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Encyclopedia > Sleep paralysis
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The Nightmare, by Henry Fuseli (1781) is thought to be one of the classic depictions of sleep paralysis perceived as a demonic visitation.

Sleep paralysis is a condition characterized by temporary paralysis of the body shortly after waking up (known as hypnopompic paralysis) or, less often, shortly before falling asleep (known as hypnagogic paralysis).[1] Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... The Nightmare, by Henry Fuseli The two-dimensional work of art depicted in this image is in the public domain in the United States and in those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years. ... The Nightmare, by Henry Fuseli The two-dimensional work of art depicted in this image is in the public domain in the United States and in those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years. ... Fuseli talking to Johann Jakob Bodmer, 1778-1781. ... “Fiend” redirects here. ... Paralysed redirects here. ... Hypnopompia is an experience a person can go through while waking from sleep. ... For other uses, see Sleep (disambiguation). ... Hypnagogia (also spelled hypnogogia) describes vivid dream-like auditory, visual, or tactile sensations, which are often accompanied by sleep paralysis and experienced when falling asleep or waking up. ...


Physiologically, it is closely related to the paralysis that occurs as a natural part of REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, which is known as REM atonia. Sleep paralysis occurs when the brain awakes from a REM state, but the bodily paralysis persists. This leaves the person fully conscious, but unable to move. In addition, the state may be accompanied by terrifying hallucinations (hypnopompic or hypnagogic) which cause an acute sense of danger [2]. Sleep paralysis is particularly frightening to the individual due to the vividness of such hallucinations[3]. The hallucinatory element to sleep paralysis makes it even more likely that someone will interpret the experience as a dream, since completely fanciful, or dream-like, objects may appear in the room alongside one's normal vision. Some scientists have proposed this condition as a theory for alien abductions and ghostly encounters.[4] Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is the normal stage of sleep characterized by rapid movements of the eyes. ... Rapid eye movement (REM) is the stage of sleep characterized by rapid saccadic movements of the eyes. ... Human brain In animals, the brain (enkephale) (Greek for in the skull), is the control center of the central nervous system, responsible for behavior. ... A hallucination is a perception in the absence of a stimulus that the person may or may not believe is real. ... The Abduction Phenomenon is as umbrella term used to describe a number of kidnap individuals--sometimes called abductees--usually for medical testing or for sexual reproduction procedures. ... For other uses, see Ghost (disambiguation). ...


The paralysis can last from several seconds to several minutes "after which the individual may experience panic symptoms and the realization that the distorted perceptions were false" [5]. When there is an absence of narcolepsy, sleep paralysis is referred to as isolated sleep paralysis (ISP) [6]. "ISP appears to be far more common and recurrent among African Americans than among White Americans or Nigerian Blacks" [7], and is often referred to within African American communities as "the witch riding your back" [8][9].

Contents

Symptoms

Symptoms of sleep paralysis can be either one of the following or a combination:


Paralysis: this occurs after waking up or shortly before falling asleep. the person cannot move any body part, cannot speak, and only has minimal control over blinking and breathing. This paralysis is the same paralysis that occurs when dreaming. The brain paralyzes the muscles to prevent possible injury during dreams, as some body parts may move during dreaming. If the person wakes up suddenly, the brain may still think that it is dreaming, and sustains the paralysis.


Hallucinations: Images or speaking that appear during the paralysis. The person may think that someone is standing beside them or they may hear strange sounds. These may be dreamlike, possibly causing the person to think that they are still dreaming. Often it is reported as feeling a weight on one's chest, as if being underneath a person or heavy object.


These symptoms can last from mere seconds to several minutes (although they can feel like much longer) and can be frightening to the person.


