Actually, this is a common condition that occurs most often in african amerians and younger children, however it can occur in anyone of any race or age. Sleep paralysis can occur when your body enters a type of sleep called REM sleep. When a person is in REM sleep, your body is usually in a type of paralysis so that a person can not move to whatever dream they are having. For example, if most people are dreaming they are running, in real life they are sleeping in their bed without moving their legs (however some people do move- such as sleep walking for example). When most people wake up from REM sleep, the paralysis also stops and you will be able to move. However, in people with sleep paralysis your body will continue to be 'paralyzed' although you will be fully or mostly conscious. Quite often this is accompanied by terrifying hallucinations or an acute sense of danger. This is normal. This condition is very frightening as these hallucinations or scared feelings seem very real, although they are part of a dream. On a personal note, I have experienced sleep paralysis about once every few months, since 2006. I still find them scary, but in a sense interesting as well. During this time for me I have just felt really scared before, and have even heard voices. I find it best to avoid trying to wake up and move, as this makes it even more scary. I deal with this problem by relaxing and trying to go back to sleep. This condition is rarely a problem, unless you have them so often that you are terrified or missing out on sleep. If this is a problem, contact your doctor, as medications are sometimes available for this condition. And don't worry as one previous writer wrote, you are not seeing 'ghosts' or having an out of body experience, this is a condition that can be easily explained by science.
