How to get rid of sleep paralysis? Sleep paralysis or old witch syndrome - what is dangerous and how to get rid of it? Is sleep paralysis dangerous?

Sleep apnea is of two types:

1. Hypnagogic - when falling asleep.
2. Hypnopompic - immediately after waking up.

FROM medical point view, the rationale is as follows: at the time of the phase REM sleep all motility of the body is turned off, "work" only vital important organs. This is necessary for a safe, calm rest of the brain and body. Turning on occurs when you enter the stage of slow sleep or upon awakening. Sometimes the mediators of the brain responsible for these processes fail, which is why motor skills either turn on late or turn off earlier than expected. This results in sleep paralysis.

Is there a link to genetics?

To establish a predisposition to the state of sleep paralysis at the genetic level, scientists conducted studies with identical twins. It is these twins that "share" almost 100% of the genes with each other (fraternal - only 50%).

The experiment showed that the relationship at the genetic level actually exists. A predisposition to sleep stupor occurs in those people who have a mutation in a certain gene responsible for the cyclical sleep. Official confirmation of the relationship has not yet been presented, and geneticists have to do a lot of work in this direction.

When does immobility occur?

There are three stages of sleep:

1. fast phase.
2. slow phase.
3. Awakening.

AT fast phase the brain is highly active, the heart muscle also works, respiratory system and organs of vision. You can observe how a sleeping person's eyes move under closed eyelids. This means that at this moment he sees vivid dreams. All other muscles of the body in this phase are completely relaxed. If a person wakes up at this moment, correct work of the brain, all the motor mechanisms of the body are simultaneously launched, the muscles come into tone.

However, if there are sleep disturbances, failures at the genetic level, paralysis does not go away even after waking up. In most cases, a minute is enough for a person to come to his senses, but even during this short period, you can experience real horror and fear.

sleep paralysis- a unique phenomenon of consciousness. Somnologists conducted tests and found that the activity of the brain in all participants in the experiment who experienced the anomaly falls on the phase of REM sleep, moreover, the results of the recordings are identical.

Most often, the phenomenon of stupor occurs at the time of awakening. It has been established that if a person wakes up in REM sleep or immediately after it, a stupor occurs. The brain still "sees" colorful dreams, while the body continues to "sleep" and remains motionless. Hence the effect - mystical phenomena, otherworldly shadows seem to a person, there is a feeling of horror and detachment of the soul from the body. AT normal condition awakening occurs at the end of the slow sleep phase, after the body has completely rested, prepared for wakefulness.

Sleep paralysis - causes

Sleep paralysis sometimes acts as one of the symptoms of a neurological pathology:

• narcolepsy (spontaneous, unintentional falling asleep);
• somnambulism (walking during sleep);
• bipolar disorder(psychosis, in which manic activity alternates with deep depression).

But most often the phenomenon is spontaneous and arises on its own due to short-term violations nervous system, in which the stages of turning on consciousness after sleep and work muscular system do not agree with each other.

What causes sleep paralysis? There are several contributing factors:

• violation of the regime of the day (frequent lack of sleep, short-term, but frequent falling asleep during daily activity);
• constant insomnia at night;
• stress in acute chronic form;
• long-term use of pills that affect the nervous system (antidepressants);
• addictions in chronic form (nicotine addiction, alcoholism, drug addiction, substance abuse);
• syndrome restless legs;
• the habit of sleeping on your back (it has been proven that when sleeping on your side, sleep paralysis occurs less often);
• hereditary factors.

Scientists have been studying this phenomenon for a long time and have done a lot of research. The result is staggering: 40 out of 100 people experienced paralysis after sleep at least once.

Both men and women of all ages are predisposed to the syndrome, but it is more common in age group from 13 to 25 years old.

Psychology point of view

Nightmares from sleep paralysis, according to psychiatrists, are not dangerous for the psyche healthy person. But if a person is emotionally unstable (this is especially true for women who are more receptive to everything), there may be problems associated with the fear of death, the feeling of falling into a coma.

