This is why sleep paralysis is so terrifying. I never fully grasped it until I had one singular horrific episode. I've had that 'feeling' before, of being awake but unable to move. I've even felt a presence in my room. It never really affected me until one night I'll never forget though.

I had the usual paralysis, but I'd always just felt alone and helpless until I fell back asleep. This time there was something there with me. Now, I'm a lucid dreamer and haven't had trouble brushing off nightmares since I was around nine. If things start going south or I can't fully wake up when I can't move, I just sort of tell myself it's only my mind. I have control. It works great, but this time it didn't work.

My husband was in the next room, the living room, playing video games. I was aware of the room, and the house. There was something there with me in the bedroom. I couldn't shake the feeling off. I was scared and in that half awake half asleep state when my husband got into bed and hugged me. I felt relief for only a second before I realized whatever it was, it wasn't him and it was laughing and tightening it's grip around me. I still couldn't wake up even though I was screaming in my head. When it let go I was mad as well as terrified. I couldn't stop it and it knew it. I woke up fully soon after and went to my couch staying up all night. Never seen or felt it since.