Imagine waking up from a deep sleep, only to find that you can’t move or speak. Your body feels completely paralyzed. What’s happening?
Hi everyone, I’m Lacy Green, and today we’re diving into the mysterious world of sleep paralysis. During this experience, you might see strange things, like a shadowy figure near your bed. You could feel a heavy weight on your chest, making it hard to breathe, or even feel like you’re floating above your body or zooming through a dark tunnel. Sounds spooky, right? Sleep paralysis is a phenomenon that about half of us will experience at least once in our lives.
Our producer, Pam, has experienced sleep paralysis since she was around 11 or 12 years old. Here’s what she shared:
“When it happens, it’s really unsettling. I’m awake in my mind, but I can’t move any part of my body. It used to scare me a lot when I was younger, but now I can eventually move a finger or my arm, and then I can move my whole body to get out of it. It’s really strange, and I don’t like it.”
Throughout history, people have tried to explain sleep paralysis in various ways. In Chinese culture, it’s called “gui ya,” meaning ghost pressure, where a ghost is thought to sit on the sleeper. Europeans once believed it was caused by witches, while in the West Indies, it was blamed on “Kokow,” a ghost baby. Interestingly, about 4 million Americans think it’s an alien abduction during sleep.
Recent studies have shown that understanding the science behind sleep paralysis can make it less frightening. Instead of thinking you’ve been abducted by aliens, you can relax knowing that your mind and body were just out of sync for a moment. This happens during REM sleep, the stage of sleep where we dream the most. During REM sleep, our muscles are paralyzed by two chemicals, glycine and GABA. This paralysis is important because it prevents us from physically acting out our dreams.
Sleep paralysis is more likely to occur if you fall asleep quickly, skip non-REM sleep stages, sleep on your back, or if you’re stressed or have irregular sleep patterns. The good news is that even though it can be scary, it’s never dangerous and only lasts a few moments. So rest easy, everyone!
Have you ever experienced sleep paralysis? Share your stories in the comments below. I’ll be reading your thoughts, and we’ll be back with more fascinating topics soon!
Draw a comic strip that illustrates a sleep paralysis experience. Use your creativity to depict the sensations and emotions involved. Share your comic with the class and discuss how it relates to the scientific explanations of sleep paralysis.
Choose a culture and research how it explains sleep paralysis. Prepare a short presentation to share with the class, highlighting the cultural beliefs and how they compare to scientific explanations. This will help you understand the diversity of interpretations across the world.
In pairs, role-play a conversation between a sleep scientist and someone experiencing sleep paralysis for the first time. The scientist should explain the phenomenon using scientific terms and reassure the person. This activity will help you practice communicating scientific concepts clearly.
Create a poster that promotes good sleep hygiene practices to reduce the likelihood of sleep paralysis. Include tips such as maintaining a regular sleep schedule and creating a comfortable sleep environment. Display your poster in the classroom to remind everyone of healthy sleep habits.
Write a short story from the perspective of someone experiencing sleep paralysis. Incorporate both the emotional and scientific aspects of the experience. Share your story with a partner and discuss how understanding the science can change perceptions of the phenomenon.
Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Imagine you wake up from a deep sleep and you can’t move or speak; your body is completely paralyzed. What is going on?
Hey guys, I’m Lacy Green, and this is DNews. You might experience hallucinations during your paralysis, where you see a threatening presence beside your bed. There can be a crushing sensation in your chest, making it feel like you can’t breathe. You might feel like you’re floating above your body or that you’re moving quickly through a dark tunnel. Sounds unsettling, right? This phenomenon is called sleep paralysis, and it will happen to about half of us at least once in our lifetime.
Our producer Pam has actually experienced it. Check this out:
“I have been experiencing sleep paralysis probably since I was about 11 or 12, and I still get it occasionally. When it happens, it’s a really unsettling feeling. I will be conscious, my mind is awake, but I literally cannot move any part of my body. It used to freak me out a lot more when I was younger, but now I can eventually move a finger or my arm, and then I can move my whole body to get out of it. I don’t like it; it’s really strange.”
Naturally, something like this can leave people confused. In the past, supernatural explanations were common. For example, in Chinese culture, it’s called “gui ya,” meaning ghost pressure, where a ghost is believed to sit on the sleeping person. Europeans interpreted it as abductions by a witch, while in the West Indies, it was referred to as “Kokow,” a ghost baby that would attack you. Interestingly, about 4 million Americans believe it to be an alien abduction during sleep.
A recent study published in a psychological science journal found that the aftermath of sleep paralysis can be scary and traumatic, but it’s much less stressful when people understand the science behind it. Instead of thinking you’ve survived an alien abduction, you can relax knowing that your mind and body were momentarily out of sync, which happens to many people during REM sleep—the most dream-filled part of sleep. During this time, our muscles become paralyzed due to two chemicals, glycine and GABA. This paralysis is important because while dreaming, you might be acting out intense scenarios, and you probably don’t want your body to physically react to them.
Sleep paralysis is more likely to occur when you fall asleep quickly, skip non-REM sleep stages, sleep on your back, or if you’re feeling stressed or have irregular sleep patterns. The good news is that even though it’s frightening, it’s never dangerous and only lasts a few moments. So sleep easy, my friends!
In the comments below, let me know if you’ve ever experienced sleep paralysis and what it was like. I’ll be reading your thoughts, and we’ll be back with more DNews soon!
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This version removes any inappropriate language and maintains a professional tone.
Sleep – A natural state of rest for the body and mind, during which consciousness is suspended and the body can recover and rejuvenate. – Getting enough sleep is important for maintaining good mental health and cognitive function.
Paralysis – A condition where a person is unable to move certain parts of their body, often due to nerve damage or disruption in communication between the brain and muscles. – Sleep paralysis can be a frightening experience where a person is awake but unable to move.
Mind – The part of a person that enables them to think, feel, and be aware of their surroundings; the center of consciousness and thought. – Meditation is a practice that can help calm the mind and reduce stress.
Body – The physical structure of a person or an organism, consisting of bones, flesh, and organs. – Regular exercise is important for keeping the body healthy and strong.
Science – The systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment. – Psychology is a science that explores human behavior and mental processes.
Dreams – Sequences of images, thoughts, or emotions occurring during sleep, often reflecting subconscious desires or concerns. – Scientists study dreams to understand more about how the brain processes emotions and memories.
Muscles – Tissues in the body that have the ability to contract and produce movement or maintain the position of parts of the body. – Regular exercise helps strengthen muscles and improve overall physical health.
Stress – A state of mental or emotional strain resulting from demanding circumstances, which can affect both the mind and body. – Learning how to manage stress is important for maintaining mental well-being.
Patterns – Repeated or regular arrangements of elements or events, often used to identify trends or make predictions. – Psychologists study behavior patterns to understand how people react in different situations.
Experience – The knowledge or skill acquired by observing, encountering, or undergoing events or activities. – Personal experience can greatly influence how someone perceives and reacts to new situations.
