What is Sleep Paralysis? Is There a Connection with Sleep Terror?
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In our dreams nightmare Vision is actually one of the most common problems among sleep disorders. So, what is this thing that is popularly called a “nightmare”? Is the nightmare real? Is it devils or jinn that cause us to have nightmares, or is there a scientific explanation? Let's see this together in this content…
Why Do We See Nightmares in Our Dreams?
What we call nightmare is actually a phenomenon that can be explained scientifically. It is a type of paralysis where the body is temporarily unable to move before the body goes into sleep. For this reason, its scientific name is sleep paralysis. There are many reasons that cause sleep paralysis. The most important of these is sleep disorder. It is also observed more frequently in people who are depressed, shift workers, and people who use certain medications.
What is Sleep Paralysis, Popularly Known as “Nightmare”?
Henry Fuseli – The Nightmare (1781)
A number of physiological changes occur in the brain during the falling asleep phase and during sleep. When tested physiologically, sleep is irregular during the Rapid Eye Movements (REM) period, and if one wakes up during this stage, “sleep paralysis” occurs.
If sleep paralysis occurs during the falling asleep phase, the body is physiologically ready for REM sleep, but the brain is still not turned off. In medicine, this is called “hypnagogic (predormital) sleep paralysis.” In this case, the brain wakes up, but the state of unconsciousness brought by sleep comes into play and the muscles cannot wake up.
A condition called “sleep atonia” causes the body to remain motionless, as if it had a stroke, and even to feel like someone is sitting on it or a weight is falling on it. It's like a real paralysis; because the person is aware that he is awake, but cannot move. If sleep paralysis—often seen in this way—occurs before waking, the REM cycle is incomplete; However, the brain will wake up from sleep and consciousness will return.
This is called “hypnopompic (postdormital) sleep paralysis” in medicine. Again, in this case, the person is aware that he is awake, but the sleep atonia is not turned off and he experiences a temporary state of paralysis. In short, sleep paralysis is a condition that occurs due to some physiological incompatibilities between the perceptual part of the brain and the part that keeps the body under control.
How Long Does Sleep Paralysis Last?
Sleep paralysis can last approximately a few seconds to a few minutes. In extreme cases, it is known to last 4-5 hours. Most people do not experience sleep paralysis more than once in their lifetime. These types of single cases are called Isolated Sleep Paralysis. Although it is not very common, sleep paralysis sometimes recurs in people throughout their lives. This is also called Recurrent Sleep Paralysis in medicine.
Isolated Sleep Paralysis is generally not a cause of disease, but rather a natural consequence of our bodies not working perfectly. However, Recurrent Sleep Paralysis may be a symptom of some diseases. Sometimes hallucinations can occur during sleep paralysis. These can be felt both audibly, visually and through touch.
Since this situation, where consciousness is completely open and the body is locked, is extremely frightening, the brain works quickly to protect itself and in the meantime, some non-existent images appear. These unreal and scary images are the person's own subconscious. These delusions, which have even given rise to some myths on the subject, are merely hallucinations of physiological origin.
Why Are Extraordinary and Frightening Beings Seen During Sleep Paralysis?
No matter how scientifically explained sleep paralysis is, it is a frightening experience due to the unreal images experienced. Because the individual is aware that he is awake with his sense organs, but cannot move his body. Especially since the REM cycle in which we dream is not completed, the individual continues to dream. At this very moment, some imaginary products such as monsters, creatures, devils and jinn that we are influenced by appear in our subconscious. The reason why sleep paralysis has become a social myth and is called a “nightmare” is the unrealistic meaning given to sleep paralysis.
Why Do Some People Experience Sleep Paralysis More Often Than Others?
Situations where sleep paralysis is observed more frequently are as follows:
- In narcolepsy patients,
- Lying face down, especially during sleep
- Going through a stressful and anxious period
- Sudden change in lifestyle
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Sleep less
- sleeping hungry
- Sleeping pills used
People who experience sleep paralysis during an attack are primarily diagnosed with narcolepsy (sleep cycle disorder). If this diagnosis is made, it is possible to treat sleep paralysis.
What are the treatment methods?
