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I am sure most people here are aware but just for anyone reading sleep paralysis is pretty well studied and occurs when the REM cycle of sleep overlaps with being awake or in a light sleep. Since REM is when dreams occur for the most part you are already in a very imaginative state so separating fiction from reality us very difficult.
Additionally, REM sleep is the part of the sleep cycle when your heart rate increases, blood pressure rises, and you are breathing heavy. Combine this with the fact that you were just dreaming and are awakening in state of panic (physiologically), almost anything feels threatening, especially when you are aware that you are unable to move.
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