Some people experience periods of being paralyzed when they first wake up. This is a very rare phenomenon that researchers are very interested in. Generally it takes place when the individual experiences a scary dream or nightmare. They feelings of paralysis are believed to be triggered from that bond that the mind and body have with each other. It can last for only a few seconds when the individual is gathering their thoughts and realizing what has taken place.

For others though they inability to move lasts for several minutes. This can be extremely scary for them to deal with. Some people have episodes of sleep paralysis several times a week. For others it is an occurrence that only takes place once in a while. Some people claim they have sleep paralysis before they have even completely fallen asleep. This is very scary for them as they can’t even connect it to a dream they were having.

Most experts will tell you that sleep paralysis is nothing to worry about. It is believed to be the result of the brain not fully understanding when the person is fully asleep or not. Yet for those individuals that suffer from sleep paralysis it is extremely frightening. Some children have it from an early age but many develop it as an adult.

Through various types of research on individuals with sleep paralysis though some information has come to light. Most people that suffer from it also have some form of narcolepsy. This means their body doesn’t process the sleep cycle properly like it normally would. They can fall asleep at various times during the day even when they are involved in other activities.

Other tests show there is a connection between sleep paralysis and those that suffer from panic disorders. Those that have a very irregular sleep schedule may be more prone to it as well. This could explain why someone suffers from it after a traumatic experience has taken place in their life. There is also research to indicate that sleep paralysis occurs more for African Americans.

There have been some experiments with various types of drugs that a person can take to prevent sleep paralysis. This is generally only prescribed in cases where the individual is suffering from such episodes on a regular basis. They include Ritalin and Clonazepam.