Just a dream or paralysis OBE?

[kasan]

About 7 am, I woke up but I was still very tired so I decided to keep sleeping. I started drifting to sleep again, but I woke up outside my physical body. I was getting twisted up into the space above my bed. I kept thinking, "It can't be a dream, Am I dying, Is this a near death experience?" I tried to remember being killed (sounds silly now). I looked around the room for beings, but I could not see anything. I only looked through peripheral vision because I was not in control of my spiritual body. Moreover, I did not even have one. I felt like only a collection of thoughts, memories and emotions that was being sucked upwards. I tried to look down on my physical body, but I was unable to control my angle of vision. As much as I enjoyed the tranquil neutrality sensation of being bodyless, I was scared that if I went through the drain above me, I may never go back. I was still being pulled upwards and I struggled to get in my physical body. Suddenly, I appeared in my body again, but I realized I was more like laying through my body. I thrashed around scared and physically paralyzed until I regained physical sensation in my toes and fingers. When my body fully woke into control, I was confused, still physically tired, and scared. I could not make sense of it.

I had sleep paralysis once more about five years ago when I felt a vibration that woke me up, but I could not move my body. I have never tried astral projection. I'd heard of OBEs, but I only thought it only happened near death. Any input or opinions please? Does this sound like a typical spontaneous OBE? or more like a strange dream?

[Steel Hawk]

There are many people here that have gained some control of willing a conscious Out-of-Body Experience. There are many different types of OBEs, including Near Death Experiences (NDEs).

What you had sounds like a projection in the closest layer to the physical, which is where most NDEs happen. They can feel as real as this and sounds like you had an amazing experience. Sometimes as the memory starts to fade it seems less real and more like a dream. This is because the brain shuts off long term memory while in these altered states -- so everything is riding in your short term.

Vibrations are also very common with OBEs. It's true though that for most people the only time they experience an OBE is near or at death. However, I've had hundreds and so have others here and we're still alive.

[Lionheart]

 First off, Hello and Welcome to the Astral Pulse! 
Here's an excellent article/sticky to help you understand what occurred. http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/welcome_to_out_of_body_experiences/sleep_paralysis_the_whats_whys_and_wherefores-t38734.0.html
Good Luck and Safe Travels!  

[Szaxx]

Hi and welcome to the Pulse.
Your experience is typical. Lots of people get into this position and fear kicks in. Without this fear and a bit more knowledge you could achieve a lot more. Ypu liked the serene feeling you had, there's much more than that obtainable with a learned approach.
If you wish to further your experiences you only need to ask. Have a read around the site, something will interest you.

[Xanth]

If you can tell me without a doubt, and for a fact what a "dream" is... THEN you can ask your question. 

[Bedeekin]

There is a marked difference between a dream and conscious OBE...

A dream has a narrative that one is wrapped up in... you are in essence completely deluded. The giant squid is real and you are just wanting to get away from it... even though you are in your underwear.

A lucid dream is when you realise that you are deluded and wake up within the 'dream' and you are aware that you are dreaming.

That is the difference... but they are both the same essentially.

"It can't be a dream, Am I dying, Is this a near death experience?"

Not a 'normal' dream... because you are aware.

[kasan]

Thank you, everyone.  I tried to make my post short and to the point. I'm still new to the idea of OBEs and astral projection, but I can't get it off my mind. And good sleep paralysis article. Gracias!