Sound Sleep Guide

Archive for May, 2007

Sleep paralysis disorder can frighten a person terribly the first time that this occurs, and the person afflicted should seek medical assistance immediately. Sleep paralysis disorder is a strange affliction that affects a person usually without warning. The person affected suddenly wakes up mentally, but this person cannot move their body. They feel that they are completely and suddenly paralyzed. The underlying problem occurs when the mind wakes from sleep, but the body does not follow so the body cannot move. This disorder is also known as “Hag Phenomena”. The person experiencing this problem often panics if they do not understand the problem.

People have experienced two different types of this disorder. The first type of sleep paralysis disorder occurs during REM sleep. This is the sleep stage that lasts about two hours for a normal person, and this is the period when a person dreams. During this sleep phase a person experiences rapid eye movement, loss of reflexes and increased brain activity. During this time the muscles are relaxed, and there is rapid eye movement. In normal sleep patterns the person is paralyzed while dreaming, but the paralysis stops before the person wakes up. With sleep paralysis disorder, hormones are released that paralyze the body so the person does not move during a disturbing dream.

Sleep Paralysis Disorder Is a Temporary Phenomenon

In most cases, the paralysis only lasts a very brief time. In another form of sleep paralysis disorder, the person awakes and feels that there is some kind of presence in the room. They often feel that this is some kind of an evil spirit, and they are frightened by this presence. Other people who have suffered from this disorder felt that this presence was actually suffocating them, and they felt unable to respond to this threat because of the temporary paralysis. Many people who experience this condition feel that they are in danger of dying at that time. The sleep paralysis disorder rarely lasts more than about eight minutes.

Although this is not a dangerous condition, it is frightening to the person. There are some simple actions that each person can do to avoid a subsequent episode of this sleep paralysis disorder. People should try to get an adequate amount of sleep. Sometimes people push themselves and deprive themselves of the sleep they require. People should also sleep on their back to avoid this disorder. They should also try to have a regular schedule for their sleep. People should also try to eat a healthy diet, exercise and avoid stress.

Most people are aware of sleep disorders. There are many different types of sleep disorders, including insomnia, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Restless Leg Syndrome, and narcolepsy. Eating disorders have also received a lot of attention lately. From anorexia nervosa, to bulimia, to binge eating; there are several serious eating disorders that have been the subject of public awareness.

However, few people are aware of sleep eating disorder. Sleep eating disorder are just as serious at any sleep disorder or eating disorder alone. And because there is not nearly so much public awareness, sleep eating disorder often go unrecognized or undiagnosed. The two main types of sleep eating disorder are Night Eating Syndrome and Nocturnal Sleep-Related Disorder.

Night Eating Syndrome

Night Eating Syndrome is one sleep eating disorder. Only about 1 to 2 per cent of adults suffer from Night Eating Syndrome; however, it is suggested that approximately 27 per cent of people who are obese or overweight are afflicted with Night Eating Syndrome. People with Night Eating Syndrome eat more than half of their daily caloric intake between the meals of dinner and breakfast.

Oftentimes, such persons will be visibly upset or ashamed of how much they have eaten; it is common for afflicted persons to avoid breakfast. This sleep eating disorder is not a binge-like behavior; it is actually continuous eating throughout the night. Night Eating Syndrome has been attributed to stress, and depression often occurs as a result. People with this sleep eating disorder may have difficulties falling asleep or staying asleep; whatever the case, they awake often to eat.

Nocturnal Sleep-Related Disorder

Nocturnal Sleep-Related Disorder is another sleep eating disorder. This sleep disorder differs from Night Eating Syndrome in that people who are affected by Nocturnal Sleep-Related Disorder eat food at night while they are sound asleep. Similar to sleep walking, people have no memories or awareness of what occurred the night before. Only 1 to 3 per cent of the population seems to be subject to Nocturnal Sleep-Related Disorder. People with this sleep eating disorder are often tired throughout the day, and it is common for those who are affected to be on a diet throughout the day. There are ways to treat Nocturnal Sleep-Related Disorder, but it is recommended that sleeping pills should be avoided.

If you think that you are suffering from a sleep eating disorder, you should consult your doctor to begin receiving treatment for the disorder. You can also try to treat the behaviors by listening to soothing music as you fall asleep, and by reducing your caffeine and alcohol intake.