What is sleeping paralysis 

While falling asleep or waking up, your brain sends signals that relax muscles in your arms and legs. The result — muscle Antonio — helps you remain still during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. With sleep paralysis, you regain awareness but can't move. (see the above picture). 

Can everyone get sleep paralysis? 

Causes of sleep paralysis: 

1. insomnia. 
2. Disrupted sleeping patterns – for example, because of shift work or jet lag. 
3. Narcolepsy – a long-term condition that causes a person to suddenly fall asleep. 
4. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 
5. Generalized anxiety disorder.  
6. Panic disorder.  
7. A family history of sleep paralysis.  

Who is more prone to sleep paralysis 

People with anxiety disorders, including panic disorder, appear to be more likely to experience the condition. Some of the strongest associations are in people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and others who have been exposed to physical and emotional distress. 

How can avoid sleep paralysis

One of the best ways to avoid sleep paralysis is to improve the quality of your sleep. You can do this by: Having a set sleep schedule with specific times for going to bed and waking up. Creating a comfortable sleep environment that's dark and quiet. 

During an episode of sleep paralysis, you may: find it difficult to take deep breaths, as if your chest is being crushed or restricted. Be able to move your eyes – some people can also open their eyes, but others find they can't. 

How scary of sleep paralysis 

Emotions: 

Although some episodes of sleep paralysis may be pleasant or enjoyable, up to 90% of hallucinations during sleep paralysis involve feelings of fear. By contrast, only around 30% of dreams can be considered frightening.

 Although pain is rare in dreams, it is nevertheless compatible with the representational code of dreaming. Further, the association of pain with dream content may implicate brain stem and limbic centers in the regulation of painful stimuli during REM sleep. 

You wake up during sleep paralysis, 

 It's entirely safe to wake someone up from sleep paralysis. In fact, they will probably be hugely grateful. If you suspect your bed partner is experiencing sleep paralysis, you could try talking to them, tapping their shoulder, or gently shaking them. 

The Lucid dreams: 

A lucid dream is a type of dream in which the dreamer becomes aware that they are dreaming while dreaming. During a lucid dream, the dreamer may gain some amount of control over the dream characters, narrative, or environment. Lucid dreaming has been studied and reported for many years.

Although more research is needed, some experts suspect lucid dreaming could come with negative consequences. The most concerning potential dangers of lucid dreaming are disrupted sleep and mental health issues. 

Later studies showed that lucid dreaming often occurs during moments of particularly high arousal or change in brain wave activity in the outer layer of the brain. Recognition of dreaming may occur specifically in the prefrontal cortex, where working memory, planning, and abstract reasoning occur. 

Some research has pointed to potential benefits of lucid dreaming, such as treatment for nightmares. However, other studies argue lucid dreams may have a negative impact on mental health because they can disturb sleep and cause dreamers to blur the lines between reality and fantasy. 

Later studies showed that lucid dreaming often occurs during moments of particularly high arousal or change in brain wave activity in the outer layer of the brain. Recognition of dreaming may occur specifically in the prefrontal cortex, where working memory, planning, and abstract reasoning occur.