This Is Why You Sometimes Wake Up In The Middle Of The Night And Can’t Move
Imagine this.
You go to bed after a regular day, just like you do every night.
Then, sometime after midnight, your eyes open.
You know you’re awake because you can feel, hear, and see everything around you the same
way you did before you fell asleep.
But slowly, you realize something’s off.
Your mind is awake but you can’t move.
It feels like there’s something crushing your chest.
That’s when panic sets in and you realize you’re awake in a nightmare.
This sounds like something straight out of a Stephen King novel, but it’s actually
a phenomenon that happens to a lot of people.
In fact, “being awake in a nightmare” is the most common way people describe this
condition (along with “waking up dead”).
Sleep paralysis, as it’s commonly known, has puzzled every culture around the world
for hundreds of years.
People from all around the world have described this condition and could only provide spiritual
and esoteric explanations.
Today, with the help of science, we have a deeper understanding of what it means.
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So what is it exactly?
Thanks to modern research, we now know that sleep paralysis originates from issues with
REM sleep.
During REM sleep, the body gets frozen by the brain in order to stop you from physically
acting out your dreams while you’re asleep.
This kind of paralysis that happens during REM sleep is natural and normal (called REM
atonia).
It becomes unnatural when a person is awake while their body is experiencing that REM
atonia.
It sounds pretty horrifying, doesn’t it?
If you’ve ever experienced sleep paralysis you’re probably well aware of how scary
it can be, and how it can have a huge impact on the way you live your everyday life.
In fact, many people who suffer from sleep paralysis often experience lack of sleep because
the thought of experiencing it makes them want to avoid sleeping all together.
It may also affect their mental health as well as their physical health as they try
to navigate through their daily lives with a sleep schedule that is often severely affected
or non-existent at all.
Now, here is some more information about sleep paralysis that you should know.
1.
What causes sleep paralysis?
So what exactly causes sleep paralysis?
Basically, anything that messes up the REM stage of your sleeping.
Things like jet lag, lack of sleep, irregular sleeping patterns, or migraines can cause
it.
On top of that, psychological factors can also trigger sleep paralysis.
This includes anxiety disorders, overwhelming stress, trauma or alcohol and substance abuse.
There are many different things which can bring about episodes of sleep paralysis.
For example, sleep deprivation can lead to sleep paralysis, while certain medications
can trigger sleep paralysis as well.
Studies also state that sleep paralysis can be genetic, and that it is more likely to
happen to people who are between the ages of 10 and 25 years old.
Studies also state that people who suffer from depression or anxiety are much more likely
to experience sleep paralysis.
In fact, 31.9 percent of people who suffer from mental disorders experience sleep paralysis.
Keep watching for some even more interesting information about sleep paralysis!
2.
What are the symptoms of sleep paralysis?
There are many different symptoms associated with sleep paralysis.
When a person is suffering a sleep paralysis episode, they experience symptoms which can
range from an inability to breathe to a feeling of dread or even horror.
When a person wakes up during an episode, he or she is usually unable to move his or
her body.
The person is also usually unable to speak.
These symptoms can last for as long as two minutes.
Another symptom a person who is suffering from an episode may experience is a choking
feeling, or a heavy feeling on their chest.
Patients who experience this describe being awake and just knowing that what they are
experiencing is not a dream.
It can last from a few seconds to several minutes.
People who wake up to sleep paralysis can perceive their environment and everything
in it without any sort of “brain fog.”
Immediately, they realize they can’t move.
Sleep paralysis doesn’t have any side effects on the brain and it is not harmful, but it
causes an extreme amount of fear and dread once the person realizes they can’t move.
The experience of being trapped inside your own body makes people think they are dying,
or that there is some type of supernatural force at work.
Some people describe a crawling and electrifying sensation running up and down their body.
Some patients also describe being unable to breathe because they feel a pressure on their
chest that stops them from being able to move.
This is all psychological, however, since sleep paralysis does not affect a person’s
ability to breathe.
The experience of sleep paralysis can be so shocking to a person, that they start hallucinating
and experiencing things that they can’t control or properly react to.
According to The Sleep Paralysis Project, the most common hallucinations reported by
people include doors opening, animals growling, approaching footsteps, scratching, and malevolent
whispering.
On top of that, some people have reported olfactory hallucinations.
This includes smells of rotting flesh, decay, damp, and mold.
All of these symptoms can have quite a big psychological effect on a person, making a
person who suffers from sleep paralysis afraid of going to sleep and even frightened of sleeping
alone.
What can I do if I suffer from sleep paralysis?
7.6 percent of the general population has experienced some kind of issue with sleep
paralysis.
If you suffer from sleep paralysis, you should speak to your doctor immediately.
Although there is no form of treatment for sleep paralysis, there are many different
types of preventative measures as well as forms of treatment for certain underlying
causes which are causing the sleep paralysis.
If you begin to experience multiple episodes of sleep paralysis, you may want to see a
doctor or a sleep specialist.
If you begin to experience the symptoms associated with sleep paralysis, make sure that your
sleep schedule is balanced and that you are getting enough sleep every night.
You should also try to avoid alcohol, drugs, and nicotine at night.
You should try to avoid these things at least three hours before going to sleep.
Another thing you should do if you begin to experience sleep paralysis is avoid drinking
caffeine after 2 o’clock in the afternoon.
Most don’t know it, but drinking coffee after a certain time of the day can have huge
effects on certain people, affecting how they sleep, the quality of the their sleep, and
when they fall asleep.
You should also avoid using electronics before going to sleep, and keep them out of your
bedroom.
Using`electronics before bed can disrupt your circadian rhythm, which can also have a huge
affect your sleep cycle.
Your circadian rhythm is a 24 hour cycle.
Generally referred to as a body clock, it is a cycle in our bodies that tells us when
to sleep, wake up, and eat.
This internal clock regulates many of your body's physiological processes, and can be
affected by many different things.
When our circadian rhythm is disrupted, our sleeping patterns and cycles can become severely
affected.
A disrupted circadian rhythm can also affect a person’s eating patterns.
This is why it is important to keep our body clocks in check, as it can have a huge impact
on our health and everyday lives.
A disrupted circadian rhythm can have an effect on many different aspects of our health.
From sleep issues to cardiovascular diseases and neurological issues like depression, many
people often underestimate the importance of our circadian rhythm.
To avoid disrupting your circadian rhythm, you should make sure to stop using electronics
that give off artificial light before bed, and also avoid caffeine a few hours before
bed.
If you experience sleep paralysis, these small changes may be able to help you.
If your sleep paralysis continues and is starting to have an effect on your life, work, and
relationships with friends or family members, consult with a doctor or sleep specialist
to find out what may be causing your sleep paralysis.
A sleep specialist can help identify any underlying causes and can also help you take preventative
measures to ensure it doesn’t happen again.
Sleep paralysis is scary and can severely affect the way you sleep.
We all need a good night's rest in order to function both physically and mentally.
If you are experiencing sleep paralysis which is severely affecting your sleep and your
life, speak to a professional to find out what is causing it and what can be done to
get you back to a regular sleep schedule.
What are some other things people might experience while experiencing sleep paralysis?
Let us know by commenting below!
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