Sleep paralysis - Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

Sleep paralysis is when a person cannot move or speak while waking up or falling asleep. It is a temporary and usually harmless condition, but it can be frightening and unsettling. But what are the causes of paralyzed sleep?  Abnormal sleep patterns and mental health conditions could be potential causes of sleep paralysis. However, understanding the underlying causes and recognizing the symptoms can help sufferers feel more in control and take steps to reduce the frequency and severity of their episodes.

From lifestyle changes and stress management to medication and therapy, various effective treatments are available to help relieve the symptoms of sleep paralysis. This blog will explore the causes, symptoms, and treatments of in-sleep paralysis. If you or someone you know is affected by this condition, read on to learn more about how it can be managed.

What is sleep paralysis?

Sleep paralysis is a simple sign suggesting that the body is not relaxed. However, it is not a direct symptom of the body's movement towards an underlying stress or sleeping problem. People experiencing sleep paralysis have mentioned that it happens when a person is conscious but cannot move. The person is in the stage where they are between sleeping and wakefulness. Sleep changes are experienced by people undergoing sleep paralysis.

What happens during sleep paralysis?

Sleep paralysis occurs when you are asleep and awake at the same time. During sleep paralysis, alternate movements in the eye or rapid eye movement occur along with paralysis in the body's limbs.

1. During paralysis in sleep, you will be unable to move the body parts, and some people will feel pressure in their breathing. 
2. Sleep paralysis can be accompanied by rapid eye movement and narcolepsy. 
3. It can also be caused by an overpowering need to sleep caused by the inability of the brain to relax.
4. However, rapid eye movement is there in about 75% of patients. During sleep time and non-rapid eye movement, the body retreats and restores itself. 

The rest of the body might remain relaxed, and the eyes can be a trend on or off. Patients may or may not be aware of the movement of their eyes. Once sleep paralysis is over, you will have difficulty moving or speaking for a while.

What are the causes of sleep paralysis?

There are not many people who can develop sleep paralysis in their lives. But the ones who have developed can be of any age group. This can be seen in the person who is ten years of age and are usually seen in their teenage years. Men and women can have sleep paralysis alike. Sometimes sleep paralysis can be linked to family inheritances. 

Some of the factors that can cause sleep paralysis are: 

1. Lack of sleep usually causes a tired body to be paralyzed for some time at night to restore energy and give rest to that body.
2. Having a night job or changing the sleeping pattern too often. Pilots and night job workers can unusually develop sleep paralysis because of changes in their sleeping patterns.
3. Mental healthconditions like stress and bipolar disorders like excessive mood swings. Stress can be a significant cause of sleep paralysis. 
4. Pressure gives the body the signal that something needs to be done and that some things need to be done now. This can lead to changes in body rhythms and issues, leading to paralysis in sleep.
5. Other sleeping conditions like narcolepsy or cramps in the legs at night can result in sleep paralysis.
6. Certain medicationsthat are too strong in the body can result in sleep paralysis. These conditions can be extended to the movement of the body as they are strained under the influence of medications.
7. Sometimes the reasons for sleep deprivation can be related to the feeling of helplessness. This feeling can be intertwined with the human nervous system, leading to sleep deprivation.
8. Sleep paralysis in many people can feel like tightness in the throator a feeling of suffocation. This tightness will immediately wake you up from the paralysis state.
9. It is widespread for people suffering from sleep paralysis to have daytime sleepiness because they tend to stay awake at night to escape sleep paralysis.

According to NIH, isolation is also a cause of sleep paralysis. Some of the symptoms of sleep deprivation can also be the constant feeling of anxiety. The symptoms can leave you tired during the day or awake at night.

Also Read: Mental Health And Wellness: Finding A Psychologist Guide

Sleep Paralysis Symptoms

There can be different symptoms of sleep paralysis and causes of sleep paralysis that may or may not be visible to the self. But it can be challenging to identify them. Thus, we have mentioned some sleep paralysis symptoms in this part of the blog. You can have a look at the same.

