Nightmare in Science

Can someone wake me up please? I think it's happening again. I've given up all my strength to stand up and get on my feet but still I can see myself lying on the bed. I can't move my arms, my legs, and I can't shout. It has happened to me many times before so I kind of got used to it.

They said it's probably an astral projection or just another afternoon nightmare experienced by some people. If I am sick and my pancreas are not working properly well then that may be it. But I'm healthy. The first time this thing happened to me was during my college years. And I would never forget the fear that enveloped my whole being. It was like I'm in a bird's cage wanted to free myself from an unwanted prison.

I began to fear sleep. I was so scared as hell to sleep specially at night because unlike any other people who moans during their bad dreams, I don't make noise - at all. So it would look like I am just sleeping soundly if I don't wake up on my own, somebody else should. So I used my best talent and self-discovered God-given gift to me and one of my favorite hobbies as well - do research. I did some research in Psychology, health, dreams, and even asked some few psychic friends about my problem and guess what I've found out.

One of my friends who is often invited to police investigations to help them solve crimes (probably hoping to shed some light on unsolved mysteries) told me that I am having an astral projection.

He told me to leave a glass of water with salt under my bed before sleeping and pray. And if that so called projection happened to me again, I just need to move my toes until I wake up. I did that and maybe it's a psychological effect knowing that there's something that I did to stop the frightening sleep I encounter. It happens to everyone right? Like when you take a cough suppressant and still cough but do not worry because you already have taken the medicine? That's precisely the same. But I don't think I would want to be stuck in that belief. I need Scientific explanations for that to overcome my fear. I want to know the facts, truths, and if Science has something to offer.

I asked Auntie Aida (an MD in Pediatrics) about it and she said it has happened to her before specially during her internship in medicine when she substantially spent sleepless nights in the hospital. She said it's a situation where our physical body awakes earlier than our cortex (uh-oh, technical term again). Our cortex is located in our brain so that explains much. It's so good to know that Science is here for us. Thank God for letting me know the importance of Science. I never liked this subject during my grade school years. And of course I married a Science freak - a person who was born to love Science haha! I love my Hubee so much. Anyway, check this out:

Sleep paralysis according to MedNet.com, occurs when a person suddenly finds himself or herself unable to move for a few minutes, most often upon falling asleep or waking up. Sleep paralysis is due to an ill-timed disconnection between the brain and the body.

It also said that sleep paralysis strikes as a person is moving into or out of REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, the deepest part of sleep. During REM sleep the body is largely disconnected from the brain leaving the body paralyzed. Sleep paralysis is the result of premature (or persistent) mind-body disconnection as one is about to enter into (or exit from) REM sleep.

Sleep paralysis occurs most often after jet lag or periods of sleeplessness that interrupt the normal REM patterns. It affects both sexes equally and occurs at all ages but is most common in teenagers. Sleep paralysis can be familial and may be genetic (inherited) in some cases.

They said it's usually harmless and self-limited. It tends to be over in a minute or two as soon as the body and mind re-establish the connections and the person is able to move again.

Sometimes when I experience sleep paralysis, I thought I see some shadows or an unfamiliar person sitting on my bed as if guarding me. That thing scares me to death. I thought that they are lost souls from nowhere who are just waiting to occupy my physical body if "I don't make it" on time. Isn't that super horrifying? Now who in the world would not be terrified on that. But surprisingly, there's an explanation for that too.

They said that during sleep paralysis, some experience panic attacks. They tend to hallucinate and see things out of ordinary. And it doubles the horror if the person doesn't know what is going on with his body. They said it's harmless because in a few minutes the person gradually or abruptly is able to move again; the episode is often terminated by a sound or a touch on the body.

So here are some tips to avoid sleep paralysis:

1. Get enough sleep
   
2. Reduce stress
3. Exercise regularly (but not too close to bedtime)
4. Keep a regular schedule

I've tried all these except for number two because I still yet to know how to reduce my own stress everyday in the news. Funny but news sometimes stresses me out a lot. But over-all, it works. Medical experts also say that there's no need to panic once it happened. Just wait until the connection between our body and mind re-establishes so we could move again. Do not panic because if you do, that's when the problem comes. The problem would be prolonging the paralysis of the body.

So now, I don't fear sleep anymore. In fact, sleep is just one of my favorite hobbies second to food :D