Sleep paralysis, the disturbing and frightening night experience we experience when we sleep, is much more common than we think. Almost every individual has at least once lived in their life. We present some important facts to know about this sleep disorder.
Sleep paralysis is a medical condition where a person on awakening feels paralyzed or unable to move or even to speak. It is also often accompanied by hallucinations, which makes the situation much more frightening.
7 important facts to know about sleep paralysis:
1. A misunderstood crisis:
People have been trying for a long time to understand why we have sleep paralysis, but there has been no valid explanation so far.
However, several studies have consistently shown that people who are exhausted, stressed or sleep deprived are more likely to suffer from sleep paralysis.
2. Safe:
It can not be denied that sleep paralysis is a frightening and horrible experience, but there is no real danger. This does not cause any physical damage to the body. So, next time you experience it, tell yourself it's just a dream and that it's not real. It may seem like forever, but the more you stay positive, the less scary it will be.
3. You lose control of your body:
No matter how much you try to strive, even if you are aware of sleep paralysis, you can not wake up your body. Some people may simply move their fingers or shake their toes or facial muscles. It finally helps them wake up, but most people have to wait patiently for it to be over. The state of sleep paralysis can last from 20 seconds to minutes.
4. It's not an illness:
Know that this is not an illness and it is a 100% natural event. Sleep paralysis can happen to anyone. Several studies have shown that most people have experienced it at least once in their life and are probably not aware of it.
The level of intensity of paralysis varies from person to person. Young adults and people with a history of mental illness are more likely to have sleep paralysis.
5. Nightmares and hallucinations:
Symptoms of sleep paralysis include hallucinations and nightmares. However, these are different from the visuals you see in your sleep when your eyes are closed. These hallucinations occur when your mind is alert and feels awake.
This is what makes the situation twice as scary as we have been conditioned to think that seeing is believing. You feel extra anxiety when you are unable to scream or move.
6. Historical cases of sleep paralysis:
The researchers tried to explain and understand this phenomenon. Persian medical texts, dating back to the 10th century, also contain notes on sleep paralysis. The very first observation of sleep paralysis was made by a Dutch doctor in 1664.
7. Folkloric stories:
There are many popular stories and legends from around the world that speak about this condition in different cultures. Kanashibar in Japan means to be linked to metal. The Chinese know the phenomena of sleep paralysis as a "ghost oppression", while Americans report them to extraterrestrial abductions.
In African culture, they associate sleep paralysis with "a devil who climbs on your back," where demons have sex with people in their sleep and are commonly called Incubus or Succubus.