Thread: What is Sleep Paralysis?

What is Sleep Paralysis?

sleep paralisis happens every night so you dont act out your dreams. You might not remember ever having it because it happens when you are unconsious most of the time. Most people get sleep paralisis when trying to WILD (Wake Initiated Lucid Dream) Some people get the "old hag" when in sleep paralisis. If you ever get sleep apralasis you dont need to fear it. It is perfectly normal and happens everynight.

When we dream, we have many thoughts and dreams. For our own protection, our brain closes the connection between itself and the rest of the body, so that, even if you move your body image while dreaming, your real body stays still and safe. That feeling of not beign able to move your body, both when randomly wakign up in the night, or when WILDing, is called Sleep Paralysis.

You know hypnic jerks? Those short dreams you have when extremely tired, of which you wake up feeling really freaked out? They happen because you dream while not on SP, so you actually move your body while dreaming. That, of course, makes you wake up.

Originally Posted by Super FZL

What is Sleep Paralysis?

You have gotten a couple of answers, but to be precise one should distinguish between sleep atonia and sleep paralysis. Sleep atonia refers to the normal phenomenon that certain nerve signals from the brain to the body are blocked during REM sleep, effectively paralyzing the skeleton muscles. Sleep paralysis, however, is a parasomnia (i.e., a sleep disorder) and refers to the abnormal condition that sleep atonia kicks in before you have fallen asleep (rare), or after you have awoken (more common). In typical accounts of sleep paralysis people report that it feels as if a big weight is pressing down on their body and suffocating them, and it is often accompanied by strong fear.