This is due to the fact that the hallucinations accompanying the phenomenon are very realistic, and the defenselessness of a paralyzed body is frightening. Sleep paralysis is quite often accompanied by auditory hallucinations, when the sounds of the outside world are distorted, amplified, supplemented by echoes of a dream that has not yet gone completely.

Signs and symptoms

At different types This anomaly has its own symptoms.

Hypnagogic stupor (when falling asleep):

• an unexpected abrupt awakening with an almost complete transition to sleep, when it seems to a person that he fell or someone pushed him;
• a feeling of numbness in the body due to fright;
• a depressing feeling, as if the end of life is approaching along with drowsiness, death may occur, or there is a feeling of falling into darkness;
• abrupt or complete understanding of what is happening around without the ability to influence it;
• feeling of absolute awareness own body(when fingers, hair, bones are felt, what ordinary life a person does not pay attention and takes for granted);
• the realization that you can move your hand or roll over on your stomach, but the transition from thought to action takes an infinitely long time;
• the appearance of hallucinations of hearing - tinnitus increases, turns into ringing and into a kind of monotonous squeak.

Hypnopompic stupor (after awakening):

• complete immobility of the limbs, inability to open the mouth, utter words or shout;
• a feeling of heaviness in the body, as if someone, having leaned on his whole body, does not allow him to move;
• sense of the presence of otherworldly mystical creatures, the appearance of which depends on the worldview of a person, his cultural, religious traditions (devils, the dead, vampires - any subconscious fears);
• feeling of animal horror at the level of primitive instincts (fear of death, suffocation, complete helplessness);
• waking dreams - conscious hallucinations in which a person sees shadows, ghosts, silhouettes of people where they should not be;
• sound hallucinations, accompanied by audible voices, steps, squeaks, knocks;
• disorientation in the world around (a person does not understand where he is);
• twitching nerve endings in fingers, limbs;
• false feeling movement (the person imagines that he rolled over on his back, although he did not actually move).

Any of these symptoms force a person to wake up. Due to a sharp emotional surge that has arisen, a person may jerk his hand or moan softly. This helps to finally get out of sleep paralysis and wake up.

For both types of stupor, there are several common symptoms:

• difficulty breathing, feeling of suffocation, lack of oxygen, it seems to a person that he has forgotten how to breathe;
• a false feeling that the heart has stopped, after which the heartbeat quickens;
• sometimes rises arterial pressure, stands cold sweat, there is an internal trembling, accompanied by a feeling of anxiety.

Symptoms are short-term and gradually subside after 1-2 minutes, but it feels like an eternity.

Diagnostics

Sleep paralysis is not medical diagnoses, in the classification of sleep disorders, it is positioned as a type of parasomnia.

If sleep paralysis syndrome has occurred only once, there is no need to seek medical advice. medical care. With frequent episodes, medical intervention is necessary. The doctor will take a history based on the events and factors described by the person. Then, if necessary, appoint special examination, which will help identify the causes of frequent sleep paralysis.

The phenomenon may be a symptom of a mental disorder. A deeper diagnosis is needed if:

• stupors are repeated and regular and especially if they occur every night or several times during a night's sleep;
• the symptoms of sleep paralysis are pronounced, with a clear effect on the psyche and nervous system;
• there is a factor of confusion, constant feeling fear;
• associated sleep disturbances (nightmares, sleepwalking, cravings for daytime sleep but insomnia at night);
• sleep paralysis is accompanied by other symptoms of mental disorders: panic attacks in daytime, causeless aggression, increased suspiciousness.

For staging correct diagnosis psychiatrists practice following methods:

• The patient should constantly keep a diary in which he records each episode of sleep paralysis. Records should be very detailed, with a description of all sensations and experiences. Also, the doctor himself makes notes about the presence of other diseases of the nervous system and psyche, which act as risk factors. The diary should be kept from 4 to 6 weeks, if necessary, a longer period.
• Polysomnography - recording a patient's sleep using computer program connected to special equipment. If sleep paralysis is not in a particular case a pathology of the patient's psyche, polysomnography will show the norm of sleep.

After the examination, when establishing pronounced signs of parasomnia that disturb the patient, he is sent to a specialist dealing with sleep behavior disorders - a somnologist.