Possible causes

Sleep paralysis occurs during REM sleep, thus preventing the body from manifesting movements made in the subject's dreams. Very little is known about the physiology of sleep paralysis.[citation needed] However, some have suggested that it may be linked to post-synaptic inhibition of motor neurons in the pons region of the brain.[citation needed] In particular, low levels of melatonin may stop the depolarization current in the nerves, which prevents the stimulation of the muscles, to prevent the body from enacting the dream activity (e.g. preventing a sleeper from flailing his legs when dreaming about running).[citation needed] Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is the normal stage of sleep characterized by rapid movements of the eyes. ... Illustration of the major elements in a prototypical synapse. ... In vertebrates, the term motor neuron (or motoneuron) classically applies to neurons located in the central nervous system (CNS) which project their axons outside the CNS and directly or indirectly control muscles. ... For other uses, see Pons (disambiguation). ... Human brain In animals, the brain (enkephale) (Greek for in the skull), is the control center of the central nervous system, responsible for behavior. ... Melatonin, 5-methoxy-N-acetyltryptamine, is a hormone found in all living creatures from algae[1] to humans, at levels that vary in a diurnal cycle. ... In biology, depolarization is the event a cell undergoes when its membrane potential grows more positive with respect to the extracellular solution. ...


Several studies have concluded that many or most people will experience sleep paralysis at least once or twice in their lives.[citation needed]


Many people who commonly enter sleep paralysis also suffer from narcolepsy. In African-Americans, panic disorder occurs with sleep paralysis more frequently than in Caucasians.[10] Some reports read that various factors increase the likelihood of both paralysis and hallucinations. These include:[11] For other uses, see Narcolepsy (disambiguation). ... Languages Predominantly American English Religions Protestantism (chiefly Baptist and Methodist); Roman Catholicism; Islam Related ethnic groups Sub-Saharan Africans and other African groups, some with Native American groups. ... Panic Disorder is a psychiatric condition characterized by recurring panic attacks in combination with significant behavioral change or at least a month of ongoing worry about the implications or concern about having other attacks. ...

  • Sleeping in an upwards supine position
  • Irregular sleeping schedules; naps, sleeping in, sleep deprivation
  • Increased stress
  • Sudden environmental/lifestyle changes
  • A lucid dream that immediately precedes the episode.

The supine position is a position of the body; lying down with the face up, as opposed to the prone position, which is face down. ... Sleep deprivation is a general lack of the necessary amount of sleep. ... Hypnos and Thanatos,Sleep and His Half-Brother Death by John William Waterhouse Wikibooks has a book on the topic of Lucid dreaming A lucid dream is a dream in which the person is aware that he or she is dreaming while the dream is in progress. ...

Treatment

Clonazepam is highly effective in the treatment of sleep paralysis.[12] The initial dose is 0.5 mg at bedtime, while an increase to 1 mg per night might be necessary to maintain potency. Clonazepam (marketed by Roche under the trade-names Klonopin in the United States and Rivotril in Europe, South America, Canada, India, and Australia) is a drug which is a benzodiazepine derivative. ...


Ritalin has been used successfully as a daytime medication to promote structured sleep patterns and the prevention of sleep paralysis in some adults. Care should be taken to monitor blood pressure along with other appropriate tests. Dosage starts at 20mg per day (morning) increased weekly until episodes diminish.[citation needed] Methylphenidate (C14H19NO2), or MPH, is an amphetamine-like prescription stimulant commonly used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children and adults. ...


Folklore

Complete references to many cultures are given in the References section The Nightmare, by Henry Fuseli (1781) is thought to be one of the classic depictions of sleep paralysis perceived as a demonic visitation. ...

