Cause of Sleep Paralysis

In Partial Fulfillment of Requirements in English for Academic and Professional Purposes

Aban, Hannah Wynzelle T.

Aure, Jhoemar Rhey A.
Burang, Ella L.
Cabardo, Ronilo E. Jr.
Manicap, Samuel
Mojeres, Johnbel
Natad, Nicole Kate L.
Remoreras, Lhemar G.
STEM 6

Submitted to:
Ms. Kristelle R. Bugayong
Introduction
Sleep paralysis or “old hag sydrome” in old legends is a feeling of being conscious
but unable to move. It occurs when a person passes between stages of wakefulness
and sleep. During these transitions, you may be unable to move or speak for a few
seconds up to a few minutes. Some people may also feel pressure or a sense of
choking. Sleep paralysis has two types, the hypnagogic and the hypnopompic. The
hypnagogic occurs as you fall asleep, as you fall asleep your body slowly relaxes.
Usually you become less aware, so you do not notice the change. However, if you
remain or become aware while falling asleep, you may notice that you cannot move
or speak. While hypnopompic occurs during sleep, when your body alternates
between REM(rapid eye movement) and NREM(non-rapid eye movement) sleep.
One cycle of REM and NREM sleep last about 90 minutes. NREM sleep occurs first
and takes up to 75% of your overall time sleep time. During NREM sleep, your
body relaxes and restores itself at the end of NREM, your sleep shifts to REM. Your
eyes move quickly and dreams occur, but the rest of your body remains very
relaxed. Your muscles are “turned off” during REM sleep. If you become aware
before the REM cycle has finished, you may notice that you cannot move or speak.
The purpose of this research study is to know the cause of sleep paralysis and to be more
literate about what sleep paralysis really is. The significance of the study is to expand,widen
and broaden the the knowledge of the readers and to help the people and community to be
mindful and sensible about the importance of sleep paralysis.
There are different sides and theories about sleep paralysis, and of these is the theory of Jaime
Licauco, he states in his theory that that “ Astral projection is a natural event or state and
should not be considered a disorder or a pathological condition. Almost everyone goes out of
his body while asleep and travel. Most of the time however this happens without ‘awakening’ in
the astral world so we may not realize what has really happened when we wake up. We become
frightened because we can’t move and we try to return to our body but we cannot because, the
more we struggle, the more there will be a misalignment in the vibrations between the astral
and physical body. When a person feels like he is flying or being smashed, it is because his
astral body is really flying while his physical body remains in bed. That’s why doctors call this
“hallucination.’ Actually it is not. When the physical body gets jolted into waking consciousness
and can already move, that’s the exact moment the astral body returns to the physical body.”
That was one of the theories about sleep paralysis in terms on paranormal studies, and the
other theories came from the medical expertise. One of those medical expertise that has a
theory about sleep paralysis is Dr. Shelby Harris, a director of behavioral sleep medicine at the
sleep-wake disorders at New York. His proposition states that 31.9 percent of people who has a
mental disorders such as, anxiety, depression, stress or bipolar disorder and sleeping disorder
similar to narcolepsy are more likely to experience sleep paralysis. Aside from those disorders
there are also other factors that causes sleep paralysis and these are, sleeping on their back,
overuse of stimulants, and extreme physical fatigue.
Literature Review
There are different view points why a person can experience sleep
paralysis. Sleep paralysis has been found in many cultures and
historical periods (Hufford 1982). Mr. Hufford, a author and
researcher aforementioned that experiencing sleep paralysis has
been implicated in supernatural and ghostly visitation, alien
abduction, and in construction of false memory of sexual assualt.
However, medical specialist doesn’t believe on that paranormal and
supernatural phnomena, that’s why they conducted their own
research and provide a naturalistic explanation about it.

