What is sleep paralysis and why do we get it? Doctor explains all

What is sleep paralysis and why do we get it? Doctor explains allDr Amir Khan GP

Transcript

00:00Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night and felt like you couldn't move your body?

00:05It's scary, right? Well, that's called sleep paralysis, and it happens when your brain wakes up

00:11before your body does. During REM sleep, that's the bit where you dream, your muscles are temporarily

00:19switched off so you don't act out your dreams. If you wake up whilst that's still happening,

00:26you feel paralysed. Now, sometimes people also feel pressure on their chest or see vivid hallucinations,

00:33shapes, shadows, even figures in the room. That's because your brain is still half in dream mode,

00:39half awake. Now, it does sound terrifying, but the good news is it's harmless. Sleep paralysis

00:46usually lasts seconds, sometimes a couple of minutes, and then passes. It can be linked to

00:51poor sleep, stress, or irregular sleep schedules. So, the best thing to do is to stick to regular

00:57sleep schedules, reduce stress, and look after your sleep hygiene. Now, it's always best to remember,

01:04I know it's frightening, and it feels scary, but it is nothing dangerous. So, if it happens to you,

01:11don't panic. Your body's just catching up with your brain.