  • In African American culture, isolated sleep paralysis is commonly referred to as "the devil riding your back"
  • In the Laotian and Thai culture, sleep paralysis is referred to as "pee umm." It describes an event where the person is sleeping and dreams that ghostly figure(s) are either holding him/her down or the ghosts can just be near. The person usually thinks that they are awake but is unable to move or make any noises. This is not to be confused with "pee khao" which refers to a ghost possession.
  • In Hmong culture, sleep paralysis describes an experience called "dab tsog" or "crushing demon" from the compound phrase "dab" (demon) and "tsog" (crush). Often the sufferer claims to be able to see a tiny figure, no larger than a child, sitting on his or her chest. What is alarming is that a vast number of American Hmong, mainly males, have died in their sleep prompting the Centers for Disease Control to create the term "Sudden Unexpected Nocturnal Death Syndrome" or "SUNDS" for short.
  • In Vietnamese culture, sleep paralysis is referred to as "ma de", meaning "held down by a ghost". Many people in this culture believe that a ghost has entered one's body, causing the paralyzed state.
  • In China, sleep paralysis is known as "鬼压身" (pinyin: guǐ yā shēn) or "鬼压床" (pinyin: guǐ yā chuáng), which literally translate into "body pressured by a ghost" or "bed pressured by a ghost."
  • In Japanese culture, sleep paralysis is referred to as kanashibari (金縛り, literally "bound or fastened in metal," from kane "metal" and shibaru" to bind, to tie, to fasten"). This term is occasionally used by English speaking authors to refer to the phenomenon both in academic papers and in pop psych literature.
  • In Hungarian folk culture sleep paralysis is called "lidércnyomás" ("lidérc pressing") and can be attributed to a number of supernatural entities like "lidérc" (wraith), "boszorkány" (witch), "tündér" (fairy) or "ördögszerető".[13] The word "boszorkány" itself stems from the Turkish root "bas-", meaning "to press".[14]
  • In Iceland folk culture sleep paralysis is generally called having a "Mara". Mara is an old Icelandic word for a mare but has taken on the meaning for a sort of a devil that sits on ones chest at night, trying to suffocate the victim.
  • Kurdish people call this phenomenon a "mottaka", they believe that some one, in a form of a ghost or perhaps an evil spirit, turns up on top the of the person in the middle of the night and suffocates him/her. Apparently this happens usually when some one has done something bad.
  • In New Guinea, people refer to this phenomenon as "Suk Ninmyo", believed to originate from sacred trees that use human essence to sustain its life. The trees are said to feed on human essence during night as to not disturb the human's daily life, but sometimes people wake unnaturally during the feeding, resulting in the paralysis.
  • In Turkish culture, sleep paralysis is often referred to as "karabasan" ("The dark presser/assailer"). It is believed to be a creature which attacks people in their sleep, pressing on their chest and stealing their breath.
  • In Mexico, it's believed that sleep paralysis is in fact the spirit of a dead person getting on the person and impeding movement, calling this "se me subió el muerto" (the dead person got on me).
  • In many parts of the Southern United States, the phenomenon is known as a "hag", and the event is said to often be a sign of an approaching tragedy or accident.
  • Ogun Oru is a traditional explanation for nocturnal disturbances among the Yoruba of Southwest Nigeria; ogun oru (nocturnal warefare) involves an acute night-time disturbance that is culturally attributed to demonic infiltration of the body and psyche during dreaming. Ogun oru is characterized by its occurrence, a female preponderance, the perception of an underlying feud between the sufferer's earthly spouse and a ;spiritual' spouse, and the event of bewitchment through eating while dreaming. The condition is believed to be treatable through Christian prayers or elaborate traditional rituals designed to exorcise the imbibed demonic elements.[15]
  • In Zimbabwean Shona culture the word Madzikirira is used to refer something really pressing one down. This mostly refers to the spiritual world in which some spirit--especially an evil one--tries to use its victim for some evil purpose. The people believe that witches can only be people of close relations to be effective, and hence a witches often try to use one's spirit to bewitch one's relatives.
  • In Ethiopian culture the word Dukak is used. Dukak is believed to be some form of evil spirit that possesses people during their sleep. This experience is also believed to be related to use of Khat. Most Khat users experience sleep paralysis when quitting after a long time of use.
  • Several studies have shown that African-Americans may be predisposed to isolated sleep paralysis also known as "the witch is riding you," or "the haint is riding you."[16] In addition, other studies have shown that African-Americans who have frequent episodes of isolated sleep paralysis, i.e., reporting having one or more sleep paralysis episodes per month coined as "sleep paralysis disorder," were predisposed to having panic attacks.[17] This finding has been replicated by other independent researchers[18][19]

