Sleep paralysis
Overview
Sleep paralysis is when you cannot move or speak as you are waking up or falling asleep. It can be scary but it's harmless and most people will only get it once or twice in their life.
Symptoms
Cannot move/speak when waking up/falling asleep. Feeling pressure on chest; hallucinations; fear.
Causes
Sleep paralysis happens when you cannot move your muscles as you are waking up or falling asleep. This is because you are in sleep mode but your brain is active. It's not clear why sleep paralysis can happen but it has been linked with: insomniadisrupted sleeping patterns – for example, because of shift work or jet lagnarcolepsy– a long-term condition that causes a person to suddenly fall asleeppost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)generalised anxiety disorderpanic disordera family history of sleep paralysis
Treatment
You might be given medicine usually used to treat depression. Taking this type of medicine at a lower dose can also help with sleep paralysis. You might also be referred forcognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
Prevention
You may be able to prevent sleep paralysis by changing your sleeping habits. try to regularly get 7 to 9 hours of sleep a day try to regularly get 7 to 9 hours of sleep a day go to bed at roughly the same time each night and get up at the same time each morning go to bed at roughly the same time each night and get up at the same time each morning get regular exercise, but not in the 4 hours before going to bed get regular exercise, but not in the 4 hours before going to bed do not eat a big meal, smoke, or drink alcohol or caffeine shortly before going to bed do not eat a big meal, smoke, or drink alcohol or caffeine shortly before going to bed do not sleep on your back – this can make sleep paralysis more likely to happen do not sleep on your back – this can make sleep paralysis more likely to happen
When to see a doctor
See GP if: anxious about sleeping or feeling very tired.