"I open my eyes and realize I can't move, I can barely turn them or close them. This causes me enormous despair."
This is the story of Ángel, a man from Lima, Peru, who shares what it's like to live with sleep paralysis in an interesting Instagram post from the Dormimos Bien account.
Below we tell you what sleep paralysis is , its causes, and some interesting facts, such as how it was even considered paranormal due to its emotional implications.
What is sleep paralysis?
Sleep paralysis is a condition in which a person cannot move or speak when they are just falling asleep or waking up.
This is how Ángel explains it: “I open my eyes and realize I can't move; I can barely turn them or close them. This causes me enormous despair.”
In fact, during an episode of sleep paralysis, the person is fully aware of what is happening.
“The sleep paralysis started a little over two years ago. It was a time of extreme stress and worry due to the pandemic. My psychologist mentioned that it could be due to emotional overload: family, partner, work, time… But the truth is that the episodes started happening more frequently. From suffering them about twice a year, they went to happening several times in a single month,” Ángel says.
Although the exact cause is unknown, some constants are:
- Not getting enough sleep.
- Not having a regular sleep schedule, like shift workers.
- Mental stress.
- Sleep on your back.
What happens physiologically during an episode of paralysis?
“My paralysis feels like a space between being fully conscious and a vivid nightmare. When I'm paralyzed, I imagine things that make the situation worse. I usually see people coming into my room trying to hurt me. It's all very real. Added to this is the desperation of not being able to move to defend myself or escape.”
Sleep paralysis occurs during the change of stages of the sleep cycle.
It turns out that the normal sleep cycle has stages. One of them is known as the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) stage, which is when vivid dreams are common. While sleeping, people go through several cycles of REM and non-REM sleep.
- In REM sleep, the body is relaxed and the muscles do not move.
- When you suddenly wake up from REM sleep, your brain is awake, but your body is still in REM mode and you can't move, causing a feeling of being paralyzed.
The duration can range from a few seconds to one or two minutes. They typically end on their own or when the person moves.
Some curiosities about this disorder
Precisely because of its symptoms, it's understandable that sleep paralysis is considered one of the most terrifying sleep disorders a person can experience.
They are so intense that they are often associated with paranormal events.
In countries like Mexico, it's a popular saying that a person "has a feeling of death," which causes them to be unable to move and their despair increases. This clearly indicates that sleep paralysis is a much more common disorder than is commonly believed.
This would coincide with Ángel's story: "I don't realize I'm in sleep paralysis until I finally manage to snap out of it. Every time it happens, I wish it was the last. It lasts one to two minutes, and when it's over, I feel like I've broken the chains that kept me tied to the bed."
Sleep paralysis, a common condition
An episode of sleep paralysis can happen to anyone. However, as we've seen, certain sleep habits can contribute to its onset.
In most cases, sleep paralysis doesn't usually require treatment. Instead, the idea is to adopt better sleep habits and improve your quality of life.
Jarley pelaez yo si te creeo, pues me pasa esactamente igual!
Yo casi siempre tengo parálisis del sueño exactamente hoy hace rato tuve una que al fin pude verl@ porque antes siempre lo veía pero eran como sombras oh venían corriendo hasta mi cama rápidamente y se quedaba mirándome y me respiraba en la cara y yo solo veia su sombra su pelo como volando y cerraba los ojos me hacían asustar luego después de tantas veces que tuve fui controlando el sueño osea que me podía mover pero siempre me agarraba prácticamente a peliar con cada uno y me mordian el brazo, la pierna, la mano yo los patiaba, los agarraba del cuello oh les metía la mano en la boca y le quería arrancar toda la mandíbula yo sé no me van a creer pero esto es real y hasta hoy los tengo aún a dónde voy me sucede lo mismo. Y con los que le dije que hoy me pasó pero hoy pude verle la cara era como palid@ bien blanc@ tenía en los pelos como vivoras largas y su boca era todo sangre y era tanta sangre que llegaba a ver si tenía mandíbula, bueno la cosa es que al principio me agarró del brazo y de la pierna me está estirando luego no se me puso su rodilla en la espalda y me empezó a doblar y yo le dije espera, espera basta! Y paro le dije que quería preguntarle algo y el se me acercó y lo pude ver la pregunta era quien era y si podía verl@ y como si ya supiera lo que le iba a preguntar se me aparecio pero nada más y ahí fue que me desperté yo sé que nadie paso ni pasa lo que yo estoy pasando con estos seres pero les digo algo ya no les tengo miedo y se cuando llega la parálisis. Bueno gracias por leer los que quizás lo lean y bendiciones!
A mi me pasa exactamente lo mismo todos los dias
A decir verdad, a mi me ocurre exactamente lo contrario, eh vivido con eso desde muy joven, y ya aprendí muchas cosas de las cuales muchas personas no suelen pasar.. Lo primero es no sentir miedo durante la parálisis. Parece mentira lo que diré.. Pero este episodio de parálisis avisa cuando sucederá, en mi caso esta me quiere llevar a dormir sin sentir sueño, y es algo tan desesperado de esta entienda.. Y lo digo porque no es un brote de sueño normal.. Sino que surge d rla nada y de repente te encuentras luchando por no querer dormir porque sabes lo que se viene.. Hasta ahora nadie me cree. Pero eh aprendido a saber cuando llegará la parálisis de sueño. No me eh atrevido a abrir los ojos porque se que lo que veré no es bueno.. Hoy la tuve y lo que hice es empezar a morder mi lengua..y solo así poder despertar una primera vez.. Luego de la pesadez de párpado que sentí me quedé dormirá y no fue hasta una llamada lo que me despertó… Es horrible y podía sentir como soñaba a la vez y veía mi cuarzo. Y sentía ganas de querer tener relaciones sin tener a nadie a mi lado… A buena hora desperté..