalise what was going on. I even had some visual hallucinations. My dressing-gown, which was hanging up on the door, started waving it's arms about and I could see the shadows of little tiny, er, goblin type things scuttling around the floor. Anyway, the point of this post is this: When I get Sleep Paralysis this bad, which is quite rare nowadays, I whip myself into a rage and silently scream into the darkness, daring and cajoling the SP to do it's worst, as I did last night. Now, I wonder why I'm not so brave when it comes to panic attacks? When they strike, which is very rare too, thankfully, I just writhe around in despair and behave much like a frightened little boy. I don't understand it. Over the years I've got used to Sleep Paralysis, but I just can't get used to panic attacks. Each one feels worse than the last.

 

[ShyTiger]

Martinev i found this hard to do also. I have managed to say bring it on, do your worst to panic in recent months but it was terrorfying. To me its like standing on a ledge in pitch darkness. You have been told that the drop is actually just a short drop, you even know this logically, but when your there standing on that ledge you feel with all your cells that if you do take that step you will fall into oblivion.
I got so sick of being afraid that i eventully got angry. It was only with that anger that i could face the fear head on and stand my ground. I thought so be it if i end up on the floor rocking back and forth and babbling incoherantly so be it. At least then i may get the help i need. And my panic did esculate but then it was like a wave it just retreated back. Its something that i have to keep reminding myself to do otherwise my panic creeps its way back in controll.
I dont have any experience with Sleep Paralysis but i do get night panic attack with occasional hallucinations. These i do find easier as i tend to have an empty mind, its like i know what this is, just let it pass and sleep again takes over.
Have you had panic attacks as long as the sleep paralysis? Panic attacks can have the added stress also of often you can be in public situations so that you have added thing of are people going to notice im freaking out? what will they think? Also i wonder if there is a body process that goes on that is different for panic than sleep paralysis. Do both produce fight or flight with the mind trying to catch up and find a reason for the fear. You know what your experiencing with sleep paralysis where as panic your mind always throws out but what if its not panic, what if its that i am really going crazy this time, or that i am really going to die this time. ???
Hmmm ...Thats all i can think of. Maybe someone else will have some ideas.

 

[sebastian]

I find panic attacks quite terrifying as well, but thankfully they seem to be not nearly as frequent these days, and when i do get them they very quickly pass. Now I just have a kind of general anxietal malaise most of the time, and i'm working on getting that "under control". Panic attacks can be scary as hell but the thought of it being fleeting is comforting. Whenever i have one now i take a deep breath and think happy thoughts. Literally.

s.