Sleep Paralysis
and
Night Visitors
Sleep Paralysis:
A temporal paralysis of the body right before or
after sleep. Often associated with auditory, visual, or tactile
hallucinations. Sometimes classified as a part of narcolepsy
In folklore around the world, cases of people waking up but being unable
to move have been thought to be the work of ghosts, demons or other
things that go bump in the night.
Recent research has indicated that
this is not the case, though sleep paralysis does exist.
During REM
sleep, the mind is working rapidly, but the body shuts down its physical
functions so it does not move. Sleep paralysis occurs when the body
reacts as it would in REM sleep, though the person is wide awake and
aware. Sometimes, this is accompanied by hallucinations that are often
traumatic in nature.
There are ways to treat sleep paralysis and the
first steps begin at home.
Believe it or not, your body is virtually paralyzed during your sleep – most likely to prevent your body from acting out aspects of your dreams. Glands begin to secrete a hormone that helps induce sleep and neurons send signals to the spinal cord which cause the body to relax and later become essentially paralyzed.
Here are some of the symptoms of Sleep Paralysis:
- Buzzing in ears
- Unable to move or call out
- Hallucinations
- Sense of danger
- Pressure on chest or face
During an episode, the sleeper can see everything in the room but some things my look distorted. Sometimes the victim will feel a presence or even see a figure in your room and begin to panic. These are very frightening.
Sometimes it is associated with a few sleep disorders.
Here is a list of factors that can cause such an episode:
- Sleeping on your back
- Irregular sleeping patterns
- Stress
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Lucid dreaming
How to Treat
Sleep Paralysis
By Mark Orwell, eHow Contributor
Instructions
1
Prepare your body for a proper sleep. This means you need to eat well during the day, because sleep is affected by the minerals and nutrients that you put into your body on a regular basis. You also need to set enough time aside for proper sleep, which would be 6- to 8-hour periods. Take less naps and sleep paralysis will be less likely to happen.
2
If episodes of sleep paralysis continue to persist, you should go to your doctor. He will look you over and tell you if they may be caused by another medical problem, or if he can write a prescription for something that could help.
3
If a prescription is in order, there are two main ones that will be given. The first is Ritalin, which is taken every morning in order to work during the day. It helps regulate sleep cycles, but it has been documented to treat sleep paralysis in some adults. More success has been seen with the use of Clonazepam. This is taken before sleep and regulates sleep patterns differently and better in relation to sleep paralysis than Ritalin.
4
When taking any medicine, make sure to follow up with a checkup with your doctor and monitor your sleep paralysis episodes to make sure they are diminishing.
Tips & Warnings
Try sleeping on your side at night. It has been shown that sleeping on your back is a position that may induce periods of sleep paralysis.
When experiencing sleep paralysis, do not concentrate on waking up. Those who suffer from these episodes say it's best to put them out of your mind if possible, which will lessen the extent of the episode.
*
How to Stop an Attack
of Sleep Paralysis
Nearly everyone suffers from an occasional attack of sleep paralysis. A sleeping person suddenly awakens from a dream to find he or she can't move. Often there seems to be someone else in the room, a malevolent presence who can't be seen or who seems intent on suffocating the sleeper. As frightening as an attack of sleep paralysis may be, a few techniques can stop it and prevent future attacks. Follow these steps to find out how.
Instructions
1
Recognize that you're suffering from nothing more than a miscue. Your brain, which prevents you from acting out your dreams by paralyzing your body, simply hasn't realized that you've awakened. It continues to dream, which is why you see things that aren't really there and why you can't move.
2
Try to break the paralysis by concentrating on moving only one finger or toe. If you can't do this, try moving your eyes, looking side to side as rapidly as you can manage. If you can get a single body part moving, this is often enough to break the paralysis, dispelling the dream images and allowing you to sit up.
3
Get out of bed. Go to the bathroom or get a drink from the kitchen.
