Have you ever found yourself in a situation of waking up in the middle of the night and suddenly struggling to move your lips and body parts?
Can be quite a scary situation to be in, right?
You will be relieved to find out that you are not the only one that this happens to, and the correct term used to describe this is – Sleep Paralysis.
What does it feel like?
According to a reputable medical research and information publication Cleveland Clinic, during this state people are usually well aware of their surroundings but cannot move nor speak. However, you can move your eyes and breathe.
The above-mentioned source further adds: “Many people hear or see things that aren’t there (hallucinations), making episodes even more frightening.
Health and wellness publication Healthline adds that others may feel that something is pressing down on them. This can last anything from a few seconds to minutes and affects people of all ages of life.
Causes
According to the health publication Very Well Health some of the main triggers of sleep paralysis include factors like sleep deprivation, stress as well as disrupted sleep.
Meanwhile, Cleveland Clinic explains that it happens, “During the rapid eye movement (REM) sleep stage, you’re likely to have dreams.
“The brain prevents muscles in your limbs from moving to protect yourself from acting dreams out and hurting yourself. Sleep paralysis happens when you regain awareness going into or coming out of REM.”
Prevention
To reduce or prevent these episodes from occurring Healthline has recommended the following tips:
- Reduce the stress in your life.
- Exercise frequently, but avoid doing it close to bedtime.
- Get enough rest.
- Maintain a regular sleep schedule.
- Avoid sleeping on your back, sleep on your side instead.
Also see: 5 Things to help you cool down if you cannot sleep on a hot day
