Sleep Paralysis

It used to happen to me now and then but no longer. The first time was rather frightening and I was around 17. After that experience, I decided to research the phenomenon and came across several accounts, each with various explanations ranging from scientific conjecture to superstitious wives-tales.

What I read, however, was that sleep paralysis tends to happen in stages, all of which matched my own experience. From that point, I had a frame of reference; if it happened again, I'd be able to at least monitor the progression in a somewhat scientific manner. Sure enough, I awoke with the paralysis soon after, recounting the stages in my mind as I let them progress.

Unfortunately, as much as it all happened as anticipated, I still didn't enjoy it much. But I was bouyed by the fact that I'd endured a bout without becoming totally freaked. I understood the way it worked and had accepted some reasonable explanations on both sides of the scientific coin. The paralysis was no longer a fear factor to me; it was mostly a curiosity.

Around one year later, it happened once more. I was startled since the lag between had been significant but my mind quickly recalled everything I knew. Only this time, I wasn't in the mood.
There's a point at which the paralysis reaches a peak, often accompanied by a "crushing" sensation upon the chest by some, or "floating" by other. I got the "crushing" experience. As I lay there, feeling like I was trapped, I decided to abandon all previous knowledges and simply try my best to move. I summoned some nerve and quickly counted off. I suddenly swung my right arm up above me and soon my entire body was upright in bed. My heart was racing but I had full mobility as though I'd never lost it.

By all scientific reasoning, I'd beaten sleep paralysis by willing myself to move before the "natural" progression was complete. I've looked into the subject but haven't found any accounts from other people who've done the same, leading me to wonder how I precisely managed to override the phenomenon where so many are helpless.

But once I proved my own willpower was stronger than the sleep paralysis, I stopped having it.

Jam it back in, in the dark.