Sleep paralysis is a form of sleep disorder characterized by the inability to move or speak while conscious and on the verge of waking up or, more rarely, falling asleep.

1. lisamariecannon
lisamariecannon
https://lisamariecannon.livejournal.com/
2015-10-23 11:34:00
Sleep Paralysis:
Frightening, but not
Fatal
Sleep paralysis is a form of sleep disorder characterized by the inability to move or
speak while conscious and on the verge of waking up or, more rarely, falling
asleep.
Sleep paralysis in folklore
Many people who have experienced sleep paralysis report feeling terrified and
sensing a malevolent presence near them. In the past, cultures all over the world
have attributed sleep paralysis to supernatural beings. For example, in Turkey,
sleep paralysis was referred to as “karabasan” and was said to be caused by a
demon sitting on the sleeper's chest. During the Salem Witch Trials in the 1800s,
people blamed incidences of sleep paralysis on alleged witches. In Japan, it is
known as “kanashibari,” or “bound in metal,” while sleep paralysis is referred to as
“motakka” among the Kurds.
Image source: wikipedia.org
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/56/John_Henry_Fuseli_-
_The_Nightmare.JPG)
The real cause of sleep paralysis
During the rapid eye movement (REM) sleep phase, a person experiences muscle
atonia or temporary muscle paralysis, which prevents him or her from acting out
dreams. Sleep paralysis occurs when the mechanism that causes this brief muscle
paralysis during REM sleep persists after regaining consciousness. In other words,
the sleeper's mind has woken up while the body remains asleep.

2. TAGS: night hag, parasomnia, sleep disorders, sleep paralysis, waking nightmare
The malevolent presence that some people who have experienced sleep paralysis
describe could be attributed to hallucinations brought about by feelings of
helplessness that they feel when they wake up to find that they cannot move.
Image source: theplaidzebra.com (http://www.theplaidzebra.com/wp-
content/uploads/2014/12/Sleep-Paralysis_Plad-Zebra-750x400.jpg)
Sleep paralysis prevention and treatment
Risk factors for sleep paralysis include stress, not getting enough sleep, overuse of
stimulants such as caffeine, and the use of certain medications. It also appears to
occur more often to people who sleep on their backs.
Simply adopting healthier sleeping habits, such as going to bed at the same time
each night, getting at least six hours of sleep, maintaining a restful sleep
environment, and cutting down on the use of stimulants can prevent sleep
paralysis.
People who suffer from severe, recurring sleep paralysis, however, should consult
a medical professional for more treatment options.
Dr. Lisa Marie Cannon (http://www.vitals.com/internists/nj/ho-ho-kus) specializes in
diagnosing and treating sleep disorders. For more discussions on sleep medicine,
like this Facebook page. (https://www.facebook.com/Dr-Lisa-Marie-Cannon-
271295543055944/timeline/)

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4 comments
EmilyMcCabe82 4 years ago EXPAND
I've experienced this way too often and I literally just woke up in complete panic after an episode.
OliveiraAlisha
November 30 2015, 15:39:31 UTC COLLAPSE