When you go to the doctor with a complaint of Sleep Paralysis – if sleep disorders are also added to these complaints – the patient is sent to the sleep laboratory and his EEg is monitored. A sleep disorder is diagnosed by looking at brain waves. If there is only one sleep disorder, attempts are made to regulate sleep with the help of medications.
It is also seen that mental disorders such as depression can also cause sleep paralysis. This problem can be completely eliminated with antidepressants prescribed by a psychiatrist. Therapy is also very useful for the psychological problems experienced by the person, but this may not be sufficient to treat the physical problem.
In the treatment of sleep paralysis, some drugs are used that allow us to fall asleep, do not harm the REM – Non-REM cycle, and enable a deep sleep. Antidepressants alone cannot treat sleep disorders, but when they treat depression, the problem of sleep paralysis can also disappear. Using these drugs without a prescription is definitely very harmful, because the effects of such drugs vary from person to person. For this reason, it should never be used without medical supervision.
Therapy and Meditation Suggestions for Sleep Paralysis (Nightmare)
Baland Jalal Neuroscientists at the University of Cambridge have published a treatment directly for sleep paralysis. This treatment, called Meditation-Relaxation Therapy (MR Therapy), is based on studies conducted in different countries. MR Therapy consists of 4 different stages.
- Re-evaluation of the attack: The person closes his eyes, avoids panic, and calms himself down by reassuring himself that this attack is not life-threatening.
- Psychological and emotional distance: The sleeper reminds himself that fear and anxiety will worsen the situation and increase the duration of sleep paralysis.
- Inward focusing meditation: Focusing all your attention on an object or object that you value internally.
- Relaxing the muscles: Allowing the muscles to relax by staying away from controlling our breathing and trying to move. There are also a number of case studies supporting this treatment.
The Evolutionary Neuroscience of Sleep Paralysis
Because people suffering from sleep paralysis are extremely afraid of the moment they are in, their midbrains are overstimulated. This situation is seen in people who are under very serious threat. Feeling alone, helpless, and about to drown can cause the brain to create an entity that does not actually exist.
We think that we can only experience the pressure and paralysis experienced during sleep paralysis if someone tries to kill us. The source of the images created by our brain during sleep paralysis can most likely be explained as the effects of the culture we live in. If we listen to our sensory organs at the same time, it informs us that there is no attacker.
In fact, there is no existence whatsoever. However, in the evolutionary process and in uncertain situations, our brain has specialized in perceiving such warnings as threats in order to stay safe. Only in this way do we have a chance to survive. Such situations also increase the effect of sleep paralysis. The brain does not accept such warnings from the sensory organs due to the dangers of the unknown and frightening situation it is in.
Studies have shown that some imaginary things we see during sleep paralysis are caused by our brain's amygdala It has been determined that it occurs in parts called (fear center), thalamus (the region that acts as a gate between consciousness and subconscious), anterior cingulate and pontine tegmentum. Since all these neural regions are overstimulated during sleep paralysis, the brain becomes unable to distinguish between real and unreal things.
Meanings of the Concept of “Nightmare” in Cultures
- In Chinese culture, it is believed that a ghost sits on a sleeping person.
- There are two beliefs about nightmares in India. The first of these is that the reason why consciousness is open while asleep is seen as one of the signs on the path to enlightenment. The second is an action of devils.
- In Scandinavian myths, there is a female and evil ghost named Mara who causes sleep paralysis.
- In Mexico, the one who climbs the hill is called the dead.
- In Korea, it is called being suppressed by Gawi. Gawi means devil or spirit.
- In Vietnam, they call sleep paralysis a ghost that looms over you.
- In medieval Europe, sleep paralysis was believed to be related to demons and wizards. In England, people believed that witches sat on people during sleep, so they could not breathe or move.
- In Russia, it is believed that it is the house spirit that punishes the people in the house in cases such as bad marriages and infidelity.
- In Laotian culture, ghosts come at night and grab a person's arms and legs, climb on top of him, and even cover his mouth to prevent him from making a sound.
- Scientists think that astral travel and some paranormal events are actually caused by misinterpretation of medical events experienced during sleep paralysis.
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