When you're having a hard time sleeping, your first thought may be sleep paralysis, which happens to many people
Sleep paralysis isn't actually a disease, but more of a condition that affects your ability to sleep at night. The truth is, most of us experience some amount of sleep paralysis at least once in our lives. Unfortunately, sleep paralysis can really wreak havoc on a person's life, causing them a number of health problems and emotional trauma.
Sleep paralysis is typically diagnosed according to the patients' descriptions and histories of the episodes. Sleep apnea is an example of sleep paralysis. Sleep apnea is a condition in which the person experiences pauses in breathing while asleep. Sleep paralysis while scary to experience, doesn't need any medical treatment. Your doctor will carefully ask you questions to determine if you have signs or symptoms of more serious sleep related conditions that may be the source of your sleep paralysis.
The first thing you should consider is whether or not your sleep disorder is sleepwalking or parasomnia. Sleep walking occurs when you're not fully awake and are wandering around while you're sleeping, but parasomnia is caused by sleep deprivation that leads to sleepwalking or waking up several times in the middle of the night. Sleepwalking or waking up multiple times while still in deep sleep, is often times mistaken as sleep paralysis because it is so disturbing to experience.
Once you have identified what type of sleep disturbance you are experiencing, your doctor can begin treating you for the specific problem. If you have trouble falling asleep at night and feel like you are unable to fall asleep again, your doctor may prescribe sleeping pills to help you fall asleep and thus make you feel better during the day.
Sleep paralysis can also be caused by something else, such as depression, anxiety, or stress. In these cases, the only cure for this particular condition is to treat any underlying cause. Depression, anxiety and stress are all common causes of sleepiness, but they can make the body think it needs sleep. This is what makes the brain mistakenly think it's time to go back to sleep when it isn't. Because the brain is so confused, it can start showing itself sleep paralysis symptoms.
Many people are unaware of what causes their sleep disturbance. The most common causes of sleep paralysis include illness, sleep disturbances, stress, and emotional problems. If you are suffering from an underlying medical condition that is causing you to be unable to sleep or not getting enough restful sleep, this may be a sign of another problem that needs to be addressed. Never ignore your doctor's advice when it comes to health problems, but it's important not to try to diagnose your condition yourself. Often a much better option is to treat the underlying condition.
Sleep paralysis can be prevented with hypnosis. Hypnosis has been used to treat sleep apnea, insomnia and sleepwalking. Your doctor may also suggest relaxation exercises that will allow you to sleep peacefully throughout the night and eliminate the feelings of panic and stress you may be experiencing. While hypnosis can't actually cure you of your condition, it can help your body relax and help it return to its normal state.
Sleep paralysis can be very stressful for those who suffer from it, but it's important to understand that it's just a symptom and it can be treated. It can sometimes be treated without the use of medication or expensive doctor visits.