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Imagine waking up in the middle of the night, being fully conscious, then realizing you
can’t move a muscle.
Your chest tightens and it gets hard to breathe.
You start hallucinating and a dark figure begins moving towards you.
You try to scream for help, but you can’t.
Are you dying?
Are you dreaming?
Then, all of a sudden, you can move again.
That terrifying apparition is gone and you can breathe normally.
Believe it or not, experiences like this are fairly common.
This is a medical condition called sleep paralysis and about 8% of the population has experienced
some variation of it in their lives.
While this can be absolutely terrifying, scientists say it isn’t dangerous.
Phew.
People used to think that this paralysis was caused by supernatural beings like demons
holding people down while they sleep.
Since hallucinations are fairly common with this condition, it’s understandable that
people would think the thing they saw was what was stopping them from moving, but there’s
actually a very scientific, not-so-supernatural explanation for why some people wake up and
can’t move.
When we sleep, we experience cycles of REM sleep and non-REM sleep.
Rapid eye movement sleep is when your eyes move quickly from one side to the other.
This is the time of night when parts of your brain like the thalamus and the amygdala are
most active.
Usually, people wake up when their brains are in the non-REM phase, but sometimes you
wake up when you’re still in REM sleep.
This is what prompts sleep paralysis.During REM sleep, neurotransmitters like GABA and
glycine basically turn off your muscles to make sure you don’t act out your dreams.
So if you wake up before a REM cycle is over, your muscles are still sleeping, so you can’t
move, even if you’re fully awake.
Your chest muscles are turned off too, with the exception of your diaphragm.
That’s why people experience shortness of breath or feel pressure on their chest.
When your brain is in REM mode, your dreams are the most vivid.
In sleep paralysis, your mind is still partially dreaming, leading to hallucinations that can
feel super real.
People experience visual, sensory and auditory hallucinations, but they disappear once the
paralysis is over - usually after a couple minutes.
Sleep paralysis is thought to be caused by sleep deprivation, certain medications, sleep
disorders like sleep apnea and narcolepsy, stress, and altered sleep patterns, like working
night shifts.
If you’re between the ages of 10 and 25, you’re more likely to experience it.
And people with mental disorders like PTSD, anxiety, and depression are also at higher
risk of having the condition.
But, while all this might sound really scary, researchers recently found that 20% of people
who experience sleep paralysis on a regular basis actually find it pleasant!
Since it’s not dangerous, they relax and just let it happen.
Scientists are also investigating whether there’s a genetic link to this condition.
Twin studies have pointed towards yes, but there’s still more research to be done.
Unfortunately, there’s no cure for this, but doctors suggest regulating your sleep
schedule and avoiding alcohol and drugs before bed.
Sleeping on your back also contributes to the problem, so try a different position.
In serious cases, an antidepressant may be prescribed, but this condition isn’t permanent
or dangerous.
Curious to know why it's sometimes so difficult to fall asleep?
Check out this video!
well aside from worrying about that one thing you did in middle school several years ago.
It might have something to do with what you're eating.
Drinks and food with caffeine can cause sleep disturbances.
Especially when you have them close to bed time!
as always, my name is Blocko, this has been Life Noggin, Don't forget to keep on thinking!