Materiały źródłowe

• #1 Sleep Paralysis – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf

  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562322/

  Sleep paralysis refers to the phenomenon in which resumption of consciousness occurs while muscle atonia of REM (rapid eye movement) sleep is maintained, leading to intense fear and apprehension in the patient as the patient lies awake without the ability to use any part of their body. […] The possible explanation for Incubus hallucination during an episode of sleep paralysis is that there is a decrease in respiratory muscle activity during REM sleep; this is due to the inhibition of motor neurons. During REM sleep, respiration becomes irregular, and there is skeletal muscle hypotonia resulting in significant reductions in alveolar ventilation and tidal volume, leading to hypercapnia. In normal subjects, alveolar ventilation during REM sleep can be 40% lower than during wakefulness. […] A hypervigilant state is also characteristic of REM sleep, and it appears to originate in the midbrain. This hypervigilance leads to the fear and paranoia that often accompanies these episodes. […] A possible explanation for REM sleep disorders is flawing in the structures forming the brainstem.

• #2 Sleep paralysis – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_paralysis

  Sleep paralysis is a state, during waking up or falling asleep, in which a person is conscious but in a complete state of full-body paralysis. […] The underlying mechanism is believed to involve a dysfunction in REM sleep. […] The pathophysiology of sleep paralysis has not been concretely identified, although there are several theories about its cause. […] The first of these stems from the understanding that sleep paralysis is a parasomnia resulting from dysfunctional overlap of the REM and waking stages of sleep. […] Polysomnographic studies have found that individuals who experience sleep paralysis have shorter REM sleep latencies than normal along with shortened NREM and REM sleep cycles, and fragmentation of REM sleep. […] Another major theory is that the neural functions that regulate sleep are out of balance, causing different sleep states to overlap.

• #3 The Science Behind Sleep Paralysis – President’s Writing Awards

  https://www.boisestate.edu/presidents-writing-awards/the-science-behind-sleep-paralysis/

  Sleep paralysis (SP) is a feeling of being conscious but unable to move. It occurs when a person passes between stages of wakefulness and sleep. […] The pathophysiology, or the physiological processes associated with SP, has shown that sleep paralysis occurs at the sleep-onset REM (rapid eye movement) period of sleep. Evidence suggests that sleep paralysis is caused by an overlap of REM sleep and wakefulness. […] This theory is standing on a platform of evidence and has reasoning behind its science. Sleep paralysis is a haunting sleep disorder that can affect many people, and is caused by a simple overlap of waking up and rapid eye movement.

• #4 Sleep Paralysis: What It Is, Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21974-sleep-paralysis

  Sleep paralysis happens when you regain awareness going into or coming out of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Your body hasnt fully switched sleep phases or woken up during sleep paralysis. […] When youre sleeping, your brain sends signals that relax the muscles in your arms and legs. The result muscle atonia helps you remain still during REM sleep. As youre in the REM sleep stage, youll likely have dreams. Your brain prevents the muscles in your limbs from moving to protect yourself from acting dreams out and causing injury.

• #5 Sleep Paralysis Unveiled: A Comprehensive Examination of Night Terrors | Hiwell

  https://www.hiwellapp.com/en/blog/sleep-paralysis

  Sleep paralysis is the temporary inability of the body to move while conscious during sleep, as well as the night terrors that this causes. […] In normal sleep, our muscles paralyze during the dream phase, causing us to be unable to move our bodies during this phase of sleep. This paralysis has a very valid reason: it prevents us from actually doing the things we do in our dreams. […] In the case of sleep paralysis, the physiological paralysis that the person experiences during the dream phase continues shortly after waking up. The awakening of a sleeping person’s consciousness before the muscles cause sleep paralysis. In other words, sleep paralysis occurs when our muscles wake up later than our mind or consciousness. […] Sleep paralysis is especially common in people whose sleep patterns are disrupted. […] Sleep paralysis first appears during adolescence. […] For most people, sleep paralysis is not a serious issue. […] It is necessary to eliminate the factors that cause sleep paralysis in order to overcome it.

• #6 Understanding Sleep Paralysis: Causes, Treatment, and Prevention

  https://www.nolahmattress.com/blogs/blog/what-is-sleep-paralysis

  Sleep paralysis causes an interruption in the rapid eye movement phase of sleep. […] During sleep paralysis, the process of moving from REM to non-REM sleep is distorted. You’re wide awake but your brain needs a few seconds to receive the message. […] As explained by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine: „Normally your brain causes your muscles to relax and be still in REM sleep. This is called 'REM atonia.’ This happens to keep you from acting out your dreams. Sleep paralysis occurs when REM atonia happens while you are falling asleep or waking up.” […] Sleep paralysis occurs when REM atonia happens while you are falling asleep or waking up.

• #7 Sleep paralysis – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_paralysis

  Sleep paralysis is a state, during waking up or falling asleep, in which a person is conscious but in a complete state of full-body paralysis. […] The underlying mechanism is believed to involve a dysfunction in REM sleep. […] The pathophysiology of sleep paralysis has not been concretely identified, although there are several theories about its cause. […] The first of these stems from the understanding that sleep paralysis is a parasomnia resulting from dysfunctional overlap of the REM and waking stages of sleep. […] Polysomnographic studies have found that individuals who experience sleep paralysis have shorter REM sleep latencies than normal along with shortened NREM and REM sleep cycles, and fragmentation of REM sleep. […] Another major theory is that the neural functions that regulate sleep are out of balance, causing different sleep states to overlap.

• #8 Understanding sleep paralysis: a terrifying but unique state of consciousness

  https://theconversation.com/understanding-sleep-paralysis-a-terrifying-but-unique-state-of-consciousness-48509

  Sleep paralysis is a common symptom of narcolepsy, a sleep disorder where the brains ability to regulate a normal sleep-wake cycle becomes disrupted. […] It is assumed that this paralysis mechanism is in place to stop us acting out our dreams, based on rare cases where the paralysis fails and patients physically act out the contents of their dreams. […] What appears to be happening in sleep paralysis is you wake up and become consciously aware of your surroundings while still in a state of REM sleep, meaning your muscles are paralysed. It could be said that your mind wakes up but your body doesnt. […] Recordings of brain activity during sleep paralysis show it to be a unique state of consciousness. A recent study showed that a participants brain activity during sleep paralysis was indistinguishable from a brain recording created by combining a recording from when they were awake, and when they were in REM sleep.

• #9 Sleep Paralysis – Sleep Education – American Academy of Sleep Medicine

  https://sleepeducation.org/sleep-disorders/sleep-paralysis/

  Recurrent isolated sleep paralysis is a parasomnia. […] A REM parasomnia is one that happens during a transition into or out of REM sleep. Sleep paralysis is a REM parasomnia. It causes you to be unable to move your body at either of the two following times: […] Normally your brain causes your muscles to relax and be still in REM sleep. This is called “REM atonia.” This happens to keep you from acting out your dreams. Sleep paralysis occurs when REM atonia happens while you are falling asleep or waking up. […] Sleep paralysis can be one sign of narcolepsy. […] Doctors do not need any tests to treat most patients with recurrent isolated sleep paralysis. […] An electromyogram (EMG) recording will show the level of electrical activity in your muscles. This level will be very low during an episode of sleep paralysis. […] People with narcolepsy often have sleep paralysis. If you are diagnosed with narcolepsy, a sleep doctor will work with you to find a treatment plan for your narcolepsy.

