Doctor's warning over four things you should never do during sleep paralysis
Doctor Joe MD also suffers from sleep paralysis and shares his medical advice online. In his most recent video, which received over 32,000 likes, he discusses his experience and outlines four things you should never do during an episode.
He elaborated: "I had the most terrifying sleep paralysis this morning, so I wanted to tell you the four things you should never do if you’re having sleep paralysis. Typically, during the REM phase of sleep, your brain is highly active. This is when you dream.
"To stop you from acting out these dreams, your brain sends signals to inhibitory neurons to deactivate your skeletal muscles, essentially causing paralysis. When there’s a disruption or an overlap between the rim [REM] and wakefulness cycle.
"This is when sleep paralysis occurs. Things you should never do. Number one: Do not believe everything you experience during sleep paralysis. You can have very vivid hallucinations, and they’re often unpleasant. We’re talking demons.
"Number two: Don’t focus on the visions. Be aware that they’re not real. And this will allow you to shift your focus elsewhere. Number three don’t let your eyes wander. You may see things you’re not ready to see. Instead, close your eyes, which will shut out any bad visions and allow you to have a calm space to talk yourself down.
"And four, don’t struggle to get out of the sleep paralysis. This will cause panic, which is never good unless you’re at the disco.
“Instead, focus on little movements like wiggling your pinky or your little toe. This may wake up your nervous system and help you come out of it.”
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