Millions of people have experienced sleep paralysis yet next to nothing is known about the phenomenon.

For 18 years Cathy Whitaker has become familiar with the grim figure mentioned above.

On the face of it, the 54-year-old Melbourne woman lives a ‘normal’ life.

She’s been married 29 years, has two grown sons and a supportive family and network of friends.

Without digging a little deeper, you wouldn’t know Cathy struggles with depression triggered after several family members passed away and then again by a work accident.

It was about this time sleep paralysis started creeping into her life.

“I was first diagnosed with depression in 1997 which is when the sleep paralysis started,” she said.

“The first episode that I can recall happened less than a week after my Nanna passed away. At the time I thought I was having a stroke and that I would be paralysed, yet aware for the rest of my life.

“I was beyond terrified. I went straight to my GP the next morning. He told me I was just having nightmares but sent me to a neurologist who said it was “nocturnal paralysis”