The American Psychological Association defines sleep paralysis as the “brief inability to move or speak just before falling asleep or on awakening… accompanied by hallucinations.” 1 This harmless period of immobility, derived from muscle paralysis or atonia, happens every night as a natural side-effect of dreaming sleep. But, when we become self-aware of this process, the trouble begins . . . This paralysis and its associated visions are a misunderstood aspect of the dreaming world that causes many people undue stress and shame.
Sleep Paralysis: A Dreamer's Guide-Ryan Hurd, Sleep Paralysis: A Dreamer’s Guide
As Ryan Hurd explains, Sleep Paralysis is one of the most misunderstood sleep phenomenons. If you’ve ever felt these sensations during sleep, it’s likely you suffered from Sleep Paralysis:
- Unable to move or feeling of being held down
- Feeling like gravity is shifting around, or that you are floating or sinking
- Hearing strange sounds or voices such as your name being called
- Fear and terror, feeling a presence in your room
- Seeing an apparition or nightmare figure in your room
- Having an out-of-body experience
This condition happens to 40% of the world’s population at least once in their lives. But for some, it happens night after night.
Ryan Hurd’s Sleep Paralysis eBook
Sleep Paralysis: A Dreamer’s Guide was born out of Ryan’s own struggle with isolated sleep paralysis. He experienced his first encounter when he was only fourteen, and didn’t realize it was sleep paralysis until several years later. The book provides practical advice on the causes of sleep paralysis, tactics to take control when it does happen, strategies for confronting apparitions, and advanced dreaming techniques for coping with sleep paralysis. The eBook also includes a useful worksheet to follow along with as you complete the reading. The worksheet allows you to create your own action plan for coping with sleep paralysis, using the tactics described in Ryan’s book.
My Review of Sleep Paralysis: A Dreamer’s Guide
The first time I encountered sleep paralysis was terrifying- I couldn’t move my body or wake myself up. This was especially scary due to its effect on both my mind and body. Ryan’s eBook is the best resource for sleep paralysis sufferers I have found. Ryan reveals the main triggers of SP, and tactics for coping with it. The triggers were surprising- I didn’t realize that stress, jet lag and diet could be triggers/causes of sleep paralysis. I have tested several of the tactics for coping with sleep paralysis in the eBook, and they work.
I found that Sleep Paralysis: A Dreamer’s Guide is written and organized in a way that is very accessible and easy to read. Additionally, each chapter of eBook is very well-written and detailed. Ryan provides many examples of his own experiences with SP. He also pulls together the latest sleep and dream research on SP, adding his own voice and insights. And best of all, the included worksheet helps the reader develop their own action plan for coping with sleep paralysis.
My favorite two chapters of the eBook describe how to use sleep paralysis as an opportunity to dream consciously. This puts a positive spin on sleep paralysis as a “blessing in disguise” that can be used as a gateway to lucid dreaming. For the more adventurous dreamers, there is even a chapter on how to trigger sleep paralysis.
The eBook includes details on how to successfully:
- Identify the biggest triggers of sleep paralysis in your life
- Spot everyday foods and beverages that aggravate sleep paralysis
- Learn about herbs and supplements that quell anxiety
- Set up your bedroom for better sleep and less nightmares
- Recognize the warning signs of a “ghost attack” hallucination and learn how to ground yourself
- Develop your own “safe ground” for when those fearful creatures sit on the bed
About Ryan Hurd
Ryan Hurd is a dream educator living in CA. He is the editor of DreamStudies.org, a web portal for dreams and consciousness studies. He has a MA in Consciousness Studies from John F. Kennedy University, and is a member of the International Association for the Study of Dreams.
Where to find the eBook
Sleep Paralysis: A Dreamer’s Guide is available online here for $10.
This post is part of the Dream Evolver Series
I had the pleasure of having read Ryans’ book this summer. A very informative, interesting and well written/organized book. This book, along with other articles of interest in the neuroscience arena has shed light on several old family stories of “visits in the night” . Thanks, Ryan for taking the time to research and write the book. Good dreaming, Clyde (Jons’ dad in Manchester)