For me, sleep apnea's can't breathe usually immediately jolts me awake, brought on by something in the dreamstate, the first time it was driving into a lake and drowning, then sitting up hyperventilating. Sleep paralysis is a lot scarier, I tend to be, or at least perceive to be, awake and in my bed, but there's something else there, and for one reason or another, that thing keeps me from breathing, maybe it's to not make a sound, maybe it's stealing my breath, I dunno, but it keeps me from hitting that jolt awake moment with the hyperventilating. The post felt more like the second one.