Healthy sleep is one of the important components of life, because each of us spends approximately 1/3 of our lives sleeping. The state in which a person remains throughout the next day depends on the quality of sleep. Insomnia and lack of sleep are conditions that are familiar to almost everyone.
Sleep paralysis is a sudden sleep disorder in which a person is unable to move or make a sound. It occurs unexpectedly and goes away on its own, but can cause psychological trauma. About 6-7% of people experience this condition at some time in their lives.
ICD-10 disease code G-47 Sleep disorders.
What is sleep paralysis
Sleep paralysis is a harmless sleep disorder characterized by the onset of muscle dysfunction. This condition can occur no more than 5 times per night. After paralysis, a person feels fear, and he may also experience auditory and visual hallucinations. The reasons for the appearance of dysfunction have the following explanation: an imbalance occurs in the function of the brain and muscular system, due to which the sleeper wakes up, realizes this, and the muscles experience dysfunction.
Doctors define this condition as parasomnia. Despite this, in the International Classification of Diseases there is no such pathology as night paralysis.
Types of hallucinations in sleep paralysis
Doctors divided the most common hallucinations into three types:
The feeling of the presence of a stranger, a scary creature, silhouettes, ghosts, etc. in the room. During this time, the person may experience auditory and visual hallucinations. You can hear conversations, whispers, noise. Visual hallucinations usually involve a stranger or creature approaching the bed.
This is because there is a structure in the brain stem called the amygdala, which is the “fear center.” Doctors believe that this center may be activated during REM sleep. The amygdala can cause strong emotions, feelings of fear and panic.
Feeling of pressure on the chest and difficulty breathing. At these moments, many can say that someone was sitting on them and strangling them. This happens because during the REM sleep phase a person’s breathing becomes shallow, and since all the muscles are relaxed, there is no way to take a deep breath.
When experiencing the state of suffocation during sleep paralysis for the first time, a person may be very frightened, but in fact it is harmless and one cannot suffocate.
Feelings of flying, falling, spinning, slowing down or speeding up. Our vestibular system is closely connected to the brain centers responsible for the sleep-wake cycle. Brain studies have shown that decreased blood flow to the parietal region may cause these hallucinations.
Symptoms
Night paralysis occurs between stages of sleep. The main manifestations of this condition are often confused with the symptoms of mental disorders, such as narcolepsy. To distinguish these two conditions from each other, you need to know that paralysis most often occurs during the period of falling asleep, the REM phase, and after sleep. You should also pay attention to the main symptoms:
- the whole body is paralyzed, but the person retains the ability to move the eyeballs;
- there is a feeling of tightness in the chest, which can provoke an attack of suffocation;
- a person feels someone’s presence nearby, such a feeling can be reinforced by the appearance of visual and auditory hallucinations, the patient seems to be falling into a waking dream, while feeling that it is impossible to wake up;
- when immersed in paralysis, panic and fear appear;
- attacks can occur very rarely, but there have been cases where nighttime immobilization occurred every day;
- The duration of the attack varies from a few seconds to a couple of minutes.
Night paralysis mainly affects teenagers, but it can be diagnosed at any other age.
Signs and symptoms of sleep paralysis
Primary symptoms
Immobility. The main symptom associated with sleep paralysis is the inability to move - you are completely immobile.
Inability to speak. One of the most noticeable and frustrating symptoms is the inability to speak. Imagine being stuck in a dream or dream-like state, but you are still conscious and aware that a demon is about to attack you. Instead of screaming for help, you can't move your lips and feel tortured.
Semi-/conscious state. Some people remain fully conscious during episodes of sleep paralysis and can remember the entire episode. Most people are semi-conscious, which means they have some degree of awareness or "flashes" of consciousness. Episodes of sleep paralysis are characterized by alpha waves with intermittent beta bursts on the EEG - so this makes sense.
Perception of the environment. Most people are able to perceive things in their environment. It is almost as if REM sleep mixes with consciousness, resulting in perceptions of the environment, along with unusual sensory sleep perceptions.
Secondary symptoms
Pressure on the chest. Some people notice that during episodes of sleep paralysis there is a lot of pressure on the chest. This pressure can feel as if a pile of weights are piled on the chest or as if an esoteric entity is pressing on the chest. This pressure may be associated with difficulty breathing during paralysis.
