mikeytwice says:

I'm curious as to whether it is common for people to experience a phenomenon similar to sleep paralysis without the paralysis aspect of the experience. Though sleep paralysis minus the paralysis may seem an entirely different experience, judging by experience I can attest that I've witnessed all the same phenomena but have been able to move and, if I so desired, put an end to this state of consciousness. I've also noticed that whenever I expereince this phenomenon, my jaw clenches in such a way that an immense pressure and sound builds up in my head and is rather painful.;

I wonder about what these experiences tell us; chalking them up to mere hallucinations gets us nowhere.

neimad says:

The first thing that came to my mind when I read this article was "It's DMT!". I believe it is fairly common knowledge by those involved in this type of research that the pineal gland releases a certain neurotransmitter, nn-DMT, during REM sleep. This substance is possibly one of the most hallucinogenic substances known to man. I know this first-hand, having ingested it during years ago in a psychedelic experiment of my own. The results of inhaling nn-DMT vapor are beyond fantastic, it is an experience that is truely out of this world and defies explanation.
I've long known about the REM-sleep connection with DMT, but until recently it was only something that I've read about. Recently, I was lucky enough to experience this first-hand and I can confirm definately that DMT is endogenously produced and released during REM sleep.
I was woken up quite suddenly during a very intense dream a few months ago, and it was completely apparent to me that in my state of sudden forced conciousness that I was hallucinating and the experience was very very close to what I experienced in my psychedelic experiments years earlier. During this waking REM episode, I experienced visual distortions in the form of moving spirals and a feeling of euphoria. I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed the experience immensely. The effect dissipated within about 30 seconds. Without my earlier psychedelic experiences I would have totally missed the point of this waking REM episode. This waking REM has happened to me once after this, and I will welcome it if it ever should happen again.
I can see how someone unexperienced with psychedelics could interpret this type of experience as horrific or paralysing, though from the article it sounds like some do feel it as euphoric. I can only think that what they are experiencing is a waking REM/DMT experience.

Incidentally, nn-DMT is said to be released during the experience of death and seems likely as the cause of the 'tunnel of light' that people describe after near-death experiences. From my own experience, nn-DMT definately produces a tunnel of light, and an overwhelming feeling of the presence of god. It's an awesome thing and I feel so lucky to have been able to let myself experience this in a controlled and comfortable setting many years ago during my experimentation with psychedelics.

See www.lycaeum.org or www.erowid.com for more information on nn-DMT.

Angela Ayre says:

A sufferer for 20 yrs it is only the last few months that i have had sp with sounds and feelings. My sp happens regularly, about five times a week, ten times a night. I don't see anything but i hear muffled voices, fluttering sounds, and a child running round my bed and blowing cold air on my face while not being able to move. Over the years i have tried to come out of my sp by moving my fingers or toes but that is almost impossible now, and the only way to get out is to put all my efforts in to trying to shout out to my children (only a tiny sound comes out and my lips don't even move), my son now knows how to 'shake me free'. All of this can happen without the sp or with it, or the sp can happen alone - there is no rule.