Forty percent of people have experienced sleep paralysis at least once in their lives—a terrifying state where the mind awakens, but the body refuses to move. This figure was presented by researchers from India, led by Manvendra Singh Shaktawat. The authors, who are primarily interested in practical medicine rather than theory, studied the case of a specific patient, whom they called “Subject K.”
The subject first encountered sleep paralysis in adolescence. Initially, Subject K perceived the condition as a fascinating out-of-body journey. But over time, as terrifying hallucinations such as the sounds of footsteps and beckoning voices accompanied the paralysis, the experience ceased to be pleasant. Subject K identified a clear link between sleep paralysis and body position. Specifically, sleeping on his back almost guaranteed an episode, whereas sleeping on his stomach practically eliminated it. Moreover, he discovered two ways to interrupt the paralysis: trying to move or calming down, although this is a difficult feat when one is in a state of panic.
The article emphasizes that after a person experiences sleep paralysis once, they become more vulnerable to its recurrence, especially in the presence of provoking factors. We should add that sleep paralysis is one of the phase states, and people can enter a lucid dream from it. But the authors prescribe a more traditional remedy, namely, a healthy lifestyle, regular physical exercise, following a sleep schedule, and consuming a balanced diet. This is the recipe that ultimately “cured” Subject K.
The article was published in June 2025 in the World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research.
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