Sleep Paralysis: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment
Sleep Paralysis
The condition is not as severe as the name may sound. However, it can be a little frightening to get sleep paralysis. People may feel this situation while trying to sleep or waking up from deep sleep. Some people feel it once or twice in their lifetime while some may get it after every few days. Moreover, the frequency of sleep paralysis decides the severity of the situation. What exactly is the situation and how to deal with it, keep reading to know?
What is Sleep Paralysis?
In simple words, it is the inability of the body to move or speak. This occurs mostly while the person is fast asleep or is trying to fall asleep. It may happen that you feel your brain is in a conscious state but your body is not. Moreover, this can get a little scary as you feel something or someone is choking you. However, this can only last from a few seconds to some minutes. Sleep paralysis is most common in teenagers or young adults.
Causes
The major reason behind sleep paralysis is the Rapid Eye Movement stage. REM is that stage of sleep when you have rapid dreams and your brain becomes active. However, your eyes, muscles and other body parts are still sleeping. The other causes can be:
Sleep deprivation or insomnia.
Sleeping on your back.
A condition called narcolepsy that causes a person to suddenly fall asleep at inappropriate times.
Irregular sleeping patterns.
Stress
Treatment
Although sleep paralysis is not a harmful pattern, it still needs to be attended. It gets better with time and is often not even experienced twice. However, if the condition becomes usual, there are few things you can do.
Try and fix your sleep pattern. Go to bed at the same time every day.
Every adult needs 7 to 8 hours of sleep. Make sure you sleep at least prescribed hours.
Create a sleeping environment that is comfortable and relaxing.
Avoid eating big meals or caffeine intake before going to sleep.
