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Kirst CorbettA 32-year-old British woman suffering from sleep paralysis.
Date of Birth: 01.01.1982
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
- The Terrifying Nightmares of Sleep Paralysis
- The Horror of Waking Up Helpless
- A Recurring Nightmare
- "I would wake up feeling like a plank of wood," Kirsty says.
- Living with Nightly Fear
- Coping Mechanisms
The Terrifying Nightmares of Sleep Paralysis
32-year-old British woman, Kirsty Corbett, suffers from a terrifying condition that leaves her paralyzed upon waking up.
The Horror of Waking Up Helpless
Most people relish the idea of drifting into a blissful slumber. But for Kirsty, the thought of falling asleep fills her with dread. She knows that upon awakening, she may find herself completely paralyzed, unable to move or speak. These shocking and disorienting episodes can last from a few seconds to several minutes.
"Sometimes I'm too scared to go to sleep," Kirsty says. "I'll stay up late reading or watching TV, hoping to just fall asleep the second my head hits the pillow."
A Recurring Nightmare
Kirsty's problems first began when she was twelve, during a sleepover at a friend's house. "I woke up in the middle of the night, but when I tried to move my arms and legs, I couldn't," she recalls. "It was horrible. I couldn't even scream for help. I thought I was dying. Then, all of a sudden, I could move again. I was so confused. I just wrote it off as a bad dream." But then it happened again and again.
"I would wake up feeling like a plank of wood," Kirsty says.
Sleep Paralysis: A Temporary NightmareConcerned, Kirsty confided in her father, Robert, who admitted to having experienced similar episodes. Sleep paralysis is a temporary inability to move or speak, most often upon waking but sometimes before falling asleep. It is a harmless condition, but the experience itself can be terrifying, akin to a living nightmare.
Some people experience sleep paralysis only once or twice in their lives. Others suffer from it multiple times per month or even more regularly. Sleep paralysis can affect people of all ages, but it is most common in teenagers and young adults. Poor or irregular sleep schedules and smoking can increase the risk of experiencing sleep paralysis.
In addition to feelings of terror, difficulty breathing, and chest pressure, many sufferers report sensing a presence in the room during an episode.
Living with Nightly Fear
Now a mother of two, Kirsty shared her struggles with her boyfriend early in their relationship. "I didn't want to freak him out," she says. "The first time it happened, he was thankfully fast asleep."
Over the years, Kirsty has observed patterns that can help her ease the burden. "If I'm tired, stressed, or in an unfamiliar environment, I'm more likely to experience sleep paralysis," she says. "It's hard to break the habit of staying up late, but I try my best to get enough rest and keep a regular sleep schedule."
Coping Mechanisms
When Kirsty wakes up paralyzed, she now forces herself to stay awake for at least half an hour. "If I fall back asleep too quickly after the fear has subsided, I'm likely to have another episode," she explains. "If I stay awake, it gives me time to calm down and clear my mind before trying to sleep again."
While these strategies have helped reduce the frequency of her episodes, they do not make them any less terrifying. "It's still a horrible thing to wake up unable to move," she says. "It doesn't get any easier, no matter how many times it happens."
But Kirsty ends on a positive note, acknowledging that she has learned to live with her nocturnal fears, even if they continue to be haunting.
