Neurology Explains Terrifying Sleep Paralysis and Hallucinations

Imagine your brain wakes up, but your body is still asleep!

That's kind of like sleep paralysis.

Normally, when you're in a special sleep stage called REM sleep, your brain tells your body to stay very still so you don't act out your dreams.

Sometimes, when you wake up, your brain remembers to stay still for a little too long.

This means you're awake and aware, but your body feels frozen, which can be really scary.

Your brain can also play tricks on you, making you see or feel things that aren't there, like shadowy figures or a heavy feeling.

This happens because the parts of your brain that handle fear and dreams are still a bit active while the parts that control movement haven't quite caught up yet.

It’s a temporary glitch in how your brain and body talk to each other during sleep.

Good sleep habits and managing stress can help make these scary moments happen less often.