First OBE After Much Anticipation

From: Lawrence (ick-d-force@hotmail.com)
Story type: Out of Body Experience
Location: Bedroom
Source: Form Submission
Date submitted: Fri Oct 21 00:04:43 2011

Hello, my name is Lawrence, and I am 20 years old. I have been a sufferer of frequent sleep paralysis for about 6 months. I have been reading up on sleep paralysis and it's effects recently trying to figure out a solution. In many of the articles it states that sleep paralysis can induce a lucid state of dreaming, and even astral projections. Today after a brief 5-10 second session of paralysis, instead of my usual pattern to avoid it, I tried to embrace what was happening. Just then it felt as if i was sucked out 1-2 feet in front of where I was laying. (On my back) I knew what was happening immediately, and began to float about the room for a few seconds. I have heard stories of getting lost in the astral plane, and nervously I ended the session by floating back to my bed in a lying down position, on my back. When I woke up I was really laying on my side. I did not get to check and see if I could view my physical body laying in my bed, as I was in such a rush to end the state. My question is how can one tell the difference between a projection and a dream? The whole position of sleep has gotten me a bit skeptical.