Okay, so I decided to make this thread because I know a lot of people (including myself) have or have had sleep paralysis at least once. I always find that sharing whatever happened always makes me feel better. I also am very curious to what other people have experienced.
What is sleep paralysis?
(From Wikipedia)
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Sleep paralysis
The Nightmare by Henry Fuseli (1781) is thought to be a depiction of sleep paralysis perceived as a demonicvisitation.
Specialty Sleep medicine
Symptoms Awareness but inability to move during waking or falling asleep[1][2]
Duration Less than a couple of minutes[2]
Risk factors Narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea, alcohol use, sleep deprivation[1][2]
Diagnostic method Based on description[2]
Differential diagnosis Narcolepsy, atonic seizure, hypokalemic periodic paralysis, night terrors[1][2]
Treatment Reassurance, sleep hygiene, cognitive behavioral therapy, antidepressants[1]
Frequency 8–50%[2]
Sleep paralysis is when, during waking up or falling asleep, a person is aware but unable to move or speak.[1][2] During an episode, one may hallucinate (hear, feel, or see things that are not there), which often results in fear.[1] Episodes generally last less than a couple of minutes.[2] It may occur as a single episode or be recurrent.[1]
The condition may occur in those who are otherwise healthy or those with narcolepsy, or it may run in families as a result of specific genetic changes.[2] The condition can be triggered by sleep deprivation, psychological stress, or abnormal sleep cycles.[2] The underlying mechanism is believed to involve a dysfunction in REM sleep.[2] Diagnosis is based on a person’s description.[2] Other conditions that can present similarly include narcolepsy, atonic seizure, and hypokalemic periodic paralysis.[2]
Treatment options for sleep paralysis have been poorly studied.[1] It is recommended that people be reassured that the condition is common and generally not serious.[1] Other efforts that may be tried include sleep hygiene, cognitive behavioral therapy, and antidepressants.[1]
Between 8% and 50% of people experience sleep paralysis at some time.[2][3] About 5% of people have regular episodes.[2]Males and females are affected equally.[2] Sleep paralysis has been described throughout history.[1] It is believed to have played a role in the creation of stories about alien abduction and other paranormal events.[1]
I’ll start by sharing my worst story.
I was lying in my bed, in some sort of half dreaming state. I was beginning to lucid dream when I suddenly got sleep paralysis. I luckily knew what was going on, but that didn’t really stop me from freaking out. There were loud whispers, so loud it made me feel like my head was going to explode. Then watching over me was this shadowy figure. It looked like a tall, thin man, with tree branches behind him or growing out of him (idrk). The worst part of it all was the fact that I was screaming and trying to move but I couldn’t. I just hated that feeling of helplessness. Though I am very blessed in the fact that it only lasted a minutes or two. I know a lot of people have it for hours, and I can’t even imagine that.