4
When you return to bed, sleep on your side. Most attacks of sleep paralysis occur to people who sleep on their backs.
5
To avoid future attacks of sleep paralysis, adopt a regular sleeping schedule. Make sure you're getting adequate rest. Take steps to manage the stress in your daily life. Stop taking sleep aids if you can.
Tips & Warnings
Sleep paralysis is sometimes associated with narcolepsy. If you suffer from sudden attacks of sleepiness during the day, see a doctor.
Tips & Warnings
Sleep paralysis is sometimes associated with narcolepsy. If you suffer from sudden attacks of sleepiness during the day, see a doctor.
How to Stop
Sleep Paralysis
Sleep paralysis is a harmless sleep issue when it is not associated with symptoms of narcolepsy or sleep apnea. Also called isolated sleep paralysis, the condition is marked by awareness of the body's muscle paralysis, or muscle atonia, during REM sleep.
Sometimes this disturbing paralysis is accompanied by dreamlike imagery projected into the sleeping space. This hallucinogenic imagery may include the feeling of an intruder in the bedroom.
According to researcher J. Allan Cheyne, 25-30% of the population is thought to experience sleep paralysis at least once in their lives. Many guides exist for preventing sleep paralysis, but few discuss what to do during the encounter.
Although terrifying, sleep paralysis can be stopped with a combination of mental and physical tactics. Controlling fear is the key.
Instructions
1
Memorizing an affirmation can reduce fear before and during an attack of sleep paralysis.
Before going to bed, write a statement such as "I am in sleep paralysis, a natural condition caused by muscle atonia, and I am in no danger." Use your own words, and memorize the statement.
2
Repeat your affirmation if sleep paralysis occurs while falling asleep or when waking up.
3
Do not fight against the paralysis. Feelings of pressure will only intensify through resistance. Instead, the key is to relax.
4
Taking full, deep breaths is an ancient centering technique.
Notice your breathing. Breathe at a normal pace, but with a full inhale and exhale. Controlling your breathing will help control fear.
5
Wiggle your toe or your finger. Clenching the fist is also effective. REM muscle atonia is not perfect, and often the extremities can be moved, which can break the paralysis completely.
6
Cry out for help. Some people can make short sounds, coughs, or moans in sleep paralysis. Train your sleeping partner to wake you if you make a particular sound.
7
If none of these tactics work, try going with the flow. If you feel you are being "pushed" into the bed, use your will power to pull. This may result in moving into a lucid dream.
Tips & Warnings
Sleep paralysis often occurs several times in a night. To prevent these recurrent episodes, do 10-15 minutes of moderate exercise in your home after awakening. The key is to elevate the heart rate for a sustained and measured time. Use whatever home exercise equipment you have in the house, or walk the stairs. Calisthenics or yoga are more good options.
While isolated sleep paralysis is harmless, it can be terrifying, provoking anxiety and further sleep fragmentation. Feeling safe is the only "cure" for the emotional components of sleep paralysis, so have a close friend's phone number on hand to call. Therapists, ministers, and dream workers are also trained in natural sleep paralysis treatment.
Read more:
- How to Treat Sleep Paralysis - http://www.ehow.com/how_4524908_treat-sleep-paralysis.html#ixzz2TBlSdHvZ
- How to Treat Sleep Paralysis - http://www.ehow.com/how_4524908_treat-sleep-paralysis.html#ixzz2TBlDySR4.
- How to Stop Sleep Paralysis - http://www.ehow.com/how_6103924_stop-sleep-paralysis.html#ixzz2TBo6wHfb
- How to Stop Sleep Paralysis - - http://www.ehow.com/how_2043438_stop-attack-sleep-paralysis.html#ixzz2TBmnE8rj
- How to Stop Sleep Paralysis -http://www.ehow.com/how_6103924_stop-sleep-paralysis.html#ixzz2TBnsOg2D
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