Language(s) Hmong/Mong Religion(s) Shamanism, Buddhism, Christianity, others The terms Hmong (pronounced ) and Mong () both refer to an Asian ethnic group in the mountainous regions of southern China. ... Pinyin, more formally called Hanyu Pinyin (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; Pinyin: ), is the most common variant of Standard Mandarin romanization system in use. ... Pinyin, more formally called Hanyu Pinyin (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; Pinyin: ), is the most common variant of Standard Mandarin romanization system in use. ... The term popular psychology (frequently called pop psychology or pop psych), refers to concepts and theories about human mental life and behaviour that are purportedly based on psychology and that attain popularity amongst the general population. ... This is the disambiguation page for the terms Turk, Turkey, Turkic, and Turkish. ...

Sleep paralysis in literature, art and music

  • (1605) Miguel de Cervantes makes mention of the phenomenon in Don Quixote when a tavern wench jumps into the bed of the soundly sleeping Sancho Panza, who, started, and feeling a prodigious weight upon him, thought he was labouring under the nightmare.
  • (1851) There is a particularly fascinating account of sleep paralysis in Herman Melville's novel Moby-Dick. Chapter 4 (The Counterpane) is an account of Ishmael's meditation on an episode of sleep paralysis in the middle of which he could not distinguish the difference between Queequeg's arm and the quilt. Indeed, he could not even distinguish the difference between his own body and his surroundings. He then recalls an earlier episode of sleep paralysis from his childhood, which he determines was the precise moment he discovered the feeling of "otherness" of his own body with respect to his surroundings.
  • (1975) Maxine Hong Kingston recounts an episode in her book The Woman Warrior where her mother, Brave Orchid, suffers a night of sleep paralysis in the "Haunted Room", in which she claims she battles a "Sitting Ghost".
  • (2001) The progressive rock band Dredg explores the different aspects of sleep paralysis, on their album El Cielo. The booklet with El Cielo contains letters written by sufferers of sleeping disorders with descriptions of various experiences with or relating to sleep paralysis. Singer Gavin Hayes incorporates and expands upon the material found in the booklet for the lyrics to the album; all of the songs on the album (except the instrumentals) contain snippets of the text in the booklet.

Cervantes redirects here. ... This article is about the fictional character and novel. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Herman Melville (August 1, 1819 – September 28, 1891) was an American novelist, short story writer, essayist, and poet. ... Moby-Dick book cover Moby-Dick - the official title of the first edition - is a novel by Herman Melville. ... Ishmael is the narrator (and arguably the protagonist) of the 1851 novel Moby-Dick by U.S. author Herman Melville. ... Queequeg is a fictional character presented in the 1851 novel Moby-Dick by U.S. author Herman Melville. ... Ernest Miller Hemingway (July 21, 1899 – July 2, 1961) was an American novelist, short-story writer, and journalist. ... The Snows of Kilimanjaro is the name of both a collection of short stories by Ernest Hemingway and the premier story within the collection. ... Sir Kingsley William Amis (April 16, 1922 – October 22, 1995) was an English novelist, poet, critic, and teacher. ... Written in 1969, The Green Man (ISBN 978-0-89733-220-0), is a novel by the noted British author Kingsley Amis. ... Maxine Hong Kingston Maxine Hong Kingston (湯婷婷; born October 27, 1940) is an American writer. ... The cover of the Vintage International hardcover edition of The Woman Warrior. ... dredg is a progressive alternative band from Los Gatos, California, USA. // History Their first studio album, Leitmotif, was released by the Universal music label on September 11, 2001. ... El Cielo is dredgs second album, released on October 8, 2002. ... Fear Before the March of Flames (sometimes abbreviated as FBTMOF[1], Fear Before[2] or March of Flames) is a experimental rock band that resides in Aurora, Colorado. ... The Always Open Mouth is the third album by the Colorado band Fear Before the March of Flames. ...