Doctors say that sleep paralysis does not need special treatment and the problem can be solved only by taking sedative pills, impossible. However, specific prophylaxis is required for other aggravating circumstances - neurosis, stress, drug addiction, alcohol abuse. All these factors have a causal relationship, and paralysis will bother a person until he eliminates them.

Excluding contributing factors, it is possible to achieve normalization of sleep and get rid of recurrent sleep paralysis by observing simple medical recommendations:

1. Develop the habit of going to bed at the same time.
2. Exercise regularly, be active during the day, visit more often fresh air. healthy image life helps to establish the interaction of the brain with the muscles, which allows them to achieve their coordinated work during sleep.
3. Rejection bad habits, exclusion of the use of tonic drinks before bedtime and in the evening, refusal to take pills that cause insomnia.
4. Airing the room before going to bed, taking relaxing baths and drinking relaxing herbal teas.
5. You need to learn how to fall asleep on your side, at first you can put objects under your back that prevent you from turning on your back, or fall asleep, clinging tightly to the wall.
6. You should set the number of hours needed for sleep. This indicator is individual - six hours is enough for someone, someone does not get enough sleep even for eight.

What to do if you experience sleep paralysis

Sleep paralysis cannot be prevented if it has already happened. The brain in half-asleep is unable to understand where the dream is and where the reality is. However, any person can get rid of the syndrome as quickly as possible.

The main thing is to realize that shadows, monsters, witches and devils are hallucinations, they have no mystical background, they are harmless, easily eliminated. To stop the panic from sleep paralysis will help some rules.

What not to do:

• No need to rush to get rid of weakness in the muscles, try to raise your hand or turn your head. It has been proven that until the brain itself “turns on” the muscles, stupor will only increase the panic fear of helplessness.
• You should not hold your breath, as most people do when they are afraid of something. The cessation of oxygen supply leads to the accumulation carbon dioxide in the lungs, which further complicates the respiratory reflexes.
• But you don’t need to breathe too fast either, hyperventilation (oversaturation of the lungs with oxygen) exacerbates the feeling of anxiety and fear.

What should be done:

• try to mentally relax;
• make one deep breath and then breathe evenly, as usual;
• since the muscles of the mouth are also constrained, you need to try to make at least some sound with your mouth closed - mumble, moan;
• squint even with eyes closed;

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A special training program will get rid of the paralysis that develops after a stroke. Currently, Dr. Vivek Prabhakaran, representing the University of Wisconsin-Madison, is testing the new system. In fact, you can completely need it for this.

According to WebMD, it is quite possible that it will be possible to return mobility to every patient who has experienced a stroke and is paralyzed. New system looks like a complex computer interface with the properties of electrical muscle stimulation. However, this is fraught with unpleasant consequences.

Tested by experiments

The system has already been tested on eight patients who were paralyzed in one arm. Training on this system was conducted for six weeks. As a result, everyday activities such as buttoning a shirt and combing hair became easier for patients. It is also important that the stroke in all cases occurred several years before the experiment was started.

How the system works

Volunteers wore a special cap with electrodes that could pick up brain signals. These signals were later decoded on a computer. The system sent small currents through the wires to the pads that were attached to the arm. Thanks to this, it was possible to create the effect of the work of natural natural impulses, which activated the muscles.

The patients were offered to play a simple computer game - the patients had to hit the target by moving the ball with their paralyzed hand. The practice continued for two hours; a total of fifteen sessions were organized.

What effect were you expecting?

It is known that the brain has two hemispheres. If one area suffers from a stroke, then provided proper training the second is able to take over some of the functions of the first. This kind of training was provided by the system.

It is noteworthy that positive changes in the brain persisted even a month after the completion of the course of therapy. But most likely, patients will need supportive care. In addition, to fully assess the potential of the system in full is possible only within the boundaries of a larger survey. You can also use different ones.

When a person wakes up in horror from the feeling that someone terrible is sitting on his chest and choking him, this only means that he met with sleep paralysis, which means that panic is inappropriate. The state on the verge of sleep and reality has been playing such “fun” games with the human brain and body since ancient times. To counter this harmless but frightening phenomenon that irritates the nervous system and interferes with normal sleep, you just need to deal with it and help yourself.

