{"id":2656,"date":"2022-09-12T11:22:19","date_gmt":"2022-09-12T09:22:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/?p=2656"},"modified":"2022-09-15T22:43:23","modified_gmt":"2022-09-15T20:43:23","slug":"what-is-sleep-paralysis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/what-is-sleep-paralysis\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Sleep Paralysis and Why It’s So Dreadful?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you’re only wondering “<\/span>what is sleep paralysis<\/span>” and how it feels, you’re one of the lucky ones! This horrifying sleep phenomenon can make you feel an evil presence in your room that wants to harm you while you lie motionlessly, feeling unable to defend yourself.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Although usually harmless, sleep paralysis can make you lose sleep and become sleep-deprived and anxious. So, let’s dive deeper into this mysterious state and find out what triggers it, how to get rid of it, and so much more!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What Is Sleep Paralysis<\/b>?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Sleep paralysis isn’t a new phenomenon. The <\/span>first clinical records about sleep paralysis<\/span><\/a> date back to 1664, but humans had been experiencing this nighttime inconvenience and struggled to understand it way before that.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sleep Paralysis \u2014 Understanding Sleep Paralysis Through History<\/b><\/h3>\n

Due to the unique horrifying experience it provides, the phenomenon was initially associated with demons and spirits (later even alien abductions), and these creatures commonly have a starring role in various sleep paralysis hallucinations.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dr. Samuel Johnson came the closest to capturing the essence of this phenomenon by defining it as a “nightmare” in his 1755 dictionary and describing it as “a morbid oppression in the night, resembling the pressure of weight upon the breast.”<\/span><\/p>\n

What Happens During Sleep Paralysis<\/b>?<\/b><\/h3>\n

Sleep paralysis is way more than an unpleasant feeling of pressure on your chest. It’s a <\/span>type of parasomnia<\/span><\/a> \u2014 a sleep disorder that involves unusual and involuntary behavior and experiences during sleep.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It’s most frequently described as waking up to a horror-movie-worthy scene (hearing horrible sounds, seeing terrifying creatures, smelling unpleasant smells, etc.) without being able to move, speak, or react in any way.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But you can also experience <\/span>sleep paralysis without hallucinations<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Most sleepers are aware of what’s happening during a sleep paralysis episode \u2014 they realize they’re <\/span>dreaming<\/span><\/a>. However, at the same time, they can’t move or do anything to escape the dream, which is why this phenomenon is so scary.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Why Does Sleep Paralysis Occur?<\/b><\/h3>\n

There’s a simple explanation for this. Sleep paralysis usually occurs during one of the most intense of the <\/span>five sleep stages<\/span><\/a> \u2014 the REM (rapid-eye-movement) stage. This is when our brains are most active and when most of our dreaming occurs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This is also when our muscles are very relaxed, paralyzed even, to keep us from acting out on our dreams. And this is when sleep paralysis strikes.<\/span><\/p>\n

During sleep paralysis, muscle paralysis (atony) continues even when the mind is already awake.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sleep Paralysis and Hallucinations<\/b><\/h2>\n

About 75% of those who experience sleep paralysis have hallucinations. While people usually report seeing things that aren’t there, hallucinations aren’t exclusively visual. They can also be auditory (hearing things that are not there) or olfactory (hallucinating smells).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There are three most common types of hallucinations:<\/span><\/p>\n