Ever tried waking up from sleep or trying to sleep and all of a sudden you are unable to move any part of your body? It is like you got frozen or experienced a stroke while sleeping. This experience is known as sleep paralysis.
Sleep paralysis is a sign that the body is no longer moving smoothly during the stages of sleep. It usually comes in two different forms. It can occur when you are about falling asleep and this is known as hypnagogic or predormital sleep paralysis and it can also occur when you are about waking up, this is known as hypnopompic or postdormital sleep paralysis.
When experiencing sleep paralysis, we feel awake but we can’t believe what is happening to us at that time as we not in full control of our body. At that particular time, you can’t move or scream and sometimes paralysis is accompanied with a crushing pressure on your chest, fear and hallucinations, you get a feeling that someone or something is in the room.
Though it can be terrifying, the truth is you don’t really need to be scared because you are not going to die as sleep paralysis is a biological event.
Causes
Though it has been stated that sleep paralysis is a natural occurrence, certain factors can also trigger this condition. These conditions are briefly pin-pointed below:
Change in your sleep schedule
Lack of Sleep
Use of certain drugs.
Exposing the brain to horror incidents experienced or seen in movies.
Stress
Bipolar disorders
Dealing with Sleep Paralysis
Sleep paralysis can be very scary if you have never experienced one before. When experiencing sleep paralysis, the following measures should try to be observed.
Do not struggle with it: when you notice your body at this condition, it is advisable not to fight back or struggle with the situation as this could aggravate the condition. Struggling with the paralysis could also bring fear and this could trigger the emotional centers of the brain.
It is important that you go with the flow, knowing that it will pass very shortly and you would regain your consciousness.
Try as much as possible to improve your sleeping habit. Get up to six to eight hours of sound sleep. Do what you can to relieve stress.
If you always experience sleep paralysis, it is recommended that you visit a sleep specialist as you may need some antidepressant drugs.