What is sleep paralysis or "old witch syndrome"

Sleep paralysis is one of the interesting physiological phenomena studied by somnology (medical and neurobiological research of sleep), which since ancient times has a mystically frightening name "syndrome old witch' or 'old hag'.

Sleep stupor or paralysis is a specific condition that occurs on the border of sleep and awakening, manifested in the form of a pronounced muscle weakness- short-term paralysis of the muscles, not having pathological and not hazardous to health.

It seems to a person that he is fully awake, but is unable to move, although he sees and hears everything. At the same time, such a phenomenon is accompanied by a feeling of intense fear, and not only because of the inability to move or speak. The “victim” feels an invisible heaviness and pressure in his chest, as if an evil witch, as in ancient beliefs, sits on his chest and is about to strangle him. For this reason, the majority associates this state with the attack of otherworldly forces, and if 200 - 300 years ago they were witches, spirits, brownies and genies, then today they are mainly aliens, "aliens".

For one person, an attack of sleep stupor can happen once in a lifetime, for another - several times during the night, which is directly related to emotionality and the state of the nervous system. Single attacks of this type of sleep disorder in healthy people are noted in 30 - 40%, periodic in 5 - 6%.

Based on long-term studies, doctors say that the syndrome is completely harmless.

The main thing to remember: during sleep paralysis, nothing threatens a person, he will not die, he will not go crazy, he will not fall into Sopor. He wakes up and everything will be fine.

Causes and risk factors

Based on many studies in neuropsychology and neurochemistry, it has been established that sleep stupor develops as a result of a disorder in the function of sleep regulation. In this case, the following happens: certain parts of the brain have already “woken up”, and the muscle reaction is delayed, or, conversely, the muscles completely relax, ahead of the moment the person is completely immersed in sleep.

Forms of manifestation

It is known that sleep includes phases of REM and non-REM sleep (FBS and FMS, respectively). According to the time of development, two forms of muscle stupor are distinguished:

1. In form I (hypnagogic), the old witch syndrome occurs in a semi-drowsy state, and the moment of entering REM sleep (FBS) has time to be recognized by the brain. Normally, when falling asleep, the brain turns off a couple of seconds before the physiological relaxation of the muscles, so the person does not remember when this happens.
2. In II (hypnopompic) and the most common form, sleep paralysis overtakes the "victim" upon awakening at the stage of REM sleep. And most often - if he lies on his back, especially - with his arms thrown over his head.

Much less often, muscle paralysis happens if a person sleeps on his stomach and on his side. And it never occurs when the alarm goes off, the light is turned on in the room, or forced to wake up. That is, the old hag syndrome develops only at the time of the natural transition from sleep to awakening, and vice versa.

What Happens When a Witch Attacks

Doctors consider sleep paralysis as a functional (not painful) condition in which the processes of turning on consciousness and the muscular system do not work synchronously (not simultaneously).

Hypnagogic paralysis

If, when falling asleep, the muscles managed to relax, and the body practically “fell asleep”, but the consciousness has not yet turned off, the person feels that he is not able to move and even utter a word, and since he does not know the reasons, he has a real panic.

Hypnopompic paralysis

Occurs at the moment of awakening. How deeper sleep the greater the relaxation of the muscles. In the FBS phase, the muscles are practically disabled, and brain activity, on the contrary, is sharply increased (we will have dreams).

If at this moment the part of the brain responsible for consciousness is half awake, and the part of the brain responsible for motor functions, still “dozing”, the person is aware of reality, but since the signals to the neurons of the muscle fibers have not yet reached, he is not even able to move, which gives rise to a feeling of defenselessness and horror.

To come into tone, the muscles need time from 5 - 10 seconds to 2 - 3 minutes. This is how long sleep paralysis lasts, but this short-term state seems to stretch for many tens of minutes. At least, this is how a person who has been attacked by an “old witch” feels.

Risk factors

Although in the vast majority of affected cases, the syndrome is not associated with neurological or psychiatric disorders, it is not uncommon in people suffering from certain types of parasomnias (sleep disorders) such as narcolepsy (irresistible drowsiness) and somnambulism (sleep walking).

