Sleep Paralysis: You want to wake up, but you cannot move

'Sleep Disorder' refers to a group of disorders that alter sleep quality, timing, or length, as well as a person's ability to function normally while awake. Some of these diseases may be indicators of underlying mental health concerns, while others may contribute to other physiological problems.

There are many various types of sleeping problems, but have you ever awoken in the middle of the night with a sensation of dread steadily engulfing you, yet you're completely afraid, unable to move, and unable to speak/shout? Some of you won't have to envision it; it's all too real for the 8% of the population who suffer from sleep paralysis.

Yes, you've arrived in the region of sleep paralysis! Consider yourself fortunate if you've never encountered this occurrence, but be aware that it may happen to anybody.

Sleep paralysis is a medical condition in which a person is temporarily unable to move or talk after waking up from a deep sleep. It's also typical to have the sense that someone or something is in the room with you, or that you can see or hear things (essentially, hallucinating), as well as the physical sensation of chest pressure. In a nutshell, it's terrifying. Let's look about it a little more:

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The two transitions
When you're falling asleep or waking up, you're more likely to have sleep paralysis (the reasons for which are still pretty much unknown). The body is required to enter and exit REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. When your body has problems completing this change, you'll experience sleep paralysis. It's called 'hypnagogic' sleep paralysis if it strikes as you're falling asleep. Sleep paralysis is referred to as 'hypnopompic' when it occurs while waking up.

Night Terrors

Night Terrors and sleep paralysis are frequently confused. While they are both terrifying parasomnias, they are not the same thing. When a person is experiencing SP, they normally keep their eyes open, remain calm, and do not move. It usually happens in the early morning, and a person can simply be roused from this state. A person suffering a night terror, on the other hand, will make sounds or scream throughout the occurrence; it usually happens in the early stages of sleep (non-REM), and waking the individual is difficult. Although adults can have night/sleep terrors (around 2% of the population), the disorder is significantly more common in children, affecting up to 56% of young sleepers.

The Hallucinations
Hallucinations are not loud. According to estimates, hallucinations account for 75 percent of sleep paralysis, and there are three types of hallucinations: When people have intruder hallucinations, they believe there is a hazardous presence or person in the room, Suffocation can occur as a result of chest pressure hallucinations, which are self-descriptive and Out-of-body experiences and perceptions of movement, such as flight, are examples of vestibular-motor (V-M) hallucinations. The sentiments of joy and romantic feelings have been linked to V-M hallucinations.

Dread feeling
It's generally accompanied by a sense of dread, as if you're dying slowly. This is why you feel as if you've awoken from the dead when you eventually do. This is what a fellow suffering has to say about it.

Natural Occurrence
Yes, you read that correctly. It is not an illness, but rather a normal occurrence! Anyone under the sun can experience sleep paralysis. In fact, according to multiple studies, most people experience at least one incident in their lives that they are unaware of. The experience is always incredibly personal and unique to each individual. Young adults and persons with a history of mental illness, on the other hand, are more vulnerable.