Sleep paralysis

[CalicoPurpl90]

I think I may have a slight problem with sleep paralysis. I don't experience it very often thankfully, but I have experienced it on at least three separate occasions. Most recently I experienced this last night actually. I was asleep and started having a bad dream that I was being chased and was shouting at the other person to get away from me and partially started to wake up and became consciously aware that I was actually shouting out loud. I will usually be laying on my back in a very still position. After waking myself up I will usually change positions and just go back to sleep. I talked to my Mom about it and she apparently has the same problem too. It is to the extent that she is no longer able to sleep on her back. Anyways, has anyone else experienced this? What do you find that helps?

[Hidden]

Hi. Did you have any changes in your current medications?

[FearIsALiar]

I had sleep paralysis before during a pretty stressful period of last year. It was so scary. I couldn’t even move when I woke up and it would last a good 5 minutes. I couldn’t even move my eyes, my mouth, or my body. It really only happened when I laid on my back. So maybe try avoiding laying on your back somehow!

[FearIsALiar]

Try some mediation exercises before bed as well so you go to sleep less stressed and that should help

[Hidden]

Food intolerances/sensitivities are known to cause sleep disorders. Most people dont even know they have one.

[CalicoPurpl90]

Thanks for the responses guys. It seems to only be occurring when I am laying on my back, so I might try seeing if I can avoid laying on my back somehow. I do feel like I generally switch positions a lot when I am sleeping. I start off laying on my back because I like to rest my neck and find that laying on my back is the most comfortable position for my neck. I have not experienced sleep paralysis frequently and it generally only lasts for a few minutes. I am not sure if it is something that can run in the family or be slightly hereditary or not. As I mentioned, my mom has this issue and cannot sleep on her back. I am suspecting that my brother may very well have sleep apnea as he has described experiencing choking sensations prior to waking and he frequently experiences night terrors and sleep walking occasionally.

I am not sure about any food intolerances/sensitivities. There are certain foods that I do not like so I usually avoid them. For instance, I am not able to eat green apples or drink pomegranate juice without experiencing a splitting headache. Any other juice or types of apples I am fine. Maybe my body finds these items to be too acidic for me because of the citrus acid, I am not sure.