Parasomnias

I woke up, had my eyes open, but was unable to move. Is that sleep paralysis?

English

Very likley. Sleep paralysis is the inability to move any voluntary muscle at when falling asleep or from awakening (e.g., from REM sleep) while being subjectively awake and conscious (eyes open and aware of one’s surroundings). Episodes, which can be exceedingly frightening, may last a few minutes and subside either spontaneously or when interrupted by noise or other external stimuli. Sleep paralysis is often accompanied by fear, hypnagogic hallucinations, and intense feelings of realism.

What is narcolepsy?

English

Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, sleep paralysis, hypnagogic hallucinations (visual and/or auditory), and, in some cases, cataplexy or the sudden loss of muscle control. The disorder usually begins during childhood or adolescence and affects approximately 0.04% of the general population. Narcolepsy with cataplexy (known as type 1) is caused by the loss of hypocretin-producing neurons. Hypocretin is a peptide that plays a key role in the regulation of wakefulness (sleep/wake cycles).

What are parasomnias?

English

Parasomnias are undesirable physical, behavioral or experiential phenomena that occur during entry into sleep, within sleep, or during partial arousals from sleep. Depending on their exact manifestations, frequency and intensity, parasomnias can be considered normal sleep phenomena, especially when occurring during childhood, and may not significantly impact sleep quality or quantity, or daytime functioning.

Subscribe to RSS - Parasomnias