Living With Sleep Paralysis and Narcolepsy

By | December 27, 2022

Disordered sleep is common and takes many forms involving multiple body systems. Many sleep disorders occur concurrently with another medical or psychological condition. Nearly all sleep disorders have significant effects on quality of life, cognitive and physical functioning, and psychological well-being. The impact of sleep disorders, whether they entail too much sleep, too little sleep, or disrupted sleep, underscore the importance of healthy rest to the smooth functioning of every bodily system. 

In this series, we take a look at some of the sleep disorders that we face and how to live with them.

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0:00 Living With Sleep Paralysis and Narcolepsy
0:48 What Is Sleep Paralysis?
1:11 What Is Sleep Paralysis Like?
2:50 How To Treat Sleep Paralysis
4:20 What Is Narcolepsy?
4:55 What Is Narcolepsy Like?
6:14 How To Treat Narcolepsy?

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Hey it's Bridget with sleepopolis and Today we're talking about people living With Sleep Disorders we're joined by Laura Muhammad who has both narcolepsy And sleep paralysis [Music] For you are so vulnerable when you sleep So you need to feel safe but Unfortunately Laura hasn't always felt That way she's suffered from a handful Of sleep disorders over the years and Recent ones heightened anxiety episodes While sleeping and sleep paralysis it Kind of intensified over time when it First started happening what types of Things were you dealing with or noticing For the first time anxiety throughout The night so I would it felt like I was Waking up every five to ten seconds I'm Sure it was not but that's what it felt Like then she said she started Experiencing sleep paralysis this Happens when you're coming in or out of The REM sleep stage which is the stage Where we dream during REM sleep your Brain makes it so you can't physically Move your body so you don't act your Dreams out so in a sleep paralysis Episode you're conscious but can't speak Or move and so walk me through what an Episode of sleep paralysis looks like It's without warning you don't know Happen some people will see Shadows like There's somebody in the room kind of a

Thing some people will have Hallucinations that are more specific And traumatic I've had the gamut so uh But pretty much what happens is I think I'm awake and maybe I am I don't know But I think I'm awake and I can't move I Had one where I was sure there was a Fire in my hotel room and I could hear People at the door knocking desperately Trying to get in and saying we can't get In because she has you know that lock That you put I could not move could not Get up then after you know being Completely helpless I just fell back Asleep and then when I woke up I was Like oh none of that happened you're so Panicked in the moment that Um you're convinced this is it I cannot Control my body I cannot you know Somebody is trying to get my attention Somebody's I cannot do anything about it I'm completely helpless and you don't Think in terms of convincing yourself That okay I'm just going to go back to Sleep and everything will be fine then Um it's not it's not intuitive you would Think it would be but it's not but you Were able to work your way up to that Point it took a while but yes Laura says The instance where she thought her hotel Was on fire was the worst of them and Made her get help from a sleep doctor Sleep paralysis my understanding from my Doctor is uh everybody gets it at some

Point some people get it one time kids Get it my understanding from him is That's something that that has to kind Of be resolved in terms of you know not Not having that anxiety before you go to Bed so has there been anything that Really has stood out to you that you've Learned about it or yes and what's that Yes centering yourself calming down Whether it's prayer meditation is so Powerful doctors say the main treatment For sleep paralysis is improving sleep Habits and patterns Laura says losing Weight sticking to a consistent wake and Bedtime routine removing potential Stressors before going to bed and Regularly praying and meditating has Done wonders since incorporating these Changes she's gone three months without An episode And how does it feel not having going Three months without having one of those Instances pretty awesome I still go through the process of Relaxing centering myself before I go Back to sleep I don't I don't uh I'm not just letting it go And just ignoring Because I don't want it to come back Hearing how common the sleep paralysis Can be and knowing firsthand how Terrifying it can also be is that kind Of interesting to know that a lot of People go through that as well yeah it

Is and I think well I don't think I know That a lot of people have it and they Never know that they've had it but while Evaluating her sleep paralysis her sleep Doctor told her he thinks she also has Narcolepsy narcolepsy is a sleep Disorder and neurological disorder Recent research shows it's an autoimmune Disease and is often triggered by a Virus in childhood or adolescence the Body attacks its own stores of a Neurotransmitter that helps regulate the Sleep and wake system sleep paralysis is Often considered a symptom of narcolepsy But narcolepsy means you fall asleep Driving right it means you fall asleep In the middle of meetings I don't do That he starts asking me questions and It became pretty apparent I have Narcolepsy so I I kind of squint and Closed my eyes while people are talking To me but I can hear everything they say And I'm interacting and I'm active but Um but I do this thing where I close my Eyes and he's like yeah that's not Collapsing so one of the things was when You're listening you're being attentive Sometimes you'll squint your close your Eyes and how did he explain what was Going he said do you close do you close Your eyes uh even for a second or a Nanosecond do you do you close your eyes And then Um you uh bring them back you pop them

Back open I said yeah I do that all day All day every day And what did he say that that was uh Micronaps What was your reaction hearing those Were micrones that can't be no he's like Yes because you're awake in those times Awake I'm wide awake I know what's going On I I'm interacting with people but That's what he says my understanding is That it's not something you can really Control except don't do stupid things Don't do things that are that are going To put you or others at risk until it's Treated for her one major thing is Cutting out morning or evening drives Especially to new places her doctor also Ordered her an automatic positive airway Pressure machine or what's known as an APAP machine it works by increasing or Decreasing airway pressure is needed While inhaling and exhaling so it Automatically adjusts to your needs While sleeping and gives you the needed Pressure to breathe normally it's been On back order but she's hopeful to get It soon and isn't as concerned as she Once was Because I'm not having the sleep Paralysis because I'm not having the Anxious wake-ups throughout the night That I was having you know a few years Ago Um it's okay it's I'm I'm in a good

Place Um I am very much looking forward to my APAP I really feel for the people out There who have a worse time than I do Because there are people who I think are Afraid to go to sleep every night Every single night and I don't have that I you know I'm I feel comfortable that I I have a routine that works for me Laura Recommends anyone struggling with their Sleep to get help she says to be picky About choosing the right doctor and be Ready to make needed life and sleep Pattern changes saying even though she Still has unanswered questions it's Definitely been worth it for her I'm I'm Getting restful nights of sleep I'm able To wake up when I need to wake up so why Is it important to you to get a good Night's sleep uh so that I function well Uh during the day so that I'm fully on When I'm working so that I'm fully Available to my family my husband and my Kids so that I can be a pleasant Individual Um and and just be happy you know and Just just feel good about feel good About my life Thanks again Laura and thank you all for Joining us if you want to learn more About these Sleep Disorders or other Sleep Disorders or health information Just head over to sleepopolis.com also Be sure to subscribe to this channel for

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