Is there something more terrifying than waking up and not being able to move? People who suffer from sleep paralysis know the feeling well. It can happen when one passes from a state of wakefulness to sleep or vice versa and seems to be related to stress, insomnia and other sleep disorders. Research shows that approximately 8% of the population will experience sleep paralysis at some point in their life but for many it does not happen frequently enough to be considered a serious problem.
Some people who suffer from sleep paralysis also experience hallucinations as part of the episode. These commonly include the perception of a presence in the room, a feeling of suffocation, or a sensation of movement such as falling. You can probably imagine how distressing this can be for a person who first experiences sleep paralysis.
There isn’t much written on how to treat sleep paralysis. Some people suffer an isolated episode and therefore never seek medical help. People who suffer from recurrent episodes should visit a doctor to identify the possible cause and get the correct treatment.
Have you ever suffered from sleep paralysis? The author of this post certainly has, experiencing several episodes during his years as a student at university. Luckily though, it has been many years since the last and he now enjoys long, comfortable nights on a Jensen.
