Because we feel vulnerable to attack when we realize our paralysis, we often dream there is an intruder in the room, hovering near us and about to attack. Because your body is still asleep, your waking breathing muscles are not yet active. When you try to expand your chest to bring in a big breath, you feel like you can't get any air at all. It is interesting that you only have these experiences when sleeping alone. As you know by now, there never really is an intruder in your room, and you also still are able to breathe during these dreams.
Some people also recommend sleeping on our sides to make sleep paralysis go away.
In the long run, though, the best treatment for sleep paralysis is knowledge. The longest the spells ever last is about 30 seconds. To learn more about Charles McPhee, our dream interpreter, click on his photo above. Shop O2 . All Rights Reserved.