A Basic Overview of Sleep Paralysis

Sleep paralysis is a condition during sleep in which the affected individual feels incapable of movement.

It is a serious sleep disorder.

Sleep paralysis sufferer will generally experience the feeling that they are unable to execute voluntary physical movement at the onset of sleep, which is sometimes referred as hypnogogic, or just upon waking, which is sometimes referred as hypnopompic period.

Sleep paralysis sufferers complain that they are unable to move their legs, arms, and trunk upon waking or at falling asleep.

In many cases, strong dream-related mentation, and sometimes even hallucinations accompany sleep paralysis. Some people report the feeling of something or someone applying pressure on their chest. [Hypnagogic Hallucinations]

A short-termed episode of muscle paralysis is cause of sleep paralysis. Fortunately, this sleep disorder does not appear to cause harm to an individual’s health.

However, sleep paralysis sufferers often report feeling frightened at not being able to move, and experience considerable stress at not knowing when the effects of a sleep paralysis episode will subside, or when a new episode will occur.

Prone Victims of Sleep Paralysis

Even though sleep paralysis also appears in healthy adults, it appears that small children are more susceptible to the effects of the condition. People who are suffering from other sleep disorders, particularly narcolepsy, are much more likely to experience sleep paralysis.

Actually, many episodes of sleep paralysis are the outcome of complications from narcolepsy. Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder in which an individual experiences bouts of uncontrollable daytime sleepiness.

Cataplexy or paralysis experienced without the loss of consciousness is the main symptoms of narcolepsy. Thus, it is thought that sleep paralysis may be connected to narcolepsy, although many sleep paralysis sufferers do not have narcolepsy.

Polysomnography, or a sleep recording, indicates that the body demonstrates a lack of skeletal muscle tone during an episode of sleep paralysis. The brain appears to fall into a REM stage sleep more quickly, and sleep tends to take on an overall dissociated nature.

Things to be done When You Are Experiencing Sleep Paralysis

Often, a person will regain consciousness from a sleep paralysis episode upon being touched or hearing a sound. Some people report that freedom of movement returns moments after awakening, once full consciousness has been restored.

Some doctors assert that slowly attempting to move the outer edges of your body, beginning with blinking your eye, looking around the room, or fluttering your eyelashes is one of the best methods of regaining consciousness during a sleep paralysis episode. It is also recommended that you move your fingers.

Some people report considerable success with the “shout and roll” method if this gentle approach does not seem to work. The shout and roll method consists of vocalizing as loud as you can while rolling your shoulders. Many sleep paralysis patients report ’snapping out’ of an episode by sheer physical will.

Many people find that the prospect of future sleep paralysis episodes causes undue stress, and interferes with their ability to achieve restful sleep. While there are no cures for sleep paralysis, certain precautions can be taken to help prevent future episodes.

Precautions to Avoid Sleep Paralysis

Sleep paralysis can be prevented by

• Getting enough sleep every night
• Going to sleep at the same time each night
• Following a regular exercise regime
• Avoiding stressors, especially in the hours before bedtime

Many sleep paralysis patients reported changing their sleeping position has helped them a lot. The frequency of sleep paralysis episodes has been greatly reduced with this simple adjustment.

Sleep paralysis appears more frequently while individuals sleep on their backs. Sleeping on one’s side appears to be the best position for avoiding sleep paralysis episodes, although it is recommended that patients experiment with different sleeping positions.

People experiencing weekly sleep paralysis episodes for six months or more are described as severe. Severe cases of sleep paralysis may be treated with medication.

In some cases sleep paralysis episodes have been effectively prevented with antidepressants. Certain tricylic antidepressants and SSRIs have been shown to helpful if sleep paralysis appears to be related to cataplexy brought on by narcolepsy.