Answer: Very common conditions such as dry eyes and blepharitis (when eyelids become inflamed and irritated due to clogged oil glands) can cause the apparent inability to immediately open the eyes in the morning. You should ask your ophthalmologist to determine the cause for the difficulty.
Sleep paralysis happens when parts of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep occur while you're awake. REM is a stage of sleep when the brain is very active and dreams often occur. The body is unable to move, apart from the eyes and muscles used in breathing, possibly to stop you acting out your dreams and hurting yourself.
Causes of sleep paralysis
insomnia. disrupted sleeping patterns – for example, because of shift work or jet lag. narcolepsy – a long-term condition that causes a person to suddenly fall asleep. post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Symptoms of blepharospasm
A person with blepharospasm may uncontrollably blink, squint, wink, twitch or squeeze closed one or both eyes. They may have difficulties keeping their eyes open. The spasms become increasingly more pronounced and frequent as time goes by.
Hypersomnia means excessive sleepiness. There are many different causes, the most common in our society being inadequate sleep. This may be due to shiftwork, family demands (such as a new baby), study or social life. Other causes include sleep disorders, medication, and medical and psychiatric illnesses.
How can I stop sleep paralysis? There are no proven therapies that can stop a sleep paralysis episode, but most people who experience it routinely report that focusing on making small body movements (such as moving one finger, then another) helps them to recover more quickly.
It's entirely safe to wake someone up from sleep paralysis. In fact, they will probably be hugely grateful. If you suspect your bed partner is experiencing sleep paralysis, you could try talking to them, tapping their shoulder, or gently shaking them.
Sleep paralysis is a normal part of the REM sleep. However, it is considered to be a disorder when it occurs outside of REM sleep. It can occur in otherwise healthy people, as well as in those presenting symptoms of narcolepsy, cataplexy and hypnagogic hallucinations.
Episodes of sleep paralysis last from a few seconds to 1 or 2 minutes. These spells end on their own or when you are touched or moved. In rare cases, you can have dream-like sensations or hallucinations, which may be scary.
These instances – sleep paralysis and sleep hallucinations (also referred to as “sleep demons”) – can be incredibly scary things to experience. And, yet, aside from the fright, they're harmless. They're simply the results of disrupted sleep. Still, that doesn't help quell the fear when they happen.
When sleep paralysis is accompanied by a sleep-related hallucination, the person then begins to see, hear, feel, or sense changes in their environment. Hallucinations may be simple, stationary images or more complex and multisensory intruder, incubus, or vestibular-motor hallucinations.
Symptoms of sleep paralysis include: Inability to move or talk during sleep transitions. Trying to cry or scream for help, but having it come out as a soft voice. Limited eye movement.
The first clinical description of sleep paralysis was published in 1664 in a Dutch physician's case histories, where it was referred to as, 'Incubus or the Night-Mare [sic]'.
A paralysis episode can last anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes. Usually, the episode will end on its own, but someone touching you or speaking to you can also bring it to a halt. Sometimes, you can pull yourself out of sleep paralysis by making a concentrated effort to move your body.
The body remains paralyzed while the brain awakens. You are alert and conscious, but are unable to move voluntary muscles. This is often accompanied by a sensation of chest pressure; this is the reason why many people also wake up from sleep paralysis gasping for breath.
It is a common sleep disorder that is classified as a “parasomnia.” Episodes can cause you to feel intense anxiety. Sleep paralysis occurs when the line between sleep and wakefulness is blurred. Normally your brain paralyzes many of your muscles during the stage of rapid eye movement sleep – or REM sleep.
Avoid sleeping on your back.
Research shows that sleeping on the back can be linked to an increased risk of sleep paralysis. Bulk up some pillow behind your back if you're prone to tipping over to your back while sleeping on your side.
Sleep paralysis lasts from a few seconds up to several minutes. During this time, you can breathe and open and close your eyes, but your body is still in REM mode, which can make you feel like you're paralyzed.
And while the occasional long sleep is generally nothing to worry about, oversleeping several days a week could be a sign that something more serious is going on.
View Source and can range from as few as 11 hours to as many as 19 hours per 24-hour period.
There are a number of factors that can cause eyes to feel strained, such as lack of sleep, crying, exposure to very bright light or prolonged periods of intense focus while driving, reading or working at the computer.