Sleep Paralysis: mind awake, body asleep

Before giving a definition to sleep paralysis we should know something about our sleep. So, our sleep consists of two phases: non-REM sleep and REM sleep. These two phases are repeated cyclically during a night of sleep. Usually sleep cycle begins with a non-REM sleep which lasts for about 80 minutes. After that REM sleep takes place and endures for 10 minutes. This is the very moment when sleep paralysis may occur. REM sleep is a kind of sleep characterized by rapid eye movements, faster pulse and breathing. Most of our dreams we see during this period of sleeping time.

When human brain awakes from REM sleep but the body palsy continues, sleep paralysis occurs. It is characterized by partial or absolute paralysis of muscles and disability to speak. Usually this state lasts for several seconds, sometimes several minutes. In rare cases it continues for hours. A person may become paralyzed when falling asleep or upon awakening from sleep. The latter variant happens more often, and it is called hypnopompic or postdormital paralysis. Hypnagogic or predormital paralysis may occur while you are falling asleep. More often paralysis appears in teenagers, although it may be developed in adults too. Sometimes there is no necessity to treat this condition. A simple outside influence such as touch or sound can terminate paralysis.

If you know symptoms and causes you can find how to treat it. This problem may be treated by improving sleeping habits. A number of paralysis episodes can be reduced when you get enough sleep. When you sleep from six to eight hours you get normal sleep. Medicinal treatment is also helpful, especially when paralysis troubles you often.

Sleep Paralysis Symptoms

It is identified by the following symptoms:

  • Inability to move and speak. This is the main symptom. It occurs after awakening from sleep or before falling asleep. You can breathe and blink but you cannot feel any of your body part, your tongue is frozen and you can’t say a word.
  • Hallucinations. During the paralysis a person may feel someone’s presence in the room, different fantastic images appear in front of you and you can hear strange sounds. Some people feel heavy weight on their chests as if someone sits on them. The perceptions described above make people feel panic and fear.
  • Disposition to frequent somnolence.

Sleep Paralysis Causes

Probably the main cause of this state is the reaction of our mind which thinks that we are still sleeping and protects our body from moving. To let us wake up our mind which must realize that we are awaking, only after that it will unlock our body.

There are some other factors which cause paralysis:

  • Frequent changes in sleeping schedule.
  • Narcolepsy. This is another sleeping disorder but it may be considered to be one of sleep paralysis causes.
  • Stress. When people, who experienced this type of sleep disorder feel increased stress before going to bed, repetition becomes more possible.
  • Sleeping on your back. When you sleep in such position it is harder to move this way. It is better to sleep on a side, then it will be easier to force you body to move.

Sleep Paralysis Stories From Real Life

Statistics shows that from 20% to 40% of people around the world suffer from different forms of sleep paralysis. You may experience this sleeping disorder only one time in your entire life, in some cases this experience may be repeated. People who suffer from sleep palsy regularly create special support groups. In such groups sufferers can exchange their experiences and discuss ways of treatment of this problem. One can also find discussion forums in the Internet dedicated to the problem. Here we may read a couple of real-life stories.

  1. At one of the discussion forums a guest called Andrew who experienced paralysis for a long time at night said that he suffered from this state 1-2 times every second day and sometimes it happened before he fell asleep. Then he felt as if something was walking on his bed, at that very moment he woke up and found that he couldn’t move. When finally he woke up, it was too hard for him to get back to sleep.
  2. A 13-year old girl Lily shares her unusual story with us. She said that initially her sleep was normal, then she woke up and could barely move, finally she couldn’t move at all. She tried to scream “mom” but she didn’t hear her own voice. Suddenly she felt pressure on her body and she became very scared. Then she saw a black tall figure in the room after that she woke up immediately.

There are many other sleep paralysis stories which can be found in the global network that can help you to cope with your problem once and for all. Do you have one? Don’t be shy and contact us. We will post you story here.