Sleep paralysis

[Jman]

I get theses pretty often, is this a common thing among people who deal with CPTSD?

 

[arfie]

hello jman. welcome to the forum.

sleep paralysis is normal for everyone and it typically happens 4 to 6 times a night as part of the REM sleep stage. it is what allows to dream of flying without jumping off the roof. i might theorate that ptsd sufferers are more aware of their sleep style because of the insomnia and nightmares which so often arise. just theorating. . .

 

[Friday]

Sleep paralysis is how we don’t act out our dreams, at most we twitch a bit.

So it’s a healthy-mammal-thing. You’ve probably seen pet cats/dogs “run” in their sleep. Little paw twitches.

Being AWAKE during sleep paralysis, otoh, is a LITTLE weird?
- Most people experience it a few hundred times during their life. Out of tens of thousands of times not experiencing it. Enough to go ‘OMG! RIGHT?!? So freaky!’ When it comes up in conversation.
- People with disorders & conditions that effect sleep tend to be aware of it a little more frequently, up to a lot more frequently; in both cases usually paired with something else disorder/condition specific.

Being awake whilst your body is numb/floaty/out of your control? CAN also be a parasomina/sleep disorder in and of itself. But it’s relatively rare. Most people are only awake/aware moments to minutes, before the reflex shuts off.