LSD and Sleep Paralysis

[Foreigner]

Sort of a weird topic, but maybe some people more familiar with the research side can answer this.

Last night around 3-4am I experienced sleep paralysis (SP). I felt cold so I tried to wake up so I could adjust the blankets, but instead I only half woke up and couldn't move my body. Simultaneously the room was filled with voices and they all sounded really close, next to my bed or right above me. There were also flashing lights in the room, not to mention I could see my room even though I had my eyes closed, which shouldn't be logically possible. I did some research today about SP and apparently what happened to me is commonly reported. People report demons or other scary imaginings, sometimes sitting on top of them and oppressing them... but it's all part of the dream state. This is maybe the second or third time it's happened in my entire life.

My partner and I were talking this morning and he told me that when he used to do LSD he would experience sleep paralysis more often. I started doing very high doses of LSD (250-400ug) in the past year and a half, and two of my SP experiences have been within this time frame. I haven't been able to find much info online about a connection between LSD and SP. I have a hard time buying into the idea of acid flashbacks. Besides, the last time I did acid was in late August and it was such a low dose that barely anything happened.

I don't know if this is related, but aside from this experience, I also slept like shit last night anyway. I tossed and turned a lot, had trouble going to sleep and staying asleep. I don't think I achieved deep sleep very well. It was a more shallow sleep, closer to the REM level where SP is said to happen.

Is there a connection between LSD, or psychs in general, and SP? Anyone else have a similar experience?

 

[clubberdude]

I have had sleep paralysis in the past which I have associated with LSD use (It was associated with HPPD which followed a bad trip). I was using MDMA heavily at the time which probably contributed somewhat. The sleep paralysis did however rapidly dissapear when I lowered my use of MDMA and LSD. I found SSRI's modulated my HPPD symptoms somewhat strongly.

Nowadays, I do get occassional Sleep Paralysis, but is associated with very high stress/anxiety, or if I have missed several days of taking my SSRI antidepressant, Sertraline. Sertraline has a modulating effect on Sleep Paralysis in my case it seems, though Sertraline has a very strong modulating effect on my anxiety level.

I believe Sleep Paralysis is a serotonergic issue, only drugs which act on 5HT (serotonin) receptors appear to cause it, though in my experience after the drug has worn off suggesting a sudden depletion of Serotonin as a likely factor in Sleep Paralysis.

 

[fly-]

Like pointed out by clubberdude, it seems to be a potential side effect of messing around too much with your serotonin circuits. It happened to me only once, at time was doing acid every week.

 

[moe.ron]

hmm well i have had sleep paralysis once, and it was following a night of 2c-t-2. I also took like 9 or 12 mg of melatonin which is what I blamed it on at the time. It was truly terrifying for me though, like you said, just laying in your bed mind going but unable to move or control your body at all.. Luckily I didn't have any hallucinations but after reading about it I found that is some what common. I've also heard it's more prevalent while sleeping on your back so maybe sleeping on your stomach/side after tripping will help prevent it if tripping is indeed playing a role?

 

[Rastahund]

Yes! LSD and MDMA give me some intense sleep paralysis... I also get it when I haven't even tripped in a while though.
My sleep paralysis is always filled with visual and auditory hallucinations too. One time my dog was climbing up thumbtacks on the wall all sideways like in a horror movie or something hah.
Like the above post, my sleep paralysis also disappeared for the most part when I stopped rolling and tripping so often. I do still get it once in a while but then again, I've been getting it my whole life.

 

[nthron]

i've had sleep paralysis from diphenhydramine once. I remember having it a lot as a kid and it would only happen if i layed on my back with my arms to my side and legs together. it would happen when I'd skip school then go back to sleep. I would hear people in the house walking noisely right past my door but i couldnt move anything except my eyes.

 

[Madrus]

I want to know how to turn that SP into a lucid dream. I can easily get into SP, but from there I can only lie there with my eyes closed and listen to the strange aural hallucinations.

 

[Foreigner]

I want to know how to turn that SP into a lucid dream. I can easily get into SP, but from there I can only lie there with my eyes closed and listen to the strange aural hallucinations.

I've done this before. Instead of thinking about leaving your body and how to do it, the key seems to be envisioning where you want to go. Then you'll just be there.

 

[pharmakos]

i've had fewer sleep paralysis episodes since i've started tripping. idk if the two are connected though.

 

[Mr Chips]

I want to know how to turn that SP into a lucid dream. I can easily get into SP, but from there I can only lie there with my eyes closed and listen to the strange aural hallucinations.

I've personally had many SP and out of body experiences. The more you become familiar with this state, the more you know what to do when it arises and can choose how deep you wish to take it.

SP can be turned into OBE/Astral Projection/Lucid Dreaming using the right techniques. One way to achieve this is when you are in a state of SP, try and literally STEP out of bed. If you get it right, you will step out of your body.

A good book of reference is:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Course-Astral-Travel-Dreams-Belzebuub/dp/0974056030

This has many techniques to take SP to the next level.

(I have no idea why the author decided to name himself after the devil though )