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In my dream, a scary looking woman was staring at me inches from my face. I knew I was dreaming but couldn't wake up. I could hear myself screaming but still couldn't wake up. After 20 or so seconds of screaming, I slowly regained my eyesight and ability to move. It really freaked me out...
Sounds like sleep paralysis. Unfortunately it wasn't an experience with the supernatural like I thought with my first sleep paralysis experience.
Sleep paralysis can make you feel like you're hallucinating or hearing things that aren't really there. From what I understand it's when the chemicals in your brain are released to prevent you from acting out your dreams, except they're released too early before you reach unconsciousness, so you're semi-awake but can't move and you can have the most immense feeling of fear during it.
I believe it is where "The hag" folklore came about.
Funnily enough, my first experience involved a figure who I couldn't determine was male or female but had a long black overall cloak, pasty skin almost entirely covered in pasty blonde/white long hair. It was the most horrified I had felt in my life. I kept trying to scream for help but apparently I wasn't making a peep.
I used to have sleep paralysis pretty frequently. Had it the other night as a one off but the usual trend is that I have it consistently for about a year, then not at all for a year, rinse and repeat. My partner tries to bring me out of it when they notice the little twitches of my hand against them, or the extremely low volume noises I can muster out to get their attention to help me out.
Sleep paralysis is a really big pain in the ass. Sometimes it makes you feel too afraid to even try to sleep. Hopefully it doesn't happen too much to you and this was a one-off. :)