Kristin WolgemuthSleep Paralysis
September 9th 2009 14:38
Sleeping can be an elusive goal.
Sleep paralysis is a little understood phenomenon that happens when the person is still awake, but he/she is unable to move. It means that the person is not moving through the normal sleep cycles that usually take place every night. It can be when a person has periods when they feel awake but cannot move. This is not usually the sign of any serious medical condition, including underlying psychological problems.
There are many explanations for this, including that evil spirits are present. That is an old explanation that occurs in almost every culture on earth. Read the following excerpt taken from webMD.com:
Over the centuries, symptoms of sleep paralysis have been described in many ways and often attributed to "evil" presences: unseen night demons in ancient times, the old hag in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, and alien abductors. Almost every culture throughout history has had stories of shadowy evil creatures that terrify helpless humans at night. People have long sought explanations for this mysterious sleep-time paralysis and the accompanying feelings of terror.
This is a very interesting phenomenon. Hypnagogic or predormital sleep paralysis occurs when the person is trying to fall asleep. Most people are unaware that this is happening. However, sometimes people become aware in the midst of this, and they cannot move or speak. This can be a frightening occurrence.
Hypnopompic sleep paralysis occurs when the body moves between REM sleep NREM (non-rapid eye movement) sleep. A usual cycle last about 90 minutes and accounts for 75% of sleep on any given night. The body follows a pattern of going from NREM sleep to REM sleep. If a person wakes up before the REM part of the cycle is finished, he or she may experience sleep paralysis, as this is the period of sleep when muscles are most relaxed.
Who develops sleep paralysis?
Up to as many as four out of every 10 people may have sleep paralysis. This common condition is often first noticed in the teen years. But men and women of any age can have it. Sleep paralysis may run in families. Other factors that may be linked to sleep paralysis include:
• a lack of sleep
• a sleep schedule that changes
• mental conditions such as stress or bipolar disorder
• sleeping on the back
• other sleep problems such as narcolepsy or nighttime leg cramps
• use of certain medications
• substance abuse
It is often unnecessary to treat this medical condition. However, the following list of symptoms suggest a possible need to talk to your doctor:
• you feel anxious about your symptoms
• your symptoms leave you very tired during the day
• your symptoms keep you up during the night
Your doctor may want to gather more information about your sleep health by doing any of these things:
• ask you to describe your symptoms and keep a sleep diary for a few weeks
• discuss your health history, including any known sleep disorders or any family history of sleep disorders
• refer you to a sleep specialist for further evaluation
• conduct overnight sleep studies or daytime nap studies to make sure you do not have another sleep disorder
How is sleep paralysis treated?
Most people need no treatment for sleep paralysis. Treating any underlying conditions such as narcolepsy may help if you are anxious or unable to sleep well. These treatments may include the following:
• improving sleep habits -- such as making sure you get 6 to 8 hours of sleep each night
• using antidepressant medication to help regulate sleep cycles
• treating any mental health problems that may contribute to sleep paralysis
• treating any other sleep disorders, such as narcolepsy or leg cramps
If you have symptoms of sleep paralysis, webMD suggests that there is no reason to fear evil spirits or alien abductors. They suggest making sure you get enough sleep and trying to relax and relieve stress, especially before hitting the sack. They also recommend new sleeping positions, especially if you lie on your back to sleep.
Source: Really Long Link
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