Regardless of the controversial statements of scholars or conflicting ideas based on cultural experiences sleep paralysis happens and its real One of the causes is the inability to enjoy sufficient sleeping hours Lacking enough sleep may even affect your productivity at work gym or in social life
While supplements like the ones clarified in the BarBend review and other healthy practices are recommended for healthy sleeping hours its essential to identify the root cause of sleep paralysis the symptoms treatment and prevention Youd be able to know if you have the illness and find a way out of the distressing pre or post sleeping loop in this article
Sleep Paralysis and How it Happens
Some researchers believe that nightmares are also a cause of paralysis Its called the REM parasomnias nightmare disorder and recurrent isolated sleep paralysis which is significant because of how scary it couldve been According to statistics four out of ten people have probably had sleep paralysis at some point and the condition occurs in teens and adults However what happens during this episode
An individual suffering from sleep paralysis would probably feel like someone who wasnt in the room is now there with them They may also feel like something is holding them down to their bed like thick wads of ropes are tied around them If its neither of the above it could be an inability to move or speak while the eyes lay open and the mind is as active as ever These feelings may last a few seconds or extend to minutes So why do they happen
Causes of Sleep Paralysis
Sleep paralysis features an inability to feel the muscles when the mind and brain are active Any of the following can be responsible for it
Insomnia
Insomnia is an inability to sleep regularly or at will You have insomnia if you cant sleep when you want to you wake up regularly during the night or your eyes and mind stay active when you should be sleeping It also happens when you feel tired rather than renewed when you wake up
Another symptom of insomnia is when you cant nap during the day even when youre exhausted Its generally caused by stress depression anxiety noise uncomfortable bed jet lag alcohol or nicotine
Disrupted Sleeping Patterns
Youd have unusual sleep patterns if you have sleep paralysis However you can also have it if you change your shift hours suffer from jet lag or youre disoriented by stress It could happen if you have trouble sleeping at night because youre taking care of a child or youre suffering from panic attacks
Narcolepsy
This rare yet long term brain condition makes you fall asleep without intent to do so It makes it difficult for your brain to regulate and track your sleeping hours After all your sleeping hours result from how the brain understands your body
Therefore excessive daytime sleepiness sleep attacks loss of muscle control leading to weaknesses and hallucinations are common signs of this illness Its usually caused by hormonal changes puberty or menopause psychological stress or an infection like swine flu
Post traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD
This anxiety disorder is caused by frightening events and the episodes of the sleeping disorder can also intensify it It happens when previous traumatic events relive in your subconscious or conscious mind These could be flashbacks or nightmares and could even occur when you see someone who reminds you of the event In this context you could relive road accidents robbery cases violent assaults painful childbirth experiences or other relatively tragic events
However sleep paralysis can also occur due to general anxiety disorder panic disorder from the same factors that cause PTSD and if you have a history of sleep paralysis in your genealogy The only way to find out is to spot the symptoms in your body and health
Symptoms of Sleep Paralysis
There are many signs to know if an individual has sleep paralysis Here is an overview of some of the most significant symptoms
Paralysis in Your Limbs
If youve ever experienced sleep paralysis one thing that happens is the inability to move Something has affected your limbs making it impossible to roll to the other side of the bed or lift your body from it If youd just had a nightmare this same symptom makes fighting to get out of bed impossible
Inability to Speak
It occurs after waking up and could take about two minutes to stop You could want to scream from a nightmare and realize youre incapable of words It doesnt mean you mustve had a nightmare before you experience sleep paralysis it happens with or without nightmares
A Feeling of Suffocation
If you ever feel like youre struggling to breathe when you wake up its a symptom of sleep paralysis You would feel like youre choking as if someone is restricting your abilities to move speak or react to your environment Its scary even if it doesnt happen often
Hallucinations
Its when you perceive what isnt present or hear a voice with no apparent source It also occurs when you smell touch or taste something that isnt there
Other symptoms are fear and panic resulting from whats happening to you leading to feelings of helplessness Aside from these you could also feel a tightening around your throat in addition to the daytime sleepiness and other symptoms of narcolepsy
Treatment for Sleep Paralysis
The treatment for what you feel depends on how severe it is If its frequent you may need to visit a doctor If you experience it once in a while and can identify that its sleep paralysis the following are easy treatments to consider You can start by
Improving Your Sleeping Habits Please ensure that you sleep for a minimum of six to eight hours every night Unhealthy sleeping hours could make you feel these symptoms in the morning especially if it has become a routine
Pay Attention to Your Mental Health Pay attention to your mental health issues like panic attacks or PTSD These issues must be linked to sleep paralysis as adhering to treatments will make you feel better in the long term
Schedule a Visit to a Doctor Visiting a doctor is your last resort if any of the above doesnt work If prescribed you should take antidepressant medications to regulate your sleeping hours The drug could be fluoxetine or others that are proven to work Your doctor may also recommend stimulants or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors to help you manage sleep paralysis
Your doctor may also recommend non drug treatments It could be avoiding blue lights an hour or two before sleeping Blue lights affect your retinas and keep you awake even when you want to sleep
Prevention of Sleep Paralysis
There are many ways to prevent sleep paralysis If it has occurred and you have gotten the proper treatment you can also do some things to prevent a recurrence Some of the ways to prevent reoccurrence are
Reduce stressful activities to feel less tired every day
Exercise regularly to improve your physical and mental health
Create a regular sleep schedule to stay on top of your sleeping and waking hours and avoid sleep disorders
Considering yoga to overcome health issues
Try therapy to stay in charge of your subconscious and psychological health
Conclusion
Sleep paralysis is a condition that may lead to a more severe health condition if unattended The illness could be severe for some individuals and mild for others but regardless of the frequency ensure to pay attention to it and seek treatment
Some major causes of this condition include insomnia narcolepsy disrupted sleeping patterns and PTSD When it happens youd feel paralysis in your limbs would be unable to speak and could also feel a force pushing you down to your bed However you can fix this medical condition with any of the treatments recommended above
While sleep paralysis is extremely terrifying its relatively harmless to your health However here are some treatment options
More than likely your sleep paralysis is linked to poor sleeping habits Therefore try making sure you get enough sleep every night And keep your sleep regular meaning go to sleep at approximately the same time every night and wake at the same time every morning For more information on how to set your body clock click here
Treat any mental health issues such as stress or bipolar disorder
Get evaluated by your primary care physician or a sleep specialist to see if your sleep paralysis is linked to any other sleep disorders such as narcolepsy or medical disorders
If your symptoms are severe you may be prescribed antidepressant medications that may help regulate your sleep cycles
There you have it the symptoms causes treatments for sleep paralysis On a personal note just having a scientific explanation for the disorder I was experiencing really helped alleviate my fears for when I would experience episodes The knowledge that although the events were indeed terrifying knowing that they were relatively harmless helped me get through later episodes I also noticed that since I started keeping a regular sleep schedule I havent had an episode in a very long time However if you feel that your symptoms could possibly be linked to an underlying sleeping disorder feel free to contact The Alaska Sleep Clinic for a free 10 minute phone consultation and well help you determine whether or not a sleep study may be right for you
