Sleep Paralysis Causes and Prevention
In the wee hours of the morning, you wake suddenly from sleep, overcome by a strange feeling of dread. You’re sure there’s an intruder in your bedroom and spot a terrifying creature at the end of your bed.
Yet you can’t move a muscle — or even scream. It may sound like something out of a horror flick, but this experience, known as sleep paralysis, is a very real phenomenon. While harmless, this problem can be very frightening and the fear of having an episode may interfere with a good night’s sleep.
What Is Sleep Paralysis?
Sleep paralysis is a type of parasomnia or sleep disorder. It typically occurs when you are either falling asleep (hypnogogic) or when you are waking up (hypnopompic). During both of these times, your eyes move quickly and dreams occur as part of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, but your muscles are very relaxed.
If you wake up before this stage ends, you may realize that you are unable to move or speak. A subset of people also experiences hallucinations. These can include:
- A feeling of foreboding
- The sense that someone is in your room
- The sensation of something pressing on your chest or choking you
- An image of a monster, witch, demon, or other menacing figures
Although it’s still unclear why or how these hallucinations occur, researchers believe a harmless neurological disturbance may be involved. An episode of sleep paralysis can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes.
Sleep Paralysis Causes and Prevention
What Causes Sleep Paralysis?
Sleep paralysis is quite common: Surveys found that about 40 percent of people have had the problem at some point in their lives. In fact, almost every culture has some sort of story or explanation for the experience, ranging from vengeful spirits to alien abductors. Folklore aside, several factors can increase your likelihood of having sleep paralysis.
One of the major causes of sleep paralysis is sleep deprivation or a lack of sleep. A changing sleep schedule, sleeping on your back, the use of certain medications, stress, and other sleep-related problems, such as narcolepsy, may also play a role.
Sleep Paralysis Treatment and Prevention
It’s normal to experience occasional episodes of sleep paralysis, and no treatment is necessary. If you have another sleep disorder, treating that problem will usually help prevent paralysis as well. The most important thing you can do to reduce your risk of having an episode is to get plenty of sleep — at least eight hours per night. You should also try keeping a lid on stress and switching to a new position if you typically sleep on your back. If you are troubled by frequent episodes of sleep paralysis, your doctor may recommend that you see a sleep specialist for further evaluation.
