{"id":1308,"date":"2017-11-20T05:40:06","date_gmt":"2017-11-20T05:40:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=1308"},"modified":"2021-05-14T19:56:58","modified_gmt":"2021-05-14T19:56:58","slug":"10-sleep-paralysis-causes-need-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/10-sleep-paralysis-causes-need-know\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Sleep Paralysis Causes You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Approximately 7.6% of the population suffers from sleep paralysis. For those who have never experienced it, sleep paralysis is when you wake up but you find yourself unable to move, speak or do anything. You are essentially paralyzed in your bed.<\/p>\n

This can be terrifying but it is usually harmless. In the past, sleep paralysis was thought to have been caused by demons: of course, now we know that there is an actual scientific reason for it.<\/p>\n

The reason that sleep paralysis happens is that the body and mobilizes itself during REM sleep. REM stands for rapid eye movement, and it is the time during sleep when you have dreams. But someone having a dream may end up hurting themselves because of it, so the body’s defense mechanism is to turn off all of the muscles during REM sleep.<\/p>\n

Those with sleep paralysis can sometimes wake up while the brain is still in REM sleep mode and the body is immobilized. This means that they are unable to move until the brain recognizes they are awake and turns access to the muscles back on. This usually only lasts a few minutes or seconds, but it can last an hour or more. Let’s look at ten causes of this phenomenon.<\/p>\n

1. Sleep Deprivation<\/h3>\n

Sleep deprivation is one of the most common causes of sleep paralysis<\/a>. When you mess with your normal sleep cycle by not sleeping on schedule, your body and brain may not be able to adjust quickly enough, and this can lead to sleep paralysis. The longer that you have gone without sleep, the higher the chances of you experiencing sleep paralysis.<\/p>\n

Once you get back on your regular sleep schedule, then you should stop experiencing sleep paralysis symptoms. Sometimes, you don’t even need to be deprived of sleep to feel the effects. This is the case with sleep paralysis caused by jet lag.<\/p>\n

\"\"2. Medications<\/h3>\n

There are number of medications<\/a> that can cause sleep paralysis as well. Basically, anything that messes with your body’s serotonin levels has a chance of causing a sleep paralysis. Besides the prescription drugs that can cause this problem, users of Ecstasy may find themselves suffering from sleep paralysis after long term use.<\/p>\n

In addition, both prescription drugs and Ecstasy can cause waking nightmares. These are hallucinations that happen when you first wake up. They are usually connected with the sleep paralysis, such as a hallucination of someone sitting on your chest or pinning you down.<\/p>\n

\"\"3. Depression<\/h3>\n

Those who suffer from depression<\/a> may have problems with sleep paralysis. There have been studies linking certain mental disorders to sleep paralysis. Depression is one of those disorders.<\/p>\n

An epidemiologic study found that depression was related to other sleep problems including insomnia, hallucinations, automatic behavior and cataplexy. Most people in the study reported that they experienced some type of sleep problem.<\/p>\n

Depression is not the only mental disorder that can affect sleep, but depression can cause oversleeping, and too much sleep has the same effect on the body as not enough sleep, both of which can contribute to sleep paralysis.<\/p>\n

\"\"4. PTSD<\/h3>\n

If you suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder<\/a> (PTSD), you may be prone to attacks of sleep paralysis. There are several contributing factors so it is a little complex, but with PTSD comes anxiety, which can cause insomnia. In addition, PTSD makes someone experience persistent nightmares that are connected with the sleep paralysis.<\/p>\n

In addition, another contributing factor is that a significant number of people with PTSD use alcohol regularly, and alcohol can disrupt breathing while you are asleep (known as sleep apnea). This disrupted breathing may affect your sleep cycle and contribute to episodes of sleep paralysis.<\/p>\n

\"\"5. Genetics<\/h3>\n

Genetics<\/a> also play a role in sleep paralysis. A study looking at causes of sleep paralysis got responses from me huge pool of siblings, including many twins, and those responses demonstrated that genetics is partially responsible for sleep paralysis. If someone in your family experiences sleep paralysis, then you have an increased chance of having at least one episode yourself.<\/p>\n

A genetic predisposition towards sleep paralysis combined with some of the other causes listed here can make it almost a certainty. Those who are prone to sleep paralysis should minimize their chances as much as possible by avoiding alcohol, drugs and sleep deprivation.<\/p>\n

\"\"6. Sleep Apnea<\/h3>\n

As previously mentioned, if you suffer from a sleep disorder like sleep apnea<\/a> you have a much greater chance of experiencing sleep paralysis. Sleep apnea is a condition where your breathing during sleep is not consistent. Those who are obese are prone to sleep apnea but they are not the only group that suffers from it.<\/p>\n

Because sleep apnea pulls you out of sleep when you stop breathing, your sleep cycle can be affected and your body may continue REM sleep activities even after you are awake. There are treatments for sleep apnea, and they may reduce the number of episodes of sleep paralysis.<\/p>\n

\"\"7. Anxiety Disorder<\/h3>\n

If you have an anxiety<\/a> disorder, you are at a higher risk of experiencing episodes of sleep paralysis. The reason for this is simple. When you are worrying about things all the time and you cannot shut off your mind and quiet those worries in order to fall soundly asleep, your sleep cycle suffers.<\/p>\n

There are medications that treat anxiety disorder, but the problem is, many of these medications are the same ones that are associated with sleep paralysis in the first place. There may be some natural and herbal remedies for anxiety that are more helpful.<\/p>\n

