Before I even try to explain what happened to me last night, know that I am by no means making this up or trying to get some "cyber attention" of any kind. I am by nature a very sceptical person, coupled with the horrible human condition to constantly be deceptive my scepticism can sometimes get the better of me. Again please note this occurrence I am about to attempt to explain is the very first time I have experienced something of this frighting calibre and I am solely sharing this here on ATS because of the diversity of mentalities that dwell within this IP. Your input, opinions, and interpretations will be dearly appreciated.

After arriving home from a friends farewell to the USA (I am from South Africa) I engaged in my usual routine of midnight snacking and watching some comical programmes that one can only view at that time of night. I started getting tiered so I went to bed, please not I did have a couple of beers but nowhere near to the complete debilitation of any my motor functions.

I fell asleep in no time and all was dandy. I have no idea how long I was fast asleep but when I awoke (still being dark), and this is were things get really strange. I felt a solid and firm pressure on my chest, like someone quite strong was holding me down. I could see no physical figure over me even with the bit of ambient light cascading through my window from the street lights. The worst thing was as I felt this pressure on my chest, I also struggled to breath normally, not full on asphyxiation but more like the shortness of breath when one exercises. I started to panic as I struggled to sit upright so I started yelling "hey, hey! what the f@%k".

My old man opened the door to my room and flicked the light on and as he did that I was able to sit upright but I felt weak and confused. As he asked me what all the fuss was about I suddenly felt extremely nauseous and literally pushed him to the side to get to toilet and vomit. I mumbled my predicament to him in my crappy state and he ruled it off as a nightmare. Not in the mood to argue I just nodded my head and climbed back into my bed to only feel that I was sopping wet, the kind of sweating you would experience from intense exercising. Needles to say I couldn't fall asleep again as this incident was just looping in my head over and over.

The only logical explanation that came to mind was sleep paralysis, but it still does no justification to the fact that I was wide awake when I felt that pressure on my chest and fully capable of clear speech. I am not a firm believer in poltergeists or demons for that matter so I am still flabbergasted about this whole ordeal.

ANYBODY OUT THERE WITH ANY KNOWLEDGE ON THIS TYPE OF PHENOMENON OR SIMILAR EXPERIENCES, I WILL REALLY APPRECIATE SOME PIECE OF MIND.

Sounds like you had a panic attack. If it is, you need to recognize what it is, or else you'll start associating it with things you're thinking about and it will develop into a phobia.

EDIT: alcohol can lower you're threshold for panic attacks. Start thinking about laying off the midnight snacking and get some exercise.

I woke up one morning to a Dark figure standing over me, i panicked and struggled for air, i realized it was just my eyes adjusting to the light, but it sent my body into panic initially.

Panic attack would be my bet, probably caused by an uneasy transition from Rem sleep to awareness

Originally posted by TedHodgson
I woke up one morning to a Dark figure standing over me, i panicked and struggled for air, i realized it was just my eyes adjusting to the light, but it sent my body into panic initially.

Panic attack would be my bet, probably caused by an uneasy transition from Rem sleep to awareness

I've had that happen to me, it wasn't a pleasant experience. The figures I seen weren't very static, and I think I was looking at my room with an overlay of what I was dreaming about, which made it look like there was something moving in the room. That coupled with the fact I was having a panic attack.

Originally posted by satron
Sounds like you had a panic attack. If it is, you need to recognize what it is, or else you'll start associating it with things you're thinking about and it will develop into a phobia.

EDIT: alcohol can lower you're threshold for panic attacks. Start thinking about laying off the midnight snacking and get some exercise.

edit on 3-3-2012 by satron because: (no reason given)

Understood but I am by no means a regular drinker and my midnight snacking consists of proper food, I am also very fit, jog 21km a week and train with my kick boxing friends on a regular basis. I don't think I can link this experience with eating habits or physical fitness. Never get panic attacks either. I am in my early twenties and quite an adventurous type of person with no phobias of any kind.

i was thinking of a seasure. it can do all those things. pressure in the chest cloudy mind and nausia

Originally posted by TedHodgson
I woke up one morning to a Dark figure standing over me, i panicked and struggled for air, i realized it was just my eyes adjusting to the light, but it sent my body into panic initially.

Panic attack would be my bet, probably caused by an uneasy transition from Rem sleep to awareness

Okay could most likely be the case but I did wake up because of the initial pressure I felt on my body, I only started panicking when I could not get my body into an upright position and my shortness of breath was from the struggling.
Good observation though thanks for your input

One day I was lying in bed and felt a weight on my abdomen. I was sure it was just one of my sons putting his head on my tummy even though the room was dark enough that I couldn't see anyone. When I went to touch his head with my hand and no one was there I screamed and jumped off the bed. I couldn't tell you what is was.

I've had sleep paralysis/old hag syndrome ????? it felt like a giant python was squeezing me to death and I could not scream.

Either way, both times I felt like I was not alone in the room. Sounds like you felt another's presence, also.