Sleep Paralysis| What is Sleep paralysis?
paralysis is a sleep disorder characterized by periods of wakefulness when a person is unable to move. This can be accompanied by hallucinations and a sense of danger or oppression, making the experience particularly distressing. It is important to note that while sleep paralysis is very scary, it is harmless .
mechanism of sleep paralysis
Sleep paralysis is a sleep disorder characterized by periods of wakefulness when a person is unable to move. This can be accompanied by hallucinations and a sense of danger or oppression, making the experience particularly distressing. It is important to note that while sleep paralysis is very scary, it is harmless .
mechanism of sleep paralysis
what sleep paralysis 300x300 - sleep paralysis - what is it? Definition sleep paralysisSleep paralysis, or sleep paralysis , is a REM sleep disorder that occurs when falling asleep (hypnagogic paralysis) or waking up (hypnopomanic paralysis). The person is then conscious and awake but unable to activate their muscles.
In fact, muscle tone is inhibited by glycine , a neurotransmitter produced to prevent a person from reproducing in reality the movements they make in their dreams. While this chemical safety device typically guards against nighttime accidents, it becomes at the heart of the problem for people with sleep paralysis who are unable to move or call for help.
This uncomfortable feeling is usually compounded by auditory, visual, or even sensory hallucinations, as well as feelings of oppression, suffocation, or impending death . Many patients describe a presence in the room, sometimes an intruder, sitting on their chest, preventing them from breathing.
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Sleep paralysis is a sleep disorder characterized by periods of wakefulness when a person is unable to move. This can be accompanied by hallucinations and a sense of danger or oppression, making the experience particularly distressing. It is important to note that while sleep paralysis is very scary, it is harmless .
mechanism of sleep paralysis
what sleep paralysis 300x300 - sleep paralysis - what is it? Definition sleep paralysisSleep paralysis, or sleep paralysis , is a REM sleep disorder that occurs when falling asleep (hypnagogic paralysis) or waking up (hypnopomanic paralysis). The person is then conscious and awake but unable to activate their muscles.
In fact, muscle tone is inhibited by glycine , a neurotransmitter produced to prevent a person from reproducing in reality the movements they make in their dreams. While this chemical safety device typically guards against nighttime accidents, it becomes at the heart of the problem for people with sleep paralysis who are unable to move or call for help.
This uncomfortable feeling is usually compounded by auditory, visual, or even sensory hallucinations, as well as feelings of oppression, suffocation, or impending death . Many patients describe a presence in the room, sometimes an intruder, sitting on their chest, preventing them from breathing.
Who Does Sleep Paralysis Affect?
In about 30% of adults , this disorder has already occurred once or only occasionally. However, the cases where it is a common and serious disorder are few.
Treatment of sleep paralysis
According to the Max Planck Institute for Psychiatry, certain antidepressants can be used to treat sleep analysis. However, these are only used in extreme cases.
As mentioned, scientists believe that sleep paralysis is caused by incomplete sleep in the REM phase. The muscles are paralyzed, but the mind is awake. Even when sufferers know the condition is harmless and short-lived, some become overwhelmed by their fear .
According to the Max Planck Institute, certain antidepressants can suppress REM sleep. If there is no REM sleep, no sleep paralysis can occur.
The Max Planck Institute for Psychiatry has a sleep laboratory for sleep studies, an outpatient clinic for sleep medicine and a sleep school. According to the institute, sleep paralysis is not dangerous. 20 to 30% of the population temporarily suffer from various sleep disorders at certain stages of life. This can be caused by family problems, the death of a loved one and similar things. Only 4% of the population suffers from a permanent sleep disorder, which also limits their ability to perform during the day.
Sleep paralysis can be favored by various factors . These include stressful events, anxiety and insufficiently restful sleep over a longer period of time. Drugs, medications, and even some flavor enhancers can also be responsible for disrupting REM sleep.
Those affected can seek advice and treatment from a psychologist. However, the examination of sleep in the sleep laboratory is carried out by special sleep physicians. The psychologist can prescribe medication based on the sleep analysis.
Sleep outpatient clinics (e.g. from the Max Planck Institute for Psychiatry) also offer telephone advice.
