Isolated sleep paralysis, sometimes simply called sleep paralysis happens commonly in students, those with certain disorders, or those who are experiencing sleep deprivation. Episodes of sleep paralysis happen either in falling asleep or waking up, and usually only last up to a few minutes. Individuals will find themselves being conscious without being able to move any of their extremities, and only being able to move their eyes. Spiritual or extraterrestrial intervention as a part of hallucinations are commonly associated with the sleep state. There is no cure, but condition is not chronic, and there are preventative measures that can be taken. There is very little that is known about sleep paralysis, even though it is commonly experienced. Once the condition is understood, its state becomes less fearful, as is commonly associated with the disorder.

An episode of sleep paralysis starts when an individual wakes up in deep, or REM, sleep. Often times when they wake up they will not be able to move anything but their eyes and respiratory system. Individuals will also experience hallucinations from time to time. These often time involve a threatening figure in the room. Visual hallucinations can also be accompanied by auditory or tactile hallucinations. Individuals commonly report fear or anxiety associated with these symptoms. While episodes usually only last for a few minutes, individual’s concept of time can be inaccurate, making the experience seem longer. The episode ends when the individual regains use of their limbs.

Although the direct cause of sleep paralysis is unknown, there is a known association with the disruption of REM sleep. While in REM sleep, signals are fired in the brain, that otherwise would cause violent movement of the extremities. During these sleep cycles the brain blocks the signals from being transmitted to the rest of the body and limiting them to the eyes. When REM sleep is disrupted, occasionally the brain does not remove the block to the extremities, leaving the limbs paralyzed with only the eyes retaining motility. This block is eventually removed, and the individual can regain the use of their limbs. Dream states are also associated with REM sleep although dream states are not fully understood. This being the case, when REM sleep is disrupted, the dream world often spills into reality, which causes hallucinations. While sleep paralysis can often be frightening, its causes are explainable, which makes the symptoms less scary.

There is no cure for sleep paralysis, as its cause is not fully understood, but there are evidences of prevention and interference. Sleep paralysis is often times associated with patients that suffer from narcolepsy, seizure disorders, or sleep deprivation, but it is also common for an isolated episode to occur to individuals without a history of sleep paralysis. The condition is not anything to worry about unless it is a common occurrence, or causes intense fear or anxiety. Medical treatments have not been developed, but there are preventative and disruptive methods that can prove useful. Changing sleeping positions and habits have been recorded as successful in prevention in some cases. Disruption methods such as trying to move or calm down have also been successful in some individuals. There is no absolute methods of prevention or disruption, but certain tactics may help in each situation.

While sleep paralysis can be a terrifying experience, its process can be under- stood to relieve anxiety.  The disruption of REM sleep can sometimes leave the neural block to the extremities, when this happens, everything but the eyes and respiratory system becomes paralyzed. This will only last for a few minutes, and disruption or preventative measures can be taken although they are not guaranteed to be successful. Hallucinations are common when dream states spill into reality, but do not have to occur. These symptoms often times cause fear and anxiety, but their reality becomes clear when the episode is ended and normal motility is regained.

References

1. A. Sharpless, J. P. Barber, Lifetime prevalence rates of sleep paralysis: A systematic review (2011).
2. Sleep paralysis (2016).
3. A. Sharpless, J. L. Grom, Behavioral Sleep Medicine 14, 134 (2016).