Skyler Wilson
Janice Gallagher
English 101
13 April 2014
Sleep Paralysis
Sleep paralysis is a phenomena that affects almost everyone at least once in their lifetime. It is classified as an extremely terrifying and uncomfortable experience in which an individual experiences an inability to perform voluntary movements with noticeable episodes of anxiety. It occurs either at sleep onset or upon awakening. Sleep paralysis can last anywhere from seconds to a few minutes. It has no effect on respiratory or ocular muscles and it is completely reversible. Although an individuals' respiratory muscles are not affected during sleep paralysis, most experience a feeling that "they can't control their breathing" due to the disruption between the mind and body. Even though one's mind might realize they are awake the connection between the mind and the body is not made, so a person's respiratory function experiences the same involuntary contractions one experiences in a "deep sleep".
"The witch no. 1" lithograph
The Pickman House, Back view that abuts the Salem ...
Polysomnography (PSG) is a multi-parametric test u...The strange thing about sleep paralysis is that in almost all cases an individual will experience a terrifying hallucinatory phenomena accompanied by a feeling that something "is pressing down on the chest or torso". Sleep paralysis has no definitive cause or cure but is relatively harmless to one's health.
Sleep paralysis is classified by two kinds: Isolated Sleep Paralysis, or Recurrent Isolated Sleep Paralysis. Isolated sleep paralysis is also known as "familiar sleep paralysis". It is the most common form of sleep paralysis and occurs infrequently. Recurrent isolated sleep paralysis is considered a "chronic condition" where multiple episodes of sleep paralysis occur over one's lifetime. It is commonly associated with other sleeping disorders and is very uncommon. The difference between isolated sleep paralysis and recurrent sleep paralysis is that in recurrent sleep paralysis, episodes can last up to an hour long with a much higher recurrence rate and...