Labored breathing. You may also experience difficulty breathing normally during an episode of sleep paralysis. Difficulty breathing can be caused by the specific position in which you fall asleep, pressure on your chest, or as a result of panic.
Fear. Because most cases of sleep paralysis are uncomfortable, most people are very nervous. This feeling can lead to panic. In addition to these sensations, the person can neither move nor scream for help. This makes a person feel afraid.
Helplessness. In almost every case of sleep paralysis, the person reports feeling helpless. He is aware of what is happening, but cannot do anything about it. If he has poor sleep or hallucinations, then everything only intensifies. Which again leads to panic.
Hallucinations. Many people experience auditory hallucinations (hearing voices), visual hallucinations (seeing things), and sometimes tactile hallucinations (feeling things), which are not based in reality. In rare cases, a person may even report smelling something that is not based in reality (olfactory hallucinations). Common hallucinations in cases of sleep paralysis include: animals, buzzing sounds, demons, doors opening, footsteps, pressure and whispers.
Unusual sensations. It is unknown what you will experience during sleep paralysis, but many people report unusual sensations. Most unusual sensations are considered a byproduct of REM sleep, but the person's consciousness is mixed with consciousness. These unusual sensations are perceived by the conscious mind as “real” when in fact they are the result of chaotic brain activity. Sensations experienced may include: a feeling as if you are moving, floating or pushing; strange smells or sights; feeling stuck in sleep; or sense of esoteric essence.
Causes
According to scientists, attacks of paralytic dysfunction are a natural physiological process. All causes of sleep paralysis are characterized by dysfunction of the motor system, the brain during sleep, and the transition from phase to phase. The main provoking factor is considered to be a dysfunction of the nervous system. There are other reasons for the appearance of this condition:
- psychiatric disorders;
- alcohol or drug addiction;
- disturbance of sleep patterns due to acclimatization, time zone change;
- sleep dysfunction, parasomnia;
- taking antidepressants;
- sleeping on your back.
The appearance of a lucid dream that paralyzes the body in pregnant women can be triggered by hormonal changes. Also, a similar condition occurs if a person is regularly or for a long time in a state of stress.
Reasons why sleep paralysis occurs
Sleep paralysis occurs while falling asleep or just before waking up. Can occur once or up to five times in a row. This condition is accompanied by hallucinations or illusory worries, most often of a threatening nature: someone sees a stranger in the room, others are subject to physical influence (suffocation, pressure on the sternum), someone experiences the sensation of “hovering above the bed.” All experiences are individual, and the plots in them are usually repeated.
Everything unknown and unusual has always caused fear and panic in a person. The unrest intensifies, especially if this happens at night and is accompanied by nightmares and, even more so, the inability to move (numb with fear). People are ready to find any explanation for their fears; they associate them with witchcraft, witches and other paranormal phenomena. However, modern medicine has a somnographic method for studying dreams, and somnologists have found an accurate explanation of the reasons that cause sleep paralysis.
Neurologists and psychiatrists classify sleep paralysis as a group of parosomnias, which also includes nightmares, somnambulism (sleepwalking), bruxism, nocturnal enuresis, and sleep intoxication.
According to experts, sleep paralysis is explained by a violation of the sequence in falling asleep or awakening consciousness and atony of the muscles (motor organs). When REM sleep is disrupted, the body is as relaxed as possible, but there are no dreams. But if the muscles relax before the brain has entered the sleep phase, a state of sleepy stupor may occur.
Important! In most cases, the pathology develops against the background of certain disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system or stress.
The following factors contribute to the development of sleep paralysis:
- Sleep disorders that contribute to the occurrence of disturbances in the change of phases: frequent lack of sleep, constant changes in sleep patterns, changes in time zones (flights, etc.);
- High psycho-emotional stress. Frequent stress causes disturbances in the alternation of sleep and wakefulness phases. Patients note an increase in cases of sleep paralysis after psycho-emotional overload;
- Toxic effects. Drug addicts, substance abusers, chronic alcoholics, patients taking antidepressants and tranquilizers report restless sleep. Under the influence of strong drugs, harmful effects on the brain are possible;
- Sleeping in a supine position. As a rule, side sleepers do not experience sleep paralysis. The reason why it occurs in those sleeping on their back is not fully understood, and the pattern has not been established;
- Genetic predisposition. It is not completely clear how this pathology can be transmitted, however, such cases have been previously noted within the same family.
Kinds
There are several types of sleep paralysis. It is classified based on the moment of its manifestation.