AT rare cases, along with many other signs, sleep stupor can serve as a symptom of manic-depressive psychosis (bipolar disorder).

It should also be emphasized that very frequent visits of "witches" are typical for people suffering from vegetative-vascular dystonia with panic attacks. This further upsets the nervous system, so such patients need to understand the essence of sleep paralysis and not be afraid so as not to provoke a panic attack.

Factors predisposing to the onset of an imbalance in regulatory mechanisms sleep include:

• violation of the quantity and quality of sleep (lack of sleep, insomnia, frequent changes in sleep patterns);
• hereditary predisposition;
• sharp stressful situations and latent (hidden) long psycho-emotional stress, often - not realized by the person himself;
• long-term use of certain medications, including tranquilizers, antidepressants;
• dependence on alcohol, drugs, substance abuse;
• having restless legs syndrome;
• the habit of sleeping lying on your back.

The “old witch” visits people of different sexes and ages, but more often teenagers from 12 years old and young people under 25 years old are subject to her “attack”.

Symptoms and signs

External manifestations and internal sensations during different form have both similarities and differences.

Table

Diagnostics

For most people, sleep paralysis is not a pathology. However, given that in rare cases it can be one of the symptoms of mental disorders, it is better to consult a doctor for a diagnosis, especially if:

• sleep paralysis does not occur once, but develops regularly, and even more so if it happens every night, day or several times a night;
• the symptoms of nocturnal stupor are very pronounced and exhaust the nervous system;
• a person cannot figure out what is happening to him, and is very afraid;
• the syndrome is accompanied by other sleep disorders (sleepwalking, irresistible daytime sleepiness, nocturnal insomnia, vivid nightmares);
• sleep paralysis develops in parallel with other unpleasant symptoms: panic conditions during the day, development unmotivated aggression, a feeling of split personality, excessive suspiciousness, suspicion.

To put accurate diagnosis and exclude mental illness, in practice they use the following methods:

1. Keeping a diary, which describes all cases of nocturnal paralysis with detailed sensations and symptoms, indicates concomitant diseases, risk factors (for 4-6 or more weeks). Based on the diary, the specialist will quickly determine the cause of sleep paralysis in a particular case.
2. Polysomnography - computer research sleep with fixation of data on a polysomnogram.

If the old hag syndrome is not under itself serious pathologies in the psyche, no abnormalities were detected on the polysomnogram. In addition, this study helps to identify other parasomnias (anomalies in behavior during sleep).

During the examination, if all the signs are severe and disturb the patient, he is referred to a somnologist - a doctor who studies sleep disorders.

Treatment

Most often, the syndrome does not require special treatment. If this condition torments a person, it is recommended to study the algorithms for getting out of it. If it is a sign of neurological disorders, therapy should be aimed at these diseases.

How to behave during an attack of sleep paralysis

It is difficult to block an attack of sleepy stupor of one's own free will in the first seconds, since common sense in half-asleep has not yet awakened either. But to drive away the "evil witch" is quite within the power of any person.

First of all, a clear realization is needed that a person’s experiences at the arrival of the “old witch” do not have any otherworldly power, are short-lived and harmless. This thought should be the first one, which, like fire in the night, will warm the soul and calm the frizzy nerves.

To cope with panic during an attack of sleep stupor, you should adhere to the following rules:

What NOT to do:

• no need to feverishly resist muscle weakness, since it has been proven that until the muscles “wake up”, the fight against paralysis will increase panic, creating a feeling of being bound by invisible fetters;
• no need to hold your breath, which often happens when you are frightened - this leads to the accumulation of carbon dioxide in the lungs and aggravates the feeling of being unable to breathe;
• you should not breathe quickly and shallowly - this leads to hyperventilation (excessive ventilation of the lungs), which, again, exacerbates unpleasant experiences.

