I used to get it a few times a week. Now it’s down to about 3 times in 10 years. In case this helps anyone, here is what I do:
- I never sleep on my back anymore, only on my side
- If I do roll on my back and if it does trigger it, I focus on moving my feet and toes, up and down and this will wake me up within a minute or less.
- I informed the person sleeping next to me that if I become agitated or if I start moaning, they can wake me up simply by calling my name and saying “wake up, it’s only a bad dream” a few times. I will wake up, feel thankful and peacefully go back to sleep, feeling safe and secure. Knowing that, the other person does the same.
A thousand thanks to the anonymous writer who shared this information years ago.
Number one is the key.
I apparently DO get sleep paralysis, I just didn’t know it because I only sleep on my sides and it doesn’t affect you the same way if you’re not on your back. Somehow the part of your brain that immobilizes sleeping you to keep you from actually physically acting out every motion you make while dreaming doesn’t deem your core paralyze-worthy if you’re on one side. Just your arms/legs.
I have occasionally gotten it if I’ve accidentally ended up on my back, and it happens every time I DO end up on my back, but I never connected the dots.
Weirdly enough, it’s never been scary for me, even when it extended to my face and I couldn’t open my eyes, but I’ve also been lucid dreaming since, like, first grade.