Sleep paralysis symptoms

Sleep paralysis is a disorder of sleeping routine and is experienced by almost everyone a few times in life. One of the important sleep paralysis systems is that the sufferer feels awake but totally incapacitated and unable to move any part of body. Being in a state of total consciousness and total incapacitation simultaneously is a horrifying experience. Being scared to the limit of incapacitation and inability to move even slightly at will is the distinguishing feature of this disorder. 

Sleep Paralysis Symptoms  

There is no physical; muscular or nervous impairment though; the muscles do not function at all during the state of sleep paralysis. Their cessation from function is sometimes triggered by a frightening dream or presence of a scary visitant on the chest. The perceived apparition arouses the extreme need of help but some people can utter only a few incoherent and meaningless words, which at the best can be regarded as hallucination only. 

State and stage of sleep 

Prerequisite for sleep paralysis to occur, is not being in the state of sleep only, it is rather the stage of sleep that plays a pivotal role in the occurrence of this phenomenon. Our sleeping spell is divided into three vivid stages of sleep. In the first stage muscles are relaxed while the brain waves are reduced and on account of slight eye movement under the eyelids, the stage is known as non rapid eye movement.

The deep sleep 

Following the initial stage is the intensive stage of sleep. Some quick movement of the eyeball under the eyelids is observed in this stage and on account of this observation this stage is known as rapid eye movement. The brain waves are reduced almost to the level of isolation. It is in this state of deep sleep that, most of us dream while a few deny any experience of dream throughout their lives.  

The last phase 

The last phase of the sleep cycle is like the initial phase with reduced brain waves and consequent reduced brain activity. It is in these, first or the last phases of sleep; when a person starts to fall asleep or begins to wake up, that sleep paralysis symptoms are the most pronounced.

A complete sleep cycle comprises of a hundred minutes cycle of which fifty minutes are that of deep sleep and twenty five minutes are occupied by each of the two lighter stages of sleep; before and after the middle deep sleep stage. From sleep paralysis point of view these two stages are of crucial importance as the phenomenon is manifest exclusively in their duration.

Treatment 

There are no serious physical or psychological repercussions of this disorder; therefore no regular treatment is required. Some resembling disorders, wherin sudden muscular inability on account of severe need of sleep may cause one to collapse, do need serious medical help. Banana is rich in potassium content but low in sodium salts. Its consumption is therefore an excellent remedy to calm and comfort nerves, to sleep without recurrence of sleep paralysis symptoms.