Sleep paralysis is essentially atony that is mainly evident when the person is falling asleep or waking up. As its name indicates, during this state the person cannot make voluntary movements.
It is worth clarifying that paralysis is a completely normal sleep process and that it happens to all of us since it is a kind of defense of our body to prevent us from acting out dreams. That is, paralysis prevents us from carrying out the actions that we are experiencing in dreams, which is why it would be a protective mechanism for our physical integrity. The interesting thing is that during this phenomenon we are not conscious so we would not know that we are paralyzed.
However, it is stated that at least once in their lives, at least half of the population has experienced an episode of sleep paralysis. That is, they have been aware that they cannot move. There are several investigations that have associated it with particularly stressful periods even if sleep problems do not occur.
These cases almost always occur when the person is waking up (hypnopompic hallucination). However, when sleep paralysis has a hereditary background or is related to other disorders, it usually manifests itself when the person is about to fall asleep (hypnogogic hallucination).
There are some studies that have linked sleep paralysis with personality characteristics such as hypochondria, high suggestibility, and hysterical traits. In fact, although there is no large-scale research that analyzes this phenomenon from a cultural point of view, small studies can be pointed out, such as the one developed at the University College of Nigeria in which it was observed that among people who suffered from sleep paralysis , 65.11% believed that these were caused by paranormal phenomena while only 18.18% of those who experienced these episodes did not believe in these causes.
It would be sensible to hypothesize that since sleep paralysis has a diverse (more or less terrifying) paranormal explanation depending on the culture, this phenomenon could be more frequent among the most suggestible people who have even reported “apparitions”.
At the same time, in another study comparing a Japanese and Canadian population, it was observed that although the incidence of sleep paralysis was practically identical (Canada: 41.9% and Japan: 38.9%), the way in which these experiences were lived were very diverse. Thus, most Canadians experienced paralysis as a kind of dream while the Japanese had less calming experiences. This is probably because in Japanese culture sleep paralysis is called “kanashibari” and refers to a spirit that binds the person.
How it feels? Symptoms of sleep paralysis
Sleep paralysis is often a somewhat frightening experience for people as they feel like they are conscious and awake but unable to move. Sometimes it is also difficult to breathe. In this sense, it should be known that during sleep paralysis the involuntary muscles continue to move so the person can actually breathe very slowly and is not in any danger. However, during REM sleep some hypoxia may occur that we are not normally aware of. If we wake up at this time and try to breathe consciously without any success, we may experience panic attacks or even have the feeling of imminent death.
What to do?
Normally sleep paralysis lasts a very short time and is not dangerous, so it is best to stay calm and relax. At this point you should close your eyes and try to slowly move your fingers and toes until your entire body regains its functionality. You can also try getting up in one sitting.
In this sense, it is recommended to wake up well before returning to sleep because if we remain immersed in this lethargic sleep, we will have a greater chance of the phenomenon occurring again. In addition, it has been shown that those who fall asleep in a supine position are more likely to experience these episodes.
References:
Jara. C. et. Al. (2004) Aproximación a los rasgos de personalidad en pacientes con narcolepsia. Terapia Psicológica; 22(001): 43-56.
Fukuda, K. et. Al. (2003) The Prevalence of Sleep Paralysis Among Canadian and Japanese College Students. Dreaming; 8(2): 59-66.
Cheyne, J. A. (2002) Situational factors affecting sleep paralysis and associated hallucinations: position and timing effects. Journal of Sleep Research; 11: 169–217.
Yagüe, A.I. & De Gregorio, C. (1999) Parálisis del sueño: ¿síntoma o enfermedad? Psiquiatría Pública; 11(3): 120-122.
Ohaeri, J. U. et. Al. (1989) The pattern of isolated sleep paralysis among nigerian medical students. Journal of the National Medical Association; 81(7): 806-808.
