Everything about Sleep paralysis

What is Sleep Paralysis?

Sleep paralysis is a very scary feeling of being conscious but unable to move. It occurs when a person passes between stages of wakefulness and sleep. During this time sufferers may be unable to move or speak for a few seconds up to a few minutes. Some people may also feel pressure or a sense of choking. Lucid dreaming may increase the possibility of sleep paralysis. Sleep paralysis most often occurs for people already suffering from narcolepsy or sleep apnoea, but it can afflict anyone. Episodes involve not being able to speak or move while falling asleep or upon waking. This usually only lasts one or two minutes and is often frightening, particularly the first time it happens. The main treatment is improved sleep habits: going to bed at the same time every night, ensuring a comfortable sleep environment free of distractions and avoiding caffeine and excess alcohol before sleeping. Sleep paralysis is a condition identified by a brief loss of muscle control, known as atonia, that happens just after falling asleep or waking up. In addition to atonia, people often have hallucinations during episodes of sleep paralysis. In crude terms, your body shuts down a lot of motor skills when you are asleep - this is to prevent you from physically acting out the actions that occur in your dreams. Sleep Paralysis happens when antonia kicks in while you are still awake, or does not terminate before you wake up.