• #10 Relationships between sleep paralysis and sleep quality: current insig | NSS

  https://www.dovepress.com/relationships-between-sleep-paralysis-and-sleep-quality-current-insigh-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-NSS

  Sleep paralysis is the unusual experience of waking up in the night without the ability to move. […] The state of sleep paralysis is thus believed to arise from an ongoing continuation of the REM-induced muscle paralysis into a waking state. […] The mechanism as to how longer sleep latency could be associated with sleep paralysis remains unclear, however, and warrants further research. […] PSG recordings of the episodes suggest that the state of sleep paralysis can be described as a mixed state of consciousness, blending elements of wakefulness, and REM sleep. […] This indicates that the muscles are indeed paralyzed during episodes and likely represents a continuation of the normal atonia seen during REM sleep into a waking state of consciousness. […] Theoretically, the conscious state of sleep paralysis can be modeled within the activation-input-modulation (AIM) framework.

• #11 How sleep paralysis works | University of Toronto

  https://www.utoronto.ca/news/how-sleep-paralysis-works

  New University of Toronto research shows that two powerful brain chemical systems work together to paralyze skeletal muscles during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. […] Understanding the precise mechanism behind these chemicals role in REM sleep disorder is particularly important because about 80 percent of people who have it eventually develop a neurodegenerative disease, such as Parkinsons disease, said study author John Peever, PhD, a U of T neuroscientist. […] „We showed that GABA and glycine shut off motor neurons during REM sleep and that’s what triggers REM paralysis,” said Peever. […] The data suggest the two neurotransmitters must both be present together to maintain motor control during sleep, rather than working separately. […] By identifying the neurotransmitters and receptors involved in sleep-related paralysis, this study points us to possible molecular targets for developing treatments for sleep-related motor disorders, which can often be debilitating, McGinty said.

• #12 Identification of the Transmitter and Receptor Mechanisms Responsible for REM Sleep Paralysis | Journal of Neuroscience

  https://www.jneurosci.org/content/32/29/9785

  During REM sleep the CNS is intensely active, but the skeletal motor system is paradoxically forced into a state of muscle paralysis. The mechanisms that trigger REM sleep paralysis are a matter of intense debate. […] We show that a powerful GABA and glycine drive triggers REM paralysis by switching off motoneuron activity. This drive inhibits motoneurons by targeting both metabotropic GABAB and ionotropic GABAA/glycine receptors. REM paralysis is only reversed when motoneurons are cut off from GABAB, GABAA and glycine receptor-mediated inhibition. Neither metabotropic nor ionotropic receptor mechanisms alone are sufficient for generating REM paralysis. These results demonstrate that multiple receptor mechanisms trigger REM sleep paralysis. […] We found that inactivation of both metabotropic GABAB and ionotropic GABAA/glycine receptors prevented and indeed reversed REM paralysis. However, neither metabotropic nor ionotropic pathways alone are sufficient for inducing REM inhibition. REM paralysis is only reversed when motoneurons are cutoff from both metabotropic and ionotropic receptor-mediated inhibition.

• #13 Identification of the Transmitter and Receptor Mechanisms Responsible for REM Sleep Paralysis | Journal of Neuroscience

  https://www.jneurosci.org/content/32/29/9785

  Our results identify the transmitter and receptor mechanisms responsible for REM sleep paralysis. We show GABA and glycine inhibition causes motor paralysis by switching-off motoneurons during REM sleep. This drive inhibits motoneurons by activating both metabotropic GABAB and ionotropic GABAA/glycine receptors. REM motor inhibition is only prevented when motoneurons are cutoff from all sources of GABA and glycine transmission. No single form of receptor-mediated inhibition is capable of triggering REM paralysis. Current results therefore advance our understanding of the synaptic mechanisms underlying REM sleep paralysis.

• #14 Relationships between sleep paralysis and sleep quality: current insig | NSS

  https://www.dovepress.com/relationships-between-sleep-paralysis-and-sleep-quality-current-insigh-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-NSS

  Sleep paralysis can be modeled as a mixture of these two states: 1 high activation, 2 mixed external and internal input, 3 mixed neuromodulation. […] Overactivation of the amygdala has been proposed to contribute to high levels of fear experienced during sensed presence/intruder hallucinations. […] In sleep paralysis, the individual becomes awake and conscious of their surroundings while still in a (partial) state of REM sleep.

• #15 Relationships between sleep paralysis and sleep quality: current insig | NSS

  https://www.dovepress.com/relationships-between-sleep-paralysis-and-sleep-quality-current-insigh-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-NSS

  Sleep paralysis can be modeled as a mixture of these two states: 1 high activation, 2 mixed external and internal input, 3 mixed neuromodulation. […] Overactivation of the amygdala has been proposed to contribute to high levels of fear experienced during sensed presence/intruder hallucinations. […] In sleep paralysis, the individual becomes awake and conscious of their surroundings while still in a (partial) state of REM sleep.

• #16 Why Sleep Paralysis Happens (and How to Prevent It) | Psychology Today

  https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-savvy-psychologist/202010/why-sleep-paralysis-happens-and-how-prevent-it

  Youre typically not aware of it, but the paralysis part of sleep paralysis actually happens every night when you sleep during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. […] During REM, your brain is actually quite activethe electrical signals from the brain look almost like they do when youre awake. […] While your brain waves may be very active, your body is immobilized during REM. Other than the eyes moving around a lot (hence rapid eye movement), your muscles lose tone. This is your body’s way of preventing you from acting out your dreams. […] Sometimes, though, the veil between sleep and wakefulness becomes thin and you find yourself straddling both at the same time. Suddenly, youre awake and helpless while you hallucinate and process emotions. […] The good news is that sleep paralysis is usually innocuous. Its simply a temporary blunder in the sleep-wake brain system that failed to transition you completely from sleep to wakefulness.

• #17 Sleep Paralysis – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf

  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562322/

  Sleep paralysis refers to the phenomenon in which resumption of consciousness occurs while muscle atonia of REM (rapid eye movement) sleep is maintained, leading to intense fear and apprehension in the patient as the patient lies awake without the ability to use any part of their body. […] The possible explanation for Incubus hallucination during an episode of sleep paralysis is that there is a decrease in respiratory muscle activity during REM sleep; this is due to the inhibition of motor neurons. During REM sleep, respiration becomes irregular, and there is skeletal muscle hypotonia resulting in significant reductions in alveolar ventilation and tidal volume, leading to hypercapnia. In normal subjects, alveolar ventilation during REM sleep can be 40% lower than during wakefulness. […] A hypervigilant state is also characteristic of REM sleep, and it appears to originate in the midbrain. This hypervigilance leads to the fear and paranoia that often accompanies these episodes. […] A possible explanation for REM sleep disorders is flawing in the structures forming the brainstem.

• #18 Can Sleep Paralysis Cause Breathing Issues? – Kamelhar

  https://kamelharpulmonary.com/can-sleep-paralysis-cause-breathing-issues/

  Sleep paralysis is a temporary state of involuntary immobility that occurs during sleep-wake transitions. […] During REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, the brain triggers muscle atonia, a temporary paralysis that prevents you from acting out your dreams. […] The good news is that muscle atonia typically doesn’t affect the muscles responsible for breathing. […] The experience of sleep paralysis itself can be quite stressful, triggering anxiety or even panic. […] While sleep paralysis can occur independently, it’s more prevalent in individuals with sleep disorders in Midtown, NY, like sleep apnea or narcolepsy. […] It’s important to dispel the misconception that sleep paralysis itself can cause suffocation. […] Accurate information can help alleviate some of the anxiety associated with sleep paralysis.

• #19 Sleep paralysis – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_paralysis

  In individuals reporting sleep paralysis, there is almost no blocking of exogenous stimuli, which means it is much easier for a stimulus to arouse the individual. […] If the effects of sleep „on” neural populations cannot be counteracted, characteristics of REM sleep are retained upon awakening. […] Research has found a genetic component in sleep paralysis. […] The characteristic fragmentation of REM sleep, hypnopompic, and hypnagogic hallucinations have a heritable component in other parasomnias, which lends credence to the idea that sleep paralysis is also genetic.