What you NEED to do to wake up from a nightmare:

• do not strain, but try to relax;
• inhale deeply;
• since a person is not able to unstick his lips, it is necessary to make a sound from the nasopharynx such as a moan, growl or “mooing” - as loudly as possible;
• close your eyes sharply, even if they are closed;
• start moving your tongue or puff out your cheeks;
• try to make a small movement - move thumb on the hand or foot;

In addition, intellectual “movements” of the brain help a lot, for example, counting from 1 to 10 and back, or a vivid memory of events that happened the day before, and not necessarily a pleasant one (for example, how you were scolded at work for being late);

Such actions quickly enough help to begin to control your body.

When Prayer Is Priceless

Reading a prayer will help both the believer and the atheist. Since it is difficult to concentrate in a state of panic, it is better to say to yourself a short but most effective magic spell in Christianity - the Jesus Prayer.

After an attack

After the final awakening and throwing off the "shackles of the old witch" follows:

• roll over to the right side;
• drink water with a sedative tincture;
• those who don't have diabetes, you can eat delicious candy or a piece milk chocolate(this, firstly, stimulates the production of “happiness” enzymes and calms, and secondly, increase the blood sugar content, which decreases at night, causing a drop in pressure, which can also indirectly affect the development of the syndrome);

Some calm down when they turn on the light, wash cool water, but similar actions usually very encouraging. And in such cases, it is better to work out a certain scheme of actions yourself, which definitely works.

Based on research data, people with an analytical, critical mindset get out of sleep paralysis calmer and faster, “turning on” logic, and are less depressed after an attack.

After a Dementor attack, a smart professor advises Harry Potter to eat a chocolate bar, because it helps well after an attack of sleep stupor

Medical treatment

If sleep stupor causes significant anxiety and does not allow sleep, or if a specialist identifies more serious reason this condition, the patient is prescribed medications, including antidepressants, tranquilizers.

It is extremely dangerous to take them on your own with this type of sleep disturbance, since very often they themselves are factors provocateurs of the syndrome. It requires a very careful selection of dosages and the appointment of specific drugs with a minimum "side effect".

Self-approved over-the-counter sedatives:

• Novo-Passit (Great Britain) in syrup and tablets;
• Unisin (Finland);
• Alvogen-Relax;
• liquid extract of passionflower;
• Valevigran (in capsules);
• tincture of elusive peony, valerian root, motherwort;
• Motherwort extract in tablets;
• Persen and Persen-forte;
• Valoserdin, Valocordin, Corvalol;
• Bellanaminal;
• Afobazole;
• Dormiplant;
• Tenoten;
• Valosedan;
• Sedariston;
• Nervoflux;
• Adonis bromine;
• Bromocamphor;
• herbal preparations Fitosed, Fitosedan.

In many sedatives, including vegetable, there are components that are not recommended for children, women who are expecting a baby, people with heart disease or high blood clotting. Certain substances provoke. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully check the composition of the drug and contraindications.

Folk remedies

Sedatives traditional medicine have a positive effect on sleep processes and the nervous system. But, since any medicinal herbs have contraindications (for example, oregano, hops, tansy are not recommended during pregnancy), home recipes should be treated with the same caution as when using pharmacy drugs.

Some recipes:

Infusion of cyanosis blue

Cyanosis azure almost 10 times stronger than the root valerian as a sedative herbal remedy. The infusion is used for depression, nervous disorders, fright, neuroses of the heart and even rabies.

For 200 ml of boiling water, take a teaspoon of crushed dry rhizomes and cyanosis barks, keep for half an hour in a water bath (or insist 8 hours). Drink infusion of 50 - 100 ml after meals.

Milk pine broth

A handful of pine needles boil in milk (250 - 300 ml) for about 10 minutes. Drink a tablespoon up to 4 times a day, after meals.

Valerian milk

Milk (warm boiled) and valerian root tincture are taken in equal proportions, mixed and drunk three times a day, 150 ml each.

Infusion of flowers and herbs

A good sedative is obtained from a mixture of rosehip flowers, oregano stems, valerian roots and sweet clover, mint, which are taken in equal proportions. Two tablespoons of the mixture is poured with boiling water (1 liter), infused for 20 minutes, filtered and taken 100 ml before meals 3 times a day.

oatmeal broth

Oat grains (400 - 500 grams) are washed in cold water, poured with boiling water (1 liter) and boiled until the grains are half soft. Drink a glass every day, adding honey.

hawthorn tea

Dry hawthorn fruits in the amount of 2 tablespoons are poured with boiling water (2 cups). Infuse the drink for 2-3 hours and drink in small doses (2 teaspoons) up to 5-6 times a day before meals and always at bedtime.

