"Sleep paralysis is a condition many Americans suffer from, in which their mind has awoken but their muscles are still asleep." -- Sofia gonzalez, 6th grade
Sleep paralysis is a condition many Americans suffer from, in which their mind has awoken but their muscles are still asleep. Seventy-five percent of sleep paralysis victims experience hallucinations, leaving them to wonder, what causes this? Sleep paralysis is caused by irregular sleep patterns, stress, and sleep deprivation. The Scientific American says that Sleep paralysis is also caused by what appears to be a basic brain glitch at the interface between wakefulness and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. During REM, you have intensely lifelike dreams. To prevent you from acting out these realistic dreams (and hurting yourself!), your brain has a clever solution: it temporarily paralyzes your entire body.
As scary as sleep paralysis is, it doesn't typically harm the human body, but it can cause hallucinations and can make you think you're being eaten or hurt. But in some special cases, it can harm you. And this begs the question: Does sleep paralysis affect your mental or physical health?
“I think it can affect both because it's like spirit, and it's kind of both because it can make you not want to sleep because it's really scary, and that can affect your physical health, and you will be very tired,” said Madison Martinez 6th grade literary arts student, a victim of sleep paralysis.
Since sleep paralysis can harm your mental and physical health, is it preventable? The good news is that sleep paralysis is a condition that you can avoid or stop from happening. Ways to avoid this condition are healthy sleeping habits, and getting 9-8 hours of healthy sleep. Making that a routine might stop sleep paralysis from happening.
Cleveland clinic says: Sleep paralysis happens when you are very stressed or haven't been sticking to your normal sleep schedule. If it's stress that's causing it or you want to avoid experiencing this scary condition, you can meditate, do calming exercises or just focus on things that make you feel calm in your free time. This can reduce stress, and can help stop sleep paralysis. For more tips go to Sleep Paralysis: What It Is, Causes, Symptoms & Treatment.
In the event that you go to bed tonight and experience sleep paralysis, here are some tips to make it stop: lie in bed and take deep slow breaths, calm yourself down close your eyes if you can, and don't worry, sleep paralysis can last from a few seconds to 5 minutes so just hang tight and wait for it to pass.
Sleep paralysis is different for everyone, you could experience hallucinations, you could feel like your fate is coming to an end, you may just see things but then realize they are not. But one thing is clear, sleep paralysis is not something you should fear, but it is also something you should not wish to experience.
As scary as sleep paralysis is, it doesn't typically harm the human body, but it can cause hallucinations and can make you think you're being eaten or hurt. But in some special cases, it can harm you. And this begs the question: Does sleep paralysis affect your mental or physical health?
“I think it can affect both because it's like spirit, and it's kind of both because it can make you not want to sleep because it's really scary, and that can affect your physical health, and you will be very tired,” said Madison Martinez 6th grade literary arts student, a victim of sleep paralysis.
Since sleep paralysis can harm your mental and physical health, is it preventable? The good news is that sleep paralysis is a condition that you can avoid or stop from happening. Ways to avoid this condition are healthy sleeping habits, and getting 9-8 hours of healthy sleep. Making that a routine might stop sleep paralysis from happening.
Cleveland clinic says: Sleep paralysis happens when you are very stressed or haven't been sticking to your normal sleep schedule. If it's stress that's causing it or you want to avoid experiencing this scary condition, you can meditate, do calming exercises or just focus on things that make you feel calm in your free time. This can reduce stress, and can help stop sleep paralysis. For more tips go to Sleep Paralysis: What It Is, Causes, Symptoms & Treatment.
In the event that you go to bed tonight and experience sleep paralysis, here are some tips to make it stop: lie in bed and take deep slow breaths, calm yourself down close your eyes if you can, and don't worry, sleep paralysis can last from a few seconds to 5 minutes so just hang tight and wait for it to pass.
Sleep paralysis is different for everyone, you could experience hallucinations, you could feel like your fate is coming to an end, you may just see things but then realize they are not. But one thing is clear, sleep paralysis is not something you should fear, but it is also something you should not wish to experience.
