Cant Wake Up The Witch is Riding Me

[katcan]

Last night it happened again periodically this happens to me where I am in a normal sleep then out of no where it feels like something is holding me down and I can hear and feel myself panicking. I cannot for the life of me open my eyes, its like they are glued shut and I cant move and this happens for a few minutes which feels like forever because I am scared but I do not understand why this keeps happening to me. Some elders have referred to this as the witch is riding me but I would like to know what these dreams mean and if something is wrong with me or to understand why this is happening.

[lml]

a lot of people experience this phenomenon - it is called REM or muscle atonia (paralysis).
When you are dreaming your brain shuts down your ability to move so you cannot act out your dream and hurt yourself.
Some people, such as yourself, come awake during their dreams but you cannot move because your brain is still in atonia mode.
No witch is riding you - this is a physical/scientific phenomenon.
Interesting that you mention elders - you must be Aboriginal. Cool.

[ObliviousMeg1022]

That is true. That used to happen to me a couple years ago, but had stopped recently. I know how frightening it is to wake up like that