(This paper is intended for an audience of teenagers and adults who suffer from sleep paralysis) 

From sleeping in on the weekends to quick naps in the break room, it is no secret that many teens and adults don’t get enough sleep. Whether there is work, class, the gym, or chores, there is always something keeping us from getting in those few extra minutes. While many covet the days off that allow for extra snooze time, sleep is not always enjoyable when suffering from something like sleep paralysis. More intense than the average nightmare, sleep paralysis involves the sensation of being awake, but not being able to move. While paralyzed, many over the years have reported seeing killers or demons come into their room and try to harm them, all while they must lay there unable to do anything. While waking from a nightmare most can understand that they are conscious, and that nothing can harm them. However, for those who suffer from sleep paralysis, waking up does not necessarily mean that the nightmare ends. While some go their entire lives unaffected, others must deal with the phenomenon for years on end making the real question, why does sleep paralysis happen?  

In order to truly understand what sleep paralysis is and how it happens, there must first be an understanding of sleep itself, and the role it plays in human life. Over the years, poor sleeping habits, according to the national institute of neurological disorders and stroke, have been linked to an increased risk of “high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression, and obesity (Brain Basics: Understanding Sleep).” Without the proper amount of sleep both psychological health and physical health are put at risk. While those who suffer from sleep paralysis can have their sleep disrupted, they can also become avoidant of sleep out of fear which is also detrimental. Sleep itself can be broken down into two different categories called REM sleep and non- REM sleep. Within the non – REM sleep category there are three different stages the body goes through before it achieves REM sleep. The first stage involves the action of falling sleep, and only lasts a few minutes. The brain is experiencing a very light sleep during this stage and so muscles begin to relax as movement is diminished. The second stage is characterized by a slightly deeper sleep where there is a drop in body temperature and eye movement stops. It is said that, “You spend more of your repeated sleep cycles in stage 2 sleep than in other sleep stages (Brain Basics: Understanding Sleep).” The third sleep stage is a period of deep sleep before your body slips into REM sleep. When the body transitions from deep sleep to REM, the eyes begin to pick up movement and shift back and forth very quickly behind closed lids (The Johns Hopkins University). It is during this cycle that sleep paralysis begins to settle in, because the arms and legs are temporarily unable to be moved as we dream. 

The phenomenon of sleep paralysis is not new, nor is it confined to western culture. There have been numerous reports in countries such as Brazil, Mexico, Japan, Cambodia, and Canada of sleep paralysis being caused by things like dead bodies or vengeful spirits. While each culture may have their own explanation for what it is that causes sleep paralysis, they all have a similar recounting of the event. Those who suffer from sleep paralysis describe their episodes as nothing short of terrifying. Many attempt to fight off an attacker of some sort, while others awake to a creature sitting on their chest who is waiting to steal their soul, or get revenge for a wrong doing (Miller, Sara G).  

Sleep paralysis, however, should not be mistaken for lucid dreaming. While some say those who lucid dream are more likely to experience sleep paralysis, the connection between the two phenomenon is not very clear. While both occur during the REM sleep cycle, lucid dreaming is more about becoming conscious that one is asleep and using that consciousness to manipulate what happens in the dream. For some they can change their actions, and the actions of others in the dream, and have a pleasant experience (Cohut, Maria). Although the two experiences might not be exactly similar, there is no doubt that if one does experience either of the two phenomena, they are not alone. Many publish their experiences on blogs or forums hoping to find others with common experiences.  

The reason for paralysis in general during the REM sleep cycle is for protection. One cycle of REM sleep lasts for approximately ninety minutes and so for that time, the muscles of the body are paralyzed so that the body is “unable to act out dreams (Bradford, Alina)”. Without this paralysis, people would do in real life what they do in their dreams. This doesn’t seem too bad if one sleeps alone or doesn’t have a particularly wild dream. But if a couple is sleeping together and one experiences a nightmare, there could be harm done to both the person experiencing the nightmare as well as their partner. Intense hitting, kicking, walking, and flailing movements would all be possible if the human body did not slip into this paralyzed state. On the neurological side sleep paralysis is caused by neurotransmitters such as GABA, which are found in the central nervous system that blocks impulses in the brain. This means that they inhibit the ability for motoneurons, which control movement, to fire and communicate so that the body may move limbs (Brooks, Patricia L). . For those that do not experience sleep paralysis, this simply means they can sleep without the worry of flailing around and hurting themselves while asleep. 

While scientists know what causes the paralysis, the auditory and visual hallucinations are not as well explained. Sleep paralysis can occur at two different times; when someone is falling asleep it is called hypnagogic and as someone is waking up from a dream it is called hypnopompic (Hassan, Jennifer). The images and sounds can last anywhere from a few second to a few minutes and vary in intensity. These hallucinations are different from dreams because the individual believes they are awake and so seeing a figure in their room feels very real and threatening to them. Although the exact cause is not known, some believe the hallucinations are remnants of dreams paired with the distress of not being able to move. Sleep paralysis has also been linked to narcolepsy which effects the brains ability to regulate sleep (Miller, Sara G.).  

There are a number of different things that can trigger sleep paralysis and disrupt the REM sleep cycle. Some causes include mental illnesses such as anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression. Other causes include certain medications, stress, and sleep deprivation. Other sleep disorders such as sleep apnea or narcolepsy are also associated with sleep paralysis. There have been some studies done attempting to link genetics to sleep paralysis, but the findings are preliminary and inconclusive. While there is still some research to be done on the hallucinations, one can rest assured that sleep paralysis effects many all over the world and is not life threatening. Some precautions to take include setting up a regular sleep schedule and avoiding caffeine or alcohol before bed. Some even suggest that sleeping on the side or stomach instead of the back can help reduce the chance of having an episode, but it should be noted that one could still experience sleep paralysis while sleeping on their side or stomach. Overall, while the condition seems scary in the moment due to the shadowy figure at the edge of the bed, it does good to remember that sleep paralysis, much like a dream, can’t really hurt you.  

Work Cited  

1. Miller, Sara G. “The Demon on Your Chest and Other Terrifying Tales of Sleep Paralysis.” LiveScience, Purch, 10 Oct. 2016, www.livescience.com/56422-sleep-paralysis-different-cultures.html. 

1. The Johns Hopkins University. “Sleep Science.” Is There Really Any Benefit to Multivitamins?, www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/healthy-sleep/sleep-science/the-science-of-sleep-understanding-what-happens-when-you-sleep. 

1. Cohut, Maria. “Lucid Dreams: What They Are, and How to Experience Them.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, 14 Sept. 2018, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323077.php. 

1. Bradford, Alina. “Sleep Paralysis: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment.” LiveScience, Purch, 13 Sept. 2017, www.livescience.com/50876-sleep-paralysis.html. 

1. Brooks, Patricia L., and John H. Peever. “Identification of the Transmitter and Receptor Mechanisms Responsible for REM Sleep Paralysis.” Journal of Neuroscience, Society for Neuroscience, 18 July 2012, www.jneurosci.org/content/32/29/9785.full#sec-1. 

1. Hassan, Jennifer, and Washington Post. “This Is What It’s Like to Have Sleep Paralysis And What Science Says About It.” ScienceAlert, ScienceAlert, 28 Jan. 2018, www.sciencealert.com/science-explanation-nocturnal-hallucinations-sleep-paralysis.