Notes

  1. ^ When considered a disease, isolated sleep paralysis is classified as: Diseases Database 12182, MeSH D020188
  2. ^ Hersen Turner & Beidel. (2007) Adult Psychopathology and Diagnosis
  3. ^ Hersen, Turner & Beidel. (2007) Adult Psychopathology and Diagnosis
  4. ^ McNally RJ, Clancy SA. (2005). "Sleep Paralysis, Sexual Abuse, and Space Alien Abduction". Transcultural Psychiatry 42 (1): 113-122. PMID 15881271.
  5. ^ Hersen, Turner & Beidel. (2007) Adult Psychopathology and Diagnosis. p. 380
  6. ^ Hersen, Turner & Beidel. (2007) Adult Psychopathology and Diagnosis
  7. ^ Hersen, Turner & Beidel. (2007) Adult Psychopathology and Diagnosis. p. 380
  8. ^ Mattek, (2005) Memoirs p. 34
  9. ^ http://au.answers.yahoo.com/answers2/frontend.php/question?qid=20071224062255AAqQrR5
  10. ^ Friedman, S. & Paradis, C. (2002). Panic disorder in African-Americans: Symptomatology and isolated sleep paralysis. Cult Med Psychiatry. 2002 Jun;26(2):179-98 PMID 12211324
  11. ^ J. A. Cheyne. Preventing and Coping with Sleep Paralysis. Retrieved on 17 July, 2006.
  12. ^ Wills L, Garcia J. (2002) Parasomnias: epidemiology and management16(12):803-10.
  13. ^ lidérc, Magyar Néprajzi Lexikon, Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest 1977, ISBN
  14. ^ boszorkány, Magyar Néprajzi Lexikon, Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest 1977, ISBN
  15. ^ Aina OF, Famuyiwa OO (2007). "Ogun Oru: a traditional explanation for nocturnal neuropsychiatric disturbances among the Yoruba of Southwest Nigeria". Transcultural psychiatry 44 (1): 44-54. doi:10.1177/1363461507074968. PMID 17379609.
  16. ^ Bell CC, Shakoor B, Thompson B, Dew D, Hughley E, Mays R, Shorter-Gooden K (1984). "Prevalence of isolated sleep paralysis in black subjects". Journal of the National Medical Association 76 (5): 501-508. PMID 6737506.
  17. ^ Bell CC, Dixie-Bell DD, Thompson B (1986). "Further studies on the prevalence of isolated sleep paralysis in black subjects". Journal of the National Medical Association 78 (7): 649-659. PMID 3746934.
  18. ^ Paradis CM, Friedman S (2006). "Sleep Paralysis in African Americans with Panic Disorder". Transcultural psychiatry 43 (4): 692-694. PMID 15881272.
  19. ^ Friedman S, Paradis CM, Hatch M (1994). "Characteristics of African-Americans and white patients with panic disorder and agoraphobia". Hospital and Community Psychiatry 45 (8): 798-803. PMID 7982696.

The Disease Bold textDatabase is a free website that provides information about the relationships between medical conditions, symptoms, and medications. ... Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) is a huge controlled vocabulary (or metadata system) for the purpose of indexing journal articles and books in the life sciences. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A digital object identifier (or DOI) is a standard for persistently identifying a piece of intellectual property on a digital network and associating it with related data, the metadata, in a structured extensible way. ...

