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I’m 47 yo professorial man and have experienced sleep paralysis a few times a year for a long time – probably a decade.  It seems to continue one or two times a week then stop for months.  Sometimes if I am laying with something blocking my face making it more difficult to breath it happens.  I then struggle to wake up and change position.  Last night and a few times in the last two weeks I woke paralyzed and unable to breath but there was nothing blocking my face.  My lungs were just not working - but I was laying on my back.  I wondered if I was going to pass out and fought to move….I could feel my lungs starting to burn then, like always, I came out of it, could breathe again and could move.  I am heavier then I should be but don’t think I am particularly stressed, no alcohol, don’t smoke and otherwise have a pretty great life.  For what it’s worth, I can tell you that when I was in peak condition- rowing, running and cycling often, I did not experience this.