• #20 Sleep Paralysis – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf

  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562322/

  Sleep paralysis refers to the phenomenon in which resumption of consciousness occurs while muscle atonia of REM (rapid eye movement) sleep is maintained, leading to intense fear and apprehension in the patient as the patient lies awake without the ability to use any part of their body. […] The possible explanation for Incubus hallucination during an episode of sleep paralysis is that there is a decrease in respiratory muscle activity during REM sleep; this is due to the inhibition of motor neurons. During REM sleep, respiration becomes irregular, and there is skeletal muscle hypotonia resulting in significant reductions in alveolar ventilation and tidal volume, leading to hypercapnia. In normal subjects, alveolar ventilation during REM sleep can be 40% lower than during wakefulness. […] A hypervigilant state is also characteristic of REM sleep, and it appears to originate in the midbrain. This hypervigilance leads to the fear and paranoia that often accompanies these episodes. […] A possible explanation for REM sleep disorders is flawing in the structures forming the brainstem.

• #21 What Causes Sleep Paralysis and How Can You Prevent It?

  https://sleeplessinarizona.com/what-causes-sleep-paralysis-and-how-can-you-prevent-it/

  Sleep paralysis happens during specific sleep stages. Sleep alternates between non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM). Each stage has a unique purpose. […] During REM sleep: Your brain is highly active, but your body is paralyzed (a state called atonia) to prevent you from acting out your dreams. […] In sleep paralysis: Atonia persists while your brain regains consciousness. You’re mentally awake but physically unable to move or speak. […] Brain scans show that sleep paralysis triggers excessive activity in the amygdala, the brain’s fear center. That may be why people feel overwhelming dread during an episode. Hallucinations also happen because the brain misinterprets sensory signals. The combination creates a terrifying but temporary experience. […] While these mechanisms are well-documented, the exact neural pathways involved are still a subject of ongoing research.

• #22 Relationships between sleep paralysis and sleep quality: current insig | NSS

  https://www.dovepress.com/relationships-between-sleep-paralysis-and-sleep-quality-current-insigh-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-NSS

  Sleep paralysis can be modeled as a mixture of these two states: 1 high activation, 2 mixed external and internal input, 3 mixed neuromodulation. […] Overactivation of the amygdala has been proposed to contribute to high levels of fear experienced during sensed presence/intruder hallucinations. […] In sleep paralysis, the individual becomes awake and conscious of their surroundings while still in a (partial) state of REM sleep.

• #23

  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00213-018-5042-1

  Hallucinatory experiences during sleep paralysis have the classic features of serotonergic hallucinations (pseudo-hallucinations) and are similar to those induced by hallucinogenic drugs. […] Moreover, during sleep paralysis, the sufferer can have ample awareness that he is in fact hallucinating (although this is not always the case). […] The elevated fear levels seen during sleep paralysis are consistent with the well-established link between 5-HT2A receptor activation and fear reactions as described above. […] I propose that in addition to the possible role of 5-HT2A receptors in mediating sleep paralysis fear-anxiety reactions, these functional principals of 5-HT2CR activation might drive anxiety (via the amygdala and DRN) and panic reactions (via the PAG) during sleep paralysis. […] It is plausible that during sleep paralysis, the 5-HT2AR-induced amygdaloid fear circuitry mediated by the orbitofrontal cortex directly influences visual pathways and consequently hallucinations.

• #24 Sleep paralysis – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_paralysis

  Sleep paralysis is a state, during waking up or falling asleep, in which a person is conscious but in a complete state of full-body paralysis. […] The underlying mechanism is believed to involve a dysfunction in REM sleep. […] The pathophysiology of sleep paralysis has not been concretely identified, although there are several theories about its cause. […] The first of these stems from the understanding that sleep paralysis is a parasomnia resulting from dysfunctional overlap of the REM and waking stages of sleep. […] Polysomnographic studies have found that individuals who experience sleep paralysis have shorter REM sleep latencies than normal along with shortened NREM and REM sleep cycles, and fragmentation of REM sleep. […] Another major theory is that the neural functions that regulate sleep are out of balance, causing different sleep states to overlap.

• #25 Sleep paralysis – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_paralysis

  In individuals reporting sleep paralysis, there is almost no blocking of exogenous stimuli, which means it is much easier for a stimulus to arouse the individual. […] If the effects of sleep „on” neural populations cannot be counteracted, characteristics of REM sleep are retained upon awakening. […] Research has found a genetic component in sleep paralysis. […] The characteristic fragmentation of REM sleep, hypnopompic, and hypnagogic hallucinations have a heritable component in other parasomnias, which lends credence to the idea that sleep paralysis is also genetic.

• #26 What causes sleep paralysis? – BBC Science Focus Magazine

  https://www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-body/what-causes-sleep-paralysis

  During rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, our body is paralysed to stop us from acting out our dreams. When sleep paralysis occurs, features of REM sleep are continuing into our waking lives. In particular we are unable to move and sometimes experience hallucinations. […] Both genetic and environmental factors are at play. Circadian genes might be important, although more research is needed to specify which genes are involved. As for environmental influences, it appears that anything that might disrupt our sleep – including stressful life events and alcohol use – can be a risk for sleep paralysis.

• #27

  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00213-018-5042-1

  It is possible that individuals with increased 5-HT2A receptor density (e.g., in certain brain regions) are more prone to hallucinating during sleep paralysis. […] This proposed neuropharmacological account implicates gene HTR2A on chromosome 13q as the underlying cause of sleep paralysis hallucinations and could be explored using positron emission tomography.

• #28

  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00213-018-5042-1

  It is possible that individuals with increased 5-HT2A receptor density (e.g., in certain brain regions) are more prone to hallucinating during sleep paralysis. […] This proposed neuropharmacological account implicates gene HTR2A on chromosome 13q as the underlying cause of sleep paralysis hallucinations and could be explored using positron emission tomography.

• #29 Sleep Paralysis: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

  https://www.helpguide.org/wellness/sleep/sleep-paralysis-causes-symptoms-and-treatment

  If youre suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or an anxiety disorder you may be more likely to experience sleep paralysis. Its currently uncertain if these disorders actually cause sleep paralysis. However, the sleep disruptions and sense of terror you experience may exacerbate other anxiety symptoms. […] Some studies indicate that sleep paralysis is more likely to occur when you sleep in a supine position (on your back). This could be related to sleep apnea, which is also worsened by sleeping on your back. […] Its possible that genetics may affect your risk for sleep paralysis. Limited research hints at sleep paralysis running in families. However, its possible that shared environmental factors rather than genetics are the cause. Members of a family can share the same supernatural beliefs or develop similar habits that reduce sleep quality.

• #30 Sleep paralysis: Causes, symptoms, and treatments – Harvard Health

  https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/sleep-paralysis-causes-symptoms-and-treatments

  Sleep paralysis is a temporary sense of paralysis that occurs between stages of wakefulness and sleep. […] Sleep paralysis is considered a parasomnia, or an abnormal behavior that occurs during sleep. Because it is linked to the rapid eye movement (REM) stage of the sleep cycle, sleep paralysis is considered a REM parasomnia. […] However, during sleep paralysis you wake up suddenly from REM, regaining awareness even as your muscles are still relaxed, in atonia. For this reason, sleep paralysis may feel like temporary paralysis. […] While the exact cause of sleep paralysis is not understood, research has linked certain sleep habits to the condition: inadequate sleep, an irregular sleep schedule or a sleep schedule that often changes, sleeping on your back. […] In addition, sleep paralysis has also been linked with sleep disorders such as narcolepsy. Narcolepsy is a disorder that causes sudden episodes of deep sleep caused by a problem with the brain’s ability to regulate sleep. […] Many people report stressful events or an emotional experience preceding the episodes. […] In addition, research suggests there may be a genetic predisposition to this condition.

