Sleep Paralysis Overview
Sleep paralysis is a sleep disorder in which a person awakes feeling fully conscious but unable to move. The paralysis occurs when the brain awakes from a REM (rapid eye movement) state, but the body continues to be in paralysis. Sleep paralysis may can last anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes.
Sleep paralysis may be accompanied by hallucinations, panic symptoms, and an acute sense of danger. The hallucinations make sleep paralysis particularly frightening because completely dream-like and fantasy objects may appear in the room alongside the individual.
The condition is often connected to narcolepsy, a neurological disorder in which the patient experiences uncontrollable naps. However, there are also many people who experience sleep paralysis without any signs of narcolepsy.
There is no explanation of why people experience sleep paralysis. It is not harmful; however people become very scared because they do not know what is happening to them. But within minutes, the person is gradually or abruptly able to move again. The episode is often ended by a sound or a touch on the body.
In severe cases of sleep paralysis, which are classified by occurring at least once a week for 6 months, medication may be used to help treat the condition. Otherwise, sleep paralysis episodes may be minimized by getting enough sleep, reducing stress, regular exercise and a regular sleep schedule.