- The hypnagogic type is characterized by its onset during the period of falling asleep. While falling asleep, muscle tissue begins to relax, but consciousness continues to carry out its function. During this period, the body undergoes a paralyzing numbness, fear and panic arise.
- Hypnopompic paralysis occurs during awakening, either naturally or artificially. Attacks of night stupor occur against the background of maximum relaxation of the body during REM sleep and increased brain activity. When consciousness is activated, a person wakes up, but his muscle tone is still absent.
Attacks of natural paralysis are considered normal.
Diagnosis using the patient
How to get rid of the unpleasant “gift” of sleep paralysis? If your condition causes you insurmountable anxiety, and night attacks do not give you peace, consult a doctor.
The doctor, as a rule, will correctly diagnose your condition based on the description. Perhaps he will advise you to observe it yourself, namely, to write down everything that relates to it: the time you fall asleep and wake up, your auditory sensations, visual images, possible nuances of your life that, in your opinion, can provoke an attack. This makes it easier to find the cause or set of causes that led to regular attacks.
Perhaps, to clarify the diagnosis, you will be referred to other specialists - a somnologist, a neurologist. A polysomnography may be prescribed - a procedure for studying your sleepy state (most often, a polysomnogram does not show any oddities in connection with night paralysis - which means it does not pose a danger to the body).
If the causes of your condition seem too serious to the doctor, he may prescribe medication (usually antidepressants).
Do not try to self-medicate and take antidepressants on your own. These drugs are not harmless if they are taken according to the wrong regimen and in the wrong dosage, without the supervision of a specialist. You risk not only aggravating your condition, but also gaining additional “bonuses” in the form of side effects - and such strong remedies have a lot of them!
An interesting article about how to choose a medicine for insomnia without a prescription https://matrasium.ru/son/narusheniya/tabletki-ot-bessonnicy-bez-receptov/
Diagnostics
There are several ways to help get rid of paralysis during sleep. To determine the most effective of them, it is necessary to accurately diagnose the cause of this condition.
It is recommended to consult a doctor if body paralysis occurs regularly. Diagnosis of the causes and nature begins with the patient being advised to write down the dates, times and distinctive features of the stupor that appears. Diagnosis is then carried out using the following methods:
- taking anamnesis;
- polysomnography;
- conducting neurological and psychological research.
If the symptoms of the emerging condition are similar to narcolepsy, average sleep latency is studied.
Principles of treatment
Doctors recommend fighting sleep paralysis if it causes other sleep disorders, such as insomnia. Treatment also needs to be started if attacks occur regularly. Therapy is based on the following components:
- normalizing sleep and wakefulness;
- maintaining physical activity;
- fight against bad habits;
- regular ventilation of the recreation area;
- relaxation before falling asleep by taking baths, aromatherapy;
- consumption of vitamins;
- compliance with the rules of proper nutrition.
You can also fight by treating chronic pathologies.
Drug therapy
Since sleep paralysis is not an officially recognized disease, there are no specific medications for its treatment. Medicines to combat this condition help normalize falling asleep and strengthen sleep:
- Metalonin;
- Vita-melatonin;
- Neurostable.
Medicines are prescribed only if other treatments do not work.
Vitamin course
To cope with the occurrence of sleep paralysis, it is necessary to combat stress that negatively affects the immune system and the general condition of a person. You can cope with this deterioration with the help of vitamins. Night paralysis should be treated with a vitamin-mineral complex, which includes:
- ascorbic acid;
- potassium;
- magnesium;
- vitamin A, B, D, E.
The duration of vitamin therapy is determined by the doctor.
Physiotherapeutic treatment
Physiotherapy can prevent sleep paralysis. Sleep disorders can be cured using the following procedures:
- massage;
- electrophoresis;
- electrosleep therapy;
- acupuncture;
- aerotherapy;
- galvanization of the collar area;
- electrosona.
Taking relaxing baths with essential oils, salts, and iodine added to the water can also help cope with attacks.
Can old witch syndrome be cured?
Since the phenomenon cannot be attributed to diseases or even sleep disorders, there are no methods for treating sleep paralysis. Every ninth inhabitant of the globe experiences such an experience at least once in his life; there is no need to consult a doctor, unless this condition begins to haunt you with enviable regularity, causing mental disorders or other pathologies. You need to see a doctor if:
- you have frequent nightmares;
- sleep paralysis is accompanied by vivid hallucinations;
- you are depressed;
- you suffer from severe headaches;
- you suffer from frequent tachycardia;
- the condition is accompanied by or causes panic attacks.