• #31 Sleep Paralysis and Narcolepsy | MyNarcolepsyTeam

  https://www.mynarcolepsyteam.com/resources/sleep-paralysis-and-narcolepsy

  Sleep paralysis is a neurological symptom meaning its related to the nervous system. […] Sleep paralysis can be treatable with the right medical diagnosis and care. […] However, muscle atonia can become a problem if it begins to occur outside of REM sleep or with awareness. […] Generally, sleep paralysis episodes occur as a person begins to fall asleep or awaken, causing them to feel as if they cannot move or speak. […] Sleep paralysis also occurs much more frequently among people with narcolepsy than it does in the general population. […] Researchers believe that sleep paralysis occurs because of these REM timing abnormalities, meaning a persons brain starts or remains in REM, even when the person is awake. […] If narcolepsy is the cause of a persons sleep paralysis, its important to treat the narcolepsy. Treating the underlying sleep disorder reduces the likelihood that you will have sleep paralysis attacks.

• #32 Sleep Paralysis and Narcolepsy | MyNarcolepsyTeam

  https://www.mynarcolepsyteam.com/resources/sleep-paralysis-and-narcolepsy

  Sleep paralysis is a neurological symptom meaning its related to the nervous system. […] Sleep paralysis can be treatable with the right medical diagnosis and care. […] However, muscle atonia can become a problem if it begins to occur outside of REM sleep or with awareness. […] Generally, sleep paralysis episodes occur as a person begins to fall asleep or awaken, causing them to feel as if they cannot move or speak. […] Sleep paralysis also occurs much more frequently among people with narcolepsy than it does in the general population. […] Researchers believe that sleep paralysis occurs because of these REM timing abnormalities, meaning a persons brain starts or remains in REM, even when the person is awake. […] If narcolepsy is the cause of a persons sleep paralysis, its important to treat the narcolepsy. Treating the underlying sleep disorder reduces the likelihood that you will have sleep paralysis attacks.

• #33 Sleep Paralysis: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

  https://www.helpguide.org/wellness/sleep/sleep-paralysis-causes-symptoms-and-treatment

  Today, researchers have a better, but still imperfect, understanding of what causes the condition. Sleep paralysis can be a symptom of narcolepsy or another sleep disorder. When its not related to a medical issue, its known as isolated sleep paralysis. […] The following factors may increase your risk of sleep paralysis: […] Sleep disorders. As mentioned before, sleep paralysis can be a symptom of a broader sleep disorder, especially narcolepsy. Sleep paralysis that is associated with narcolepsy often occurs just as youre falling asleep, while isolated episodes that arent due to narcolepsy tend to occur when youre waking up. […] Theres a correlation between stress and sleep paralysis. High stress can exacerbate sleep paralysis episodes, while sleep paralysis can disrupt your sleep and add to your stress.

• #34 How sleep paralysis works | University of Toronto

  https://www.utoronto.ca/news/how-sleep-paralysis-works

  New University of Toronto research shows that two powerful brain chemical systems work together to paralyze skeletal muscles during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. […] Understanding the precise mechanism behind these chemicals role in REM sleep disorder is particularly important because about 80 percent of people who have it eventually develop a neurodegenerative disease, such as Parkinsons disease, said study author John Peever, PhD, a U of T neuroscientist. […] „We showed that GABA and glycine shut off motor neurons during REM sleep and that’s what triggers REM paralysis,” said Peever. […] The data suggest the two neurotransmitters must both be present together to maintain motor control during sleep, rather than working separately. […] By identifying the neurotransmitters and receptors involved in sleep-related paralysis, this study points us to possible molecular targets for developing treatments for sleep-related motor disorders, which can often be debilitating, McGinty said.

• #35 Understanding Sleep Paralysis – UMMS Health

  https://health.umms.org/2022/08/26/sleep-paralysis/

  Sleep paralysis is a parasomnia, the medical term for unusual behavior that happens during sleep. When you are experiencing sleep paralysis, you are temporarily unable to speak or move your body even though you feel like you’re awake, a condition called atonia. […] Sleep paralysis occurs when you remain in atonia after waking. […] Researchers believe this is a result of being in a mixed state of consciousness. In other words, you are technically awake but still experiencing the atonia and vivid dreams of being in REM sleep. […] Researchers don’t know exactly what triggers this phenomenon. But some studies have found that people with certain risk factors may be more susceptible to it. […] For some, frequent episodes of sleep paralysis might be a signal of an underlying sleep disorder, such as narcolepsy, a condition that prevents the brain from properly controlling sleep cycles. This can cause you to feel very sleepy throughout the day and even fall asleep in the middle of activities. […] Obstructive sleep apnea, which causes you to stop breathing frequently while sleeping.

• #36 Sleep Paralysis: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

  https://www.health.com/sleep-paralysis-7369673

  ISP and RISP triggers include: Other sleep disorders, like narcolepsy or insomnia (a sleep disorder that can make it difficult to fall asleep, stay asleep, or both). […] Treatment focuses on reducing your number of episodes by targeting the root cause of sleep paralysis. You might also work on coping strategies to help you manage the negative effects of sleep paralysis. […] Several types of therapy can help address underlying causes of sleep paralysis (such as anxiety) and help you develop strategies to cope with anxiety and stress during and after episodes. […] Practicing good sleep hygiene is often part of treatment because poor or disrupted sleep is a common cause of sleep paralysis. Sleep hygiene is also a treatment for narcolepsy, as well as part of treatment for insomnia, both of which can cause or exacerbate sleep paralysis. […] Medications that treat the causes of sleep paralysis including bipolar disorder and narcolepsy, can also reduce the number of sleep paralysis episodes.

• #37 Circadian Rhythm Disorder | Jet Lag Symptoms. | Get Relief!

  https://gwinnettsleep.com/sleep-disorders/the-causes-and-treatment-of-sleep-paralysis/

  Causes Of Sleep Paralysis Sleep paralysis can affect both men and women, regardless of age. This condition typically occurs for the first time during teenage years, with the average being 14-17. Sleep paralysis can also be a genetic trait. Other causes for this condition include other sleep disorders such as insomnia, narcolepsy and obstructive sleep apnea. […] Restless leg syndrome (RLS) has also been linked to paralysis. This condition causes an uncontrollable urge to move your legs, often resulting in nighttime twitching. Since these disorders are linked to poor sleep quality, the likelihood of experiencing sleep paralysis greatly increases. […] However, sleep paralysis can also be caused by factors entirely unrelated to sleep. This includes mental health conditions such as anxiety disorders, especially panic disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and bipolar disorder. Substance and alcohol abuse are also connected to paralysis, along with disruptions in your circadian rhythm.

• #38 Sleep paralysis – causes, symptoms and treatment | healthdirect

  https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/sleep-paralysis

  Sleep paralysis is also linked to: not getting enough sleep for example, because of work hours or insomnia, irregular sleeping patterns, for example those experienced by shift workers or students, or because of jet lag, family history of sleep paralysis, sleeping on your back. […] Sleep paralysis doesnt cause significant problems for most people, and no treatment is needed. […] Its also important to treat any health conditions that may be causing your sleep paralysis. […] Getting enough sleep may reduce your chances of experiencing sleep paralysis.

• #39

  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00213-018-5042-1

  Sleep paralysis is a state of involuntary immobility occurring at sleep onset or offset, often accompanied by uncanny ghost-like hallucinations and extreme fear reactions. […] Research has shown that 5-HT2AR activation can induce visual hallucinations, mystical subjective states, and out-of-body experiences (OBEs), and modulate fear circuits. […] I propose a possible mechanism whereby serotonin could be functionally implicated in generating sleep paralysis hallucinations and fear reactions through 5-HT2AR activity. […] During sleep paralysis, for instance, there is a desynchrony between motor-execution (efference) and sensory input from the body (afference), resulting in massive deafferentation. […] One hypothesis has also implicated the mirror neuron system, and the interaction between several brain regions, including the prefrontal cortex and sensory feedback, as contributing factors in triggering these hallucinations.

