It is just a dream, buuuutttttttt...
you're not in any sort of deep sleep. I'm absolutely sure that some B3tans will know the proper crack here, with all scientific words and what not, but this is what I remember...

you basically fall into a really light sleep, and the "dream" will happen immediately. It's normally associated with some sort of "terror" - not being able to move is bad enough, but it usually follows a pattern or wanting to escape from someone - which makes the not moving bit worse.

On to that - when you sleep, at some point your brain paralyses your body. That's an awful explanation, but you get the idea. In this instance, your body has been paralysed before you go proper unconscious like. Add it all up, you get an incredibly vivid "waking" dream, and are unable to move.

I think it can become chronic, and turn into something called "night terrors". Or this might all be guff, dunno :)

My experience with it (in a similar sized bedroom lol - maybe thats the key!?) was propped up on my side in bed watching telly, smoking a dooby or whatever the kids call it. I must have fallen asleep with it in my hand, as next thing I kinda *blink* and I'm still in the exact same position, but the mood of everything has changed! Its all a bit edgy and bad. My mum (a wonderful sweet as light type person) is coming up the stairs but sounds FEARSOME. I look at my hand. She's gonna catch me taking drugs!! NOOO! I try and move - stuck! I put every ounce of strength into moving my hand, even just letting go of the thing. Not a sausage! The massive force I am putting into moving gradually transfers into putting massive force into opening my eyes as I awake. I am still in the bed, mum is still lovely, and I realise my fear was fairly out of proportion with my dream. I finish spliff - now after 8 years of "finishing spliffs" I don't dream! Theres irony there somehwere.
(bacontrout got ska, Sat 5 Jul 2008, 19:13, Reply)