Friday, April 27, 2007 @ 9:00 PM
yo!
it's friday night and i can't be bothered to catch up on my homework.
just read kaysiong's blog about sleep paralysis. i didn't know he experiences it too! i honestly thought that nobody else i know has this problem too...
the first time it happened i was scared out of my wits. then subsequently as i experience the same symptoms on more than 5 occasions, i knew it was not something supernatural. but i never really bothered to find out what exactly it is. until today! now i'm utterly convinced that it is just a sleep disorder and not some otherworldly encounter that befall on me.
http://www.spis.org.uk/
Overview
Sleep Paralysis is the term given to a period of inability to perform voluntary movements. It can happen when you are falling asleep (known as Hypnogogic or Predormital form) or when waking up (known as Hypnopompic or Postdormital form).
Symptoms
Usually, the sufferer of an episode of Sleep Paralysis will report that they felt an inability to move any part of their body whilst falling asleep, or immediately upon waking up - the whole body feels paralysed.The sufferer is fully aware that they are awake, but have great difficulty moving. The experience can produce great anxiety and fear, as the sufferer will struggle to "wake up".
What causes it?
You might not realise, but Paralysis while you are asleep is a normal condition. Your body secretes hormones which relax certain muscles and prevent you from acting out your dreams.
If the hormone kicks in too fast when you are going to sleep, you may feel paralysed although still conscious. The process of waking up is paralysis in reverse, where the hormone doesn’t wear off fast enough as you wake up. Thus, you remain paralysed though conscious.
It is harmful?
No - in the vast majority of cases it is not. The after effects may include a period of fright, followed by a period of restlessness. Occasionally, you may fear going back to sleep by worrying that it may occur again, but this can pass quickly.
Regular sufferers will find it easier to cope with episodes of Sleep Paralysis, as deep down they know that it causes no lasting effects and does pass in time.
How can I break an episode of Sleep Paralysis?
Knowing that you will eventually "wake up" from the episode of Sleep Paralysis, some sufferers will rest in the condition, allowing it to pass naturally. Others will struggle to "wake up" each and every time it occurs. A good way to leave the paralysed state is to breathe in a calm, relaxed fashion and make attempts to move small body parts, such as the eyelids or fingers and toes.