This weird phenomenon is known as sleep paralysis. Frequently, sleep
paralysis episodes are accompanied by hallucinations and the sensation of
breathlessness. Such hallucinations likely gave rise to the myths of the
incubus and the succubus, demons that pin people down in their sleep (and
sometimes have sex with them). People may also sense a malevolent presence
nearby or believe they are about to die. Some sleep paralysis episodes come
with feelings of falling, floating or dissociating
from the body.
A study revealed that understanding why it
happens helps people feel less distressed after an episode. Believing that
sleep paralysis is brought on by the supernatural, on the other hand, makes
people feel more nervous. Sleep paralysis is common: half of the world's
population may experience this condition at least once in their lives.
CAUSE
REM atonia -a natural process which happens to everyone, every
night- is the basic cause of this medical condition. REM stands for Rapid Eye Movement (the
phase of sleep most often connected with dreaming) and atonia means lack of muscle tension.
REM atonia is an essential sleep
mechanism. As one fall asleep, it cuts off the electrical signals between his
muscles and brain so that he can sleep peacefully each night. it stops us from
acting out our dreams.
The experience of sleep paralysis
occurs when one’s mind is partially wake but his body remains asleep.
Physically asleep, he remain paralyzed. But mentally conscious, he may start to
panic and his half-dreaming mind conjures up nightmarish images to
"explain" what is happening.
The condition is more likely to arise
if you are under stress and/or have disturbed sleep cycles due to shift work,
narcolepsy, sleep deprivation, jet lag, and other sleep disorders. You're also
more likely to encounter sleep paralysis if you practice certain lucid dreaming techniques.
WHY SO REAL?
If
sleep paralysis is just a dream, why then does it feel so real? Some
of the effects ARE indeed real. This state is a very clever merger of waking
consciousness with the dream world.
For
instance, footsteps thumping towards the bed are often a distortion of the
sound of your own heartbeat, pounding in your chest due to all the adrenaline.
Hearing your assailant breathing unnaturally is common too - thought to be the
sound of your own gasps for breath in this panicked state.
The
feeling of your body being paralyzed is real, too. Releasing yourself from the
grip of the paralysis is one way to end this terrifying situation (see how
below).
However,
the perceived difficulty to breathe properly is what causes many people to
imagine an entity trying to harm them. It's important to remember here that the
effect is psychosomatic.
HOW TO STOP SLEEP PARALYSIS
If
you have been experiencing sleep paralysis recently, there is good news: in the
majority of cases, it goes away on its own. Only a tiny fraction of the
population experiences chronic episodes. So try to isolate the factors that may
have caused this recent bout and stop disturbing your sleep cycles.
During
an episode, there are things you can do to stop sleep paralysis in its tracks.
It depends on the severity of your condition but most people find they can
focus on a specific task - like breaking the paralysis - to help overcome the
fear.
Here's how to stop sleep
paralysis in simple steps:
1. First relax your body into the
paralysis... don't fight it forcefully as this will create
panic and increase the chance of negative hallucinations.
2. Try to gently wiggle your fingers
and toes. These tiny movements will eventually tell your brain that your body
is awake and it will stop the atonia.
3. At the same time, try to move
your eyes by blinking and looking around the room. Again, the goal is to establish
movement to fully awaken you.
4. Try to move your lips and facial
muscles.
5. If your breathing feels
restricted by the paralysis, remember that you have been breathing fine like
this while asleep. Focus on breathing as deeply as you can and not letting panic
overtake your thoughts.
6. Keep your mental state positive
and calm. Focus on relaxing thoughts - can you imagine a beach or distant
location in the sun? Some people find it helps to sing in their mind as this
instantly raises your positivity.
Maintain
these goals for the duration of the sleep paralysis. Sometimes you will find it
wears off in a few seconds. Other times it may appear to get the better of you
but stay strong and focus on those tiny movements. As soon as your brain
receives adequate signals that you are awake, it will shut down the REM atonia,
you will be able to move your whole body again, and the hallucinations will
disappear.
REMEMBER: PANICKING MAKES IT WORSE
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