Psychology forum
Sleep Paralysis? |
ava
15-08-2007 01:14
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Sleep paralysis is a term either used to describe the normal paralysis of the body that occurs during REM sleep, or the disorder in which awareness is maintained when the body becomes paralysed when entering sleep (known as hypnogogic paralysis) or remains inappropriately paralysed when awakening (known as hypnopompic paralysis). To differentiate normal sleep paralysis and the disorder, the term for the sleep disorder is often referred to as awareness during sleep paralysis.
NORMAL SLEEP PARALYSIS
Normal sleep paralysis is thought to be due to mechanisms in the brain stem, particularly the reticular, vestibular, and oculomotor neurons, which prevent bodily movements, block sensory input and provide the forebrain with the internally generated activity that characterises brain activity during REM sleep. This is thought to be necessary to prevent the body from moving in response to dream stimuli. Eyes however are not paralyzed by this system, and this exception was used to prove that lucid dreaming was an objectively verifiable phenomenon
AWARENESS DURING SP
The disorder known as "sleep paralysis" occurs when the brain is awakened from a REM state into essentially a normal fully awake state, but the bodily paralysis is still occurring. This causes the person to be fully aware, but unable to move. In addition, this state is usually accompanied by certain specific kinds of hallucinations. This state usually lasts no more than two minutes before a person is able to either return to full REM sleep or to become fully awake, though the sense of how much time has gone by is often distorted during sleep paralysis. People who are fortunate enough to be facing a clock while having an episode may often be surprised to see how little time has gone by during an episode that seems to last a very long time.
ACCOMPANYING HALLUCINATIONS
Many report hallucinations during these episodes. The features of these hallucinations generally vary by individual, but some are more common to the experience than others:
~Most common~
Vividness
Fear
~Common~
Sensing a "presence" (often malevolent)
Pressure/weight on body (especially the chest)
Impending sense of doom/death
~Fairly common~
Auditory hallucinations (often footsteps or indistinct voices, or pulsing noises)
Visual hallucinations such as people or shadows walking around the room
~Less common~
Floating sensation (sometimes associated with out-of-body experiences)
Seemingly seamless transition into full hallucinations or dreaming, also associated with out-of-body experiences
Tactile hallucinations (such as a hand touching or grabbing)
~Rare~
Falling sensation
Vibration
POSSIBLE CAUSES
Little is known about the physiology of awareness during sleep paralysis. However, some have suggested that it may be linked to post synaptic inhibition of motor neurons in the pons region of the brain. In particular, low levels of melatonin may stop the depolarisation current in the nerves, which prevents the stimulation of the muscles.
There is also a significant positive correlation between those experiencing this disorder frequently and those suffering from narcolepsy. However, various studies suggest that many or most people will experience sleep paralysis at least once or twice in their lives.
Some report that various factors increase the likelihood of both paralysis and hallucinations. These include:
* Sleeping in a supine position
* Irregular sleeping schedules; naps, sleeping in
* Increased stress
* Sudden environmental/lifestyle changes
CULTURAL REFERENCES
In Japan, awareness during sleep paralysis is referred to as kanashibari (literally: "bound or fastened in metal": kana: metal, shibaru: to bind, tie, fasten"); in Canada (Newfoundland), as a visit from the "old hag" (Ag Rog); in Mexico, as subida del muerto (the dead getting on top); in Turkish, as karabasan (black buster) and in Hazaragi, as Syahi Zer Kado (pressing ink).
In medieval times of Europe, attacks of sufferers of sleep paralysis may have given rise to the belief in mara, incubi, succubi, other demons and witchcraft.
In traditional Russian belief symptoms reminiscent of sleep paralysis were attributed to the anger of domovoi, the home spirit, punishing people for bad husbandship or betrayal.
The combination of paralysis and hallucinations has led to speculation that the phenomenon might be a cause of some alien abduction reports, out-of-body experiences, and other seemingly paranormal events.
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Re: Sleep Paralysis? |
emerson
15-08-2007 01:17
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Has anybody here had this?
ive suffered from this pretty regularly since i was about six, although i dont get it AS often as i used to. I didnt realize it was a disorder until recently, which has made it a lot easier to deal with.
after doing some research, ive found it quite incredible how most sufferers describe almost EXACT same symptoms as i.
its really quite a terrifying experience, which, like i said is easier to swallow and come to terms with when you know it can be scientifically explained, but ive still not come across any cure for it.
if youve experienced this or know something, tell us.
People frequently report feeling a "presence" that is often described as malevolent, threatening, or evil. An intense sense of dread and terror is very common. The presence is likely to be vaguely felt or sensed just out of sight but thought to be watching or monitoring, often with intense interest, sometimes standing by, or sitting on, the bed. On some occasions the presence may attack, strangling and exerting crushing pressure on the chest. People also report auditory, visual, proprioceptive, and tactile hallucinations, as well as floating sensations and out-of-body experiences
In a typical sleep-paralysis episode, a person wakes up paralyzed, senses a presence in the room, feels fear or even terror, and may hear buzzing and humming noises or see strange lights. A visible or invisible entity may even sit on their chest, shaking, strangling, or prodding them. Attempts to fight the paralysis are usually unsuccessful. It is reputedly more effective to relax or try to move just the eyes or a single finger or toe.
The oddest experience I've ever had was the last episode I had. My boyfriend was watching TV in the living room and I was taking a nap on my couch, I was going through SP but decided to wait it out. All of a sudden I felt a presence behind me. It was making horrifying sound (I thought Death himself came to visit me). I realized my mouth had a little opening. I started to breathe as hard as I could to get my boyfriend's attention. It worked. He sat next to me. I was so relieved that for the first time I had reached somebody while I was in this phase. I thought he touched me on the forehead so that I could be released from the SP but it was my imagination that thought he touched me. When I realized he didn't touch me I started breathing hard again. Right after that, I got out of the SP and saw my boyfriend next to me. I asked him why he didn't touch me when I was panting in my sleep. He thought I was having a bad dream.
Right as it starts, I feel like I'm being electrocuted slowly.
My whole body felt like it was vibrating inside at some incredible rate. I was afraid that my body and my brain would not physically be able to stand it.
I also felt a numbness and electrical vibration, and would feel stuck to my bed.
Like electricity going through my head
Feel that my whole body is being pulled, as by a magnet. Sometimes just my feet, or an arm; sometimes feel I am being pulled into the bed.
It's like the pull of gravity from underneath increasing- can't really describe it.
I recall one experience in which I felt as if I was sinking into/through my bed.
I once thought I'd done a 360 degree turn in my bed, and once felt as if I were pulled out of the bed. I thought I was nuts
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danica
15-08-2007 02:00
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I have suffered from sleep paralysis since I was little. My father also suffers from it. Some times I have a good laugh with it. Other times I am scared to death. One time I was lying in Bed and some presence undressed me. So I thought untill I snapped out of it. I saw and felt my cloths comming off and even saw them fly across the room. I always sleep with the shades down because of THE ALIENS. I thought that I was going crazy untill I did some research about 3 years ago. It happends if I sleep on my back. Any other position and I am fine. It also happends if I dose off in a chair. Sometimes I experience very pleasent things; however, this is rare. This may seem crazy but I enjoy it.
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