10pm, Bedtime! Jenny laid on her soft bed completely fagged out, the day had been a hectic and stress filled day. While she slowly drifted off to sleep, she suddenly felt a sensation of powerlessness arising all over her body. It was as if a heavy burden was gradually being pressed on her body. She tried moving her hands and legs but they were like logs of wood, no movement! She tried screaming “Jesus!' but her mouth failed to utter any word, her mouth was locked! What could be the matter? Could there be someone else or an evil spirit in the room?....a few minutes later the heavy weight shifted from her body and she sprang up from the bed with her heart beating at a fast rate. Was this real or a nightmare?
Have you ever experienced such a feeling before? Science calls it Sleep paralysis.
According to Wikipedia; Sleep paralysis is a
phenomenon in which people, either when falling asleep
or wakening, temporarily experience an inability to move. It is a
transition state between wakefulness and rest characterized by
complete muscle weakness. It can occur at sleep onset or upon
awakening, and it is often associated with terrifying visions (e.g.
an intruder in the room), to which one is unable to react due to
paralysis.
It is a feeling of being awake but unable to move.
It occurs when a person passes between stages of wakefulness and
sleep. During these transitions you might be unable to move or speak
for a few seconds up to few minutes. Some people may also feel
pressure or a sense of choking.
(http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/sleep-paralysis)
What causes sleep
paralysis?
Throw this question at some people and their answers will
vary depending on their beliefs. A typical African will tell you that
witches, wizards and demons are the cause. Let us digress a bit; do
you believe in Witchcraftcy? Ask someone on the streets of
Manhattan New york or on the boulevards of Paris and you may get
laughed for they will view the question as ridiculous and
superstitious. However you will get a capital “Yes” answer from
someone in the deep rainforests of Congo or a village in Nigeria.
Do i believe that
witches exist? Yes, As a christian i believe in the existence of a
Supernatural world that controls the natural world. However with
Jesus christ we are seated above all principalities and powers
including witches and wizards.
Back to the question
what causes sleep paralysis?
- Stress
- Lack of sleep
- Sleep schedule that changes
- Sleeping on the back
- Other sleep problems such as narcolepsy or night time leg cramps
- Use of certain medications
- Drug abuse
Witchcraft pressing was
not listed there. If you chose to believe that witches cause sleep
paralysis, you might be right, you might be wrong. Sometimes we give
the devil and his agents undue credit for things that they are not
the cause. At one time or the other we all experience sleep
paralysis, some people freak out, some people move on. .
So how do you deal
with sleep paralysis?
There's no need to fear
nighttime demons or alien abductors. If you have occasional sleep
paralysis, you can take steps at home to control this disorder. Start
by making sure you get enough sleep. Do what you can to relieve
stress in your life -- especially just before bedtime. Try new
sleeping positions if you sleep on your back and be sure to see your
doctor if sleep paralysis routinely prevents you from getting a good
night's sleep.
If your lifestyle and
pre-sleep patterns are okay but you keep experiencing sleep paralysis
on a daily basis, seek spiritual help. It is vain for you to rise
up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he
giveth his beloved sleep(psalm 127:2)
You can read a full article on sleep paralysis here
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