Sleep paralysis has existed for centuries and is possibly some of the most frightening experiences any person can have. It is believed that the first artistic impressions of sleep paralysis come from Henry Fuseli’s 1781 painting “The Nightmare”, which portrays a woman lying asleep on her back while a demon sits upon her chest and a strange creature in the background. Sleep paralysis occurs when rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, the stage in which dreams happen and the body is paralyzed to stop you from acting out what you’re dreaming, extends into your consciousness when you’re awake. And according to the American Sleep Association (ASA), “when a person sleeps in a fixed supine position, it increases the likelihood of them experiencing sleep paralysis” (“Sleep Paralysis”). It is generally characterized by hallucinations, overwhelming fear and sense of dread, and difficulties in the body. During hallucinations, people will typically sense a presence in the room with them that most people describe to feel evil or …show more content…
As stated before, immobility, or paralysis, is caused during REM sleep to prevent yourself from acting out what goes on in your dreams, so when you're awake during REM sleep you will find yourself completely immobile other than your eyes - you won’t even be able to speak. During REM sleep, your body is completely relaxed so when your entire body, other than your consciousness, is still trapped in the state of REM sleep it makes it difficult to control your breathing. “Due to the paralysis that naturally occurs during REM sleep the contribution of throat muscles to breathing are reduced. As a result of all this, it is impossible for a person to voluntarily control their breathing during REM” (“Neurobiology”). This explains why people who have had sleep paralysis find it difficult to breathe and feel pressure upon their