Sleep Paralysis is Scary, But Is It Dangerous?

Sleep paralysis refers to the inability to move your body as you’re falling asleep or waking up. You might be aware of being fully conscious and fully able to breathe, but you’re paralyzed and you may even suffer from hallucinations. The experience can be frightening and unsettling.

In this video, sleep expert Dr. Michael Breus explains what is happening with your body when you experience sleep paralysis, where it occurs in your sleep architecture, and how you can stop this from happening by making some modifications to your bedtime routine.

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0:00 What is Sleep Paralysis?
1:34 How Common is It?
2:40 Two Kinds of Sleep Paralysis
4:10 What Makes Sleep Paralysis SCARIER
5:34 How to Get Better Sleep if You're Experiencing Paralysis
7:05 What to Do With Someone Who is Experiencing Paralysis

😴 Michael Breus, Ph.D., is a double board-certified clinical psychologist and sleep expert. He's been in practice since 1999 and helped thousands of patients improve their sleep. Dr. Breus has written five books on sleep and conducted over 1,000 interviews to the press and public.

#sleeptips #sleepparalysis #bettersleep

[casskids]

I have had this experience on more than one occasion, , it's a bit scary, ,feels like a force is holding you back from moving or speaking..I usually just keep trying to fight the force trying to lift my head, or trying to open my eyes...then I just relax and ask God to lift me up... 🙏 🤲

[tipou]

I had experience this twice in my life and the last one was this week. I couldn't move for about 30 seconds, looking at some weird flashing colors on the bedroom ceiling, was hearing really LOUD strange noise and had the feeling that someone else was in the room with me. It did helped me knowing what was going on because it wasn't my first time. But man, it was still scary!

[ruairi_d]

Honestly one of the scariest things I've experienced. I've had it twice. I remember the first time time it happened trying to call out for help and just not being able to.

[bestverseever]

At this moment I don't wanna sleep cause I'm scared to see what I usually see during sleep paralysis. I'm traumatized help Jesus

[lyricallyillz]

I've read before, there's much less a chance of getting sleep paralysis when you sleep on your side. I noticed personally that I always experience it sleeping on my back, so there might be some truth to it!

[apathy]

It is interesting that sleep paralysis phenomena are memorable even upon "awakening, ' whereas dreams fade from memory almost immediately. Consciousness is a horse that rides us.

[peterkiburio]

Under this conditions, I have always screamed loudly

[lizzyg]

Sometimes i wake up but can't open my eyes

[cherylcunningham]

I have these episodes quite often and have most of my life. I don't necessarily have the hallucinations but I have the heaviness and the feeling of suffocation (like into my pillow). I can't move my arms or my legs but I see myself desperately trying to do this. I also tend to cry out. I've told my husband that if he hears me moaning or crying out to please wake me immediately and DO NOT let me fall back into sleep (which will happen immediately if I don't force myself to get up and shake this off). My mother had these quite often too and I remember when I was little having to go into her room and shake her awake. These are terrifying episodes and they happen often so I've wondered if I need to see a doctor.

[caribaez]

When I had sleep paralysis, I pray the holy rosary and then my voice leaves me.

[Johanna_reads]

Consciously inhale—that’s the tip that helps me wake up if I ever find myself in that weird in-between state.

[ibramanunited]

I have a good sleep routine
I don’t drink coffee
I am always relaxed
I have no mental health condition
Happened since i was 14….. stopped for few years and few days ago it happened again… how can that be explained 😢😢😢

[OrangeBladeGamer]

Really cool how you brought up cultural features of the disorder, good video

[benjamintickle]

I freak out, can't open my eyes or move. Nothing bad happens except I'm afraid to go to sleep. Scariest thing I've ever and currently experience.

[PorkerGloz-zzni]

I am not going to fall asleep ever again

[IrisEvans-rgtl]

It’s terrifying I can’t breathe scream wake and in the darkness I’m trying so hard is this what’s happening

[RamSabapthy]

I had sleep paralysis but Im still thinking if it’s a sleep paralysis that i had but I didn’t have any hallucinations so I had a though in my mind because I think my soul went out of my body but I don’t know if it’s sleep paralysis or my soul went out of my body and I’m only 9

[playboifartionthetrack]

I’m only 15 and for the past few weeks there are times when I can’t move and breathe at night or early in the morning. I have to physically remember how to jerk my body awake so I can breathe and wake up. This can happen to me multiple times a day.

[chYna-no]

How do you cultivate it. I used to have really bad ones at the to a point I had to learn to befriend them. It's crazy but I love them now. Any tips on how to harness them? I mean consciously, whenever I want to?

[nas]

Great information and tips. Thank you doc🙏🏼