Sleep Paralysis

This phenomena is still under the microscope, but research is coming closer to finding the answers to questions that plague the sufferers of this malady.

Sleep Paralysis, commonly known as Night Terrors, or "Old Hag Syndrome", is the leading belief of victims to experience unworldly visions and "experiences" ranging from ghostly visitations, demons, and most often alien abduction, all of  which occur in the middle of the night during their periods of sleep.

Victims often describe sensations of being held down, seeing people at the foot of the bed, have the sensation of movement (i.e. floating), hearing their name being called, hearing "machinery noises" or other buzzing or high pitched tones.

A physiological breakdown of the sleep process may be clues as to why these things occur. We know there are more than five distinct stages that occur during sleep each night.

The most dynamic and least understood is the phase of R.E.M, or Rapid Eye Movement.

During R.E.M. sleep, dreamer's eye's dart about as if scanning random dream imagery. Breathing and Pulse rate slow down, becoming less regular. Blood flows to the Genital area, creating a state of sexual arousal...then, deep inside our brain stem, a chemical called Acetylcholine is secreted that immobilizes our movement. We become paralyzed...

In order to prevent us from "acting out" our dreams, that mechanism sends signals down the Spinal Column to inhibit any motor activity that might be generated in our dreams.  This paralysis is a self-imposed protective measure, but when an attack of Sleep Paralysis occurs, a person has the terrifying experience of being completely awake but dreaming, and being absolutely unable to move.

In Sleep Paralysis, what seems to happen is, as this "waking mechanism" seems to die down, this other mechanism becomes active very quickly even before we fall asleep, so that we essentially begin to dream even though we're still awake.

Sleep Science may also explain another phenomenon commonly associated with "night visits"...Strange sounds.

Some victims describe a high pitched "static" sound. Some people will hear a tone or beeping sound, sometimes they'll hear their name called...there's no explanation for that sound, but it certainly plays on the nerves.

In addition to Rapid Eye Movement, scientists have also recorded similar activity in the Middle Ear during R.E.M. Sleep. Here, the smallest bones in the human body, the Hammer and Stirrup, actually vibrate as we dream.

What is more than likely happening during Sleep Paralysis, is that these muscle spasms are actually producing an "at random" noise. It might sound like "footsteps" or the tick of a clock. Some think they hear "laughter" or an "evil chuckle".

Victims wonder why their spouses aren't hearing this and wake up also. They wonder why the whole neighborhood isn't hearing this. They'll hear what sounds like an electric motor, or glass breaking, an engine...or, a space ship...

One of the more frightening experiences during Sleep Paralysis is the feeling of movement. The sensation of being taken from one place to another. This is commonly associated with the "Alien Abduction" phenomena. They get the sensation of "floating".

Sleep researchers have recently discovered that R.E.M. sleep stimulates several areas of the human brain.

One is the Vestibular System, located at the base of the skull. In our waking life, the Vestibular System controls our sense of motion and balance. During dreams, it simulates movement. When these areas are stimulated, we feel "rapid acceleration", "floating", "flying", or "falling".

The most terrifying event associated with the Sleep Paralysis phenomenon, is "seeing" an intruder...(the ghost/alien/"demon" sort) Victims are fearful of this happening to them every night. "If it happened tonight, it will happen again tomorrow night." They will think there will people in their room without them knowing about it...The nightmare becomes very real to them, and it begins to affect their waking lives as well. It is literally an nightmare come true...

Recent Neural Imaging studies may now explain such nightmares scientifically.

Researchers have discovered that one section of the brain that becomes wildly active during R.E.M. sleep, is the Emigdulla.

Located deep within the Temporal Lobes of the brain, the Emigdulla is the body's "Fear Center". In a normal waking state, it allows us to instinctively sense threatening situations. However, "awakening paralyzed" in a dream state, triggers this mechanism in an unnatural way, causing the victim to experience intense fear that takes on a sense of "evil".

Research also suggests that this "fear mode", caused by the Emigdulla, also causes Sleep Paralysis sufferers to hallucinate frightening "human forms". People see many different things, mainly "human" or "humanoid" types of figures. These are familiar images...things that are stored in our brain.

As more and more of this phenomena is coming to light and being understood by it's sufferers, people are learning to come to grips with the condition, and learning ways they can deal with it.

Talking about it helps...talking with other victims, and comparing notes and similarities. Talking to victims who overcame their fears, and are finally able to enjoy a peaceful night's sleep.

Many have found a way to move beyond their terror, once they understand the phenomena, and stand up to their "demons".

The more one woman learned about the phenomena, the more she felt there was a real, physical, down to earth explanation for her nightmares. She came to accept it as a physical condition, and not "ghosts, aliens, or demons trying to get her". She came to the conclusion that it was just something really simple...

Another woman became so angry at her nightmares, that she wrote a little note to her "demons"...She wrote:

" Bring on your torture, and carry with you your fear, but remember my friends, a battle can only be won if a fight exists."

(wise words for any situation)

She decided not to be afraid anymore, and hasn't had a Sleep Paralysis episode since.

These physical findings, such as the activities of the brain, are still only stepping stones. We know of the chemical processes that occur, but what of the emotional or subconscious events that trigger these mechanisms?

I guess we can only look deep inside ourselves for the answers to those questions.

~~~copyright 2002, Dr. Ken

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