Join Our Community!
Share
Mental Health > Sleep Disorders Forum > Sleep Paralysis prevention
User Profile
Q: Sleep Paralysis prevention
asked by: ForbiddenZone on July 21st, 2008
New User
I have had sleep paralysis all my life. When I was just a little girl, I remember waking up with my head in my pillow, feeling like I couldn't move or breathe. In the past it'd happen maybe once or twice a month, sometimes even less... but since having my son, I have it every time I sleep on my back, or if I sleep at all during the day, especially the morning. If I sleep in the morning, after waking up to take care of my son (he's two months old), I will quickly drift into sleep paralysis, but he unable to full wake myself up. Then as I am awakening, I will get it again... and be unable to wake myself. This happens at least twice in a row, and maximum thus far, four in a row.

I never feel terrified, I have an acceptance of sleep paralysis, and generally my attacks are very dream like and sleepy. I can't think straight enough to feel anything, other than, "Well, SH**!"

I'm seeing a sleep specialist on thursday, but I'm still a litle concerned at the sudden severity since having my son. Can anyone shed any light on this? I haven't been able to resist the temptation to sleep for the last four days, DESPITE the fact I know I'll get an attack. It's strange.

Does anyone know anything I could do to help prevent it? And if the medication for severe SP is okay to take while breastfeeding?
Did you find this post useful?
|
Replies(1)
Avatar
NightStar
replied on July 22nd, 2008
Experienced User
Well I have sleep paralysis, mostly when I was young, following trauma from child abuse. But I never noticed if I was sleeping on my back or not. These days I sleep on my side and have been that way for years. I don't remember otherwise.

I did go to the doctor for a EEG (I think, can't remember for sure). Where they stick the wires on your head and have you sleep. Well the night before they said I could not sleep, so I was sleep depervated and BAM it happened in the middle of the test. I was so mad because the nurse laid her hand on my arm, but didn't shake me out of it. Also the test came back normal. Which really made me mad.

But what I learned was that SLEEP DEPERVATION is the key to setting off the sleep paralysis. So ever since then I make sure to get 8 hours of sleep each night. And you know what - it has been years without any further problems with sleep paralysis. So I really think that was the trigger.
Did you find this post useful?
|
Quick Reply
Search