| is a sleep disorder that happens before falling | | | | state, on which you see fanciful objects similar to |
| asleep and/or waking up. It is important that you | | | | dream-like objects that may appear in the room |
| understand why this happens, how and what | | | | along with one’s normal vision. Some |
| causes it to occur. | | | | scientist proposed that this condition calls for a |
| It is believed that sleep is a natural occurrence | | | | theory on alien abductions and ghostly encounters. |
| that can help the body to rest and recharge. | | | | The symptoms that an individual can experience |
| However, its purposes are only partly clear. In the | | | | are paralysis (as mentioned) and hallucinations, |
| natural cycle of sleep, there are two types, which | | | | which can either be experienced in combination or |
| are the REM or rapid eye movements and the | | | | not. These symptoms may be observed for a |
| non-rapid eye movement or NREM. | | | | fraction of a second or up to several minutes. |
| The rapid eye movement type of sleep has a low | | | | The possible causes that some scientist |
| voltage electroencephalogram. This has a relatively | | | | suggested were: |
| absent muscle tone. This is the type of sleep | | | | 1)Some motor neurons or cells in the brain, which |
| where in you tend to remember your dreams as | | | | are responsible for a person’s motor skills, |
| they occur. In the non–rapid eye | | | | are affected by an impediment of their release |
| movement type of sleep, this accounts for about | | | | and thus, stops functioning; |
| 75 up to 80 % of total sleeping time to a normal | | | | 2)Low levels of melatonin, which is a substance in |
| adult. There is a less chance that you can | | | | the brain responsible for sleeping. This can prevent |
| remember your dreams. | | | | the stimulation of the muscles of the dreamer. |
| As compared to REM, it has four stages: stages 1 | | | | It is said that most people who suffer from sleep |
| and 2 are considered light sleep, while stages 3 | | | | paralysis, also suffers narcolepsy later on in life. |
| and 4 are known as deep sleep or slow wave | | | | There are also reports on certain factors that can |
| sleep, as seen in the electroencephalogram. | | | | increase the occurrence of this disorder. One |
| Oftentimes, during NREM, there are movements | | | | factor is sleeping in an upward position, having an |
| in the extremities. This causes | | | | irregular sleeping schedule, increased stress, |
| “Parasomnias” like sleep walking. | | | | sudden environmental or lifestyle changes and a |
| Now, with regards to the things that control the | | | | dream, which precedes the episode. |
| sleeping pattern of humans, the circadian clock | | | | Treatment involves drugs like Clonazepam and |
| found in our brain mainly controls it. This is along | | | | Ritalin. The one mostly recommended is |
| with a human’s willingness to sleep. The | | | | Clonazepam because of its high effective results. |
| timing for a correct and optimal sleep also | | | | Ritalin is successful as a daytime drug, which |
| depends on the correct timing when the two | | | | promotes structured sleeping patterns and can |
| circadian markers occur right after the middle | | | | prevent sleep paralysis in some patients. |
| period of sleep and before awakening. Thus, this | | | | Monitoring of blood pressure is a must while using |
| results to the maximal secretion of melatonin and | | | | this drug. |
| the minimum core body temperature. | | | | Certain steps can also help you lessen the |
| At the National Sleep Foundation in the United | | | | episodes of this disorder. You should learn how to |
| States, they claimed that eight to nine hours of | | | | recognize sleep paralysis. It is best to know the |
| sleep for adults is optimal and may even offer | | | | symptoms. Ask friends if they have the same |
| benefits like good memory, alertness and problem | | | | experiences, this way, you can somehow |
| solving solutions. Furthermore, overall health can | | | | overcome your fright. You should also determine |
| also be guaranteed. A study from the University | | | | the inducing factors that are present in your |
| Of Pennsylvania School Of Medicine also showed | | | | current lifestyle. The best preventive way possible |
| that cognitive and school performance decreases | | | | is for you to try to lessen or completely avoid |
| for those who have fewer than eight hours sleep. | | | | the triggers present in your life. |
| The average amount of sleep an individual needs | | | | Regular sleep is highly recommended to |
| per day depends on the age of that person. If | | | | significantly reduce the likelihood of sleep paralysis. |
| you are and adult, mainly seven hours up to eight | | | | If you have a partner or someone who shares |
| hours or more of sleep will do. If you are an | | | | the bed with you, you need to tell him about it |
| adolescent, between 13 up to 17 years old, nine | | | | and ask him that he should wake you out of your |
| up to ten hours is required. | | | | paralysis. You can do this by opening your eyes |
| This makes sleep important; not only for the rest | | | | and doing a groaning sound in order to call his |
| it can provide us but for the learning capacity we | | | | attention. When you get older this event is less |
| can endure given that we meet the necessary | | | | likely because it only happens mostly at a young |
| time needed for sleep. With regards to sleep | | | | age. When you are a teenager it may be so |
| paralysis, why and how it happens and how can | | | | frequent but once you get to your |
| we really manage it? This is a condition | | | | thirty’s, it may lessen or even before this |
| characterized by the non-permanent paralysis of | | | | happens all the symptoms may disappear |
| the body. This happens shortly after we wake up | | | | completely. Lastly, you need to write down when |
| or shortly before we fall asleep. It occurs when | | | | you had your last episode. This way, you can |
| the brain is in the REM state and then you | | | | track down if it’s happening in an |
| suddenly wake up even though as somewhat | | | | increasing fashion. |
| body paralysis persists. | | | | Thus, knowing these symptoms can provide you |
| It is important to remember that in REM there is | | | | not just an understanding of the situation but the |
| a so called REM atonia or absent muscle tone. | | | | right way on how you can deal with this dilemma. |
| This can make a person conscious to everything | | | | The tips given should be kept in mind. Being afraid |
| that is happening but cannot move his or her | | | | can do more harm than good, so just relax and |
| body. There is also a hallucinatory element of this | | | | maintain a healthy way of living and sleeping. |