Sleep paralysis upon awakening
Common Questions and Answers about Sleep paralysis upon awakening
sleep-paralysis
I wake up cranky, down right foul moods, I don't like to be startled in any way. I also have a sleep disorder - I don't go into full body paralysis like you are supposed to so I have had boughts of sleep walking, I have even bitten a partner when I have been dead alseep My pdoc said it's quite commonn to wake up like this - only thing I can suggest is set ground rules.
When it occurs upon falling asleep, the person remains aware while the body shuts down for REM sleep, and it is called hypnagogic or predormital sleep paralysis. When it occurs upon awakening, the person becomes aware before the REM cycle is complete, and it is called hypnopompic or postdormital. The paralysis can last from several seconds to several minutes, with some rare cases being hours, "by which the individual may experience panic symptoms" (described below).
I had occasional episodes of sleep paralysis when I became symptomatic with chiari. At first I didn't know what was happening but after some research I realized it was sleep paralysis upon awakening. These episodes would always happen when I woke with my neck in a strange position, usually turned to the side with my chin down. Now, I am 3 months post op and I fell asleep on the couch the other day with my neck in a bad position and it happened again.
This is the symptom of a sleep disorder called Narcolepsy. This sleep disorder is characterized by excessive day time sleepiness, sleep paralysis, cataplexy where the person has episodes of loss of muscle function while awake, hypnogogic hallucinations and automatic behavior. You will need to consult your primary care physician, who may schedule you for a polysomnogram (sleep test) to rule out sleep disorders and initiate appropriate therapy. Best regards.
I have sleep disorders. In the top 3 of symptoms "sleep paralysis" is one of them and you can experience it awake. You say you were not asleep but it can happen upon awakening or before falling asleep. I think this section gives some good examples of clues you may have sleep paralysis and/or some type of sleep disorder whether it's caused by Chiari or not:
* Onset immediately upon awakening or just prior to falling asleep.
Physiologically, sleep paralysis is closely related to REM atonia, the paralysis that occurs as a natural part of REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. Sleep paralysis occurs either when falling asleep, or when awakening. When it occurs upon falling asleep, the person remains aware while the body shuts down for REM sleep, and it is called hypnagogic or predormital sleep paralysis.
Sleep paralysis is the inability to move or talk at the beginning or end of sleep.
Microsleep: Microsleeps are very brief sleep episodes during which people with narcolepsy continue to function (talk, put things away, etc.), and then awaken with no memory of the activities.
Nighttime wakefulness: People with narcolepsy may have periods of wakefulness at night, with hot flashes, elevated heart rate, and sometimes intense alertness.
Treatment of circadian rhythm disorders
Exogenous melatonin taken in the evening is, together with light therapy upon awakening, the standard treatment for delayed sleep phase syndrome and non-24-hour sleep-wake syndrome. It appears to have some use against other circadian rhythm sleep disorders as well, such as jet lag and the problems of people who work rotating or night shifts.
Taken 30 to 90 minutes before bedtime, melatonin supplementation acts as a mild hypnotic.
it definitely sounds like sleep paralysis i've had this for years....don't worry there is help and you will start to control it but you have to know what to do....no, you do NOT need Doctors and no you do NOT need any meds...and no you are NOT crazy...there are many people who experience this just like you.
Upon awakening 3 weeks ago, I found I had extreme tiredness in my body, like I was moving in slow motion, when I tried to sit-up, I was experiencing dizziness and didn't have my balance in my feet or body. The right side of my face and neck was slightly stiff a very sharp pain in the back and top, but on right side of my head.
t actually there can be a side effect of some medications. Others are sleep related, due to sleep disorders, sleep deprivation, or sometimes specific to while falling asleep or awakening (hypnagogic and hypnopompic hallucinations). Others due to lack of oxygen during sleep apnea events.
If you are getting adequate and good quality sleep and do not have sleep apnea or on suspect meds, seems hypnopompic hallucinations could be an explanation since you describe them as upon awakening.
I have a friend who has had 2 sleep studies which were inconclusive for sleep apnea. He had a trial of CPAP but wasn't able to tolerate it. He had not one but two mouth appliances made for him but both of them hurt his teeth so he can't use them. His dentist said he's never had someone before who couldn't be helped by an appliance.
He's at a loss as to what to try next for his non-restorative sleep where he figures he wakes up between 15-20 per night.
Your symptoms could be due to Hypnagogic hallucinations, which are hallucinations which occur between sleep and awakening. This is the symptom of a sleep disorder called Narcolepsy. This sleep disorder is characterized by excessive day time sleepiness, sleep paralysis, cataplexy where the person has episodes of loss of muscle function while awake, hypnogogic hallucinations and automatic behavior.
The actual cause of sleep paralysis is not understood. But sleep paralysis can run in families and people who have narcolepsy.
Sleep paralysis can be treated with clonazepam, Studies show that vitamin B12 improves sleep patterns but not enough evidence show prevention of sleep paralysis. Reducing stress and getting the proper amount of sleep may be beneficial. Learn to recognize your symptoms and the triggers of your sleep paralysis.
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