Facts of sleep paralysis read more at here www.spinonews.com/index.php/item/1029-facts-of-sleep-paralysis

According to Texas A&M University researchers, terrifying episodes are known as sleep paralysis. They're not dangerous, it's just your brain telling your body, it's still in dreamland.

Researchers said, when you're in the stage of sleep where vivid dreams occur known as REM sleep, your arms and legs are temporarily paralyzed so you can't act out your dreams. If you wake up during this REM stage, you feel unable to move and may even hallucinate.

Dr. Steven Bender, director of Texas A&M University's Center for Facial Pain and Sleep Medicine, said, when people have a nightmare, they have a dream and then wake up. When they're experiencing sleep paralysis, they may have a dream when they are already awake.

Sleep paralysis is a frightening event. Fortunately, it doesn't last more than a minute or two and it usually happens when people are falling asleep or just waking up. People who experience sleep paralysis can have vivid hallucinations because they are dreaming.

Breathing can be irregular during REM sleep, those experiencing sleep paralysis may feel like not able to breathe easily. People with depression, anxiety and the chronic sleep disorder narcolepsy are also more likely to experience it. Up to 8% of people experience frightening episodes of the condition.

Bender suggests, improving sleep habits can help you avoid these episodes.

·         Going to bed and waking up around the same time each day.

·         Avoiding TV right before bed

·         Not using a laptop or cell phone in bed

·         Avoiding daytime napping

·         Avoiding stimulants close to bedtime