Sleep Paralysis: A Frightening Sleep Disorder

There are a variety of sleep disorders experienced by both children and adults. Some sleep disorders are mild and just gives a general feeling of drowsiness. Other types of sleep problems are witnessed by other people and the person concerned is unaware of the problem. It doesnt bother us that much if we experience a few sleepless nights.

Imagine a sleeping disorder where you are rendered immobile, awakened and conscious with what is happening around you yet the body seemed paralyzed. This can be frightening. Although this problem may cause panic, there is actually no significant physical harm done. A certain form of temporary paralysis is actually experienced when sleeping. This prevents the body from acting out what happens in our dreams or when in a dream like state. In paralysis sleep disorder, the person is unable to move when awakened from deep sleep or a few minutes before going to sleep.

There are two types of this disorder: common paralysis and hag/hallucinatory paralysis. This depends on the actual hypnogogic state when it occurred. The body is rendered immobile during sleep to prevent it from acting out dreams. This is normal and known as common sleep paralysis. A person wakes up, fully aware of what is happening around him yet unable to move anywhere from a few seconds to a minute. This creates a sense of panic since there is no immediate reason explaining its occurrence. The hag-hallucinatory sleep paralysis is more frightening. It lasts longer, approximately eight minutes, and involves auditory and visual experience. Everything seems so real. You want to run to escape from the nightmarish hallucinations but cant. One is unable to move and speak. Although the person experiencing sleep paralysis is aware of being awake, he still believes that everything is just part of a dream. This is because aside from being conscious of what is happening, there are hallucinatory elements involved creating doubts in the mind that the inability to move is indeed happening. In order to avoid this, it is advisable to maintain a regular sleeping pattern, avoid stress and take care of your physical and mental well being. Try to get as much sleep as possible and avoid sleeping in a supine position.

Some theories state that the brain prevents the relay of sensory information to be acted upon by the body leading to temporary paralysis. One sees and hears things to be happening. He is part of the dream yet cannot physically participate.

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