The search for a cure for sleep paralysis

If you are one of the many who have experienced sleep paralysis then surely you have questions and want some answers regarding the sleep disorder. Unfortunately, there is little readily available information available on sleep paralysis.

The few readily available books on sleep paralysis and “supernatural assault” mostly contain interviews with sleep paralysis sufferers and the history of different cultural explanations for sleep paralysis. This information is very helpful in understanding the history of sleep paralysis as well as identifying the common symptoms. I applaud these authors (such as David J. Hufford) for writing books containing invaluable information on sleep paralysis and bringing some level of knowledge to the public domain. However, I have yet to find a true scientific inquiry into the source of sleep paralysis and how to prevent it from occurring using empirical data.

Some people I have encountered on the internet (especially on YouTube) will insist that they know the cure for sleep paralysis. After inquiring, they will either try to sell you their $50 dollar e-book or claim that the only cure is to declare Jesus Christ as your only lord and savior. Within the e-books, you will find some general information regarding SP and some very generic tips on how to “cure” it, including religious suggestions (some of which may help you in decreasing frequency but not cure it). Twitter is not much better of a tool for information on SP. Most tweets are about “making money with sleep paralysis” and are elaborate affiliate marketing schemes to sell aforementioned e-books on the topic.

I have nothing against people believing in religion in their private lives. However, I do have issues with religion when religion tries to involve itself in scientific matters, in this case claiming that the cure to a medical sleep condition is to convert to a certain faith. I find it absolutely appalling that tactics like these are used as recruiting techniques by religious groups, although it doesn’t surprise me. Many of the videos I’ve seen on YouTube are of that nature. I do like to give people the benefit of the doubt, so maybe some of the aforementioned people have had success with praying during a sleep paralysis episode (as the feeling of empowerment does aid in ending episodes) and are just trying to help people with the only method they know to work. However, I will note that I have been attacked by some Christians for questioning their methods.

As for doctors, many are very poorly informed regarding sleep paralysis; that is if they have even have ever heard of the condition. It is entirely possible that psychiatrists, when are presented with a case showing the typical symptoms of SP (sudden paralysis, hypnagogic/hypnopompic hallucinations, vibrations, levitation,etc.), may diagnose their patients as schizophrenic or psychotic—both of which are certainly not true. Sleep paralysis sufferers aren’t insane. And the doctors who have heard of SP will likely prescribe anti-depressants, which inhibit REM sleep, thus curtailing the likeliness of an SP episode. Although partially effective in preventing SP episodes I don’t believe this to be the best solution since antidepressants will change the mood and biological chemistry of the patient not only during sleep but during the waking hours as well. Furthermore, the side effects of such drugs can be worse than the original condition they are meant to treat. I see this method as treating the symptoms of a disorder rather than investigating to find the source of the problem and treating that instead.

If we are to find a cure for sleep paralysis we first need to understand the root of the problem.

Possible causes of sleep paralysis

The first assumption I will make is that SP is caused by something internal and biological, as it would seem apparent to me that it would be.

Since the human body is only known to naturally become paralyzed during REM sleep (known as REM atonia and is hypothesized to stop the body from physically acting out dreams) and isolated sleep paralysis usually occurs as a person goes in or comes out of REM sleep, then we can conclude that SP is related to the biological mechanism responsible for REM atonia (paralysis). If this hypothesis were true then we must study this mechanism in SP sufferers as well as in non-experiencing individuals to determine where the problem lies.

There are, however, some questions I have regarding the aforementioned hypothesis.

Let’s assume that in individuals who experience SP have an irregular mechanism responsible for REM atonia. Would it mean that the mechanism responsible for retaining/blocking consciousness is working properly but the mechanism for ending/beginning REM atonia is irregular? Or could it mean that even in sufferers of SP the mechanism for REM atonia is working properly but for some reason consciousness is being retained where as in healthy individuals the memory of the paralysis is blocked out? Now let’s say either of these assumptions are correct; what is causing the irregularity to begin with? Is it diet (such inadequate levels of melatonin)? Genetic predisposition? Perhaps both or even some factor entirely different.

Another concern I have with the assumption that the cause of SP lies within a mechanism responsible for REM atonia is that many SP sufferers (myself included) have reported experiencing SP at the onset of sleep. Since REM sleep usually occurs after 4.5 hours of NREM (non-rapid eye movement) then why do many people experience SP at the onset of sleep? Can this mean that there may be an underlying issue in some or all of SP sufferers regarding REM sleep cycles?

These questions need to be addressed by conducting studies (likely using a combination of EEG and EKG and other recordings) before anything can be answered.

Possible solutions

If the cause of SP involves REM sleep mechanisms then we should be able to find a cure or remedies involving correcting these mechanisms. Through my research and tests (albeit on myself) I have found natural ways to get SP episodes under control and many ways to minimize its occurrence. I believe if these methods were tested further, they could strengthen the argument that SP is caused by said issues with REM sleep mechanisms.

I categorize these into three possible routes of treatment:

1. Minimizing the number of sleep paralysis episodes without the use of drugs.
2. Preventing sleep paralysis with the use of drugs.
3. Learning to control SP episodes (and being able to end them at will).

Minimizing sleep paralysis episodes

If we want to minimize the occurrence of SP naturally then we must look at the factors which are known to exacerbate its frequency. These factors include:

• Irregular sleep schedule
• Lack of sleep
• Mental conditions such as stress and bipolar disorder
• Sleep problems such as narcolepsy
• Sleeping in the supine position
• Use of certain medications and substances

Most of these issues are easily correctable. Sleep schedules can be altered through will and exercise can be encouraged to promote healthier sleeping patterns. Stress can be minimized through a number of methods including exercise, activities such as yoga, meditation, lifestyle changes, therapy, and so forth. Sleeping position can be altered through practice (sleeping on your side is better overall). Lastly, medications can be changed and substance use (such as caffeine) curtailed or stopped.

