Old hag syndrome
Waking Nightmare
Sleep paralysis is a type of parasomnia which is characterized by temporary inability to move or speak which happens when waking up, or falling asleep.
Causes. During rapid eye movement (REM) sleep the brain has vivid dreams, while the muscles of the body are essentially turned off. While sleeping, the muscles are unable to move so that the person won't be able to act out dreams with their body. Sleep paralysis happenswhen a person wakes up before REM is finished.
- The patient has an awareness that they are awake
- The patient is aware of their surrounding environment
- The patient is completely unable to move (muscle atonia), sensing an intruder in the room – footsteps, voices, shadows etc., a weight or pressure on the chest, floating, levitation or out-of-body-experience,sensation of being choked, strangled or sexually assaulted
FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO SLEEP PARALYSIS:
- lack of sleep
- irregular sleep schedule
- existing psychiatric condition ie bipolar disorder
- drug or alcohol abuse
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