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Do You Have Any Information on Sleep Paralysis?

By April 6, 2011 - 8:29am
 
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Sleep Paralysis is very scary. Actually, it's terrifying because you are awake the entire time but cannot move or talk so you cannot alert a nearby family member/friend to shake you, which immediately interrupts & ceases the episode. Although fully awake & aware of what's happening, audio and/or visual hallucenations can accompany the attacks, which makes them even more frightening; to the point of being afraid to go to sleep. Many report an "Evil Presence" in the room with them during the attacks or sense they are in danger. Although I know much about the disporder, I don't know any cures or preventions. Are there any treatment & prevention methods that can effectively reduce the severety or occurances of the attacks?

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Anonymous

Hello,

I've had sleep paraylsis since I was about 13, and now I am 19. Is it normal for your eyes to shake during an episode, or everything going white? Or sitting upward when an episode is over, and then falling back into one, is a headache normal after an episode?
Sorry for all the questions, I am debating whether or not I should mention this problem to my doctors.

Thanks!

-Syanne

June 11, 2011 - 11:33am
(reply to Anonymous)

Hi Syanne,

I cannot tell you whether or not my eyes roll back and forth during an episode of SP, but I do know that as I struggle to peel open my eyes during an episode I can feel my eyes flutter, but not neccessarily roll back and forth. I have never experienced a headache after an episode, but that doesn't mean that it's not possible. However, one thing is for certain, and many others who experience SP all say that after pulling themselves out of one, they find themselves falling right back in. This is especially true for myself. I cannot tell you how many times I struggled to pull myself out and as I start to fall back to sleep I go right back into it. This is the most frustrating and scary thing, because it makes me fearful to go to sleep and I get to the point where I am so sleepy, I end up nodding off and will experience several episodes a night, as many as 5,6, or 7 and sometimes throughout the entire night. It is something I cannot control and fight with it quite often, however, doctors don't really have a "cure". They know "how" it happens, but apparently, they don't know "why" and that's what I would like to know.

July 25, 2011 - 5:14am
(reply to MissLenaiya)

Strange, I completely forgot that I had commented on this when I didn't have an account!
But anyways, I go through the same thing, like having as many as 5 or 6 or even 7 a night. It gets scary, because then you are so tired, but are so afraid to go back to sleep--so you try to stay awake. I wish I knew why it happens. I'm going to mention this to my doctors, to see if I can get any relief from this terrifying disorder.

September 7, 2011 - 8:07pm

Hi Susan,

Thank you for your quick and thorough reply. I am asking for myself. I am a life long suffer of SP but have never sought tx for it because for one, I thought nobody would understand what was going on and I didn't even know how to begin explaining what was happening. I found it difficult to describe, but as time goes on and I experience a plethora of episodes, I have almost mastered the ability to describe it to others. I have PTSD as a result of some of my more severe episodes, and I am prescribed ativan for that. However, it does not help with the SP symptoms or episodes at all. I am gathering as much information as I can on treatments and studies so if you happen to come across any information in that regard that you think may be helpful, please feel free to share that with me, I would really like to learn all I can and try to find something that works or at least helps to lessen the severity. Thank you again for your response :-)

April 7, 2011 - 6:56pm
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