For all others, treatment for sleep paralysis is not required. It is recommended to treat the condition as adequately as possible and not try to get out of it too quickly. If you encounter this phenomenon, do not make sudden movements and maintain a sober mind.
In order to calm down, you need to control your breathing, try to take as deep a breath as possible, and as you exhale, say a word, a sound, or simply shout. Don’t be afraid that this will wake up your household, because your throat muscles will also be relaxed, which means the sound will come out very quiet. But your consciousness will be able to get involved in the work and disperse the manifestations of paralysis.
Frequent blinking is a great way to get rid of sleep paralysis and its consequences. Open and close your eyelids, thereby bringing yourself out of your stupor. Mental arithmetic helps a lot. And simply switching to the perception of reality can also be useful, since it distracts from the feeling of physical helplessness, which gradually fades. For believers, prayer can be an excellent “medicine”. The effect of self-hypnosis after reading lines addressed to God will help drive away nightmares and give a feeling of protection.
It is extremely important to avoid stress in everyday life. Very often, those who constantly experience psychological stress experience sleep paralysis.
We are talking about people who work in stressful positions or are forced to constantly risk their health, about students, workaholics and perfectionists suffering from “excellent student syndrome.”
Each case has its own answer to what causes sleep paralysis. A guaranteed method to cope with this unpleasant phenomenon is a correct diagnosis and treatment of the root cause. More often we are talking about eliminating mental discomfort provoked by the patient’s environment.
Conversations with a psychologist, relaxing massage, hypnotherapy, water procedures and other means make it possible to almost completely relieve the syndrome. It is worth understanding that if your parents or grandparents also often had sleep paralysis, you will also suffer from them with a high degree of probability
In this case, it is especially important to get enough sleep, lead a healthy lifestyle and get rid of stress.
Follow the rules of sleep hygiene: regularly ventilate the bedroom, sleep on a comfortable mattress, use pleasant bedding, and give your body moderate exercise.
Sometimes sleep paralysis can be triggered by loud noises, such as an alarm clock. Therefore, to avoid troubles, set yourself a soft melody to wake up, or even better, learn to wake up without an alarm clock
Complications and consequences
Sleep paralysis is relatively dangerous. The fact is that such a violation does not pose a threat to human life and health, but if it occurs regularly, it interferes with proper rest. This may result in the following consequences:
- mental, nervous disorders;
- the occurrence of problems with sleep;
- development of tachycardia;
- difficulty breathing;
- the appearance of hallucinations.
Most often, these consequences develop in those people who become fixated on what happened. At the same time, they associate this with the influence of magic, esotericism, and the development of diseases.
Preventive actions
To prevent sleep paralysis from occurring when falling asleep, it is necessary to prevent this condition. For preventive purposes, it is recommended to sleep on your side and promptly treat all developing pathologies.
You can prevent the occurrence of such a disorder if you provide yourself with conditions for proper rest.
If the body is regularly paralyzed during sleep, you should eat no later than 3 hours before falling asleep; it is also important to avoid stress, physical and mental strain. If necessary and recommended by a doctor, you can take herbal sedatives and mild antidepressants.
What to do if pathology develops
It is difficult to fight such a condition in the first seconds of the development of stupor, due to the incomplete awakening of consciousness. But it is possible to drive away the “evil witch” and prevent the development of further symptoms if you realize that there is nothing otherworldly in what is happening.
Simple recommendations will help you get out of this situation as quickly as possible:
- Try to convince yourself at this moment that everything is in order and the condition is absolutely harmless and fleeting.
- We must try to relax, and not resist our feelings with all our might.
- A great way to avoid worsening your symptoms is to take as deep a breath as possible.
- Try to move the muscles that you control, for example, move your eyes, tongue.
- Activate your mental activity, read poetry, solve a problem in your mind.
- Ask your significant other to wake you up if signs of sleep stupor appear.
- To prevent such a nightmare from appearing again, immediately after the symptoms disappear, you need to get up and wash with cool water.
Here's what you shouldn't do during an attack:
- Understand that this is just psychosomatics and do not resist muscle weakness.
- Do not hold your breath.
- Do not breathe shallowly, so as not to hyperventilate the lungs, which will only aggravate the sensations.
