Sleep paralysis — is a sleep disorder that occurs during REM sleep.
At the same time, a person can be conscious, or feel that he is conscious, but at the same time he cannot move. This phenomenon can be experienced by many people throughout their lives. And although during «paralysis» you can experience real fear and even horror, the phenomenon itself does not pose a danger, reports the Chronicle.info with reference to RBC-Ukraine.
Yevgeny Skripnik, a neurologist, told about this on Facebook, psychiatrist.
According to the doctor, during such a state, many people can feel that they are being looked at, they feel some kind of creature nearby, and even that someone is strangling them. At the same time, a person cannot scream or move.
It was from here that the myth of the brownie arose, but this phenomenon has an explanation.
What is sleep paralysis from the point of view of science
Evgeny Skripnik tells that sleep paralysis occurs during a phase of sleep called: REM sleep.
During this period of sleep, complete muscle atony is observed — relaxation of the muscles so that a person cannot walk and move, as he has during this period dreams are observed!
In some cases, a person may even be conscious, open his eyes, but cannot move.
«There is a feeling of fear, helplessness, and the activity of the midbrain, which is responsible for impaired perception, increases And there are hallucinations! A person begins to see what he is afraid of! Some person, creature, brownie, feels pressure on the chest, etc», — says the doctor.
Sleep paralysis mostly occurs when a person sleeps on their back
It can also occur with:
- sleep disorders,
- change of time zones,
- change of work schedule (night shifts),
- with panic disorders.
Sleep paralysis in itself does not pose a danger
But this unpleasant phenomenon you can protect yourself with the help of prevention:
- sleep regularly for 6-8 hours,
- avoid gadgets before bed,
- go to bed and wake up at the same time ,
- ventilate the bedroom,
- try not to sleep on your back.