Sleep Paralysis: What It Is, Why It Happens, What To Do
Sleep paralysis is a feeling of being conscious but unable to move. It occurs when a person passes between stages of wakefulness and sleep. During these transitions, you may be unable to move or speak for a few seconds up to a few minutes. Some people may also feel pressure or a sense of choking. Sleep paralysis may accompany other sleep disorders such as narcolepsy. Narcolepsy is an overpowering need to sleep caused by a problem with the brain’s ability to regulate sleep.
Sleep Paralysis: What It Is
Sleep Paralysis: What Can Cause It?
Up to as many as four out of every 10 people may have sleep paralysis. This common condition is often first noticed in the teen years. But men and women of any age can have it. Sleep paralysis may run in families. Other factors that may be linked to sleep paralysis include:
- Lack of sleep
- Sleep schedule that changes
- Mental conditions such as stress or bipolar disorder
- Sleeping on the back
- Other sleep problems such as narcolepsy or nighttime leg cramps
- Use of certain medications, such as those for ADHD
- Substance abuse
Sleep Paralysis: Diagnosis
- You feel anxious about your symptoms
- Your symptoms leave you very tired during the day
- These symptoms keep you up during the night
Your doctor may want to gather more information about your sleep health by doing any of the following:
- Ask you to describe your symptoms and keep a sleep diary for a few weeks
- Discuss your health history, including any known sleep disorders or any family history of sleep disorders
- Refer you to a sleep specialist for further evaluation
- Conduct overnight sleep studies or daytime nap studies to make sure you do not have another sleep disorder
Sleep Paralysis: Available Treatments
Most people need no treatment for sleep paralysis. Treating any underlying conditions such as narcolepsy may help if you are anxious or unable to sleep well. These treatments may include the following:
- Improving sleep habits — such as making sure you get six to eight hours of sleep each night
- Using antidepressant medication if it is prescribed to help regulate sleep cycles
- Treating any mental health problems that may contribute to sleep paralysis
- Treating any other sleep disorders, such as narcolepsy or leg cramps