It's 1am in the morning and I could not sleep at all. So i was thinking of reading some articles about "what to do, if you can't sleep" and I encounter this disorder called Sleep paralysis, I decided to read it and now I am trying to explain what sleep paralysis is. I gather some information and put it all together in my blog.
It is the feeling of being conscious but enable to move.
Sleep paralysis occurs when a person is falling asleep or walking up. People feel pressure on their chest or a sense of choking during the attack. Episodes of this condition can last just a few seconds or minutes. Research indicates that stress, trauma, anxiety and depression could increase the chances of experiencing sleep paralysis. Sleep paralysis occurs when a person wakes up before the REM cycle is finished. REM (Rapid eye movements) is a stage of sleep when the brain is very active and dreams often occur. During REM, the muscles of the body are essentially turned off. This happens to stop you acting out your dreams and hurting yourself. Sleep paralysis occurs when your brain moves out of the REM phase, but your body hasn't yet caught up. Many people experience hallucinations during sleep paralysis. It occurs because the brain is still in a dream state. People have reported seeing strange and unusual visuals, while experiencing sleep paralysis.
Approximately 7.6% of the general population experience sleep paralysis.
The number rises to 28% in people, who have general disrupted sleep patterns.
And up to 34% in those, who suffer from anxiety and depression.
This disorder is more likely to happen to people between the ages of 10 and 25. Genetics may play a significant role in sleep paralysis. The condition is often linked to narcolepsy. Narcolepsy is a condition characterised by an extreme tendency to fall asleep whenever in relaxing surroundings. Sleeping on your back may cause frequent episodes of sleep paralysis. Sleep deprivation and irregular sleep schedule can also trigger sleep paralysis. There is no specific treatment for sleep paralysis. Antidepressants are sometimes prescribed in severe cases. A number of cognitive sleep therapy techniques can help people exert more control over sleep paralysis.