How to Stop an Attack of Sleep Paralysis

By eHow Health Editor

Rate: (3 Ratings)

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

Step1
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.
Step2
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.
Step3
Get out of bed. Go to the bathroom or get a drink from the kitchen.
Step4
When you return to bed, sleep on your side. Most attacks of sleep paralysis occur to people who sleep on their backs.
Step5
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.

Comments

| View All Comments

nomader said

Flag This Comment

on 3/18/2008 I also go through this episodes alot, quite frightening. It happens while falling asleep and waking up. I always find that by concentrating on something it softens the anxiety. Things that I concentrate on if I feel like something evil is around is praying or such. Also, when I find that I can't move I try to focus on my breathing, I establish the fact that I am breathing (somewhat at least) and that I will make it out alive and just focus on that (at the same time I try to focus on trying to move a foot, just a twitch even). It is always frightening but I've always made it out alive.

Flag This Comment

on 10/1/2007 I have a lot of sleep paralysis, and am usually laying on my side when it happens. I have trouble getting my body to move, but have found that if I make noise to attract attention, my partner can vigorously rub my arms and legs which seems to wake them up and allow me to move.

View All

Post a Comment

POST A COMMENT

Request a New How-To Article

Looking for more How To information? Chances are there’s an eHow member who knows how to do what you’re looking to do. Submit an article request now!

eHow Article:  How to Stop an Attack of Sleep Paralysis

eHow Health Editor

eHow Health Editor

Category: Health

Articles: See my other articles

Related Ads

Health

DrJewell
Meet DrJewell eHow’s Health Expert.