I have another solution that won’t work for everyone. As I mentioned, I cannot scream… But I can hum. So, when I am having a sleep paralysis episode, I start humming as loud and as long as I can, which admittedly isn’t much. However, it is enough to wake up my husband. My husband now shakes me awake anytime I hum in bed (which I asked him to do).

This solution works beautifully for me, and I no longer fear sleep paralysis. But, not everybody else someone else in bed with them.

Edit: wanted to add that before I developed this solution, I used to try to rock back and forth from side to side like a turtle flipping over. Emphasis on the word “try.” Like your fingers and toes solution, this would eventually work. However, it took persistence and usually the “sleep paralysis demons” would be coming towards me slowly the entire time.

Interestingly, now that I can get out of the paralysis more quickly (with my husband’s assistance), I have found that my “demons” (which now often look like normal people) will full on sprint towards me and lunge at me. I’m getting used to this, though, and I wonder what my brain will think of next to try to horrify me.

That doesn’t sound like what I experience at all. I am paralyzed in both the dream and real life. Sometimes I can even open my eyes and become semi-conscious - yet - I am still paralyzed.

Flailing? Paralysis? You don’t see the disconnect there?

In sleep paralysis, you cannot move. It’s right there in the name. When I’m having a sleep paralysis episode, I try very hard to move or scream. All I can achieve is a humming-like sound in my throat and a slight rocking motion, if I’m lucky.

I’m sure what you’re experiencing is horrible, but it is not sleep paralysis.