• #40

  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00213-018-5042-1

  To date, no account has been provided for the possible neuropharmacological basis of these ghostly hallucinations during sleep paralysis. As we shall see, serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2AR) activation may play a crucial role in inducing these hallucinations. […] It is plausible that during sleep paralysis, the activation of the serotonergic arousal system (i.e., phasic elevation of serotonin [i.e., via REM off cells]) to trigger perceptual wakefulness causes serotonin over-activity in the brain of the paralyzed sleeper. Serotonin could thus possibly be functionally implicated in generating sleep paralysis hallucinations through 5-HT2A receptor activity. […] If this hypothesis is correct, and 5-HT2AR activation is functionally implicated in sleep paralysis hallucinations through the mechanism described here (or via a different mechanism), one should clearly see comparable neuropharmacological effects on the brainand in turn subjective states of consciousnessboth during sleep paralysis and when under the influence of hallucinogenic drugs.

• #41

  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00213-018-5042-1

  Hallucinatory experiences during sleep paralysis have the classic features of serotonergic hallucinations (pseudo-hallucinations) and are similar to those induced by hallucinogenic drugs. […] Moreover, during sleep paralysis, the sufferer can have ample awareness that he is in fact hallucinating (although this is not always the case). […] The elevated fear levels seen during sleep paralysis are consistent with the well-established link between 5-HT2A receptor activation and fear reactions as described above. […] I propose that in addition to the possible role of 5-HT2A receptors in mediating sleep paralysis fear-anxiety reactions, these functional principals of 5-HT2CR activation might drive anxiety (via the amygdala and DRN) and panic reactions (via the PAG) during sleep paralysis. […] It is plausible that during sleep paralysis, the 5-HT2AR-induced amygdaloid fear circuitry mediated by the orbitofrontal cortex directly influences visual pathways and consequently hallucinations.

• #42 What Causes Sleep Paralysis?

  https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-causes-sleep-paralysis-11707313

  Sleep paralysis is the phenomenon of being unable to move upon waking from sleep. Episodes generally last for a few minutes. […] An individual episode can be triggered by stress, alcohol or drug use, or disrupted sleep. […] When you dream, your body releases hormones that temporarily prevent you from moving your voluntary muscles, such as those in your arms and legs. If you wake up a few minutes before the muscle paralysis of your dream state wears off, you will be awake but unable to move. […] Several aspects of your sleep are hereditary, and recurrent sleep paralysis runs in some families. Additionally, a few different genes have been identified as being associated with an increased risk of recurrent sleep paralysis. […] Substances such as alcohol, drugs, and medications can affect sleep cycles and may disrupt hormones associated with different stages of sleep. This can lead to a mismatch of the dreaming and waking phases, potentially causing one or more episodes of sleep paralysis.

• #43 What Is Sleep Paralysis? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention

  https://www.everydayhealth.com/sleep-paralysis/guide/

  According to the Sleep Foundation, sleep paralysis is marked by a brief loss of muscle control, also known as atonia. It usually happens as you’re moving into or out of the rapid eye movement (REM) phase of sleep. Episodes of sleep paralysis can also include hallucinations. The combination of loss of muscle movement and wakefulness means people with sleep paralysis are aware of their surroundings but cannot move or speak. […] Researchers haven’t found sleep paralysis to be caused by one specific thing. But there are a number of factors that may contribute to it, according to the Cleveland Clinic, including: […] Cline says other factors such as medications that suppress REM sleep (like stimulants, some antidepressants and sleep aids), alcohol consumption, and family history are also linked to higher risk of sleep paralysis. […] Breus notes there is limited evidence about the efficacy of medication to treat sleep paralysis.

• #44 Sleep Paralysis Causes, Symptoms, & Diagnosis

  https://www.emedicinehealth.com/how_is_sleep_paralysis_diagnosed/article_em.htm

  Sleep paralysis is a sleep disorder that causes people to experience a brief loss of muscle control soon after falling asleep or be unable to move when they wake up. […] Sleep paralysis is a sleep disorder in which people experience a brief loss of muscle control (atonia) that occurs just after falling asleep or upon waking up from sleep and in which they are unable to move their body. […] Sleep paralysis is diagnosed with a patient history of sleep patterns and a physical exam, along with tests and procedures to help with diagnosis and to rule out other underlying conditions. […] It is unknown what causes sleep paralysis, but several factors are thought to trigger the condition: […] Stopping alcohol or antidepressants can lead to REM rebound, which may cause sleep paralysis. […] A family history of sleep paralysis.

• #45

  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13311-020-00966-8

  Nightmare disorder and recurrent isolated sleep paralysis are rapid eye movement (REM) parasomnias that cause significant distress to those who suffer from them. […] Isolated sleep paralysis represents a dissociated state, with persistence of REM atonia into wakefulness. Variations in circadian rhythm genes might be involved in their pathogenesis. […] The pathogenesis of sleep paralysis may involve variations in circadian rhythm genes.

• #46 Sleep paralysis. A Demon in your bedroom?

  https://www.sleepstation.org.uk/articles/sleep-disorders/sleep-paralysis/

  If something occurs in your dream you can experience physiological sensations that mirror your dream experience. […] When the unnerving sensations associated with sleep paralysis are understood, the experience becomes much less scary. […] Knowledge is therefore a key factor in managing symptoms. […] If you can get to the bottom of why sleep paralysis happens, and what the symptoms mean, then you’re halfway there in terms of controlling the impact of the experience. […] Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for insomnia offered by Sleepstation may be beneficial in reducing sleep paralysis by improving your sleep and sleep schedules. […] In severe cases, where the experience of sleep paralysis is having a significant effect on your mental and emotional wellbeing, treatment with Tricyclic (TCA) or Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants may be warranted.

• #47 Sleep Paralysis Causes, Symptoms & Treatment | IBS Hospital

  https://www.ibshospitals.com/blog/sleep-paralysis-what-it-is-causes-symptoms-treatment

  Common causes include: Sleep deprivation, Irregular sleep patterns (such as shift work), Mental health conditions (like anxiety or PTSD), Certain medications, Sleep disorders such as narcolepsy or obstructive sleep apnea. […] Your sleep paralysis’s cause will determine how you are treated. […] Taking medications to regulate sleep cycles and reduce the frequency of REM sleep. […] Taking medications (like antidepressants) for treating an underlying mental health condition or sleep disorder. […] Improving the person’s sleep habits. […] Consulting a mental health professional to address underlying stress or anxiety contributing to sleep paralysis.

• #48 Paralysed by Sleep – The ME Association

  https://meassociation.org.uk/medical-matters/items/paralysed-by-sleep/

  It sounds as though you may have a rather unusual type of sleep disorder called, not surprisingly, sleep paralysis. This produces a temporary inability to move or speak and normally happens when you are waking up. […] Sleep paralysis occurs when the mechanism that cause muscles to relax during sleep temporarily persists after waking up. […] Factors that increase the risk of sleep paralysis in relation to ME/CFS include sleep deprivation and irregular sleeping patterns and age. […] If sleep paralysis is particularly severe, your GP can refer you to a sleep disorder clinic. A short course of an antidepressant called clomipramine may be used for more severe sleep paralysis.

• #49 What Is Sleep Paralysis? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention

  https://www.everydayhealth.com/sleep-paralysis/guide/

  According to the Sleep Foundation, sleep paralysis is marked by a brief loss of muscle control, also known as atonia. It usually happens as you’re moving into or out of the rapid eye movement (REM) phase of sleep. Episodes of sleep paralysis can also include hallucinations. The combination of loss of muscle movement and wakefulness means people with sleep paralysis are aware of their surroundings but cannot move or speak. […] Researchers haven’t found sleep paralysis to be caused by one specific thing. But there are a number of factors that may contribute to it, according to the Cleveland Clinic, including: […] Cline says other factors such as medications that suppress REM sleep (like stimulants, some antidepressants and sleep aids), alcohol consumption, and family history are also linked to higher risk of sleep paralysis. […] Breus notes there is limited evidence about the efficacy of medication to treat sleep paralysis.

