Know About Sleep Paralysis

One of the most common forms of sleep disorders is sleep paralysis. Sleep paralysis basically refers to the inability to perform voluntary movements either at sleep onset or upon awakening. Some people also refer to sleep paralysis as familial sleep paralysis, hynogogic paralysis or pre or post-dormital paralysis.  

Some of the frequently observed symptoms of sleep paralysis include:

• During sleep onset or upon awakening, the inability to move the trunk or limbs.
• Experiencing brief episodes of partial or complete skeletal muscle paralysis.
• Associated spells of hypnagogic hallucinations or dream-like mentation.

Though, sleep paralysis can cause you the inability to move your limbs for some time, it cannot be called as being harmful. It is only a temporary disability that is cured within some time. However, in some cases, sleep paralysis is associated with narcolepsy. This is basically a neurological condition where people experience uncontrollable naps. At other times, people seem to hallucinate things and situations and a feeling of suffocation overcomes them. It is in fact these conditions and feelings that cause anxiety and terror among people and they start taking these as harmful effects of sleep paralysis where there actually is no physical harm.

There are several cases where the frequency of sleep paralysis is quite high. For such cases, it is best advisable to use suitable medication. However, if the occurrence of sleep paralysis is less frequent, it is better to follow good sleeping habits rather than depend on medications. 

Certain things you may follow are:

1. Try to get enough sleep to provide your body with the rest it needs.
2. Try to keep stress and anxiety at bay.
3. Follow a regular sleep schedule. Frequent changes in your sleeping patterns can cause discomfort and loss of sleep.
4. The best way to get peace of mind is to practice exercise, meditation or yoga on a regular basis, possibly in the morning hours. 

Sleep Paralysis: An Unwanted condition

General Idea: Sleep paralysis is paralysis associated with sleep which may occur in normal subjects or be associated with narcolepsy, cataplexy, and hypnagogic hallucinations.

Possible Causes: These include: 

• Sleeping in a face upwards or supine position
• Irregular sleeping schedules; naps, sleeping in, sleep deprivation
• Increased stress
• Sudden environmental / lifestyle changes
• A lucid dream that immediately precedes the episode.

Treatment:
 

Treatment starts with patient education about sleep stages and about the muscle atonia that is typically associated with REM sleep. For most healthy individuals, avoiding chronic sleep deprivation is enough to relieve symptoms. It is recommended that patients be evaluated for narcolepsy if symptoms persist. 

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