Learn about the Sleep Paralysis Symptoms

What is Sleep Paralysis?

Sleep paralysis is a sleeping disorder that occurs when you find yourself unable to speak or make any movements between stages of sleep and wakefulness. It might happen for a few seconds or a few minutes, making you feel frightened owing to seeing or hearing eerie things. It is known as hypnagogic or predormital form if it occurs while you are sleeping in the first few hours of slumber. However, it is called hympopompic or postdormital form if it happens while you are awake. You can experience this condition only once or several times a night. People sometimes dub this condition lucid dream or vivid dream.

Causes

Potential causes of sleep paralysis include:

• Sleep deprivation

• Insomnia

• Supine position during sleep

• Change of sleep schedule

• Jet lag

• Mental conditions like bipolar disorder and stress

• Medications

• Narcolepsy, which is a sleep disorder resulting from excessive napping

However, researchers have revealed that your body produces relaxing hormones, which keep you from waking up during sleep. Once hormones take effect when you are asleep, they will paralyze your body completely. The hormones sometimes subside and make you awake from your sleep. On the other hand, these hormones can restrict the muscle contraction and motor functions in case of sleep paralysis. That is why you find yourself paralyzed and you cannot move your body.

Symptoms

Sleep paralysis symptoms are common among those experiencing this disorder including:

• Inability to move your body or limbs between stages of sleep and wakefulness

• Inability to speak during this condition

• Seeing ghostlike things

• Hearing peculiar noises like voices and footsteps

• Feeling someone or something heavy is sitting on your chest

• Feeling another person is standing near you in the room

• Feeling a sense of choking and blocked breathing

• Floating feeling

Collectively these symptoms are sometimes known as Old Hag Phenomena, and have been noted by many cultures throughout the world.

The symptoms can cause apprehension and anxiety, but they are harmless.

How to Resume Consciousness

While you are experiencing this disorder, you can resume your consciousness by trying to take a deep breath, opening your eyes slowly, and moving your fingers and toes. In addition, you might attempt to shout until you can move your body and regain your full consciousness.

You will surely regain full consciousness if someone touches you or you hear something. Therefore, it is recommended that your sleeping partner wake you up if he or she feels slight body movements of yours.

Once you have been completely conscious, make sure you change your sleeping positions to prevent this condition from reoccurring.

How to Minimize This Sleeping Disorder

You can minimize and avoid this sleeping disorder by following these suggestions:

• Make sure you have good sleep habits, which include six to eight hours of sleep every night

• Avoid excessive napping during the day

• Avoid sleeping in the supine position

• Avoid exercising close to bedtime

• Try to reduce stress with quiet, relaxing activities before going to bed

• Consume meals at regular times

References

Stanford.edu: Sleep Paralysis - https://www.stanford.edu/~dement/paralysis.html

Web.MD: Sleep Paralysis - https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/sleep-paralysis

Sleeping with a Sleeping Disorder.com: Causes of Sleep Paralysis: All You Need to Know - https://www.sleeping-with-a-sleeping-disorder.com/causes-of-sleep-paralysis.html

Sleep Paralysis Information Service: https://www.spis.org.uk/

Disclaimer

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