- Sleep paralysis is a condition that many suffer from but don’t know the cause or how to prevent
- Although not a medical emergency, sleep paralysis is the state of being awake without being able to move
- It can be prevented by adopting healthy sleeping habits, among other things
Diana, drenched in sweat, twisted and turned in bed until she lay flat on her back and slept on. In her subconsciousness, she felt shadows hovering over her. Straining hard to scream for the blood of Jesus to save her from the shadows, she found that she could not make a sound. Trying harder, she cried with all her might and was able to break free from the hold of the shadows.
You could have experienced a similar occurrence and thought your village people were after you. No, you don’t need to see your pastor or imam; it’s a phenomenon called sleep paralysis.
Many people experience sleep paralysis, and according to statistics, about 20 per cent of people have experienced it.
According to the Harvard Health Publishing, “Sleep paralysis is a temporary sense of paralysis that occurs between stages of wakefulness and sleep. During an episode of sleep paralysis, you are conscious but unable to move or speak.”
As scary as it seems, it is not a medical emergency. However, this raises the question of what causes sleep paralysis and how it can be prevented.
What causes sleep paralysis?
There are some conditions that put people at risk of sleep paralysis.
They include but not limited to:
Insomnia: a sleep disorder that makes it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep.
Narcolepsy: is a chronic neurological disorder that affects the brain’s ability to control sleep-wake cycles.
Bipolar disorder: a mental illness that causes unusual shifts in a person’s mood, energy, activity levels, and concentration.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): a mental health condition that is triggered by a terrifying event, either experiencing or witnessing it.
Sleep paralysis can also be caused by poor sleeping habits and sleep disorders.
How can you prevent sleep paralysis?
According to Harvard Health Publishing, getting quality sleep reduces the risk of having an episode.
To prevent sleep paralysis, sleep for seven to nine hours on a regular basis, create an ideal sleep environment, reduce distractions by avoiding the use of electronic devices before bedtime, try to ease your stress before bedtime, reduce caffeine intake, try new sleeping positions as sleeping on your back increases the risk of having an episode.