How To Disappear Completely

dream freeze

Waaay back in college, I used to take several catnaps in between classes in an effort to counteract the sleep-deprived life of the undergrad. Frequently during these power naps, I would experience a recurring dream in which I couldn't wake up. My eyelids would be glued shut and I would strain and strain to open them because I had to go to class in a few minutes. But I was totally and utterly frozen. As I struggled to move, eventually my body would shudder and my eyes jerk open. Phew. Just in time for another lesson on metaphysics...

After I graduated and experienced more regular sleep, these dreams faded from my life. Until yesterday. After going to bed rather late, I was greeted by the early-bird sun at 5:45AM. I tried to go back to sleep, but I knew I had to eventually prepare for the morning prayer I had signed up to lead at work. So I tried to open my eyes and wake up. No such luck. Back to the old straining and semi-panic. I was eventually able to lift my head, my eyes still glued shut. Fortunately, I was able to get those pesky eyelids to function, and made it off to work.

Fascinated by the topic of recurring dreams, and what they might signal about circumstances in your life (I am also prone to recurring dreams in which my teeth fall out), I googled the subject and found that I had never been dreaming at all.

Instead, I was experiencing a condition called sleep paralysis. Basically when your body isn't getting enough REM sleep, it goes into automatic mode and forces the body into REM even while you are still conscious. The body normally can't move during REM, unless you happen to be a sleep-walker (which I am not). Suddenly, it all made sense. Now to just get more regular sleep...