Re: I get scared!! I can't handle it!!

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Re: I get scared!! I can't handle it!!

Posted by SGS on November 02, 2002 at 17:41:00:
In Reply to: Re: I get scared!! I can't handle it!! posted by Arctic on October 30, 2002 at 20:20:26:
This sounds a lot like Sleep Paralysis. Scares people greatly but seems to be utterly harmless once you realise it for what it is. Try searching under this topic but excercise some critical thought about some of the information you'll find about it on the internet -the alien abduction brigade has decided it has something to do with "strange forces".
Back in reality Sleep Paralysis probably occurs because of a switch problem in the brain. During normal REM (or dream) sleep a chemical switch in the brain stem area turns off downward signals to your body. This is an important function as it stops you acting out your dreams and injuring yourselves and others. Sometimes just as you have woken up it doesn't turn off quite fast enough - but eventually does in 10-90 seconds. It has been reported that around 50% of people have this happen to them at some stage in their lives, and in around 15% of people it happens more often.

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Sleep Deprivation due to Sleep Apnea and insufficient sleep are common and can present as insomnia, narcolepsy, or idiopathic hypersomnia. In infants and children sleep problems commonly present themselves as ADD or ADHD.