References

  • Culhane-Pera, Kathie (2003). Healing by Heart: Clinical and Ethical Case Stories of Hmong Families and Western Providers. Vanderbilt University Press.
  • Bower, Bruce (July 9, 2005). "Night of the Crusher." Science News.
  • Conesa, J. (2000). Geomagnetic, cross-cultural and occupational faces of sleep paralysis: An ecological perspective. Sleep and Hypnosis, 2, (3), 105-111.
  • Conesa, J. (2002). Isolated Sleep Paralysis and Lucid Dreaming: Ten-year longitudinal case study and related dream frequencies, types, and categories. Sleep and Hypnosis, 4, (4), 132-143.
  • Conesa, J. (2003). Sleep Paralysis Signaling (SPS) As A Natural Cueing Method for the Generation and Maintenance of Lucid Dreaming. Presented at The 83rd Annual Convention of the Western Psychological Association, May 1 - 4, 2003 in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
  • Conesa-Sevilla, Jorge (2004). Wrestling With Ghosts: A Personal and Scientific Account of Sleep Paralysis. Pennsylvania: Xlibris/Randomhouse.
  • Firestone K. The “Old Hag”: sleep paralysis in Newfoundland. The Journal of Psychoanalytic Anthropology 1985; 8:47-66.
  • Fukuda K, Miyasita A, Inugami M, Ishihara K. High prevalence of isolated sleep paralysis: kanashibari phenomenon in Japan. Sleep 1987; 10:279-286.
  • Hartmann E. The nightmare: the psychology and biology of terrifying dreams. New York:Basic,1984.
  • Hufford D.J. The terror that comes in the night: an experience-centered study of supernatural assault traditions. Philadelphia:University of Pennsylvania Press, 1982
  • Kettlewell, N; Lipscomb, S; Evans, E. (June, 1993). "Differences in neuropsychological correlates between normals and those experiencing "Old Hag Attacks'." Perceptual and Motor Skills. 76 (3 Pt 1): 839-45; discussion 846. PMID 8321596
  • Ness RC. “The Old Hag” phenomenon as sleep paralysis: a bicultural interpretation . Culture, Medicine and Psychiatry 1978; 2:15-39.
  • Ohayon MM, Zulley J, Guilleminault C, Smirne, S. Prevalence and pathologic associations of sleep paralysis in the general population. Neurology, 1999; 52:1194-1200.
  • Sagan, Carl (1997). The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark.
  • Schneck JM. Sleep paralysis and microsomatognosia with special reference to hypnotherapy . The International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis 1977; XXV:72-77.
  • Takeuchi T, Miyasita A, Sasaki Y, Inugami M, Fukuda K. Isolated sleep paralysis elicited by sleep interruption. American Sleep Disorders Association and Sleep Research Society, 1992; 15: 217-225.

