It’s the middle of the night when your eyes suddenly burst open. Attempting to shift onto your side, you find that your body is unresponsive. A tingling numbness spreads quickly through your limbs, and you feel a pressure on your chest. Even your fingers refuse to respond. Out of the corner of your eye, you think you notice a shadow entering your room; but, paralyzed, you are unable to cry out or protect yourself.
This terrifying experience depicts a typical episode of sleep paralysis, a common sleep disorder characterized by an inability to move voluntarily while falling asleep or waking up [1]. Although head, limb, and body movements are impaired during sleep paralysis, the sleeper still has full control over her eyes and breathing [2]. This often occurs as one is entering or exiting REM sleep, a stage in which the sleeper’s muscles are paralyzed in order to prevent dangerous movement during dreams [3]. Therefore, factors that disrupt the sleep cycle (such as existing sleep difficulties, alcohol consumption, anxiety, depression, and trauma increase the chances of experiencing an episode of sleep paralysis [1].
In most cases, physical paralysis is accompanied by hallucinations, a state between dream and wakefulness often referred to as the “Nightmare” episode [4]. Although specific visions will vary based on the sleeper, there is a common theme of an intruder, such as a strange person, demon, or old hag, lurking in the bedroom or sitting on the sleeper’s chest [2]. For many cultures, these hallucinations are linked to a deeper significance: for example, 92 out of 100,000 healthy Laotian Hmong men have died from Sudden Unexplained Nocturnal Death Syndrome (SUNDS). The reason? Members of the Hmong community who are traditionally animist believe that sleep paralysis occurs when a dab tsog (nightmare spirit) sits on the sleeper’s chest and steals her breath. The prevalence of this belief causes significant psychological stress which, coupled with the sleep paralysis episodes themselves, is hypothesized to be a trigger of SUNDS among the Hmong people [5]. Furthermore, many Italians attribute episodes of sleep paralysis to an attack of the Pandafeche, which is described as an evil witch, ghost, or cat-like creature. To prevent sleep paralysis, it is recommended to place a broom upside-down by the bedroom door, since the Pandafeche will get stuck counting the fibers of the broom instead of attacking the sleeper [6].
The cultural significance behind sleep paralysis not only defines the disorder’s prevalence, but is shown to actually intensify its effects on the sleeper. Upon comparing sleep paralysis within Italy and Denmark (a country without widespread folklore associated with the disorder), researchers discovered that Italians reported higher rates of sleep paralysis, more prolonged physical effects, and a greater fear of the disorder–42% of Italian sleep paralysis sufferers revealed that they feared dying during an episode, as compared to 17% of Danes fearing the same fate [6]. As stated in the study of Hmong sleep paralysis victims, “culture specific stressful experiences [are] significantly associated with...REM-related disorders, suggesting a bio-psychological connection” [5]. For this reason, different cultures’ interpretations of sleep paralysis likely affect the role it will play in the citizens’ lives and its psychological repercussions.
Sleep paralysis is a prevalent global phenomenon–it is estimated to affect between 1.7% and 40% of the general population, and 28% of college students [2]. This significant percentage suggests yet another reason for students to prioritize a healthy sleep schedule. And perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to keep an upside-down broom inside your doorway...just in case.
References
[1] Denis, D.; French, C.C.; Rowe, R.; et al. A twin and molecular genetics study of sleep paralysis and associated factors. J Sleep Res. 2015, 24 (4), 438-446.
[2] Olunu, E.; Kimo, R.; Onigbinde, E.Q.; et al. Sleep Paralysis, a Medical Condition with a Diverse Cultural Interpretation. Int J App Basic Med Res. 2018, 8 (3), 137-142.
[3] Davis, S. Sleep Paralysis: Demon in the Bedroom. WebMD. 2001.
[4] Cox, A.M. Sleep paralysis and folklore. J Roy Soc Med. 2015, 6 (7).
[5] Young, E.; Xiong, S.; Finn, L.; et al. Unique sleep disorders profile of a population-based sample of 74 Hmong immigrants in Wisconsin. Soc Sci Med. 1982, 79, 57-65.
[6] Jalal, B.; Romanelli, A.; Hinton, D.E. Sleep paralysis in Italy: Frequency, hallucinatory experiences, and other features. Transcult Psychiatry. 2020.
[7] Image source: https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/sleep-paralysis-night-terrors-211699