×
Sleep paralysis is a sleep disorder characterized by periods of wakefulness when a person is unable to move. This can be accompanied by hallucinations and a sense of danger or oppression, making the experience particularly distressing. It is important to note that while sleep paralysis is very scary, it is harmless .
mechanism of sleep paralysis
what sleep paralysis 300x300 - sleep paralysis - what is it? Definition sleep paralysisSleep paralysis, or sleep paralysis , is a REM sleep disorder that occurs when falling asleep (hypnagogic paralysis) or waking up (hypnopomanic paralysis). The person is then conscious and awake but unable to activate their muscles.
In fact, muscle tone is inhibited by glycine , a neurotransmitter produced to prevent a person from reproducing in reality the movements they make in their dreams. While this chemical safety device typically guards against nighttime accidents, it becomes at the heart of the problem for people with sleep paralysis who are unable to move or call for help.
This uncomfortable feeling is usually compounded by auditory, visual, or even sensory hallucinations, as well as feelings of oppression, suffocation, or impending death . Many patients describe a presence in the room, sometimes an intruder, sitting on their chest, preventing them from breathing.
Who Does Sleep Paralysis Affect?
In about 30% of adults , this disorder has already occurred once or only occasionally. However, the cases where it is a common and serious disorder are few.
Treatment of sleep paralysis
According to the Max Planck Institute for Psychiatry, certain antidepressants can be used to treat sleep analysis. However, these are only used in extreme cases.
As mentioned, scientists believe that sleep paralysis is caused by incomplete sleep in the REM phase. The muscles are paralyzed, but the mind is awake. Even when sufferers know the condition is harmless and short-lived, some become overwhelmed by their fear .
According to the Max Planck Institute, certain antidepressants can suppress REM sleep. If there is no REM sleep, no sleep paralysis can occur.
The Max Planck Institute for Psychiatry has a sleep laboratory for sleep studies, an outpatient clinic for sleep medicine and a sleep school. According to the institute, sleep paralysis is not dangerous. 20 to 30% of the population temporarily suffer from various sleep disorders at certain stages of life. This can be caused by family problems, the death of a loved one and similar things. Only 4% of the population suffers from a permanent sleep disorder, which also limits their ability to perform during the day.
Sleep paralysis can be favored by various factors . These include stressful events, anxiety and insufficiently restful sleep over a longer period of time. Drugs, medications, and even some flavor enhancers can also be responsible for disrupting REM sleep.
Those affected can seek advice and treatment from a psychologist. However, the examination of sleep in the sleep laboratory is carried out by special sleep physicians. The psychologist can prescribe medication based on the sleep analysis.
Sleep outpatient clinics (e.g. from the Max Planck Institute for Psychiatry) also offer telephone advice.
Narcolepsy - what is it?Definition Narcolepsy
Another well-known sleep disorder is narcolepsy. This is a genetic or congenital disorder of sleep-wake regulation. The brain is out of balance. As a result, those affected suffer from sudden sleep attacks during the day . These take place completely uncontrolled and can occur in the middle of a conversation, during a meal or in traffic.
The unpredictable sleep of narcolepsy has characteristics of REM sleep , which includes muscle relaxation. The knees suddenly become “weak” and those affected collapse. In particular, this can occur as a result of affective stress. In addition, hallucinations can occur at completely abnormal times. In addition to muscle weakness, another REM-specific feature is paralysis of the voluntary muscles (also called narcoleptic paralysis or cataplexy).
According to the Max Planck Institute , narcolepsy occurs with a frequency of approx. 1:2000. Sleeping sickness is therefore not uncommon and a frequent cause of pronounced sleepiness during the day. Narcolepsy affects women and men about equally.
Cause and treatment of narcolepsy
According to the current state of scientific research, it is assumed that a reduction or loss of orexin-containing nerve cells is responsible for narcolepsy. This can be due to environmental factors or possibly related to the autoimmune processes in the body. Orexin is made in the hypothalamus (part of the midbrain) by a small group of nerve cells. The orexin-containing nerve cells have an influence on several brain regions. In the cerebrospinal fluid it can be determined whether the orexin level is too low.
Narcolepsy, a chronic sleeping disease , can be treated with medication .