Italian researchers Costanza Colombo and Nicola Cellini conducted a survey on sleep paralysis among students. Students are often chosen as respondents since they often experience stress and constant sleep disruptions, which are believed to contribute to sleep paralysis. The authors surveyed 432 people, and the hypothesis was confirmed: 37.5% of participants had experienced sleep paralysis at least once in their lives.
Interestingly, 84% of individuals who had experienced sleep paralysis noted that they could not move or speak during the episode. Does this mean the rest were capable of doing so? Among other common symptoms are a feeling of numbness (again, not in everyone), a sense of presence in the room, fear of death, pressure on the chest, and visual and auditory hallucinations. Interestingly, some participants (though only 2%) experienced positive emotions, such as calmness, relaxation, and happiness, from these episodes.
The researchers found no difference between men and women. Age also did not have an effect, though a fairly narrow age range (18–35 years) was considered. However, sleep patterns appeared to matter, as night owls were much more likely than early birds to report sleep paralysis. The researchers speculate that nocturnal lifestyles are less healthy.
Have you ever experienced sleep paralysis without paralysis (when you could move and speak)?
The article was published in August 2024 in Sleep Medicine.
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