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Articles on sleep
Sleep stages Rapid eye movement sleep · Non-rapid eye movement sleep · Slow-wave sleep · Beta wave sleep · Delta wave sleep · Gamma wave sleep · Theta wave sleep
Sleep disorders Advanced sleep phase syndrome · Automatic behavior · Circadian rhythm sleep disorder · Delayed sleep phase syndrome · Dyssomnia · Excessive daytime sleepiness · Hypersomnia · Insomnia · Narcolepsy · Night terror · Nocturia · Nocturnal myoclonus · Non-24-hour sleep-wake syndrome · Ondine's curse · Parasomnia · Sleep apnea · Sleep deprivation · Sleepeating · Sleeping sickness · Sleeptalking · Sleepwalking
Benign phenomena Dream · Nightmare · Exploding head syndrome · Lucid dream · False awakening · Sleep paralysis · Hypnagogia · Hypnic jerk · Nocturnal emission · Somnolence · Dream worlds
Bedding Pillow · Sheet · Duvet · Blanket · Quilt · Sleeping bag
Nightwear Babydoll · Blanket sleeper · Chemise · Negligee · Nightgown · Nightshirt · Nightcap · Peignoir · Pajamas · Slip nightgown
Related topics Bed (Bunk bed, Four poster bed, Futon, Hammock, Mattress) · Bed bug · Bedroom · Bedtime · Bedtime toy · Bedtime story · Chronotype · Jet lag · Lullaby · Polyphasic sleep · Power nap · Siesta · Sleep and learning · Sleep debt · Sleep inertia · Sleepover · Snoring
Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... For other uses, see Sleep (disambiguation). ... Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is the normal stage of sleep characterized by rapid movements of the eyes. ... The sleep stages 1 through 4 are collectively referred to as NREM (non-rapid eye movement) sleep. ... Polysomnogram demonstrating SWS. High amplitude EEG is highlighted in red. ... Beta waves Beta wave, or beta rhythm, is the term used to designate the frequency range of brain activity above 12 Hz (12 transitions or cycles per second). ... A delta wave is a large, slow brain wave associated with deep sleep. ... Gamma waves A gamma wave is a pattern of brain waves, associated with perception and consciousness. ... In humans, a theta wave is an electroencephalogram pattern normally produced while awake but relaxed or drowsy. ... Advanced sleep phase syndrome (ASPS) is a sleep disorder in which patients feel very sleepy early in the evening (e. ... Automatism, from the Greek automatismos or self action, is the spontaneous production of often purposeless verbal or motor behavior without conscious self-control, self-conceptualization or self-censorship. ... Circadian rhythm sleep disorders are a family of sleep disorders affecting the timing of sleep. ... Delayed sleep-phase syndrome (DSPS) is a chronic disorder of sleep timing. ... Dyssomnias are a broad classification of sleeping disorder that make it difficult to get to sleep, or to stay sleeping. ... Hypersomnia, also known as excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), is excessive amount of sleepiness. ... Hypersomnia, also known as excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), is excessive amount of sleepiness. ... This article is about the sleeping disorder. ... For other uses, see Narcolepsy (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Night Terror. ... Nocturia is the need to get up during the night in order to urinate, thus interrupting sleep. ... Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD), also called nocturnal myoclonus, is a sleep disorder where the patient moves involuntarily during sleep. ... Non 24-hour sleep phase syndrome, also termed non 24-hour circadian rhythm disorder or hypernychthemeral syndrome, is a sleep disorder in which a persons internal clock runs longer than 24 hours. ... Ondines Curse, Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome or primary alveolar hypoventilation, is a respiratory disorder that is fatal if untreated. ... A parasomnia is any sleep disorder such as sleepwalking, sleepeating, sleep sex, teeth grinding, night terrors, rhythmic movement disorder, REM behaviour disorder, restless leg syndrome, and somniloquy (or sleep talking), characterized by partial arousals during sleep or during transitions between wakefulness and sleep. ... Sleep apnea, sleep apnoea or sleep apnÅ“a is a sleep disorder characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep. ... Sleep deprivation is a general lack of the necessary amount of sleep. ... Sleepeating or Nocturnal Eating Syndrome is a parasomnia where people experience recurrent episodes of eating during their sleep, without being aware of it. ... Sleeping sickness or African trypanosomiasis is a parasitic disease in people and animals, caused by protozoa of genus Trypanosoma and transmitted by the tsetse fly. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Sleepwalking (also called somnambulism or noctambulism[1]), under the larger category of parasomnias or sleep disorders where the sufferer engages in activities that are normally associated with wakefulness while he or she is asleep or in a sleeplike state. ... For other uses, see Dream (disambiguation). ... The current usage of the term nightmare refers to a dream which causes the sleeper a strong unpleasant emotional response. ... Exploding head syndrome is a rare condition first reported by a British physician in 1988[1] that causes the sufferer to occasionally experience a tremendously loud noise as if from within his or her own head, usually described as an explosion or a roar. ... Hypnos and Thanatos,Sleep and His Half-Brother Death by John William Waterhouse Wikibooks has a book on the topic of Lucid dreaming A lucid dream is a dream in which the person is aware that he or she is dreaming while the dream is in progress. ... A false awakening is an event in which someone dreams they have awakened from