\"\"8. Panic Attacks<\/h3>\n

If you have a panic disorder, then you are likely familiar with a panic attack. If you experience these panic attacks at night while you are sleeping, called nocturnal panic attacks<\/a>, then there is a very high chance that you will suffer from sleep paralysis.<\/p>\n

When you are awoken by a panic attack, your body may not be able to switch off REM sleep quickly enough for you to be able to move.<\/p>\n

Obviously, paralysis combined with a panic attack can be much more terrifying. However not all panic disorders are associated with nocturnal panic attacks.<\/p>\n

\"\"9. Narcolepsy<\/h3>\n

People that have narcolepsy are probably going to experience sleep paralysis and hallucinations<\/a>. In fact, sleep paralysis, cataplexy, hallucinations and excessive sleepiness are all characteristics of narcolepsy.<\/p>\n

People with narcolepsy may suddenly fall asleep during normal activities and then wake up just as suddenly; this may result in sleep paralysis upon waking. However, narcolepsy also increases the chance of sleep paralysis at night as well.<\/p>\n

\"\"10. Alcohol and Drug Use<\/h3>\n

We have already discussed how ecstasy has been linked to sleep paralysis, but alcohol and other illegal drugs can also be contributing factors. For example, an amphetamine can cause you to stay awake and not become tired, which means that after the drug wears off you’re going to be exhausted.<\/p>\n

This may result in sleep paralysis. Some of the other illegal drugs that are out there can also cause sleep paralysis, particularly when abused. Alcohol<\/a> can also contribute to sleep in paralysis for the reasons already described. If you want to avoid sleep paralysis, then avoiding drugs and alcohol is a step in the right direction.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"\"11. Bipolar Disorder<\/h3>\n

Bipolar disorder<\/a> is a mental health disorder that involves manic depression, and sudden swings in mood. People who are suffering from bipolar may notice that they have changes in their sleeping patterns, as well as energy levels, behavior, and thinking. Medical science developed the term, \u201cbipolar disorder,\u201d for the characteristic mood swings, with the affected individuals experiencing periods of extreme elation, followed by periods of heavy depression \u2013 hence the moniker \u201cbi-polar,\u201d due to the person having two \u201cpoles.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

There seems to be no middle ground for patients with bipolar; they are either happy or depressed and rarely anywhere in-between on the emotional scale. Doctors treat patients with bipolar disorder using medications like lithium, which help to balance the brain and nervous system, relieving symptoms.<\/span><\/p>\n

People with bipolar are more prone to developing sleep paralysis, and it\u2019s not clear why, but the research supports the theory. If you have bipolar and experience sleep paralysis, consult with your mental health professional for a diagnosis and treatment.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"12. Staring at a Bright Screen Before Bed<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

We all love our cellphones, and most of us can\u2019t imagine a scenario where we lose our phone \u2013 it feels like losing an arm. However, as a result of entertainment at our fingertips, 24-hours a day, many of us spend our evenings at home, staring into our phone screen as we scroll through Instagram or play with our favorite apps.<\/span><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, this behavior has a severe effect on our circadian rhythm. Circadian rhythms govern our natural sleep\/waking cycle, and when we stare into our phone screen for hours in the evening, our brain absorbs the blue light from the screen, making it think that it\u2019s still day time. As a result, we may find it hard to get to sleep, and experience sleep disorders, such as insomnia \u2013 and sleep paralysis.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s best to avoid contact with your phone at least two hours before bedtime. That doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t pick up if you get a call, or respond to a message, but it’s best if you reduce your screen time as much as possible.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"13. Changes to the Sleep Cycle<\/h3>\n

People who travel on planes between foreign countries may experience \u201cjet-lag\u201d after returning home. This condition also has a lot to do with circadian rhythms and the body\u2019s natural ability to recognize when it\u2019s time to fall asleep, and when it\u2019s time to wake up. <\/span><\/p>\n

As a result, we may find that when its 10 pm at home and we should be getting ready for bed, we still feel like it\u2019s the middle of the afternoon wherever we were in the world the day before. These wild fluctuations in circadian rhythms lead to sleepless nights as the body adjusts to its local time zone.<\/span><\/p>\n

Similarly, people that work shifts, and have to change from a day shift to a night shift, may struggle to adapt their sleeping patterns for the first two days. During the adjustment period, it\u2019s possible to experience sleep paralysis, due to the changes in circadian rhythms that affect the parts of the brain responsible for controlling our sleep.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"14. Ambien<\/h3>\n

This sleep drug contains the compound, \u201cZopiclone tartrate.\u201d Ambien<\/a> is a favorite sleeping drug that assists people with sleep disorders to get a good night\u2019s rest, instead of tossing and turning all night trying to shut off their mind. Unfortunately, this drug has a list of strange side effects when taken in high doses.<\/span><\/p>\n

Some Ambien users state that they wake up in the morning to find that they cooked an entire meal in their sleep, while others report that they wake up walking on the side of the road. It appears that doses of 10-milligrams or more create these strange symptoms.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sleep paralysis is another commonly reported issue with people that use Ambien. Before you commit yourself to use of this medication, ask your doctor if they can recommend an over-the-counter sleep aid to help you drift off at night.<\/span><\/p>\n

Many people who do not have legitimate sleep disorders misuse Ambien. However, this drug is incredibly powerful and can quickly develop dependency.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n\r\n

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