What is Sleep Paralysis?
Sleep paralysis is a sleep disorder that causes temporary paralysis upon waking up or falling asleep . It is a harmless condition, but it can be very frightening , especially for those who experience it for the first time. What happens during sleep paralysis? During sleep paralysis, you are awake and alert , but you are unable to move your body or speak . This can last for a few seconds to several minutes . You may also experience hallucinations , such as seeing , hearing , or feeling something that is not there. Why does sleep paralysis happen? Sleep paralysis is thought to occur when there is a disruption in the communication between the brain and the body during REM sleep . REM sleep is the stage of sleep when dreams occur. Normally, the brain paralyzes the body during REM sleep to prevent us from acting out our dreams. However, in people with sleep paralysis, this paralysis can carry over into the waking state . Causes of sleep paralysis? Sleep paralysis can happe...