Photo gallery of medicinal herbs that help with sleep paralysis

Aromas to help you relax

If not, do not ignore the opportunities that aromatherapy gives a person. For this purpose, aromatic candles, pads with "sleepy" herbs, warm baths, to which decoctions of herbal preparations are added, are also used. If oils are used, they must all be exclusively natural.

Juniper, chamomile, lavender, cypress, bergamot, chamomile, orange help to fall asleep calmly. Ylang-ylang, sandalwood, rose, neroli relieve fears and anxiety. Vanilla oil works great as a delicious relaxing agent.

With faith in the other world

If people suffering from sleep paralysis are heavily influenced by the occult or are simply unable to free themselves from irrational fear in front of the hostility of the "old witch", will not interfere at all, but will only calm the presence of "light" plants in the room.

Since ancient times, herbs and their smoke have been used, which surround a person with protection from bad dreams, spirits and other inexplicable phenomena. The strongest include: wormwood, laurel (common bay leaves), thistle, juniper, blue cornflower, basil, consecrated willow.

Prevention measures

AT specific prevention there is no need, all measures are elementary and logical. If this condition is provoked by neurological disorders, dystonia, panic attacks and any nervous tension, prevention involves mandatory identification and treatment of these diseases.

People who are healthy to one degree or another should change their lifestyle:

• develop a rest regimen for yourself, which includes a mandatory 7-8-hour night's sleep;
• wake up on an alarm clock, a television timer, which will eliminate sleep stupor, which develops only during natural awakening;
• ask loved ones to wake themselves in the morning and at night if they are watching strange symptoms(groans, tension of facial muscles, feeling that a person is having a nightmare);
• acquire outdoor sports habits (running, walking, football);
• not to engage exercise and do not eat before bed, because the activation of muscle fibers and digestive processes interfere with restful sleep;
• if possible, "get away" from stress, prevent conflicts, and if they are inevitable, treat them as natural situations (a matter of life, as Carlson says);
• before going to bed, use sedatives, warm baths, relaxing massage, drink herbal tea, milk with honey;
• for those who love sweets - do not deny yourself pleasure, except for eating dark chocolate and cocoa;
• turn on beautiful, relaxing music before going to bed in a well-ventilated room;
• eliminate before bed mental activity: watching news and movies, computer games and active communication in social networks, preparing for lessons, exams, intellectual work at night (this activates the brain, which cannot relax for a long time).
• do not sleep on your back with your arms behind your head.

Thus, in most cases, sleep paralysis is a physiological condition and is not a sign of insanity or mental pathology, but simply indicates that nervous system exhausted by stress, anxiety or working in a state of prolonged stress.

The old hag syndrome does not pose an objective threat to either health or life. It is possible to prevent night attacks by optimizing sleep patterns and lifestyle. If the syndrome develops against the background panic disorder, parasomnia, including sleepwalking and neurolepsy, a psychotherapist and a somnologist will provide the necessary medical assistance.

Sleep paralysis is a sleep disorder hallmark which is the inability to make any movement or say a word. For many years, people attributed this condition exclusively to the tricks of evil spirits, and only relatively recently have scientists been able to explain in detail the physiological nature of this amazing phenomenon.

What is sleep paralysis

Sleep paralysis is sometimes one of the symptoms of various psychiatric or neurological disorders. But in the vast majority of cases, it occurs as an independent phenomenon due to malfunctions in the nervous system at the very moment of going to sleep or waking up. The muscles of the body at this time are absolutely relaxed, and the brain has not yet had time to turn off or “wake up” too early. A person is fully aware of what is happening, but at the same time he cannot even move a finger, since the body does not obey him. The brain perceives the situation as life-threatening, so panic sets in.

This state instills such fear in a person that he really begins to believe that he is dealing with supernatural forces - evil spirits, monsters, aliens and other creepy creatures. In fact, stupor occurs for a completely understandable, "earthly" reason - as a result of a violation of the synchronization of the work of consciousness and untimely restoration of muscle functions.

