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I woke up in my bed but I was half asleep and my eyes weren't open. And I tried to move but I couldn't I was temporaraly paralyzed and then I became fully conscious and I still couldn't move. it lasted for almost a minute and it really freaked me out. Is this normal?
A lot of people get sleep paralysis at least once in their lifetime. I've had it about 3 or 4 times. It's nothing bad. Just a slight glitch.
Yes. This is completly normal. It is called Sleeping Paralyses. possible reasons:
* Sleeping in a face upwards or supine position
* Irregular sleeping schedules; naps, sleeping in, sleep deprivation
* Increased stress
* Sudden environmental/lifestyle changes
* A lucid dream that immediately precedes the episode.
Sleep paralysis is paralysis associated with sleep which may occur in normal subjects or be associated with narcolepsy, cataplexy, and hypnagogic hallucinations. The pathophysiology of this condition is closely related to the normal hypotonia that occur during REM sleep. When considered to be a disease, isolated sleep paralysis is classified as MeSH D020188 Some evidence suggests that it can also, in some cases, be a symptom of migraine.
Physiologically, sleep paralysis 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 body paralysis persists. This leaves the person fully conscious, but unable to move. The paralysis can last from several seconds to several minutes "by which the individual may experience panic symptoms and the realization that the distorted perceptions were false". As the correlation with REM sleep suggests, the paralysis is not entirely complete; use of EOG traces shows that eye movement can be instigated during such episodes. When there is an absence of narcolepsy, sleep paralysis is referred to as isolated sleep paralysis (ISP).
In addition, the paralysis state may be accompanied by terrifying hallucinations (hypnopompic or hypnagogic) and an acute sense of danger. Sleep paralysis is particularly frightening to the individual because of the vividness of such hallucinations. 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 an explanation for alien abductions and ghostly encounters. A study by Susan Blackmore and Marcus Cox (the Blackmore-Cox study) of the University of the West of England supports the suggestion that reports of alien abductions are related to sleep paralysis rather than to temporal lobe lability.
Yes it's very normal. But consider yourself lucky. It's verry common to see things and have trouble breathing. When I first had it I awoke to an unknown figure at the foot of my bed and it slowly crept up and sat on my chest. Next time it happens just calm down and slow your breathing.
@AKOS205 thanks for the info. Most of those things do apply to me. So it does
make sense that I get it every once and a while.
And thanks everyone else for info/experiences. Showing that this is somewhat normal
Once i had a dream and i cant really remember it but something happened to my legs and i woke up and at first my eyes were closed but then when i opened them i tried to move my legs and i couldnt even feel them which freaked me out too and this lasted for like 5 mins so i think its normal
I'm glad to know that this isn't uncommon. I have the same experience and when I explained it to my husband he said I was probably dreaming or something.
yeah it happens to me all the time, at first it freaked me out so much that i had a panic attack & had to go to hospital but that was a complete overreaction, it's normal. it happens to my dad too. & it doesn't last that long so yeah don't let it get to you :)
This used to happen to my roommate. I don't know if it's normal, but it's not uncommon.
yea happens to me alot of times well not alot but like once a week,any who I think it's like a subcouncious action. like you want to move but your body just can't get it's signals out when your muscles are so relaxed