• #50 Sleep Paralysis; What is it? Symptoms and Treatment Planning | DocHospitals

  https://dochospitals.com/en/sleep-paralysis-atc1195/

  Sleep paralysis occurs when you wake up or when you are just going to sleep. […] Sleep paralysis, which lasts for a few seconds after waking up, is a disturbing sensation. […] Psychological illnesses such as depression, panic attacks and anxiety disorders also increase the likelihood of sleep paralysis. […] The reason why people hallucinate during sleep paralysis is that the brain is overly activated. In addition, oxygen deprivation of the brain during sleep paralysis can also cause hallucinations. […] Although sleep paralysis is not seen as an important health problem, the frequent occurrence of this condition causes people to be disturbed. […] In addition, antidepressant medication alone does not prevent sleep paralysis and uncontrolled use of these medications can lead to even bigger problems.

• #51 Sleep Paralysis | Stanford Health Care

  https://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-conditions/sleep/nighttime-sleep-behaviors/sleep-paralysis.html

  It has also been linked to certain conditions such as increased stress, excessive alcohol consumption, sleep deprivation, and narcolepsy. […] Treatment of Sleep Paralysis is often limited to education about sleep phases and atonia that normally occurs as people sleep. […] If episodes persist, the sleep specialist may evaluate for narcolepsy, which is commonly present in those suffering from sleep paralysis.

• #52 Sleep paralysis: Causes, symptoms, and tips

  https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/295039

  Sleep paralysis occurs when a persons consciousness is awake, but their body is still in a paralyzed sleep state. […] During sleep paralysis, a persons senses and awareness are active and awake, but their body cannot move. It occurs just as a person is falling asleep or waking up and is the result of the body and mind being out of sync. […] In sleep paralysis, the bodys transition to or from rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is out of sync with the brain. The persons consciousness is awake, but their body remains in the paralyzed sleep state. […] Understanding the physiology of sleep and the mechanism for sleep paralysis is an important step to overcoming it. […] Many people will experience sleep paralysis only once or twice in their life. However, people with narcolepsy and other sleep disorders have a higher risk of experiencing sleep paralysis.

• #53 Sleep Paralysis: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

  https://www.health.com/sleep-paralysis-7369673

  ISP and RISP triggers include: Other sleep disorders, like narcolepsy or insomnia (a sleep disorder that can make it difficult to fall asleep, stay asleep, or both). […] Treatment focuses on reducing your number of episodes by targeting the root cause of sleep paralysis. You might also work on coping strategies to help you manage the negative effects of sleep paralysis. […] Several types of therapy can help address underlying causes of sleep paralysis (such as anxiety) and help you develop strategies to cope with anxiety and stress during and after episodes. […] Practicing good sleep hygiene is often part of treatment because poor or disrupted sleep is a common cause of sleep paralysis. Sleep hygiene is also a treatment for narcolepsy, as well as part of treatment for insomnia, both of which can cause or exacerbate sleep paralysis. […] Medications that treat the causes of sleep paralysis including bipolar disorder and narcolepsy, can also reduce the number of sleep paralysis episodes.

• #54 Sleep Paralysis: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

  https://www.health.com/sleep-paralysis-7369673

  ISP and RISP triggers include: Other sleep disorders, like narcolepsy or insomnia (a sleep disorder that can make it difficult to fall asleep, stay asleep, or both). […] Treatment focuses on reducing your number of episodes by targeting the root cause of sleep paralysis. You might also work on coping strategies to help you manage the negative effects of sleep paralysis. […] Several types of therapy can help address underlying causes of sleep paralysis (such as anxiety) and help you develop strategies to cope with anxiety and stress during and after episodes. […] Practicing good sleep hygiene is often part of treatment because poor or disrupted sleep is a common cause of sleep paralysis. Sleep hygiene is also a treatment for narcolepsy, as well as part of treatment for insomnia, both of which can cause or exacerbate sleep paralysis. […] Medications that treat the causes of sleep paralysis including bipolar disorder and narcolepsy, can also reduce the number of sleep paralysis episodes.

• #55 The connection between sleep paralysis and PTSD – PTSD UK

  https://www.ptsduk.org/the-connection-between-sleep-paralysis-and-ptsd/

  This is, in fact, a relatively common condition called sleep paralysis. It can affect a broad range of people, including those with post-traumatic stress disorder. […] As research into this issue advances, it’s becoming clear that people with PTSD are far more likely to experience sleep paralysis than people without PTSD. […] Like many other sleep-related symptoms of PTSD, this is a disruption in your Circadian rhythm. […] The fact you are on constant alert, can make it difficult to go to sleep, or stay asleep. […] Sleep paralysis and other problems with your circadian rhythm erode your body’s ability to carry out essential healing, repair and restoration tasks, storing up various physical health issues. […] There are ways to treat sleep paralysis and other forms of sleep disturbance as a symptom of PTSD. […] NICE guidance updated in 2018 recommends the use of trauma focused psychological treatments for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in adults, specifically the use of Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR) and trauma focused cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).

• #56 What Causes Sleep Paralysis? | UPMC HealthBeat

  https://share.upmc.com/2015/04/what-causes-sleep-paralysis/

  Sleep paralysis is a feeling of being conscious but unable to move. It is a type of parasomnia or sleep disorder that typically occurs when you are either falling asleep (hypnagogic) or when you are waking up (hypnopompic). […] Although its still unclear why or how these hallucinations occur, researchers believe a harmless neurological disturbance could be involved. […] One of the major causes of sleep paralysis is sleep deprivation, or a lack of sleep. A change in your sleep schedule, stress, and other sleep-related problems might also play a role. […] While sleep paralysis can be upsetting, it is not dangerous. Sleep paralysis can occur due to many factors, but its effects are not long-lasting or always recurring.

• #57 Sleep paralysis. A Demon in your bedroom?

  https://www.sleepstation.org.uk/articles/sleep-disorders/sleep-paralysis/

  Sleep paralysis is rarely observed in a laboratory setting so there is limited objective data on the phenomenon. […] However, in terms of subjective reports, its been found that poor sleep quality can increase the occurrence of sleep paralysis. […] Research has found that self-reported symptoms of insomnia are predictive of subsequent episodes of sleep paralysis. […] Some studies have shown that sleep paralysis can lead to difficulties in falling back to sleep after the event. […] It could even be that anxiety around impending sleep paralysis could lead to difficulty falling asleep at the start of the night. […] Sleep paralysis has been a staple of folklore, myth and legend for centuries. […] Modern science proposes that the sensations and hallucinations associated with sleep paralysis might explain reports of paranormal phenomena such as ghosts, alien abductions and the presence of demons or demonic possession.

• #58 Sleep paralysis – causes, symptoms and treatment | healthdirect

  https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/sleep-paralysis

  Sleep paralysis is also linked to: not getting enough sleep for example, because of work hours or insomnia, irregular sleeping patterns, for example those experienced by shift workers or students, or because of jet lag, family history of sleep paralysis, sleeping on your back. […] Sleep paralysis doesnt cause significant problems for most people, and no treatment is needed. […] Its also important to treat any health conditions that may be causing your sleep paralysis. […] Getting enough sleep may reduce your chances of experiencing sleep paralysis.

