I think something followed me on a trip and now I keep having sleep paralysis.
So Hi 21F I don’t know how to explain this experience and I’ve been trying to figure it out but I’ve been having dead ends. So let’s give some context. I went to South Carolina to see my brother graduate from Parris island and honestly it was a great trip. I’m adopted so my adopted parents decided to rent this air bnb I think with a really basic name I think the name was the resort? So as we went inside and saw this two bedroom apartment my adopted mother told me there was a pool and beach near by and it was extremely hot in temperature so naturally I decide to go after unpacking. I decided to stay in the pool area since I don’t like beaches due to the sand getting all over the place.
As I put my towel and sandals next to my chair I had a strange feeling to look up and saw crows just flying around and staying on the trees. I thought it was strange since there was no food or animals near by. As I get in the water I feel eerie and don’t know how to explain it. All of a sudden more crows started coming near my area just cawing and watching me and it felt off. A few minutes later my adopted dad decides to come to pool and before I could point out the crows they all flew away after he enters the pool door. I knew something was wrong but I couldn’t explain why.
I did end up telling him what I saw and he brushed me off saying birds come and go or something like that. I was too focused on why the crows left immediately after my dad opened the door. Anyway after we got out of the pool he went to join my mom to the beach and I went inside. My grandma who came as well was asleep and I was just thinking about how odd that situation was.After that I went to sleep and it was 4am and we were getting ready to see orientation for the graduation.
After we got back to the Airbnb I decided to go the pool again since I was sweating and just wanted to relax from being in heels all day. Immediately after I got near the pool crows came flying around and went back to the same branches they were in the day before. I was in shock and was about to go back but ultimately decided not to since I was just two steps away from the pool door and it was just no point to do so since the way back was a 5 minute walk and a few stairs. After I finished in the pool. I went back inside and decided to get ready for bed. My grandma was awake and praying in the room we were sharing so I decided to just wait on the couch for her to finish.
I must have been exhausted since last thing I remember was me listening to a podcast and closing my eyes. I woke up and checked the time for it to be around 2 in the morning. As I was about to get up and head to my bed I heard a piano playing one note continuously for two straight minutes then it just stopped. Then someone started moving stuff in the cabinets. the problem was I didn’t see anyone in the kitchen. The layout was the kitchen was next to the front door a dinner table is sandwiched next to the fridge and couch I was sleeping on. So I would have obviously seen someone.
But I didn’t. Immediately after that I heard a dog barking in the direction of the window facing the pool. That’s when I got scared. The dog barking was the basically the cherry on top due to the fact the barking sounded rehearsed and robotic at the same time. I went to get up and i couldn’t move. I got extremely concerned since that would be the first time I experienced sleeping paralysis.
As I waited for it to pass something told me to close my eyes. I was confused but I did. After I did my eyes refused to let me open them. As I tried to open them something told me you will be ok ONLY IF you keep your eyes close. After that I just let my body go limp and kept my eyes closed I felt something looking at me. I decide to pray and after a minute of praying I was able to move.
I booked it to my bed and went to sleep hoping that was a dream. After that I went to sleep and woke up to go see family day with my family. When we went back to the air bnb I decided not to go to the pool and went straight to the couch to watch a show. I told my family earlier on that day about what happened and they said they didn’t hear anything. When my dad came over to the couch he made a joke about what happened and went back to the room. Annoyed and tired I just let it go and went to take small nap.
I woke up and this time I couldn’t move I try to get up to check my phone but my body is limp and for some reason that same feeling came back that screamed at me DONT OPEN YOUR EYES. I decided to follow the instructions and didn’t that same energy of someone looking at me felt much closer to me-like it was toppling over my body. I don’t know what it looked like since my eyes had a mind of its own and still refused to open. After what felt like hours I was able to get up and run back to my bed. I knew that my grandmother had bible next to the lamp in the room so I prayed hoping whatever was happening would pass. I fell asleep and woke for the day of the color guard ceremony and graduation .
After it ended and we said our goodbyes to my brother we go and head back to the Airbnb. This was my last day at the Airbnb and the next day I was going back home. I knew that I was going to sleep in the bed and not the couch. Before I headed to sleep I told my “parents” what happened and they thought I was crazy and said if I have been taking any medication. I was pissed and said no telling them that I wasn’t lying and how was hurt they would think I was taking drugs. When I slept on the bed nothing happened and with that being the only day out of that trip that was actually able to sleep. I wish this was where this story ended but I was wrong.
A few days after being home in my own bed that same feeling of being watched. Nothing happened for a few more days but that feeling of being watched was more and more intense. After my second day off I went to sleep to get ready for work. I woke up later on that night. I couldn’t move. That’s when I was truly scared. This was the third time I had sleep paralysis in the same month. And I was in my home state. That same feeling said to me to keep my eyes closed. I did.
It eventually went away. But I was freaking out. The reason I’m terrified now is that I had another experience. And that’s when I realized that in the last experience I had a random thought I kept thinking over and over before the sleep paralysis happened. When it happened again this week I was talking about that same topic and immediately after I finished rambling to myself I passed out in my bed. Then as that same feeling of keeping my eyes closed and it going away again I forgot what I was rambling about even though I know I had a big discussion about this in my head. My brain won’t let me remember and I’m scared of what is happening.
Where I am now it’s getting colder since it’s autumn. So my window is closed now the day the most recent sleep paralysis happened my window was open all the way up. My room is on the second floor and my room is always locked since I live with my best friend’s family renting a room. No one could have gone in my room without me knowing. Does anyone know what’s happening or if you have any similar situations ?
why won’t my brain let me remember what I was talking about? This is my most concerning experience since I know it was the same topic but I can’t remember. It like that discussion never existed
Why do I keep having sleep paralysis fits?
Why did those crows surround me twice in a row?
Did something follow me from South Carolina?