sleep. ... Hypnagogia (also spelled hypnogogia) describes vivid dream-like auditory, visual, or tactile sensations, which are often accompanied by sleep paralysis and experienced when falling asleep or waking up. ... A hypnic or hypnagogic jerk is an involuntary muscle twitch (more generally known as myoclonus or a myoclonic twitch) which often occurs during the transition from wakefulness to sleep (see hypnagogia). ... A nocturnal emission is an ejaculation of semen experienced by a male during sleep. ... Somnolence (or drowsiness) is a state of near-sleep, a strong desire for sleep, or sleeping for unusually long periods. ... Dream worlds are a commonly used plot device in fictional works, most notably in science fiction and fantasy fiction. ... Bedding refers to the materials laid above the mattress of a bed for warmth. ... This article is about the cushion. ... A bed sheet is a large piece of cotton or linen cloth used to cover a mattress. ... A double duvet. ... For other uses, see Blanket (disambiguation). ... A quilt is a type of puppy with long fluffy ears. ... A sleeping bag is a protective bag for a person to sleep in, essentially a blanket that can be closed with a zipper or similar means, and functions as a bed in situations where it is impractical to carry around a full bed. ... Nightwear, also called sleepwear, nightclothes, or nightdress, is clothing designed to be worn while sleeping. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A child wearing a blanket sleeper. ... Fashionable young men in early 16th century Germany showed a lot of fine linen in a studied negligence. ... The negligee is a form of womenswear intended for wear at night and in the bedroom or in a airport parking lot. ... Pink chiffon nightie A nightgown (also called a nightdress) is a loosely hanging item of nightwear nowadays solely for women, Its length may vary from hip-length (babydoll) to floor-length (peignoir) but is typically knee-length. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see Nightcap (disambiguation). ... A peignoir is a long nightgown for women usually sheer and made of chiffon. ... Look up Pajamas in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Short pink chiffon nightgown Black slip nightgown A nightgown (also called a nightdress) is a loosely hanging item of nightwear nowadays mostly for women. ... For other uses, see Bed (disambiguation). ... A Bunkbed A bunk bed is a type of bed in which one bed is stacked on top of another. ... A four poster bed is a bed with four posts which support a tester. ... A futon in Japan A futon in the U.S. A futon )   is a type of mattress that makes up a Japanese bed. ... Garden hammock A couple in a hammock on the beach The hammock is a fabric sling used for sleeping or resting. ... A pillow top queen-size mattress. ... Genera & Species Genus Cimex Cimex lectularius Cimex hemipterus () Cimex pilosellus Cimex pipistrella Genus Leptocimex Leptocimex boueti Genus Haematosiphon Haematosiphon inodora Genus Oeciacus Oeciacus hirudinis Oeciacus vicarius Bedbugs (or bed bugs) are small nocturnal insects of the family Cimicidae that live by hematophagy, that is by feeding on the blood of... A bedroom is a room where people sleep. ... Bedtime is a popular parenting tradition that involves, to a greater or lesser extent, rituals made to help children feel more secure [1], and become accustomed to a comparatively more rigid schedule of sleep than they would sometimes prefer. ... Bedtime Stories track listing Sanctuary (9) Bedtime Story (10) Take a Bow (11) GHV2 track listing Dont Cry for Me Argentina (radio edit) (5) Bedtime Story (edit) (6) The Power of Good-Bye (album version) (7) For the 1964 comedy film, see Bedtime Story (film). ... Chronotype is an attribute of human beings reflecting whether they are alert and prefer to be active early or late in the day. ... Jet lag (or jet-lag) is a physical condition caused by crossing multiple time zones during flight. ... For other uses, see Lullaby (disambiguation). ... Polyphasic sleep is a term used to describe several alternative sleep patterns intended to reduce sleep time to 2–6 hours daily in order to achieve a better quality of sleep. ... A power nap (sometimes called a catnap) is a short nap, usually 15-20 minutes, intended to revitalize the subject from drowsiness while working, coined by Cornell University social psychologist James Maas. ... A painting of a young woman taking a siesta. ... Many competing theories have been advanced to discover the possible connections between sleep and learning in humans. ... This does not cite its references or sources. ... Sleep inertia is a physiological state characterised by a decline in motor dexterity and a subjective feeling of grogginess, immediately following an abrupt awakening from deep sleep. ... For other uses, see Sleepover (film). ... Snoring is the act of breathing through the open mouth in such a way as to cause a vibration of the uvula and soft palate, thus giving rise to a sound which may vary from a soft noise to a loud unpleasant sound. ...

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Sleep Paralysis: page 2 (2413 words)
Sleep paralysis, or more properly, sleep paralysis with hypnagogic and hypnopompic hallucinations have been singled out as a particularly likely source of beliefs concerning not only alien abductions, but all manner of beliefs in alternative realities and otherworldly creatures.
Sleep paralysis is a condition in which someone, most often lying in a supine position, about to drop off to sleep, or just upon waking from sleep realizes that s/he is unable to move, or speak, or cry out.
Sleep paralysis is often thought to be associated with narcolepsy.
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