Jump to content
Volunteer with Us at Naijalez: Empowering Nigerian Lesbian Community ×
Nigerian Lesbian Forum

Sleep Paralysis


Chrmd

Recommended Posts

Have you been having sleep paralysis, or getting the symptoms of one? No need to lose any sleep over this. When you're snoozing and you move into REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, the deepest part of the sleep cycle, your body becomes largely disconnected from your brain — this is why we don't hurt ourselves or our bed-mates during active dreams. Sometimes, the mind disconnects too early or too late from the body, leaving you unable to move voluntarily. This temporary condition is called sleep paralysis, and it usually subsides after a minute or two.

 

Though sleep paralysis is harmless, it can be terrifying, especially if you don't know what's happening to you. Someone experiencing an episode may have hallucinations, or have the feeling that someone is in the room or sitting on his/her chest. Hearing and smell can also be involved, as can the feeling of floating or flying. Sleep paralysis is also common — so common that many different cultures have their own names and stories associated with the condition:

 

Newfoundland An "old hag" with supernatural powers was thought to sit on the sleeper's chest and cause paralysis.

 

West Indies

A "kokma" or ghost baby was thought to jump on the chest of the sleeper and attack his/her throat.

 

China

"Ggui ya" or pressure applied by a ghost was thought to be responsible for paralyzing the sleeper.

Nigeria

Yoruba Calls It 'orinrin', demons

 

Some researchers believe that sleep paralysis could even be responsible for recent reports of late-night alien abductions.

 

The exact cause of sleep paralysis is unknown. The condition is often linked to the sleep disorder narcolepsy — a condition that causes people to lose control over when they fall asleep — but people who don't have narcolepsy experience episodes as well. Sleep paralysis seems to run in families and is more common in teenagers and people who have panic attacks.

 

A few things you can do to lessen the chances of encountering sleep paralysis include:

 

Exercising at least twice a week

Going to sleep and waking up at the same times each day

Getting enough sleep to keep you feeling alert and awake throughout your day

Reducing or better managing the amount of stress you deal with during the day (check out some Q&As in the Go Ask Alice! Stress and Anxiety archive for tips)

If you experience sleep paralysis more than once a week for at least six months, a health care provider or sleep specialist might be able to prescribe medication that can help you regulate your sleep patterns and manage the episodes.

 

In the meantime, perhaps knowing that this is within the range of normal will help you move toward sweeter dreams.

source; goaskalice.columbia.edu

Link to comment
Share on other sites

When I was little, I had an episode of sleep paralysis, I did not know what it was so I told my mom and she organized A Two day prayer and fasting for me and she invited our church pastors and ministers, she believed I was attacked spiritually and the pastor did not help matters at all because he believed the same thing. I would never forget because I would be like in the middle of a circle with everyone praying and casting lol.

 

About a few years ago it happened again, I learned my lesson and never told her about it lol before she will tell me to go and sleep in the church for protection lol.

 

Has it happened to anyone of you before?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This happens to me a lot! And ! I always call my mum immediately after to "report" so she will will pray against all my enemies even though i know betterbiggrin.gifbiggrin.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've experienced this once and tbh it really freaked me out. Coupled with the normal Nigerian mentality that "winch is pressing you"

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've never experienced it. By the way, i'm so excited to share the dream I had last night! I was smoking weed or something in this wooden carved stuff, it was so cool and erotic in a weird way, maybe it was cause of the girl I was smoking it with anyway but yaaayy!! I'm living in my dreams!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Administrators

Nice article. I have experienced sleep paralysis and its scary...you try shouting and you can't. Thanks for sharing!

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderators

Hahahaha. I tend to tell myself, "before you conclude that something is spiritual' look to science.". That was how I stumbled on a similar article. I realized that the major problem with the black culure is ignorance. Lol.

 

Thanks for this... made for a good read.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...