Sleep paralysis is a condition where you are unable to move or speak. It occurs right before you fall asleep or before you awaken. It's a temporary condition where you remain alert even though you can't talk or move. If you live in Columbia, SC, a specialist like Dr. Richard Bogan at Bogan Sleep Consultants offers services that can help you with sleep disorders, including sleep paralysis. Keep reading to learn more about sleep paralysis and what causes it.
Symptoms of Sleep Paralysis
Sleep paralysis may be scary, but it's not a dangerous condition. Symptoms of sleep paralysis include:
- fear
- hallucinations immediately before, during, or after sleep
- the feeling that someone is pressing you down
- the belief that something or someone is in the room with you
How Sleep Paralysis Happens
Sleep paralysis takes place each night when you enter the REM (rapid eye movement) stage of sleep. During this stage, your brain is extremely active. In fact, the REM stage is when dreaming occurs. Even though your brain is highly active during REM, your body remains immobile. This immobility is necessary because it prevents you from acting out your dreams.
Unfortunately, if you remain aware as you fall asleep, you experience sleep paralysis. In other words, you may feel afraid, experience pressure on your chest, believe a dangerous presence is in the room with you, or even hallucinate.
Sleep paralysis can happen to anyone. You're more likely to experience this temporary condition if you are sleep deprived, use certain medicines like the ones diagnosed for ADHD, or feel really stressed out. People that abuse drugs and alcohol are also more likely to suffer from sleep paralysis. Find a sleep specialist in Columbia, SC, who can give you more information about it.
Schedule Your Appointment
Are you worried about sleep paralysis or some other kind of sleep issue? Dr. Richard Bogan at Bogan Sleep Consultants can help you find ways to get a better night's sleep. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Richard Bogan by giving us a call at (803) 251-3093.