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When you go to sleep, you might feel as if you’re being watched over. Or you might feel a heavy weight on your chest. Whatever it is, it’s a scary experience. To help you deal with this condition, here are some tips for sleeping with the sleep paralysis monster.
You might have heard of this ominous monster before, but you may not have realized that it actually happens more often than you think. The cause of sleep paralysis is still unknown, but is considered to be due to the body causing the muscles to ignore the movement orders that could be issued when dreaming (Think of dogs’ legs moving when we think they are dreaming of chasing rabbits) and then partially waking and unable to move your muscles.
Some people believe it is a manifestation of evil spirits. Other people experience it as a ghost or demon or a monster sitting on the chest making it difficult to breathe. The experience is also described as a nightmare or hallucination, but these experiences are generally considered to be unreal by most people. Moreover, it’s important to remember that the monster that causes sleep paralysis is not a real monster, but a spectral or demonic entity.
In addition to nightmares, a sleep paralysis monster may be a result of a dream that you’ve had before. During REM sleep, you’re more sensitive to emotions, including fear. As a result, the fear you experience in your dreams is amplified. Even if the demon isn’t real, it is a terrifying experience nonetheless. If you’ve had this terrifying dream, you know how traumatic it can be.
While this is a scary experience, sleep paralysis is harmless while you’re dreaming, but you might experience symptoms once you awake. For example, you may feel disoriented, as if you’ve been pinned to your bed. Some people might feel a heavy chest, which can lead to difficulty breathing. If you’re scared of this monster, try talking to your doctor about the triggering factors in your dreams. You can also take medication that suppresses the REM cycle. Some people believe sleep paralysis is caused by black magic or a demon.
Most cases are not serious and don’t require treatment. However, you may feel sleepy the next day and have trouble controlling your muscles. If these symptoms persist, see a sleep specialist to find out if you have a disorder.
In the meantime, don’t be afraid of the monster – it’s just a normal part of the sleep cycle. People with sleep paralysis may also experience hallucinations. They may experience a dreadful figure sitting on their chest or a terrifying demon. Some people even report floating or having out-of-body experiences. Hallucinations sometimes come with meaningful sounds. If you don’t believe in such a monster, you may feel the presence of a time-traveling entity. There’s no real way to cure the condition, but it can be a terrifying experience. Many cultures have their own stories about the sleep paralysis monster. In Morocco, it’s referred to as the “bou rattat,” a demon that presses the chest of a sleeper. In Finland, the monster is known as the “unihalvaus,” which translates to “pressing spirit.” Other cultures refer to “The Hag” or “The Old Hag”. The word painaja also refers to the object of the dream. These are all common examples of the nightmare.