I have had the same type of dream now for the past 10 years where I find myself in a state of absolute paralasis, always still aware that I’m in bed & also aware that I’m asleep.

It is always accompanied by an awful feeling of fear or dread and I seem to have an overwhelming urge to wake myself. On several occations this was achieved by concentrating on trying to scream or shout in order to wake my wife lying beside me. Sometimes I even tried to hit her so that she would wake me up. When I do awaken I lie there afraid to go back to sleep as I often go back into this dream state several times a night.

—Pat, Age 44, Wicklow, IRELAND