Sleep Paralysis is one of the scariest experiences that occurs when you’re asleep or just when you’re about to wake up. While there isn’t much you can do about the episode, being mindful of a few factors can lessen the intensity, according to a doctor.
Just like a panic attack, which is a non-life-threatening psychological experience, and can be broken in four simple steps, sleep paralysis isn’t dangerous. However, it can still cause a lot of emotional distress, leaving you exhausted.
What happens during Sleep Paralysis?
Sleep Paralysis can happen to anyone, and not much is known about what causes it. During an episode, the person experiencing it is temporarily unable to move or speak.
It is also accompanied by hallucinations and a sense of suffocation while you maintain your consciousness, notes the Sleep Foundation.
Sleep Paralysis occurs in the REM stage of sleep when people usually dream and the eyes move rapidly behind the closed lids.
Each episode can last anywhere between a few seconds to 20 minutes, with an average length of six minutes. The episodes either go on their own or are interrupted by another person’s touch and even the effort to move in the conscious state.
4 things to ‘never do’ during the scary experience
Emergency medicine physician Dr. Joe Whittington outlines four things you should avoid doing during a Sleep Paralysis episode.
- The doctor says you shouldn’t believe everything you experience as unpleasant and scary visions are common during sleep paralysis.
- The second point is an extension of the first where you should tell yourself that it isn’t real. This helps shift your focus elsewhere.
- One of the ways to resist hallucinations is to shut your eyelids by not allowing your eyes to wander. This will also create a calm space and allow you to talk yourself down.
- Don’t force yourself or struggle to get out of a sleep paralysis as it makes you panic, says the doctor.
Focusing on little movements instead, like wiggling your pinky or little toe helps “wake up your nervous system.”
Dr. Joe Whittington Aka Dr. Joe, M.D. is an Emergency Room Doctor, with millions of devoted followers on social media. His videos are popular for addressing a range of health issues by incorporating entertainment factors.
He graduated from UCLA and St. Louis University School of Medicine, before completing a highly competitive residency program in emergency medicine
