Count your blessings if you have never suffered sleep paralysis. It’s possibly the most horrifying thing I’ve ever gone through, and until I learned what was causing it, I believed I was crazy.
If you’ve never had sleep paralysis, it’s the sensation of being paralyzed while you’re asleep—the catch is that it feels like you’re awake. Imagine lying in bed, unaware that you are dozing off, and looking around the space. All of a sudden, you are paralyzed with fear and feel as though you cannot move. Sleep paralysis feels like this.
Many of us who have had this experience and don’t know any better assume we are haunted right away. That was my experience, at least. But I’ll tell you about a much more compelling explanation provided by science.
What is happening?
According to Cleveland Clinic and Harvard Health, the brain transmits impulses that cause our arms and legs to relax as we start to nod off. We suffer muscle atonia as a result, which keeps us motionless during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Our consciousness returns after experiencing sleep paralysis, but our muscles remain atonic.
People frequently have hallucinations or hear and see things that aren’t there when this occurs. This makes the experience of being paralyzed all the more terrifying. This explains why individuals frequently believe they are being haunted by a demon.
What Causes It
Even though anyone can get sleep paralysis, there are a few things that mainly cause it. I’ll discuss them now.
I’ll discuss them now. Narcolepsy is one
2. Shift work (having to work a second or third shift job.)
3. Lack of sleep.
4. Sleep apnea
5. Abnormally high alcohol intake.
6. Use of drugs.
7. Some drugs, such as Seroquel or Adderall.
8. A change in sleep schedule.
9. Mental health conditions bipolar disorder or anxiety.
How to Treat It
Most persons who experience sleep paralysis do not require medical attention. Only if it’s brought on by an adverse drug reaction or another underlying medical problem would you be in this situation. Other than that, WebMD offers the following advice.
– Change your sleeping patterns: Make sure you are getting enough sleep and maintaining as much of a nighttime routine as you can. Even while not everyone can develop a strict daily regimen, making an effort to do so is advantageous.
– Address the underlying mental health condition (if one exists): If one exists, you may need to seek counseling or therapy for the disorder to reduce symptoms.
– Exercise frequently: Regular exercise has a number of advantages, improved sleep. Just be careful not to exercise four hours or less before going to bed.
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