Although only a small portion of the general population experiences sleep paralysis on a regular basis, nearly everyone is bound to experience sleep paralysis once or twice in their life. According to studies, sleep paralysis is a sign that your body is not moving smoothly through the stages of sleep. Because of this, you get a feeling of consciousness but you are unable to move or speak. More often than not, sleep paralysis has been associated with an “evil” presence in the room. Some also claim feelings of pressure or a sense of choking. Many describe sleep paralysis as a terrifying experience but not many really know much about it. Here are eleven surprising facts about sleep paralysis.
It’s like waking up dead
Many people who’ve experienced sleep paralysis say that it feels like you woke up dead. This is because your body is unable to move but your mind is awake and conscious, making it feel as if you’re trapped in your own dead body.
You can’t wake yourself up
No matter how hard you try, you just can’t wake yourself up from sleep paralysis. Although you can help regain body control by trying to move your fingers or toes, most of the time, you just have to wait it out.
It can involve hallucinations
Apart from being unable to move, sleep paralysis is accompanied by feelings that something or someone is in the room with you, either lurking around, beside you, watching you, or on top of you. People claim to see or hear them or to experience other physical sensations because of them such as feelings of pressure on their chest.
Sleep paralysis has two types.
Two types of sleep paralysis include ISP / isolated sleep paralysis and RISP / recurrent isolated sleep paralysis. ISP is when people experience sleep paralysis only once or twice in their lives while RISP is when people experience sleep paralysis recurrently or several times during their lifetime.
RISP is more severe
Recurrent isolated sleep paralysis is more severe than isolated sleep paralysis. In fact, RISP can last up to an hour and may be accompanied by an out of body experience.
It can happen during one of two times.
Since sleep paralysis occurs when a person passes between stages of wakefulness and sleep, it can happen during either one of the two transitions in the natural sleep cycle: as you fall asleep or as you wake up. Sleep paralysis happens when your body has a hard time making the transition out of or into REM.
Sleep paralysis can happen to anyone
Every time you go to sleep, there is always some risk of you waking up in sleep paralysis. However, the severity and degree of consciousness can vary greatly. Most people will experience sleep paralysis at least once but they won’t even be aware of it. The experience highly varies from person to person.
Sleep paralysis is most common among young adults
Teenagers and young adults will more likely experience sleep paralysis than adults. In fact, a study in Penn State found that sleep paralysis has the highest prevalence rates in students and psychiatric patients.
It’s more likely to happen when you’re sleep deprived
Multiple studies have consistently shown that the less time you spend sleeping and the more exhausted you are as you go to sleep, the more likely you are to experience sleep paralysis and other types of sleeping disorders.
It’s more likely to happen when you sleep on your back
People who experience repeated occurrences of sleep paralysis report that they’re more likely to wake up in sleep paralysis when they sleep on their back. Try sleeping on your side to keep yourself from entering sleep paralysis.
Sleep paralysis is different from night terrors
There is a huge difference between sleep paralysis and night terrors. In fact, both sleeping disorders appear to be an opposite of the other. While sleep paralysis is associated with the inability to move or speak while conscious, night terrors are associated with screaming and flailing arms while being completely unaware of their surroundings.
