Sleep paralysis facts for kids
When you dream, your muscles usually stay still. This is a normal part of sleep. It stops you from acting out your dreams. Most people don't notice this. Their muscles start moving again as soon as they wake up.
However, some people experience sleep paralysis. This is when you wake up but cannot move your body. It happens because the natural stillness of your muscles during sleep has not stopped yet. Sleep paralysis usually lasts only a few minutes. Some people say they feel a "presence" or even a "ghost" during this time.
What Causes Sleep Paralysis?
Scientists are still learning exactly why sleep paralysis happens. Some ideas suggest it might be linked to how your brain controls your muscles.
Your brain sends signals to your muscles through nerves. During sleep, a part of your brain called the pons (at the back of your brain) helps to keep your muscles relaxed. This stops you from moving around while you dream.
Sometimes, if certain chemicals in your brain, like melatonin, are at low levels, the signals to your muscles might not switch back on properly when you wake up. This can cause you to feel stuck.
Many people experience sleep paralysis at least once. It is more common for people who have a sleep condition called narcolepsy. Some people even try to cause sleep paralysis on purpose. They do this to try and have an Out of Body Experience. If you experience sleep paralysis, some people try to change it into a less scary experience.
Things That Can Make It Happen More Often
Some things might make sleep paralysis and strange feelings happen more often. These include:
- Sleeping on your back.
- Having irregular sleep times. This includes taking naps, sleeping in late, or not getting enough sleep (sleep deprivation).
- Feeling more stressed.
- Sudden changes in your daily life or where you live.
- Having a lucid dream right before it happens. A lucid dream is when you know you are dreaming.
- Imagining movements with your eyes closed for a while before you fall asleep.
See also
In Spanish: Parálisis del sueño para niños