1. Paralysis in the limbs- While a person is in the stage of sleep paralysis, they can have different symptoms. These symptoms can result in no movement of limbs, lips, or single limbs. Thus, suggesting that they are having sleep paralysis where there is no movement in the limbs of the body.
2. Inability to speak- When a person becomes paralyzed during their sleep. There can be paralysis in their limbs and they can also have the inability to say they will not be able to answer any of your questions during this stage and it is difficult for them to speak.
3. Suffocation- A sense of suffocation is sensed by the person having a paralytic attack, and they will feel that someone is forcing themselves onto them, and they can wake up feeling less of breath.
4. Hallucinations - Hallucinations are also common among people with sleep paralysis. They will often think of the people who have died as real humans and can also suggest different ways of making those hallucinations real.
5. Fear- Sometimes, people can observe so much in their dream, and considering those things as reality can; lead to anxiety and panic in the sleep paralysis stage. Sleep paralysis can be related to panic in both fear and panic.

Also Read: Effects of Social Isolation on Mental Health

How is Sleep Paralysis Diagnosed?

Diagnosis of sleep paralysis can be difficult for the patients themselves. Thus, it is crucial to get in touch with your healthcare providers. The doctor will need your history of medication and treatment before diagnosing the causes of sleep deprivation.

1. Tell your doctor about your family history, and they can refer you to a sleep doctor for better sleep.
2. If you find yourself unable to speak for a few minutes, feel asleep for hours and have isolated recurrent sleep paralysis.
3. Symptoms are to be discussed with the doctor as they start and feel like they are growing.
4. Tell your doctor about sleeping for hours during the day but staying awake at night. 
5. Inform them about having continuous repetitive thoughts during the night.
6. Tell your doctor if you have a habit of smoking, drinking alcohol, or taking drugs.
7. Sometimes PTSD, anxiety, and depression can also cause sleep deprivation. Thus, inform your doctor about any medications related to your mental health condition. 

Sleep Paralysis Treatment

There are no techniques or quick fixes for sleep paralysis treatment. There can be experiences by anyone and can result from anything, especially stress. Many people have reported that focusing on making small body movements like fingers and nails can help them recover more quickly than others.  Some of the treatment options can be recommended by your doctor, and the treatment can also reduce the chances of getting another episode of sleep paralysis. Often there is no need for any treatment to deal with sleep deprivation. However, we have mentioned some tips that can help you include:

1. Consolidate your sleep - It is essential to ensure that you are in your regular sleep cycle to treat sleep paralysis.
2. Prevent sleep deprecation- Many people forget the importance of rest and sleep during daily activities and jobs. Thus, if you are worried about sleep deprivation, then you should prevent sleep deprivation.
3. Avoid using alcohol - Alcohol and smoking can pressure the body's systems. Pressure can induce the nervous system, resulting in sleep paralysis. Thus, it is crucial to avoid them as much as you can.
4. Take recreational drugs- Recreational drugs can help the body relax, and they are recommended for people with sleep paralysis and epilepsy. They tend to relax the body and keep your system free from stress and anxiety.
5. Therapy - One way to treat sleep paralysis is by going to a therapist. A therapist will help form a plan for your mental and overall health, which can help your mental health and keep you away from stress. This can, in turn, help heal from sleep paralysis.

Also Read: What Are Mental Health Solutions?

Prevention of sleep paralysis

Many asked, "How do you avoid sleep paralysis?". There is not much we can do about sleep paralysis from happening, and there can be steps that can help reduce the risk of it happening in the future.

One of the best ways to prevent sleep paralysis is-

1. Having a set schedule and time to go to bed and wake up.
2. Creating a comfortable sleep environment and relaxing in it.
3. Putting screens away
4. Taking a bath, reading, and listening to music before bed.

Conclusion

Sleep paralysis is an uncommon condition that can make a person feel scared due to certain conditions or stress levels. The experience of sleep paralysis can be broadly experienced when you are in the rapid eye movement stage. There can also be social stigma related to sleep paralysis. Reach out for help and get the medical or social support you need from the people around you.

It is crucial to get an appointment with the doctor; he will be better able to pinpoint the causes, treatment, and care your symptoms and conditions might require. This will also reduce your chances of getting these sleep paralysis events in the future. 

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