I've suffered from sleep apnea for a long time. Basically I sleep and then feel like I'm suffocating and I then awake with a shock. I hate it but it comes and goes thankfully. The worst part is feeling like I am suffocating. But hey, I do get lucid dreams so I guess it's a trade off!
Think that's slightly different i have had that as well i am sure my brain is not normal LOL, sleep paralysis for me is like my body was concrete at first you just cant move no matter what but your slightly aware your asleep and sort of stuck in a dream and awake stage, its then once you relex you can move.