The name sleep paralysis insinuates that it happens when you are sleeping, going into or coming out of sleep.
I have experienced this during daylight hours while kneeling and praying. I remember clearly what it felt like. It has happened to me quite a few times over the last 20 years at night times - but it feels the same as when I experienced at day time, while being fully awake and out of bed. Just last night I had another experience twice in a row. I was awake. I find that turning on the light helps prevent it from happening again. Ever since it doesn't scare me much anymore, its frequency reduced. So I was quite surprised with my experience last night after a few years of not having an encounter.
