Sleep Paralysis: A Waking Nightmare

Taken from the Mayo Clinic website: "Sleep paralysis - People with narcolepsy often experience a temporary inability to move or speak while falling asleep or upon waking. These episodes are usually brief — lasting one or two minutes — but can be frightening.... Because you may be semi-awake when you begin dreaming, you experience your dreams as reality, and they may be particularly vivid and frightening."

I recently had a discussion with a friend about sleep paralysis. It's a condition by which I have been affected for many years and it's like a waking nightmare. In the dream, your environment is familiar, your thoughts are lucid, but then a terrifying, inexplicable event takes place - right out of a horror movie - and you realize you're sleeping. But you can't move and you can't make yourself wake up no matter how hard you try.

Just this morning I experienced a bout of sleep paralysis. I was in a bedroom painted purple, standing and facing the wall. From outside the door, I heard a high-pitched, inhuman growling sound like a saw blade combined with a pig squealing; it sounded frantic or angry...perhaps eager. Accompanying this growling was the sound of hooves furiously stomping outside the door. At this point, I knew I was sleeping and I strongly felt that I had to wake up before that door opened. With much effort, I was able to move my arms and was pinching and pulling at myself to try and awaken. Thankfully I did, but even when I was lying awake in my bed looking around, I could hear that horrible growling sound just beginning to fade.

I remember my sleep paralysis dreams very well. Once I was frozen on the couch and little black shadows kept running across my body. Another time I was in my university apartment and a hole opened in the ceiling and a woman crawled out from it upside-down. It is commonly thought that people who believe they are haunted, possessed or have been abducted, are actually experiencing sleep paralysis. I for one have a hard enough time dealing with the memories, knowing that they're a dream. I can't imagine what it must be like for someone who believes those visions, those sounds to be real.

21 Jump Street - a movie review

refreshingly funny! i was beginning to lose hope in Hollywood comedies. as of late, the laughs - while genuine - tended to be few and far (and farther) between. but this revamped 21 Jump Street delivered as promised, and i for one was relieved.

the story was modernized and the characters likeable and fun. the movie poked fun at itself: drawing attention to its cliches and wide-release obligations. however, it didn't reach the point of self-deprecation - a finer balance than we give comedy writers credit for.

the jokes were flowing, the action was exciting, and Channing Tatum was handsome - i begrudgingly admit. overall, a highly entertaining comedy!