SLEEP PARALYSIS

Did you ever experience an ominous presence that you could not identify, moving about like a shapeshifting shadow? The most terrifying thing is that you cant do anything about it.

Worrying about evil spirits sounds silly, but thats how terrifying and how real the experience feels like. It is SLEEP PARALYSIS.

SLEEP PARALYSIS is a stage during waking up or falling asleep in which a person is aware but unable to move or speak. During sleep paralysis, one may hear, feel or see things that are actually not there, can also feel a preasure on their chest or sense a hand around their throat.

When Does Sleep Paralysis Usually Occur?

Sleep paralysis usually occurs at one of  two times. If it occurs while you are falling asleep, it's called hypnagogic or predormital sleep paralysis. If it happens as you are waking up, it's called hypnopompic or postdormital sleep paralysis.

Hypnagogic Sleep Paralysis

As you fall asleep, your body slowly relaxes. Usually you become less aware, so you do not notice the change. However, if you remain or become aware while falling asleep, you may notice that you cannot move or speak.

Hypnopompic Sleep Paralysis

During sleep, your body alternates between REM (rapid eye movement) and NREM (non-rapid eye movement) sleep. One cycle of REM and NREM sleep lasts about 90 minutes. NREM sleep occurs first and takes up to 75% of your overall sleep time. During NREM sleep, your body relaxes and restores itself. At the end of NREM, your sleep shifts to REM. Your eyes move quickly and dreams occur, but the rest of your body remains very relaxed. Your muscles are "turned off" during REM sleep. If you become aware before the REM cycle has finished, you may notice that you cannot move or speak.

Who Develops Sleep Paralysis?

Up to 4 out of every 10 people may have sleep paralysis.This condition may occur in those who are otherwise healthy or those with narcolepsy, or it may run in families as a result of specific genetic change. This condition can be triggered by sleep depriation, psychological stress, or abnormal sleep cycles.

Sleep paralysis tends to first appear in the teen ages. It then occurs most often when you are in 20s and 30s. It may continue into your later years.

CAUSE AND TREATMENT: Sleep paralysis is most common for people with medical conditions or risk factor like: 

• Narcolepsy
• Sleep apnea
• Irregular sleep Schedules
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Genetic factor

Sleep paralysis itself is not harmful and the episode after resolve on their own. You dont necessarily need to seek any special treatment. Many people with sleep paralysis develop anxiety because the episode can be frightening. In some cases, this can even cause insomnia if people feel afraid to sleep. If that happens or if episodes bacome more frequent , its time to seek professional help.

Your doctor may ask you about your sleeping
patterns and medical history. They may also ask you to keep a sleep diary, documenting your experience during sleeping paralysis episodes.

In some me cases your doctor may recommend you participate in an overnight sleep study to track your brain waves and breathing during sleep. This is usually only recommended if sleep paralysis is causing you to lose sleep.

Educate yourself: Knowing more about sleep paralysis — like the fact that it's common and not actually harmful — can make occurrences easier to deal with and help reduce anxiety about the condition.