Sleep paralysis, a medical condition with a diverse cultural interpretation

Abstract

Sleep paralysis (SP) is a state associated with the inability to move that occurs when an individual is about sleeping or just waking. It could occur in healthy individuals as isolated SP. It has also been linked with other underlying psychiatry, familial, and sleep disorders. Statistics show that 8% of the general population suffers from SP. Although this value has been described inaccurately, there is no standard definition or etiology to diagnose SP. There are several speculations describing SP in the current literature. These descriptions can be viewed as either cultural-based or medical-based. The disparity among cultural or ethnic groups and medical professionals in identifying SP has led to the various approaches to managing the condition. This review aims to medically describe SP and how it is interpreted and managed among various cultural groups.

Dream engineering: Simulating worlds through sensory stimulation

“…The sense of paralysis and pressure on the chest can be neatly explained by the muscular atonia and shallow breathing pattern characteristic of REM sleep ( Cheyne, Newby-Clark, & Rueffer, 1999 ; Cheyne, Rueffer, & Newby-Clark, 1999 ). Yet, the felt presence takes forms that make sense according to cultural norms: demons, devils, witches, ghosts or aliens ( Olunu et al, 2018 ; Solomonova, 2018 ). Commonly cited is “the Old Hag”, a figure from Newfoundland folklore of a wretched travelling spirit who sits on the chest of the sleeper ( Hufford, 1982 ).…”

Untitled

“…The individual tries to breathe deeply and finds themselves unfit, creating a sensation of resistance. The trouble-actuated alert system interprets as an unearthly being sitting on their chest, hanging suffocation 32,33 . The sensation of these elevates the fear and the individuals struggle more in this sleep paralysis condition.…”

Dream Experiences in Alexithymia

“…However, sleep paralysis occurs when an individual is still conscious and aware of losing the control over their muscle, not being able to move nor open their eyes (Carr, 2014). Sleep paralysis is often accompanied by hallucinations and high dosage of anxiety but its duration does not last longer than a few minutes (Olunu, Kimo, Onigbinde, Akpanobong, Enang, Osanakpo, Monday, Otohinoyi, Fakoya, 2018). The second concept -lucid dreaming -is simply a dream in which an individual is aware of the fact they are dreaming, sometimes being able to even take the control over their own dream -although this part is not necessary to classify a dream as a lucid dream (Brogaard, 2012).…”