Anna Jamerson always found ways to explain away her nosebleeds, or her inability to account for periods of time, or why she woke up with her nightgown on backwards. But it wasn't until a six-month period in 1992 that she and a friend with similar symptoms starting keeping journals, researching and undergoing hypnosis. Their conclusion: They had been abducted by aliens.

"I remember lying on single-footed tables with beings over me," Ms. Jamerson said. "I remember them poking and prodding with various instruments and their hands and being completely terrified."

The Virginia author's story will be at the center of "Mysteries of Space and Sky II" tomorrow, a conference at Anne Arundel Community College. Since exchanges about alien abductions can become heated, conference organizer S. Peter Resta, a psychology professor and practicing psychotherapist in Pasadena, said this forum is meant to be educational and friendly.

"I'm all for debate," Dr. Resta said. "But I've seen some exchanges that can get nasty."

Other speakers will be scientists who will present history and analyses of unidentified flying objects, including Temple University professor Dr. David Jacobs' response to a recent theory that alien "abductees" are victims of only sleep paralysis. According to that theory, postulated by a Harvard psychology fellow, the brain is out of deep sleep but the body is unable to move. As a result, victims often hallucinate, sense a presence, or feel like they are floating.

Ms. Jamerson, 56, and all the other conference participants reject that theory.

"Everyone would like to find a di-ferent explanation than abductions and so would I," said Ms. Jamerson, who uses the penname Anna Jamerson to protect her family. "(Sleep paralysis) doesn't explain it when I am abducted from my car. Sleep paralysis doesn't cause scars on my body."

She's also resigned herself to not caring when people doubt her, she said. Although she's happy today, there are times she has despaired, she said, starting to cry.

"I know it's as real as sitting here talking to you," she said. "For other abductees it's (also) very very real. Don't tell me it's not real."

Sue Swiatek, the Virginia director of the Mutual UFO Network and a conference speaker, agrees the sleep paralysis theory is not scientific enough. She sees the UFO debate as "another culture war."

"At least reserve judgment," she said. "When a person at a cocktail party says 'I've been abducted,' say, 'You've had an experience that's real to you and science needs to study that.' "

Ms. Swiatek will present information on recent UFO sightings, while her husband, Rob Swiatek, will present photographic evidence.

"In UFOs over the years, fewer than 20 stand up to rigorous analysis," he said. "But those 20 or fewer show clearly structured objects after you rule out obvious hoax attempts."

Ms. Jamerson said she hasn't seen the "gray guys" for about two years, which she believes may be due to finishing menopause. She avoids talking a lot about her experiences, she said.

"If (people) know about (Beth and I) and want to talk about it, it's fine, but as a general rule don't tell anybody," she said.