Many people who experience sleep paralysis see frightening hallucinations some call "sleep paralysis demons." - Illustration by Leah Abucayan/Alberto Mier/CNN Baland Jalal lay in bed terrified, ...

Imagine being stuck in a dark, confined space, where you can’t move or speak. It sounds pretty hellish, and yet it has happened to me countless times. Sleep paralysis is estimated to affect around 8% ...

Maybe you’ve seen the meme: “This is my sleep paralysis demon: [insert photo].” The viral idea builds on a very real condition in which a person is conscious but unable to move. In some cases, people ...

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.

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 ...

(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 ...

(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 ...