• #59 Can Anxiety Cause Sleep Paralysis? Understanding the Connection

  https://goodhealthpsych.com/blog/can-anxiety-cause-sleep-paralysis/

  This combination of disrupted sleep and heightened alertness may make people with anxiety more prone to experiencing sleep paralysis. […] Research suggests that anxiety may indeed contribute to sleep paralysis. […] Anxiety keeps the brain on high alert, making it difficult for individuals to transition smoothly through different sleep stages. […] Chronic anxiety increases the production of stress hormones, such as cortisol, which can impact sleep quality and increase the likelihood of sleep disturbances. […] People with anxiety may be more prone to experiencing hallucinations during sleep paralysis episodes. […] Several factors can increase the likelihood of sleep paralysis in individuals with anxiety. […] Lack of sleep is a well-known trigger for sleep paralysis. […] Anxiety can cause irregular sleep patterns, which disrupt the body’s natural circadian rhythm.

• #60 Why Sleep Paralysis Happens (and How to Prevent It) | Psychology Today

  https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-savvy-psychologist/202010/why-sleep-paralysis-happens-and-how-prevent-it

  For those with narcolepsy, a sleep-wake disorder that disrupts a persons ability to stay awake, sleep paralysis can be a regular experience. […] If you experience an anxiety disorder, like panic disorder or social anxiety, you may be at higher risk for sleep paralysis. […] Sleep paralysis tends to happen when your sleep schedule is disturbed or youre sleep deprived. […] If the brain repeatedly does not get enough REM sleep, its going to be deprived of this important sleep process. […] This makes it more likely for you to have an incomplete transition between REM and wakefulness, and therefore more likely to have sleep paralysis.

• #61 Sleep Paralysis: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

  https://www.helpguide.org/wellness/sleep/sleep-paralysis-causes-symptoms-and-treatment

  Today, researchers have a better, but still imperfect, understanding of what causes the condition. Sleep paralysis can be a symptom of narcolepsy or another sleep disorder. When its not related to a medical issue, its known as isolated sleep paralysis. […] The following factors may increase your risk of sleep paralysis: […] Sleep disorders. As mentioned before, sleep paralysis can be a symptom of a broader sleep disorder, especially narcolepsy. Sleep paralysis that is associated with narcolepsy often occurs just as youre falling asleep, while isolated episodes that arent due to narcolepsy tend to occur when youre waking up. […] Theres a correlation between stress and sleep paralysis. High stress can exacerbate sleep paralysis episodes, while sleep paralysis can disrupt your sleep and add to your stress.

• #62 Sleep paralysis: Causes, symptoms, and treatments – Harvard Health

  https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/sleep-paralysis-causes-symptoms-and-treatments

  Sleep paralysis is a temporary sense of paralysis that occurs between stages of wakefulness and sleep. […] Sleep paralysis is considered a parasomnia, or an abnormal behavior that occurs during sleep. Because it is linked to the rapid eye movement (REM) stage of the sleep cycle, sleep paralysis is considered a REM parasomnia. […] However, during sleep paralysis you wake up suddenly from REM, regaining awareness even as your muscles are still relaxed, in atonia. For this reason, sleep paralysis may feel like temporary paralysis. […] While the exact cause of sleep paralysis is not understood, research has linked certain sleep habits to the condition: inadequate sleep, an irregular sleep schedule or a sleep schedule that often changes, sleeping on your back. […] In addition, sleep paralysis has also been linked with sleep disorders such as narcolepsy. Narcolepsy is a disorder that causes sudden episodes of deep sleep caused by a problem with the brain’s ability to regulate sleep. […] Many people report stressful events or an emotional experience preceding the episodes. […] In addition, research suggests there may be a genetic predisposition to this condition.

• #63 Can Anxiety Cause Sleep Paralysis? Understanding the Connection

  https://goodhealthpsych.com/blog/can-anxiety-cause-sleep-paralysis/

  Stressful events can heighten anxiety levels, which, in turn, can lead to sleep disruptions and a higher chance of experiencing sleep paralysis. […] Poor sleep hygiene, such as using electronic devices before bed or consuming caffeine in the evening, can contribute to anxiety and disturb sleep quality. […] Reducing anxiety and improving sleep quality are essential steps in preventing sleep paralysis. […] The connection between anxiety and sleep paralysis highlights the importance of managing anxiety to improve sleep quality and reduce the likelihood of these episodes.

• #64 Sleep Paralysis: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

  https://www.helpguide.org/wellness/sleep/sleep-paralysis-causes-symptoms-and-treatment

  If youre suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or an anxiety disorder you may be more likely to experience sleep paralysis. Its currently uncertain if these disorders actually cause sleep paralysis. However, the sleep disruptions and sense of terror you experience may exacerbate other anxiety symptoms. […] Some studies indicate that sleep paralysis is more likely to occur when you sleep in a supine position (on your back). This could be related to sleep apnea, which is also worsened by sleeping on your back. […] Its possible that genetics may affect your risk for sleep paralysis. Limited research hints at sleep paralysis running in families. However, its possible that shared environmental factors rather than genetics are the cause. Members of a family can share the same supernatural beliefs or develop similar habits that reduce sleep quality.

• #65 Sleep Paralysis: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

  https://www.helpguide.org/wellness/sleep/sleep-paralysis-causes-symptoms-and-treatment

  If youre suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or an anxiety disorder you may be more likely to experience sleep paralysis. Its currently uncertain if these disorders actually cause sleep paralysis. However, the sleep disruptions and sense of terror you experience may exacerbate other anxiety symptoms. […] Some studies indicate that sleep paralysis is more likely to occur when you sleep in a supine position (on your back). This could be related to sleep apnea, which is also worsened by sleeping on your back. […] Its possible that genetics may affect your risk for sleep paralysis. Limited research hints at sleep paralysis running in families. However, its possible that shared environmental factors rather than genetics are the cause. Members of a family can share the same supernatural beliefs or develop similar habits that reduce sleep quality.

• #66 What is Sleep Paralysis? – Baptist Health

  https://www.baptisthealth.com/blog/baptist-health/what-is-sleep-paralysis

  During sleep paralysis, your mind is conscious, but you’re unable to move your body. […] Sleep paralysis is believed to relate to a problem regulating REM sleep. During REM, your body is paralyzed so that you’re unable to act your dreams out. This muscle relaxation, called atonia, may occur when you’re awake, which can leave you unable to move. […] The majority of people who’ve experienced sleep paralysis say that it occurs when they’re sleeping on their backs. […] Sleep paralysis can also occur in association with other sleep disorders that cause fragmented sleep, including obstructive sleep apnea and narcolepsy. Symptoms such as sleepiness, hallucinations, and cataplexy might suggest narcolepsy. Treatment of those conditions may reduce episodes of sleep paralysis.

• #67 Sleep Paralysis Demon: What’s Really Going On Here?

  https://www.healthline.com/health/sleep/sleep-paralysis-demon

  These hallucinations can happen if you’re partially conscious during the rapid eye movement (REM) cycle of sleep. […] When you sleep on your back, you may be more likely to be aroused from sleep or wake up during the dream phase, due to things like snoring and undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea. […] The paralysis is real. It’s called sleep paralysis. The phenomenon of ~seeing~ something demon-like while experiencing sleep paralysis is also real. It’s called a hypnagogic or hypnopompic hallucination. […] Sleep paralysis demons may not be real, but that doesn’t make the experience of being trapped in your body with the sense or vision of one any less terrifying.

• #68 Can Anxiety Cause Sleep Paralysis? Understanding the Connection

  https://goodhealthpsych.com/blog/can-anxiety-cause-sleep-paralysis/

  Stressful events can heighten anxiety levels, which, in turn, can lead to sleep disruptions and a higher chance of experiencing sleep paralysis. […] Poor sleep hygiene, such as using electronic devices before bed or consuming caffeine in the evening, can contribute to anxiety and disturb sleep quality. […] Reducing anxiety and improving sleep quality are essential steps in preventing sleep paralysis. […] The connection between anxiety and sleep paralysis highlights the importance of managing anxiety to improve sleep quality and reduce the likelihood of these episodes.

