Sleep paralysis: what is it?

What happens during sleep paralysis sounds like a nightmare: You are awake and cannot move. In this article you will find out what happens with sleep paralysis and what you can do about it.

Around eight percent of the population has already had sleep paralysis at least once in their life, according to one 2012 study. You can find out what that is and what you can do about it here.

Different phases of sleep: a brief overview

First of all, sleep is important. It is necessary for body and mind that we get enough and restful sleep. Do you suffer longer lack of sleep, it can quickly have a negative impact on your health. Studies confirm that, among other things, cardiovascular diseases, depression or being overweight can be the result of sleep problems.

Every sleep is made up of four phases:

• Fall asleep: The body relaxes, breathing and the pulse become calmer.
• Light sleep: Pulse and breathing become slower and slower and muscle tension diminishes. Here is a Muscle twitching possible. This shows that part of the brain is still active and sending signals to muscles that are already relaxed.
• Deep sleep: The body is completely relaxed and recuperating in this phase. The heartbeat is slow, blood pressure drops, and body temperature drops.
• REM sleep: REM stands for “rapid eye movement”. In this phase the brain is active again and the eyes move very quickly under the closed eyelids. Then we dream most often and often most intensely.

These sleep phases are strung together and can occur within one night repeat several times – This is then a sleep cycle that lasts around 1.5 hours. You can even wake up every now and then at night and not remember it the next morning. When bedtime is coming to an end, the REM phase lasts longer.

What is sleep paralysis?

Sleep paralysis or sleep paralysis is REM-Sleep disorderthat occurs when falling asleep or shortly after waking up. Waking phases in which the affected person is characteristic are characteristic can’t move. That is, you are awake but unable to activate your muscles. Those affected feel paralyzed and usually can too do not speak.

Hallucinations can also occur. Researchers even assume sothat approximately 75 percent of sleep paralysis episodes are associated with hallucinations that are different from normal dreams. All of this can – as you can imagine – lead to feelings of fear and cause panic. But: Basically it is sleep paralysis harmless.

Sleep paralyses are largely unexplored, however occupied science is increasingly concerned with this phenomenon. An excursion into biology explains what sleep paralysis is: During sleep, a neurotransmitter (glycine) ensures that you do not convert movements that you dream into reality, i.e. not actually perform them. This is actually a body’s own protective mechanismthat you do not consciously perceive. During sleep paralysis, however, this mechanism does not take place as it normally does during the REM phase, which is why it is also called REM atonia. Then you experience the state of paralysis consciously because you are partly awake, but partly still asleep.

Dream elements often flow into the half-awake state and can thus lead to hallucinations. People who suffer from sleep paralysis, to report partly from presences that they perceive in space. These are often shadowy figures or the mere perceived presence of others. Those affected often feel a pressure on their chest or think they are suffocating. Hallucinations can be visual, auditory, or tactile to express. Sometimes sleep paralyzes are paranormal or at least spiritual experiences connected.

What can you do about sleep paralysis?

Sleep paralysis is not a disease, it is a sleep disorder. Often sleep paralysis occurs in patients who suffer from narcolepsy, i.e. an impairment of the natural sleeping and waking rhythm. trigger be able stressSleep deprivation or excessive alcohol consumption.

If you experience sleep paralysis, it is difficult to get out of it. Normally it “only” lasts a few seconds to several minutes, but it can also stretch over a longer period of time. Usually it ends by itselfas soon as you actually wake up or go back to sleep.

The duration of sleep paralysis can vary according to those affected shorten it with the following tip: Concentrate on one part of the body (e.g. arm, leg, little finger) and try to move it. Also make it clear to yourself that these are really just hallucinations and that you don’t need to be afraid.

If you suffer from sleep paralysis frequently or for a long time, it can make sense to seek professional help. On the one hand, this can be a doctor who is looking for physical causes. On the other hand, therapeutic help may also be useful, as the feelings and experiences associated with the sleep disorder can be quite stressful.

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