If you've ever had the experience of feeling like you can't move your body, even though you want to, either right before falling asleep or as you wake up, you've had what's known as sleep paralysis.

I can't breathe. There's a tremendous pressure in my chest. I'm panicking, and then I realize I can't move. I try to scream. Suddenly, violently, I'm startled awake, sweaty, shaking, and disoriented.

(CNN) — Baland Jalal lay in bed terrified, experiencing his own real-life horror film. Newly awake, the 19-year-old could see his surroundings but couldn’t move or speak, and he didn’t know why. He ...

(CNN) — Sign up for CNN’s Sleep, But Better newsletter series. Our seven-part guide has helpful hints to achieve better sleep. CNN — (CNN) — Sign up for CNN’s Sleep, But Better newsletter series. Our ...

Most of us have had nightmares involving scary monsters at some point in our lives. But that fear pales in comparison with the seemingly real mysterious and menacing figure who has people around the ...

Sign up for CNN’s Sleep, But Better newsletter series. Our seven-part guide has helpful hints to achieve better sleep. Baland Jalal lay in bed terrified ...

(CNN) — Sign up for CNN’s Sleep, But Better newsletter series. Our seven-part guide has helpful hints to achieve better sleep. Baland Jalal lay in bed terrified, experiencing his own real-life horror ...

Sleep paralysis is a condition that typically occurs when an individual is either falling asleep or waking up. With sleep paralysis, you regain awareness but can't move. [iStockphoto] For a healthy ...

(CNN) — Sign up for CNN’s Sleep, But Better newsletter series. Our seven-part guide has helpful hints to achieve better sleep. Baland Jalal lay in bed terrified, experiencing his own real-life horror ...

Sleep paralysis is the phenomenon of being unable to move upon waking from sleep. Episodes generally last for a few minutes. These episodes are often described as scary, and sometimes they’re ...

You wake up out of a murky sleep and find that you’re unable to move your body, from your forehead all the way down to your little toe. You’re completely paralyzed! You also have a crushing feeling in ...