People may wake up in the middle of the night and not be able to move or make a sound. They can see a shadowy figure hovering in the corner. Feeling pressure in your chest or feeling a hand around your throat.
Other times, they feel removed from their frozen bodies. A feeling as if they were floating out of their sheets. These bizarre experiences are known as sleep paralysis, a common and diagnosable sleep disorder.
see more
Biology teacher fired after class on XX and XY chromosomes;…
Cannabidiol found in common plant in Brazil brings new perspective…
History
References to sleep paralysis are scattered throughout the story. Folklore and myths from around the world describe the terrifying experience related to the disease.
According to a 2011 survey, about 7.6% of the world's population experiences at least one episode of sleep paralysis during their lifetime. The highest rates observed among students and psychiatric patients.
It can also affect those with post-traumatic stress or panic disorder. Sleep paralysis is also a common symptom of narcolepsy. This is a condition characterized by excessive drowsiness.
Sleep paralysis in the absence of narcolepsy is known as "isolated sleep paralysis".
Hallucinations
Nowadays, scientists have gained a better understanding of sleep paralysis as a neurological disorder. The problem arises from interrupted REM sleep. REM is an abbreviation for the rapid eye movements that occur during this stage of the sleep cycle.
During an episode of sleep paralysis, a person is paralyzed for seconds or minutes. While frozen under the sheets, many people also experience vivid hallucinations.
People who experience sleep paralysis often describe feeling an evil presence. A study published in the journal Sleep Medicine reported that of 185 patients diagnosed with sleep paralysis, about 58% felt a presence in the room with them.
Sleep paralysis can also cause people to feel tightness in their chest or feel like their body is moving without them controlling it, according to the American Sleep Association.
Risk factors and treatment
A myriad of factors including substance use, genetic factors, history of trauma, diagnosis psychiatric and poor physical health and sleep quality, may increase the risk of developing paralysis sleep.
The frequency and severity of episodes has also been linked to symptoms of anxiety and sleep deprivation. There is no definite treatment for sleep paralysis.
Doctors often refer diagnosed patients to treatments that improve sleep quality. In more extreme cases, patients may be given a low dose of antidepressants.
These medications can help mitigate the symptoms of sleep paralysis by suppressing certain aspects of REM sleep.