Such paralysis does not last long - from a couple of seconds to a minute or two, but to the victim this time seems like hours. Sleep stupor does not pose a danger to life, but it frequent occurrences can negatively affect the human psyche. Suspicious people with an exhausted nervous system suffer especially from this.

Causes, symptoms, types of disease

The disorder is quite common, but it mostly affects teenagers and young people under 25 years of age.

The causes of sleep paralysis are quite prosaic:

• constant lack of sleep, non-compliance with the regime of the day;
• chronic insomnia;
• frequent stress;
• hereditary predisposition;
• side effect from long-term use antidepressants and other potent drugs;
• sleep in the supine position;
• restless leg syndrome.

Often this disorder affects drug addicts and people who are addicted to alcohol or smoking.

Describing the symptoms of sleep paralysis, each person evaluates them very subjectively. But many complain of hallucinations, choking and muscle atony. It seems to some that someone has fallen on them from above and is strangling them, to others that demons and monsters are standing near their bed, to others they hear screeching, whistling, voices and screams. At these moments, a person cannot even move, since all the muscles of his body are in a state of relaxation. Physiologically, during a stupor, the victim has difficulty breathing, an increased heart rate, and twitching of body parts may occur. If another person looks at the patient at this time, he will notice a grimace of horror on his face.

Depending on the time of occurrence, paralysis is divided into two types:

• hypnagogic (during falling asleep);
• hypnopompic (at the time of awakening).

Hypnagogic paralysis often goes unnoticed, as the whole body gradually passes into an unconscious state. If a person does not try to move or say something at this time, he will not even know about it. Hypnopompic paralysis is impossible to miss.

Diagnosis of the syndrome

People suffering from this disorder are most often referred to a somnologist, a doctor who deals with sleep problems. An experienced specialist can make a diagnosis even from the words of the patient. If the paralysis recurs frequently, the doctor will advise you to keep a notebook and note all your sensations in it. This will help to understand the causes that provoked the disorder, and eliminate them.

If the somnologist comes to the conclusion that this is not just a common sleep disorder, but a serious illness, the patient is referred for a consultation with a neurologist and a psychiatrist.

How to get rid of sleep paralysis

There is no specific treatment as such. Usually the patient is advised to review his daily routine and avoid stress. You need to go to bed at the same time, rest at least 8 hours and get up at the alarm clock. The patient must understand that nothing bad can happen to him during paralysis.

Medications

Medicines are prescribed only in cases where the cause of paralysis is serious illness nervous system. Most often, the doctor prescribes antidepressants. It is impossible to prescribe such medicines on your own, as they have too many serious side effects.

In rare cases, the doctor advises drugs that improve the process of falling asleep and the quality of sleep - Melatonin, Neurostabil.

vitamins

Vitamins are needed to strengthen a weak body. If a person is deficient in certain vitamins, his nervous system begins to work intermittently. A balanced diet also plays a significant role in this.

Physiotherapy treatment

Of the physiotherapeutic methods of treatment, the following are effective:

• massage;
• electrophoresis;
• aerotherapy;
• electrosleep.

At home before going to bed, it is very useful to take a relaxing bath. This will help the brain and body muscles to relax.

Disease prevention

To prevent such sleep disorders, you must:

• to be on the street more often, to move more;
• engage in light sports or moderate physical labor;
• do not watch TV before lights out;
• reduce the time of using a laptop and other gadgets;
• do not overeat at night;
• ventilate the room before going to bed;
• prefer to fall asleep in a side position (paralysis occurs only in people who like to sleep on their backs);
• observe the mode of work, rest and sleep.

Sleep paralysis occurs only when you wake up on your own. People who get up at the alarm clock or at the request of loved ones do not even know what it is. Therefore, it is better to accustom yourself to get up on an alarm clock or ask family members to personally wake up a person prone to this disorder in the morning.

Even if it unpleasant phenomenon happens often, don't panic. In most cases, this is just a signal from the body that the nervous system is overstressed, it needs relaxation and rest. If the doctor's recommendations are followed, sleep stupor no longer recurs.