Sleep paralysis (wake paralysis, sleep paralysis) is a sleep disorder that paralyzes muscles while maintaining awareness that occurs during falling asleep or during the transition from sleep to wakefulness. What is sleep paralysis and what are the treatments for sleep problems?

Sleep paralysis (sleep paralysis, sleep paralysis)is a natural phenomenon in our body. It always occurs when our sleep enters REM sleep, because that's where we dream the most.

Thanks to sleep paralysis, during the night we do not chase the murderer chased in a dream or dance at a dream ball. This is quite natural, and by the time we wake up, the paralysis will pass.

It happens, however, that at some point in the REM phase, our mind wakes up and the body cannot keep up with it and remains paralyzed. We can't move, we breathe fast and shallow. This experience causes a lot of anxiety, but it passes after a few or a dozen or so seconds.

Sleep Paralysis: Symptoms

Sleep paralysisis classified as parasomnia, i.e. sleep disorders. The main symptom of this condition is complete or partial inertia of the body, temporary paralysis of the arms, legs and upper torso.

There is sometimes a strong and unjustified feeling of anxiety, fear, dread, or a sense of losing control of reality. Rarely, there are visual or auditory hallucinations that are described by the affected person as visits by aliens or evil powers.

Sleep paralysis was previously depicted as a devil sitting on the chest of a sleeping person.

A person with sleep paralysis often wakes up sharply in fear because they believe that someone or something is constricting their chest and making it impossible to breathe.

Despite their best efforts, the person cannot move, open his eyes, or make any sound. Fortunately, this condition disappears on its own in a fairly short time. So sleep paralysis is not dangerous to your he alth.

Sleep paralysis: causes

The causes of sleep paralysis are not yet fully established.

Presumably, it may be caused by failure to observe the hygiene of sleep, its insufficiency or irregularityor relatively frequent changes of the time zone.

Scientists dealing with this issue say that spontaneous sleep paralysis is a common sleep disorder that affects 5 to 60 percent of people. population.

Another reason may be severe stress, emotional tension, but also addiction to alcohol, drugs or psychoactive substances.

There are also causes in immune disorders and in the inhibitory effect of GABA and glycine neurotransmitters, released from REM-on neurons.

Sometimes it accompanies another disease from the parasomnia group - narcolepsy, which is treated by combining pharmacology with an appropriate lifestyle regimen. Before that, however, a consultation with a sleep disorders clinic is necessary.

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Sleep paralysis: research

It is also important to have an EEG examination and a neurological consultation to make sure that these are not seizures. Sleep paralysis is sometimes confused with sleep apnea, a condition that, in extreme situations, can be life-threatening because it is associated with the cessation of lung ventilation and a decrease in oxygen saturation in the blood.

Sleep Paralysis: Treatment

The only function of the body that a person with sleep paralysis can control is breathing. This is also where the salvation for these people is. It is important to be in control of your breathing when you are anxious. Performing a few deep breaths and exhalations works well. Since the state of paralysis is usually short-lived and not life-threatening, regular breathing helps to avoid panic and regain control of your body.

Sleep paralysis is considered a dissociative state, i.e. one in which the functions of memory, awareness, perception and identity are disconnected.

It is also worth trying to move your fingers and toes - although this will not work during sleep paralysis, the body will send a signal to the brain that it is already awake, which may speed up the end of paralysis. Do the same with your facial muscles, try to smile, raise your eyebrows upwards. Try not to panic, think about something pleasant.

Ask your doctor for a referral to a neurologist, preferably to a sleep disorder treatment center. In very rare cases, your doctor may recommend drug treatment.

Read also: Peaceful sleep - how to fall asleep quickly and take care of the quality of your sleep?

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Psychiatry