How to Stop an Attack of Sleep Paralysis

Nearly everyone suffers from an occasional attack of sleep paralysis. A sleeping person suddenly awakens from a dream to find he or she can't move. Often there seems to be someone else in the room, a malevolent presence who can't be seen or who seems intent on suffocating the sleeper. As frightening as an attack of sleep paralysis may be, a few techniques can stop it and prevent future attacks. Follow these steps to find out how.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Recognize that you're suffering from nothing more than a miscue. Your brain, which prevents you from acting out your dreams by paralyzing your body, simply hasn't realized that you've awakened. It continues to dream, which is why you see things that aren't really there and why you can't move.
2. Try to break the paralysis by concentrating on moving only one finger or toe. If you can't do this, try moving your eyes, looking side to side as rapidly as you can manage. If you can get a single body part moving, this is often enough to break the paralysis, dispelling the dream images and allowing you to sit up.
3. Get out of bed. Go to the bathroom or get a drink from the kitchen.
4. When you return to bed, sleep on your side. Most attacks of sleep paralysis occur to people who sleep on their backs.
5. To avoid future attacks of sleep paralysis, adopt a regular sleeping schedule. Make sure you're getting adequate rest. Take steps to manage the stress in your daily life. Stop taking sleep aids if you can.

Tips & Warnings

• Sleep paralysis is sometimes associated with narcolepsy. If you suffer from sudden attacks of sleepiness during the day, see a doctor.