I’ve found that just correcting these issues vastly diminishes the prevalence of SP.

Preventing sleep paralysis with drugs

If any drugs are to be used to treat SP, I would assume the most effective ones would be those which alter REM sleep. There are two types of drugs that come to mind: anti-depressants and cannabis, although each one has its pros and cons.

Antidepressants are well-known to suppress REM sleep and are currently being prescribed to patients with SP. The Wikipedia article on antidepressants states:

All major antidepressant drugs, except trimipramine and mirtazapine, suppress REM sleep, and it has been proposed that the clinical efficacy of these drugs largely derives from their suppressant effects on REM sleep. The three major classes of antidepressant drugs, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), profoundly suppress REM sleep. Mirtazapine either has no effect on REM sleep or increases it slightly. The MAOIs almost completely suppress REM sleep, while the TCAs and SSRIs have been shown to produce immediate (40-85%) and sustained (30-50%) reductions in REM sleep. This effect often causes increased fatigue in patients who take large doses of antidepressants for extended periods of time. Such fatigue can occasionally interfere with a patient’s everyday activities. Abrupt discontinuation of MAOIs can cause a temporary phenomenon known as “REM rebound” in which the patient experiences extremely vivid dreams and nightmares.

It has been shown that antidepressants are effective in preventing SP episodes. However, I do believe that the side effects of such drugs for use in all SP patients may outweigh the benefits. The use of antidepressants should be a last resort for SP sufferers and should, in my opinion, only be used in extreme cases. Effective but with many side effects.

Cannabis, on the other hand, has similar REM suppressing abilities but fewer side effects (more about marijuana and REM sleep). I’ve had excellent success treating SP with medical marijuana. It is not necessary to smoke copious amounts to obtain positive effects. I’ve found that all that is necessary is one hit (about .1 gram) of smoked cannabis (indica variety) 30 min – 1 hour before bed or .05g of baked and ingested cannabis 2 – 3 hours before bed. There has not been a single time I have experienced SP directly after using cannabis. The side effects are far fewer than antidepressants and cannabis is after all a natural substance. Nevertheless, marijuana is still highly illegal in many countries around the world and states within the United States. Unfortunately, funding for research involving cannabis is still taboo and prohibited in many places.

Controlling sleep paralysis

Surprisingly there are benefits of having SP. The more you have SP, the more you learn about it, thus the ability to control it may become apparent. SP can also lead to what is known as an out-of-body experience (OBE).

SP often is accompanied by vivid visual hallucinations, usually of evil connotations (e.g. demons, witches, shadow figures, or aliens). Although these hallucinations are often terrifying for the experiencer, they are merely reflections of that person’s current state of mind, that is to say that they are fearful and rationalize their situation in such a manner that they conclude that it must be caused by supernatural forces. Once they come to this assumption and truly believe this, they do indeed experience terrifying hallucinations. The hallucinations cause panic and more fear, which in turn cause the sufferer to become more stressful, which in turn leads to more SP episodes—a vicious cycle indeed.

Some individuals who have experienced SP long enough will eventually conclude that the hallucinations are not real and will no longer fear them. At that point the hallucinations cease to strike fear in the individual and can even be conjured up and manipulated at will. Instead of seeing negative images and experiencing a feeling of impending doom, the individual can see fantastical images and experience a sense of bliss or ecstasy.

Personally, I have experienced SP for most of my life and in recent years I have not had a single negative experience. I have conditioned myself to focus on positive thoughts whenever I feel a symptom of SP. Now, instead of thinking about ghosts or demons, I imagine a close friend, family member or celebrity whose works I enjoy and instantly they appear before me, often smiling or doing something silly to make me laugh, which in turn breaks me from the SP episode within seconds. Laughing is also effective in ending SP as breathing ability is retained and can be just enough to regain movement. I see no reason why patients can not be taught similar techniques by their doctors to mitigate the trauma brought on by SP.

Another benefit of cultivating control of SP is the ability to attain an OBE directly following an episode of SP. I find OBEs to be absolutely amazing for self-development as well as just being fun. The OBE (sometimes referred to as “astral projection”) has been written about and documented, although it still remains a fringe topic in terms of science. I am highly skeptical regarding the claimed nature of the OBE as some claim it is actually the mind traveling outside of the physical body to other dimensions and such. I find that it is more plausible that OBEs are a form of lucid dreaming or at least a closely related form of conscious dreaming. Again, more needs to be studied to determine the true nature.

When I feel SP coming on I focus on separating from my physical body and “projecting” myself to a certain location (either real or imaginary) and suddenly I’m in the scenario with the ability to move about as a spectator. I can fly around and move through objects at will. Eventually after a few seconds or minutes I return to my body and wake up immediately.

I haven’t met a single person who has regretted having an OBE and most people say they were life-changing experiences. I believe the correlation between SP and the OBE needs to be studied further as it can have vast implications in the field of biology and psychology, namely on the topic of consciousness.

I truly hope more will be researched on the topic of sleep paralysis and knowledge spread among doctors, since they have the greatest ability to affect the lives of SP sufferers if only they were more informed regarding it. It has to start somewhere, so this is my call for more to be done to help prevent and cure sleep paralysis.

Note: I am not a doctor and the information contained here should is only for informative purposes.