{"id":36478,"date":"2025-07-30T17:58:20","date_gmt":"2025-07-30T17:58:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/damwebserver.com\/dreamdoctor\/articles\/frozen-4\/"},"modified":"2025-07-30T17:58:20","modified_gmt":"2025-07-30T17:58:20","slug":"frozen-4","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/damwebserver.com\/dreamdoctor\/articles\/frozen-4\/","title":{"rendered":"frozen"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hi Pat\u2014 <\/p>\n

<\/span>It\u2019s not a great feeling being unable to move, is it? <\/p>\n

<\/span>Fortunately, what you are experiencing is an entirely benign curiosity of REM (dreaming) sleep, called \u201csleep paralysis.\u201d During each period of REM that we transit during the night (there are usually 4-5 REM periods per night), our muscle tone becomes completely inhibited. In other words, we become unable to move. The reason the body does this is so that we do not actually get up and act out our dreams. <\/p>\n

<\/span>What is unusual in your case is that you notice the inhibition. As you write in your report, you frequently are aware of this \u201cparalysis.\u201d It is an uncomfortable feeling, and you feel an overwhelming urge to wake yourself. <\/p>\n

<\/span>My advice in these cases is always the same. \u201cSleep paralysis\u201d usually is not a serious enough condition to warrant any type of treatment with medicine. The truth is that you would have to take some pretty strong neuro-active drugs to limit its occasion (sleeping pills, anti-depressants), and even then results are not guaranteed. The most important thing to recognize about sleep paralysis is that a) it is an entirely natural accompaniment to REM, and b) that no one ever stays paralysed. The difficulty you experience awakening yourself is caused by the fact that your body needs a certain amount of REM each day. This why you feel \u201cstuck\u201d in REM\u2014your body is trying to get the job done. <\/p>\n

<\/span>If you can overcome the natural fear that attends the situation, sleep paralysis actually is an excellent vehicle for bringing consciousness into REM sleep. If you can hold on to the awareness that you are dreaming, and can relax enough so that you don\u2019t worry about waking up, then you can sit back and watch your dreams like a viewer at a movie theatre. But beware: you also will be an actor in this play. <\/p>\n

<\/span>My advice is to relax and try to have fun with it; you may learn to <\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span> enjoy it. If, on the other hand, it continues to be a bother, ask your doctor for some sleeping pills to see if that doesn\u2019t help. <\/p>\n

<\/span>In the meantime: Sweet dreams!<\/p>\n

Back to original question<\/a>
Back to Sleep Paralysis page<\/a><\/span>
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