Sleep Paralysis, Scientific Explanation To Witch Pressing

Sleep paralysis is the name of a sleep disorders. It is characterized by an inability to move or speak during sleep when the person is aware of the situation. To worsen it, the person may hallucinate. It becomes scary if the hallucination is about a terrible situation. On very few occasions, the hallucination can be some pleasant experience.
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This condition have been described by old books from different continents to mean an attack by spirits. In some cultures like in Nigeria even until now, it is believe to be carried out by witches and wizards at night. This has resulted in accusations and even physical attacks on suspects.
Sleep paralysis was first documented by a doctor in the 17th century. He describe how his patient felt during the attack. According to the report, she said the devil lay upon her and held her down that she could hardly speak or breadth. All attempts to throw off the burden was futile as she was unable to move her body.
This did not actually include the hallucination that look like a dream. Hallucination is the way a person hear, feel or see things that are not there which usually appears real, vivid, substantial and are perceived to be located in external objective space.
The number of persons who suffer from sleep paralysis is low. But it is believe that the number of people who report it or understand the condition may limit the validity of this figure.

Mechanism Of Sleep Paralysis

Sleep paralysis normally happen when one is between sleep and alert. It can happen when one is just starting to sleep (hypnagogic) or when during wakefulness (hypnogogic). On the other hand, dream happens when one is fully asleep. During this period known as rapid eye movements (REM), the brain is active but the body is paralysis. This helps the body not to act out the scene in real life this preventing sudden waking and injury. On occasion, some few individuals are able to push and pull during sleep. They do not remember what they did during that period because the mind is still at sleep.
 Sleep paralysis last a couple of minutes and lead to fear. It can be recurrent and affect all person including healthy individuals.
Three characteristics of sleep paralysis hallucination include;
1. Evil threatening individual
2. An evil terrible looking person pressing down on the victim
3. Flying or moving or floating which can be interesting sometimes but can be terrifying when it seems one is about to fall from a tall height.

Causes Of Sleep Paralysis

No known scientific cause but trust science, they came up with risk factors. The major culprit is age. Younger teens experience this more than any other age group. This I say is true. As one matures, less episodes occur. Another cause is lying on back with outstretched legs. The condition is minimal with those who sleep with their side or face down.
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Substance abuse is not left out. Even medications have been implicated to trigger attacks. Narcolepsy, mental conditions, poor sleep schedule can cause sleep paralysis.

Treatment

Treatment is needed only if it is cause by a mental disorder. Stopping medication that is suspected is the first step. Lifestyle modification is the major plan to take. For example, always remember to sleep side ways than with back should be encouraged. Substance abuse and learning to sleep at a particular lengthy of time every day is believed to reduce episodes. Above 9 hours sleep at night is believe is a trigger while short sleep duration is considered to be bad.

Good sleep patter

Frequent waking up at night increases percentage of time of REM. This can be caused by frequent urine and can be triggered by diuretic taken at night. At the end increase episodes of sleep paralysis.
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