According to Cheyne and Rufert, a researchers of sleep paralysis,

that 58% of sleep paralysis attacks were commonly occured when
you are sleeping in a supine position, much higher than any other
position. They also stated that sleep paralysis sufferers are mostly at
the age of 13-21 years old, this means that there are less sleep
paralysis attacks on those person that are old.
(Ludwig Lavater, 16th-Century Swiss minister)Sleep Paralysis has mainly been associated with stress
and anxiety as induce hormone production which in turn upsets the bodily hormonal balance thus
giving rise to sleep paralysis. Postraumatic stress disorder (PTST), fatigue, heavy physical activity,
extreme changes in physical activity, jetlag and other stress-related conditions may bring about
sleep paralysis due to the disturbance of sleep cycles.

According to a 2011 review of studies in the journal Sleep Medicine Reviews, sleep paralysis is not
totally uncommon. In fact, as many as 7.6 percent of the general population will experience it at
least once in their lifetimes. The percentage is even higher for students and people with psychiatric
disorders: 28.3 percent and 31.9 percent, respectively.

According to (Dr Simon Kyle) Sleep paralysis comes in many forms each of which may be
characterized by the inability to carry out normal body movements, voluntarily, in the period just
before sleep onset or during the time taken to awaken fully. These periods of paralysis are often
seen to co-occur with visual and auditory hallucinations or vivid, dream-like states which, whilst
harmless, can be very frightening experiences. Although these hallucinations may be interpreted as
dreams, they may also be mistaken for reality provoking a strongly fearful response.

Those who suffer from sleep paralysis commonly report feeling immense pressure on their chests
during episodes, adding to their feelings of anxiety during the paralyzed state and can result in
breathlessness. Unlike the rest of the body however, which remains paralyzed throughout, the
ability to move the eyes may in fact be preserved. It is completely normal to experience sleep
paralysis from time to time, however when it becomes frequent and distressing or is associated
with other symptoms of sleep-wake disorder, then it may require treatment.
Methodology

To gather information about sleep paralysis, we have interviewed 10 respondents that are
highschool students from different schools.

Questions:
1.Have you experienced sleep paralysis?
2.What does it feels like when you’re having sleep paralysis?
3.When was the time that you’ve experienced sleep paralysis?
4.What are the activities you did before experiencing sleep paralysis?

Out of ten respondents there are only five person that have been undergone through sleep
paralysis. And out of five person there are three of them that had the Hypnagogic Sleep paralysis,
and the rest had the hypnopompic sleep paralysis, base on their answer on question number two.
 “It feels like there is a a big rock above my chest and I cannot move my body and I
cannot even utter a word, but my eyes are widely open that time and I can see
strange shadows around.”, Mr. Kerby Ampog’s answer from question number two,
that’s why we conclude that he had experience the hypnopompic type of sleep
paralysis. While the one of our respondent’s answer from question number two was
this, “I am on my deep sleep that time and I had a nightmare, all I want is to wake-up
but I cannot open my eyes, I cannot shout, It feels like my body is frozen, and I really
want to cry out loud that time because my dream is so scared, I think I would have a
heart attack.” and yes, she is one of the three who had the hypnagogic sleep paralysis.

There are similar answers from our respondents on question number 3 like, “I am so
stress that time when I had experienced sleep paralysis, it was a night before our final
examination.”, Mr. Cajegas said, and “I think I had experienced it on the time that I am
so stress thinking about the singing competition that I will be joining.”, Ms. Thricia Lou
answered. They’re answers was refering that they are on the state of stress that
moment they experience it.
One of the fourth question’s answers was this, “The activities that I did before having sleep paralysis is that, I have
played basketball, it is like I have played three games with my friends. And when I get home I went to my bed and
suddenly Kaboom! I experience sleep paralysis.”,Mr. Rene Jay Granada answered and the other one was this, “I
have eaten a lot of food that night and I have watch horror movies, then I had a nightmare that causes my sleep
paralysis.”, said Mr. Kerby Ampog.
Result

Based on our overall research, from the theories, and the interviews that
we have been conducted, there many reasons why a person are
experiencing sleep paralysis, these are the reasons:
*Lack of sleep
*sleep schedule that changes
*Sleeping position
*Sleeping problems
*mental disorders
*Emotional Problem
*Paranormal Activities