It is a state of being conscious but not able to speak or move. It may last for a few seconds to minutes. It is often frightening, but the condition can be improved with better sleeping habits. It can affect anyone but is most common in people with sleep apnea or narcolepsy.
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I am facing sleep paralysis for the past two months. Kindly help.
Query: Hi doctor, I am a 30 year old female. I am a working woman. I am facing sleep paralysis frequently from the last two months. Sometimes, it happens on consecutive days. I have faced this earlier also, but then it was very rare once in six months or once in a year. It always happens in the morning t... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Sleep paralysis is not a disease. It is the transition that happens during various stages of sleep. Usually, if you do not have any other symptoms apart from this, then you do not require any imaging. In case, you experience any other symptoms, then you have to be... Read Full »
I have been suffering from sleep paralysis, and I am scared to fall asleep. Please help.
Query: Hi doctor,I am facing severe sleep paralysis. It started when I was between 13 to 14 years of age. But they were never very often, and they would happen once every four to five months. But recently, it has become very often (three to four times every night), and I am scared to fall asleep now.Thank ... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I understand your situation. You may have sleep paralysis due to underlying stress. Although there is non-pharmacological management for it, you should follow the guidelines below to deal with it. It will help you. Do exercises for 30 to 45 minutes daily, like at leas... Read Full »
I dream strange things during sleep paralysis. Is it normal?
Query: Hello doctor,I have started having sleep paralysis four years back. Back then, I was able to open my eyes and was not able to move my body and speak. Whenever I used to have sleep paralysis, I used to see people torturing me. As if they are trying to harm and kill me. When I first had sleep paralysi... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. It can be frightening to experience sleep paralysis but generally it is not harmful and can occur in otherwise healthy people. It is common to have hallucinatory experiences like seeing people who wish to harm you when you have sleep paralysis. Do you have any other ... Read Full »
Why do I get irresistible sleep attack during day time with sleep paralysis?
Query: Hello doctor, I have daily sleep attacks during the day (irresistible sleep attacks) and before I fall to sleep I see things like I am dreaming but I knew I am awake. At night, before I fall asleep I have multiple episodes of sleep paralysis. Sometimes in every morning, I have sleep attacks and I f... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Irresistible sleep attacks during daytime are called narcolepsy. They are usually considered harmful and should be treated with stimulant drugs. Amphetamines are used to treat them. Sleep paralysis is also treated with antidepressant medicines and Benzodiazepines. U... Read Full »
I am a 26-year-old male who cannot move while dreaming in my sleep. Is it normal?
Query: Hi doctor, I am a 26-year-old male. Sometimes during sleep, I am not able to move in my dreams and I feel stuck. I feel it is a dream in a dream. I tried to recover in a dream. But I was stuck in dreams. I learned that this symptom shows- sleep paralysis. What is the problem? How to cure? Please hel... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I understand your concern. You have correctly identified that your symptoms are possibly suggestive of sleep paralysis. Did you have these symptoms in your teenage years? Does anyone else in the family have similar symptoms? It may have been mild and not recognized... Read Full »
I have serious sleep paralysis with shortness of breath. Why?
Query: Hello doctor, I am having serious sleep paralysis. In it I feel like I can move my muscle a bit like slightly moving my finger or speaking short words like "maa". But I think I am hallucinating that too. Plus I am having acute bronchitis in this case and have to breathe through the mouth. So I have... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. As far as your bronchitis is concerned, I advise my patients to avoid smoking and take steam inhalation twice a day. I also advise syrup Phensedyl BR (Ambroxol and Guaifenesin) 2.5 ml twice a day for five days and tablet Allegra M one tablet at night for five days. I... Read Full »
What to do for the sharp stabbing headaches that get worse after exercise?
Query: Hello doctor, I am an 18 year old girl, who weighs 140 lbs and I am 5.7 feet tall. I get sharp stabbing headaches, which get worse after exercise. I also feel a less intense pressure throughout my head. I have this problem from the past four years, and they are getting worse. When I am stressed, I g... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Thank you for the query. The signs you described are non-specific but should be checked. Especially, if headaches are followed with vomiting, you had multiple prescription glasses changed rapidly, loss of smell, and have trouble expressing verbally. There are quite a ... Read Full »
I cannot move my body when I get up in the morning. How to treat sleep paralysis?
Query: Hello doctor, I am a 21 year old male, who weighs 70 kg and I am 5.6 feet tall. I am having a lot of problems while waking up in the morning. I cannot move my body when I get up in the morning. It happens when I have a disturbed sleep. One of my friend, who is not a physician and a patient of sleep ... Read Full »
Dr. J. Mariano Anto Bruno Mascarenhas
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help you. Your condition is not "paralysis." It is likely to be a sleep disorder called sleep paralysis. First and foremost, maintain a natural circadian rhythm. This means that you... Read Full »