Sleep Paralysis

Sleep paralysis is something I guess most of us had already experienced. But what exactly is sleep paralysis? Is it really associated with the presence of evil, as most cultures believe? Let's find out.

Sleep paralysis is a feeling of being conscious but you cannot move. This often occurs when an individual passes between stages of wakefulness and sleep. During this stage, a person may be unable to move or speak for a few seconds up to a few minutes. A person may also hallucinate (hear, feel, or see things that are not there) which often results in fear.

Samuel Johnson originally defined sleep paralysis in his A Dictionary of English Language as nightmare, or in Filipino, bangungot.

Sleep paralysis was widely considered as a work of demons, specifically incubi. In Old English, the names for these beings was mare or mære, hence comes the mare in a nightmare.

There are two types of sleep paralysis.

Hypnagogic or Predormital Sleep Paralysis

• This occurs while a person is falling asleep. This happens when the body slowly relaxes as a person falls asleep. A person usually becomes less aware and does not notice the change. However, if a person remains aware while falling asleep, they can notice that they cannot move or speak.

Hypnopompic or Postdormital Sleep Paralysis

• This happens when a person became aware before the REM cycle is finished. During sleep, the body alternates between NREM (non-rapid eye movement) and REM (rapid eye movement). Within the NREM stage, the body relaxes. This usually takes 75% of the overall sleep time. At the end of NREM, the sleep alters to REM. The eyes move quickly in this stage and this is often where dreams occur. During REM, the rest of the body remains very relaxed. But if a person became aware before this cycle is finished, that's when sleep paralysis occurs.

An average of four out of ten people may experience sleep paralysis. This is a common condition and men and women of any age can experience it. This may also run in the families as a result of specific genetic changes. However, there are also other factors that may be linked to sleep paralysis such as:

• Sleep deprivation.

• Sleep schedule that changes.

• Mental conditions like stress or Bipolar disorder.

• Sleeping on the back.

• Sleep problems like nighttime leg cramps.

• Use of certain medications.

• Substance abuse.

What to do during sleep paralysis? There's no need to fear evil or demons. This also doesn't have any cure, unless it is caused by other medical conditions. A person can minimize experiencing it by making sure to get enough sleep. It will also help if a person relieves stress before bedtime. Trying a new sleep position can also help. But if the sleep paralysis routinely happens, it is best to consult a doctor.

Unability to move and frequent hallucinations are the universal features of sleep paralysis. However, the ways in which they are experienced may vary according to time, place, and culture.

According to some scientists, culture is also a major factor in shaping sleep paralysis. For instance, if it is feared in a certain culture, this fear can result to conditioned fear, and thus worsen the experience.

Research has found that in Egypt, there are higher rates and longer durations of immobility during sleep paralysis. This is because they have elaborate beliefs about it.

A study comparing the rates and characteristics of sleep paralysis in Denmark and Egypt showed that it is more common in Egypt versus Denmark. This is because Denmark has no supernatural beliefs about sleep paralysis. The study showed that the episodes of sleep paralysis there are shorter and fewer people fear that they could die from it.

Folklores

The night hag is the general name for folkloric creatures which is used to explain the phenomenon of sleep paralysis. A common description is that a person feels the presence of a supernatural being sitting on his chest, which causes the immobilization.

• Egypt - Egyptians conceptualize sleep paralysis as a terrifying jinn attack. The jinn may even kill the victims.

• Italy - In Italy, they refer sleep paralysis as a pandafeche attack. Pandafeche may refer to an evil witch, a terrifying catlike creature, or a ghostlike spirit.

• Philippines - Here in the Philippines, there are also some beliefs that sleep paralysis is caused by evil spirits or other supernatural entities.

I've also read somewhere that sleep paralysis is the gateway to astral projection. Im not yet sure about this and maybe I'll just write another article explaining this.

You can also share in the comment section your country's culture and beliefs about sleep paralysis.

Lead image from Facebook. Used with permission.

Thanks for reading. :)

-Gwenie