Nighttime Terror: Understanding Sleep Paralysis

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Understanding Sleep Paralysis: A Simple Guide

What is Sleep Paralysis?

Have you ever woken up and found that you couldn’t move or speak?

 Have you ever felt like someone is pressing you in your dreams? 

Or you feel that you are being hunted by witches or wizards? 

Are you afraid of sleeping in the night because of these experiences?. 

Please leave a comment regarding experience and misconception too. We will be pleased to hear you.

I am glad you are here!.

Well,  being scared is a normal defensive mechanism by which our body implements in such experience causing withdrawal from sleeping. This scary experience is called sleep paralysis. It happens when you’re falling asleep or waking up, and your body is temporarily unable to move. You might also see or hear strange things that aren’t really there.

What's another word for sleep paralysis?

Sleep paralysis is sometimes called waking paralysis, predormital (before-sleep) paralysis, postdormital (after-sleep) paralysis, and REM sleep atonia

Click to watch

Why Does It Happen? (Causes)

During deep sleep, your body is supposed to stay still so you don’t act out your dreams. Sometimes, your brain wakes up before your body does, causing sleep paralysis. Here are some reasons why this might happen:

1. Lack of Sleep: Not getting enough rest can make sleep paralysis more likely.

2. Irregular Sleep Schedules: If your sleep routine is all over the place, you might experience this more often.

3. Stress and Anxiety: Being stressed out or anxious can increase the chances of sleep paralysis.

4. Sleep Disorders: Conditions like narcolepsy, where you can fall asleep suddenly during the day, are often linked to sleep paralysis 

Signs and symptoms

The core symptom of sleep paralysis is the inability to move the body when falling asleep or waking. However, during these episodes, people may experience other symptoms, including:

1. Being unable to speak during the episode

2. Having hallucinations and sensations

3. Feeling pressure on the chest

4. Having difficulty breathing

5. Sweating

6. Headaches and muscle pains

Recent Discoveries

Scientists have recently learned more about why sleep paralysis happens. Researchers found that certain brain chemicals, called GABA and glycine, are responsible for keeping your muscles still during deep sleep. When these chemicals don’t work right, you wake up and can’t move (https://www.sleepforhealth.org/researchers-found-chemical-controllers-sleep-paralysis/).

What You Might Feel and See (Hallucinations)

When you’re experiencing sleep paralysis, you might feel pressure on your chest or see and hear things that aren’t real, like someone in the room with you. These hallucinations can be very frightening, but they’re just your brain trying to make sense of what’s happening.

How to Prevent It

While there’s no surefire way (i.e. No cure) to stop sleep paralysis, you can do a few things to reduce how often it happens:

1. Get Regular Sleep: Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep each night.

2. Reduce Stress: Find ways to relax, like meditation, deep breathing, or yoga.

3. Seek Medical Help: If sleep paralysis is happening a lot, talk to a doctor. They might suggest treatments or medications to help manage it.

Other prevention strategy:

* Keeping bedtime and wake up time consistent

* Maintaining a dark, temperate bedroom

* Reducing light exposure in the evening and using night-lights for bathroom trips at night

* Getting good daylight exposure during waking hours

* Not eating a heavy evening meal, or eating within 2 hours of going to bed

* Abstaining from evening alcohol or caffeine products

* Exercising daily, but not within 2 hours of bedtime.

Can sleep paralysis kill?

No, sleep paralysis cannot kill you. It might feel terrifying, but it is not life-threatening. Sleep paralysis is a temporary condition where you are awake but cannot move or speak. This usually happens as you are falling asleep or waking up, and it can be accompanied by hallucinations and a sense of pressure on your chest.

The sensation of being unable to move and the hallucinations can be very scary, leading some to believe they are in danger, but sleep paralysis itself does not pose a physical threat. The condition typically resolves on its own within a few seconds to minutes

Conclusion

Sleep paralysis can be really scary, but understanding what it is and why it happens can help you feel less afraid. By taking steps to improve your sleep habits and manage stress, you can reduce the chances of experiencing it. If you continue to have trouble, don’t hesitate to seek help from a healthcare professional.

References

1. Advanced Center for Sleep Disorders. (2024). Researchers Have Found Chemical Controllers of Sleep Paralysis. Retrieved from [SleepforHealth.org](https://www.sleepforhealth.org/researchers-found-chemical-controllers-sleep-paralysis/).
2. Rauf B., et al. (2023). Isolated sleep paralysis: clinical features, perception of aetiology, prevention and disruption strategies in a large international sample. *Sleep Medicine*, 104, 105-112. Retrieved from [Springer](https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11325-023-01903-4).

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