Thursday, October 13, 2011

Sleep Paralysis

Ever wake up from sleep, but hard to move or scream? Relax, you're not bothered subtle creatures. This scientific explanation!

Genesis is often experienced, When about to wake from sleep or had just fallen asleep, we feel like something crushed. This makes it difficult to wake or calling for help.
Then, there is a little taste of cold radiating from her toes to the entire body. To be able to get up, the only way is to move the tip of the foot, hand or head end at full speed until the entire body can be moved back.
After that, we usually do not dare to sleep. Fear of our consciousness is lost or the incident over and over again. Especially during the incident, we like to see a shadow in the darkness.
And according to the trust of parents, who are the spirits to rest. Uh, yes spooky! However, the logic of trying to find a scientific explanation. This is the result

Sleep Paralysis

According to medical circumstances when people are going to sleep or waking up feeling like a strangled shortness of breath, chest tightness, difficulty moving and hard body screaming alias called sleep paralysis sleep paralysis (because the body can not move and seemed paralyzed). Almost everyone has experienced it. At least once or twice in his life.

Sleep paralysis can happen to anyone, male or female. And the average age people first experience this sleep disorder is 14-17 years. Sleep paralysis aka squeezing it could indeed take place in a matter of seconds to minutes. Interestingly, when squeezing occurs we often experience hallucinations, like seeing a black shadow figure or in the vicinity of the bed. Not surprisingly, this phenomenon is also often associated with the occult.

In the Western world, the phenomenon of squeezing is often called the nightmare Inkubus or old Hags that appear under the form of shadows. There is also a feeling of seeing a foreign or alien secret agent. While in some medieval paintings, squeezing illustrated by the figure of evil spirits occupying the chest of a woman until she was frightened and difficult breathing.

Sleep Deprivation

According to Al Cheyne, researchers from the University of Waterloo, Canada, sleep paralysis, is a kind of hallucination because of malfunctions in the stage of sleep rapid eye movement (REM).

As knowledge, based on brain waves, sleep is divided into 4 stages. Stage it is the lightest stage of sleep (we are still half-conscious), the deeper stages of sleep, the deepest sleep and REM stages. At this stage that dreams occur.

When the condition of the body is too tired or lack of sleep, brain waves do not follow the stages of sleep should be. So, from a conscious state (while he was sleeping) to the lightest stage of sleep, then immediately jump into a dream (REM).

When the brain is suddenly awakened from REM stage but the body has not, here's where sleep paralysis occurs. We feel very conscious, but the body could not move. Plus the hallucinations appeared another figure who actually is a characteristic of the dream.

In addition, sleep paralysis can also be caused by something that can not be controlled. Consequently, there is stress and carry over into the dream. The work environment has also affected. For example, you work in shifts so that lack of sleep or have irregular sleep patterns.

Do not underestimate

Although uncommon, this sleep disorder should be wary. Because sleep paralysis can also be a sign of narcolepsy (sudden sleep attacks without signs of sleepiness), sleep apnea (snoring), anxiety, or depression.

If you are experiencing this sleep disorder, you should make notes on sleep patterns for several weeks. This will help you determine the cause. Then, overcome by avoiding the triggers. When the squeezing caused too tired, try to rest more.

Lack of sleep also should not be underestimated. If you have cause sleep paralysis, the condition is already severe. Immediate need for self-evaluation and inadequate sleep. Try to sleep 8-10 hours at the same hour every night.

Keep in mind also, SEEP paralysis usually occurs in people who sleep in the supine position (face up, and almost in a state of almost sleep or waking from sleep). That is why, we need to frequently change sleeping positions to reduce the risk of this sleep disorder.

Well, if the squeezing is accompanied by other symptoms, it's good to see a doctor or sleep specialist sleep laboratory for further review. Usually the doctor will ask when squeezing starts and has been going on for how long. Note that you created earlier will be very helpful when it went to the doctor.

Myth Sleep Paralysis in Various Countries


  • In Afro-American culture, this sleep disorder is called the devil riding your back a ghost or ghosts who was riding someone's shoulder.
  • In Chinese culture, yes gui shen alias called ghost interference that suppresses a person's body.
  • In Mexican culture, referred to as el muerto subio me and believed to be the occurrence of ghosts of people who stick to one's death.
  • In the culture of Cambodia, Laos and Thailand, called pee umm, refers to instances where a person's sleeping and dreaming spirits hold or detain the person's body to stay in their nature.
  • In the culture of Iceland, called the mara. This is an ancient word Island languages. That is a ghost that occupies a person's chest at night, trying to make people's shortness of breath and suffocation.
  • In culture Tuki, called karabasan, believed to be the creature that attacked people in times of sleep, pressing your chest and take a breath.
  • In Japanese culture, called kanashibari, which binds so literally interpreted means a person bound by spirits.
  • In the culture of Vietnam, called ma de which means controlled by Satan. Many Vietnamese people believe this disorder occurs because a person's spirit entered the body.
  • In the culture of Hungary, called lidercnyomas and is associated with the word supernatural Boszorkany (witch). The word itself means pressing Boszorkany that this incident be interpreted as pressure on a person's spirits during sleep.
  • In the culture of Malta, sleep disturbance is considered as an attack by Haddiela (wife Hares), gods who haunt the nation Malta possessed by that person. And to avoid the attack Haddiela, one must put the items out of silver or a knife under the pillow while sleeping.
  • In the culture of New Guinea, this phenomenon is called Suk Ninmyo. This is the sacred tree of life of the human spirit. This will take a sacred tree of the human spirit in the night so as not to disturb people in the daytime. However, often people whose spirits are being eaten tree awoke and there was sleep paralysis.