Thread: If sleep paralysis prohibits movement whilst dreaming...

I was wondering this too!
Also, sleepwalkers... probably their brain forgets to put them in Sleep Paralysis when dreaming or something.

I know it does't paralyze your eyes and respiratory/circulatory systems, and the essentials. Maybe it doesnt paralyze your mouth/larynx/pharynx, etc.. cause it could interfere with breathing?

Originally Posted by Demara

...How is it possible that some people "toss and turn" or "talk" while they are dreaming?

If I am correct. Sleep paralysis is a mechanism that prevents the person from acting out their dreams so they won't hurt themselves.
But you still tend to your bodies needs in the process. for example, if you are uncomfortable your body will naturally move into more comfortable position.
And I believe a lot of the tossing and turning comes from the tiny intervals in between dreams where the person is partially awake.


I think.... but wait for shift or something to reply I am more than likely wrong.

Sleep Paralysis only occurs during REM sleep.

We awaken many, many times during the night very briefly (that we don't remember and are not aware of) and have light sleep periods that are Non-REM. The tossing and turning usually occurs during these Non-REM sleep periods and the brief awakened periods.

Actually sleep walking does not occur during REM sleep, it is not acting out your dreams or SP failure. Sleep walking occurs during a separate phase of sleep.

Originally Posted by Aquanina

Actually sleep walking does not occur during REM sleep, it is not acting out your dreams or SP failure. Sleep walking occurs during a separate phase of sleep.

Thats very interesting actually. I always thought sleep walking was acting your dreams in wake life lol.

Sleepwalking is an "arousal" disorder. It occurs when a person is in a mixed state of awareness, i.e., both asleep and awake. Researchers believe sleepwalking stems from a temporary sleep mechanism malfunction that occurs during the deeper stages of sleep. Because sleepwalking does not occur during REM sleep, a sleepwalker is not acting out a dream.

Actually, I have a relative that does act out her dreams. And so have I, a couple of times, under the influence of meds. Nearly smashed my fist against a concrete wall while punching an obnoxious DC's face. Woke up in the nick of time.
I guess that's due to SP not working properly in our cases.

A lot of people are under the false impression that dreams only occur during REM, and thus only during SP. That is also untrue. Dreams occur thoughout the night. That's why you can dream while taking naps. I suppose dreams are just more prolongued, and deeper during REM sleep. So it's still quite possible that you just weren't in REM when you were acting out your dream. I've done that before many many many times.

Or how about when you speak out loud when trying to speak in a dream? That's always a fun one. That also stems from what Nina was talking about- that mixed state of asleep and awake. But yeah, I guess lets see what Shift has to say about it.

These could be the light stages of sleep. Or these people have a higher chance of sleep walking - which is caused by sleep paralysis not happening so the act out the dreams. Or their body only paralyzes part of the body.

Originally Posted by Rainman

A lot of people are under the false impression that dreams only occur during REM, and thus only during SP. That is also untrue. Dreams occur thoughout the night. That's why you can dream while taking naps. I suppose dreams are just more prolongued, and deeper during REM sleep. So it's still quite possible that you just weren't in REM when you were acting out your dream. I've done that before many many many times.

Or how about when you speak out loud when trying to speak in a dream? That's always a fun one. That also stems from what Nina was talking about- that mixed state of asleep and awake. But yeah, I guess lets see what Shift has to say about it.

I don't really know much about sleep cycles, so I have no idea when this might be happening. Still, if SP is supposed to protect you from getting hurt while dreaming, it seems to me it should work ALL the time (meaning, in and out of REM).
And I was giving that DC a piece of my mind quite loudly as well.
Oh, and my great grandmother was a sleepwalker.

Just for the record, SP doesn't happen while you're sleeping, Sleep Paralysis is only when you are awake. When you sleep however, REM Atonia happens, it's basically SP with a different name, just found out about this a couple of days ago