Sleep paralysis

Johann Heinrich Füssli, Der Nachtmahr, 1781 (larger image see here)

Der Nachtmahr (The Nightmare) was painted 1781 by the Swiss-born artist Heinrich Füssli (1741-1825). Neurologists, sleep medicine specialists and sleep researchers are familiar with this popular work, which became a symbol for the phenomenon of sleep paralysis (Schneck, 1969; Baumann et al., 2007).

Sleep paralysis is a condition characterized by temporary paralysis of the body shortly after waking up (known as hypnopompic paralysis) or, less often, shortly before falling asleep (known as hypnagogic paralysis). Physiologically, it is closely related to the paralysis that occurs as a natural part of REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, which is known as REM atonia. Sleep paralysis occurs when the brain awakes from a REM state, but the bodily paralysis persists. This leaves the person fully aware, but unable to move. In addition, the state may be accompanied by hypnagogic hallucinations.

With the lack of a control group of healthy subjects, one cannot say whether sleep paralysis has an increased prevalence in subjects with persistent aura without infarction. A case observation by Evans (2006), however, suggests that sleep paralysis can represent, at least in some cases, a migraine aura symptom which may occur in the brainstem.

Definite persistent aura without infarction

"I get sleep paralysis about once a month (no more) which feels like I'm stuck and unable to move and know it's happening... its' the worst... it feels like I'm sinking too... like a really weird body sensation... I hate it."

(Neurogurl [subject #277], Yuku forum Visual snow or static - General discussion - sleep paralysis, January 22, 2008)

"Yeah I get this sometimes, not very often though which is good because it scares the s*** out of me. Seriously, every time I swear I'm dying. I don't see things with it. It is very scary and I am so happy to wake up after this happens."

(Pocanut [subject #349], Yuku forum Visual snow or static - General discussion - sleep paralysis, January 21, 2008)

Referring to Heinrich Füssli's above mentioned painting Der Nachtmahr (The Nightmare), SopuliSusie wrote:

"I've always loved that picture. It is really triggering memories for me. In the religious culture I was raised in, demons were literally around every corner, waiting to possess any good Christian. It totally sucked to have sleep paralysis and waking up to see dark shadows and figures in the room, or hallucinating something hovering above me. I think I went days without sleeping because I was so paranoid and terrified. I would pray myself to sleep. Then I learned what was happening and my night time existence definitely got easier.

Having sleep paralysis so much when I was younger, I think it has fed into a particular fear of mine of being attacked but being unable to scream or move. Now I've had it happen so many, many times that it doesn't bother me at all. I have woken up with sleep paralysis convinced I was levitating over my bed. That's always a weird feeling. Now I only get it when I'm particularly anxious."

(SopuliSusie [subject #405], Yuku forum Visual snow or static - General discussion - sleep paralysis, January 23, 2008)

"Wenn ich tagsüber schlafe, bin ich manchmal im Halbschlaf gelähmt und alles rauscht und kribbelt und ich denke, ich sterbe jetzt, bis ich wieder voll da bin, dann geht es weg, ist aber sehr beängstigend immer..."

(Mike aka schokodil [Subjekt #428], Forum Augenrauschen - Augenrauschen - Träume, 12.09.2007)

"I've only had this once - and only since VS (among other problems) started.

I took a nap, woke up and could not move for around 2-3 minutes. Eventually I was able *force* my arms and legs to move - they felt like I had a lead suit on."

(jruddy [subject #515], Yuku forum Visual snow or static - General discussion - Sleep paralysis, January 22, 2008)

Probable persistent aura

"Happens to me every now and then."

(IanKC [subject #92], Yuku forum Visual snow or static - General discussion - sleep paralysis, January 21, 2008)

"I sometimes get sleep paralysis... thankfully not too often because it is truly horrible."

(Janey [subject #282], Yuku forum Visual snow or static - General discussion - sleep paralysis, January 22, 2008)

Possible persistent aura

"Another thing I forgot to mention earlier this morning (and I don't know if this will be any help) is my family has a history of sleep disturbances... recently I found out that my mom as well as my sister and myself have what is referred to as 'old hag attacks' [i.e. sleep paralysis]".

(lapetiteflower [subject #364], Email to Klaus Podoll, June 8, 2007; additions in square brackets by Klaus Podoll)

"Had anyone had this? Its when you wake up and are unable to move for a while, its is really scary. Also, when some people have it they see strange things, because they're half asleep. Could this be associated with vs, has anyone here experienced it?"

(Fulp [subject #419], Yuku forum Visual snow or static - General discussion - sleep paralysis, January 21, 2008)

"I have sleep paralysis some times, three times in a month at max."

(xFoxxxx [subject #458], Yuku forum Visual snow or static - General discussion - sleep paralysis, January 21, 2008)

"I get this also, the last one was a few weeks ago. I don't get any hallucinations but when I got caught in a paralysis I get an amazingly loud ringing noise that starts off normal then gets louder and louder until I snap out of the paralysis. I wasn't concerned about the paralysis at first because it rarely happened but when I first experienced the ringing it frightened me because it was so loud and high pitched that it felt like my head might explode. I reckon I experienced sleep paralysis 2-3 years ago but it has become more frequent overtime, but not enough for it to be a problem. My sister also gets it (without the ringing). In fact I recall her telling me about it before it finally happened to me."

(Jonny4Life [subject #505], Yuku forum Visual snow or static - General discussion - sleep paralysis, January 21, 2008)

"Is a paranormal connection possible? Maybe.

I've had VS all of my life. I am as used to it as I am to breathing. I actually only became frustrated when I realized I was not 'supposed' to see this way.

Besides VS I also frequently (sometimes infrequently ) suffer from sleep paralysis, which many believe is a gateway to an out-of-body experience (OBE). I realize I may be reaching by trying to connect the two. I am leaving my options open because our condition has never truly been diagnosed. It's almost like a religion, the person we are trying to explain it to has to have 'faith' that it is there because they cannot see it with there own eyes. Most don't have faith."

(tokooltone [subject #556], Yuku forum Visual snow or static - General discussions - Is a paranormal connection possible? Maybe, April 5, 2008)

"If I can recall correctly, my sleep paralysis began when I was a preteen. Maybe around 11 years of age. This is approximate but I believe fairly accurate. I have coincidently been doing research on this subject as well. I do believe, from internet research I have been doing that there may be a paranormal connection to SP (sleep paralysis). However with VS I believe there may be more of an ESP connection. I spend some of my time on the net going from one to another because for both conditions, I just discovered that there are others like me. First I began with SP then said what the heck and began searching in regards to VS. And actually found others!! So in short I must say this last month or two of my life has been 'different' knowing that 2 conditions I have had for so long alone, are shared by so many. Nuff said."

(tokooltone [subject #556], Yuku forum Visual snow or static - General discussions - Is a paranormal connection possible? Maybe, April 7, 2008)

References

Baumann C, Lentzsch F, Regard M, Bassetti C. The hallucinating art of Heinrich Füssli. Front Neurol Neurosci 2007; 22: 223-235.
Evans RW. Exploding head syndrome followed by sleep paralysis: a rare migraine aura. Headache 2006; 46: 682-683.
Schneck JM. Henry Fuseli, nightmare, and sleep paralysis. JAMA 1969; 207: 725-726.

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