• #69 Sleep paralysis: causes, symptoms & proven solutions

  https://blog.calida.com/en-DE/blog/sleep-paralysis/

  Even though sleep paralyses can be extremely frightening, they are at least harmless to the body. […] In rare cases, sleep paralyses occur very frequently, sometimes every day or even several times a night. […] If the sleep paralyses already have an impact on your well-being due to their regularity and there do not appear to be any explicit triggers or accompanying illnesses, this is isolated sleep paralysis. […] Even if the exact causes and triggers of sleep paralyses have not been conclusively clarified, there are some risk factors that can favour the occurrence of the sleep disorder. […] In addition to pathological causes, regular use of drugs, alcohol or medication are also possible risk factors for sleep paralyses. […] To prevent sleep paralysis from occurring in the first place and to significantly reduce its regular occurrence, there are a few tricks that we will discuss in a moment.

• #70 Sleep paralysis – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_paralysis

  Sleep paralysis is a state, during waking up or falling asleep, in which a person is conscious but in a complete state of full-body paralysis. […] The underlying mechanism is believed to involve a dysfunction in REM sleep. […] The pathophysiology of sleep paralysis has not been concretely identified, although there are several theories about its cause. […] The first of these stems from the understanding that sleep paralysis is a parasomnia resulting from dysfunctional overlap of the REM and waking stages of sleep. […] Polysomnographic studies have found that individuals who experience sleep paralysis have shorter REM sleep latencies than normal along with shortened NREM and REM sleep cycles, and fragmentation of REM sleep. […] Another major theory is that the neural functions that regulate sleep are out of balance, causing different sleep states to overlap.

• #71 Recent Insights Into Sleep Paralysis: Mechanisms and Management

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11344621/

  Sleep paralysis (SP) is a phenomenon wherein individuals awaken from deep sleep but are unable to move or speak, often experiencing vivid hallucinations. This condition, attributed to the persistence of muscle atonia from rapid eye movement (REM) sleep into wakefulness, is associated with factors like sleep deprivation and irregular sleep patterns. […] SP happens when atonia is based on REM and persists into awakening. Most SP sufferers also have vivid, multisensory, and frequently depressing dream activities during conscious paralysis. […] SP involves a temporary inability to move or speak upon awakening, often with vivid hallucinations. It occurs when the muscle paralysis typical of REM sleep persists briefly into wakefulness. Factors like sleep deprivation and irregular sleep patterns influence this condition.

• #72 Identification of the Transmitter and Receptor Mechanisms Responsible for REM Sleep Paralysis | Journal of Neuroscience

  https://www.jneurosci.org/content/32/29/9785

  During REM sleep the CNS is intensely active, but the skeletal motor system is paradoxically forced into a state of muscle paralysis. The mechanisms that trigger REM sleep paralysis are a matter of intense debate. […] We show that a powerful GABA and glycine drive triggers REM paralysis by switching off motoneuron activity. This drive inhibits motoneurons by targeting both metabotropic GABAB and ionotropic GABAA/glycine receptors. REM paralysis is only reversed when motoneurons are cut off from GABAB, GABAA and glycine receptor-mediated inhibition. Neither metabotropic nor ionotropic receptor mechanisms alone are sufficient for generating REM paralysis. These results demonstrate that multiple receptor mechanisms trigger REM sleep paralysis. […] We found that inactivation of both metabotropic GABAB and ionotropic GABAA/glycine receptors prevented and indeed reversed REM paralysis. However, neither metabotropic nor ionotropic pathways alone are sufficient for inducing REM inhibition. REM paralysis is only reversed when motoneurons are cutoff from both metabotropic and ionotropic receptor-mediated inhibition.

• #73

  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00213-018-5042-1

  To date, no account has been provided for the possible neuropharmacological basis of these ghostly hallucinations during sleep paralysis. As we shall see, serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2AR) activation may play a crucial role in inducing these hallucinations. […] It is plausible that during sleep paralysis, the activation of the serotonergic arousal system (i.e., phasic elevation of serotonin [i.e., via REM off cells]) to trigger perceptual wakefulness causes serotonin over-activity in the brain of the paralyzed sleeper. Serotonin could thus possibly be functionally implicated in generating sleep paralysis hallucinations through 5-HT2A receptor activity. […] If this hypothesis is correct, and 5-HT2AR activation is functionally implicated in sleep paralysis hallucinations through the mechanism described here (or via a different mechanism), one should clearly see comparable neuropharmacological effects on the brainand in turn subjective states of consciousnessboth during sleep paralysis and when under the influence of hallucinogenic drugs.

• #74 Sleep paralysis: Causes, symptoms, and treatments – Harvard Health

  https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/sleep-paralysis-causes-symptoms-and-treatments

  Sleep paralysis is a temporary sense of paralysis that occurs between stages of wakefulness and sleep. […] Sleep paralysis is considered a parasomnia, or an abnormal behavior that occurs during sleep. Because it is linked to the rapid eye movement (REM) stage of the sleep cycle, sleep paralysis is considered a REM parasomnia. […] However, during sleep paralysis you wake up suddenly from REM, regaining awareness even as your muscles are still relaxed, in atonia. For this reason, sleep paralysis may feel like temporary paralysis. […] While the exact cause of sleep paralysis is not understood, research has linked certain sleep habits to the condition: inadequate sleep, an irregular sleep schedule or a sleep schedule that often changes, sleeping on your back. […] In addition, sleep paralysis has also been linked with sleep disorders such as narcolepsy. Narcolepsy is a disorder that causes sudden episodes of deep sleep caused by a problem with the brain’s ability to regulate sleep. […] Many people report stressful events or an emotional experience preceding the episodes. […] In addition, research suggests there may be a genetic predisposition to this condition.

• #75 Sleep paralysis

  https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sleep-paralysis/

  Sleep paralysis happens when you cannot move your muscles as you are waking up or falling asleep. This is because you are in sleep mode but your brain is active. […] It’s not clear why sleep paralysis can happen but it has been linked with: insomnia, disrupted sleeping patterns for example, because of shift work or jet lag, narcolepsy a long-term condition that causes a person to suddenly fall asleep, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), generalised anxiety disorder, panic disorder, a family history of sleep paralysis. […] A GP may be able to treat an underlying condition that could be triggering sleep paralysis such as insomnia or post-traumatic stress disorder.

• #76 Sleep Paralysis: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

  https://www.helpguide.org/wellness/sleep/sleep-paralysis-causes-symptoms-and-treatment

  Sleep paralysis can occur when youre either transitioning into or out of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, the phase of sleep in which you dream. […] REM sleep also comes with muscle atonia, a state of temporary paralysis that keeps you from physically thrashing around as you dream. Sleep paralysis episodes occur when muscle atonia is maintained even as you shift out of REM sleep and begin to wake. In other words, the temporary paralysis is completely normal and natural. Youre just typically unaware of it. […] More importantly, youre not in any danger. Although the experience can leave you feeling rattled, current research indicates that sleep paralysis is not harmful. While your breathing may feel restricted, for example, youre not actually suffocating. However, sleep paralysis can be a symptom of another sleep disorder that you do need to address.

• #77 Isolated sleep paralysis Information | Mount Sinai – New York

  https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/diseases-conditions/isolated-sleep-paralysis

  Sleep paralysis is a condition in which you are unable to move or speak right as you’re falling asleep or waking up. During an episode of sleep paralysis, you are totally aware of what is happening. […] The exact cause of sleep paralysis is not fully known. Research shows the following are linked to sleep paralysis: Not getting enough sleep, Having an irregular sleep schedule, such as with shift workers, Mental stress, Sleeping on your back. […] Sleep paralysis occurs when the sleep cycle is shifting between stages. When you wake up suddenly from REM, your brain is awake, but your body is still in REM mode and can’t move, causing you to feel like you’re paralyzed. […] In most cases, sleep paralysis occurs so rarely that treatment is not needed. If the cause is known, for example, due to lack of sleep, correcting the cause by getting enough sleep often resolves the condition.

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