Waking up and realizing you cannot move is terrifying.
Your eyes are open.
Your mind is awake.
You know where you are.
But your body does not respond.
You try to speak, but no sound comes out. You try to move your arms or legs, but they feel locked in place. For some people, there is also a heavy pressure on the chest, a strange feeling of being watched, or even the sensation that someone is standing nearby.
It can feel supernatural.
It can feel dangerous.
But in many cases, this frightening experience has a known name: sleep paralysis.
What Is Sleep Paralysis?
Sleep paralysis happens when the mind wakes up before the body fully does.
During a normal night’s sleep, especially during the dream stage known as REM sleep, the body naturally reduces muscle movement. This prevents you from physically acting out your dreams.
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