Table of contents:
- What are the causes of 'oneness'?
- "I'm sure I see supernatural beings when I am 'crushed', really!"
- What should I do when I am "crushed"?
Imagine that in the middle of the night you suddenly wake up from sleep, but can't move at all. You are trying to look around, empty, completely dark, very sure to feel something is in your room - or maybe it is sitting on your chest, making you unable to breathe.
This phenomenon is known as 'sleep paralysis', or sleep paralysis. 'Culling' is a state of sleep that is misunderstood in our culture as disturbance by spirits, ridden by supernatural entities, even attacks of witchcraft.
"Overweight" is not a dangerous medical condition, but for some people it can be a traumatic experience; the body is paralyzed, unable to shout or speak, but still be aware of the surroundings makes oneself helpless. A recent study found a reason why this phenomenon can occur, to help people who have experienced it feel better. Believing "cadavers" to be a mystical phenomenon will keep people trapped in unwarranted fears.
During the REM sleep cycle (Rapid Eye Movement), the brain will send out a signal (glycine and GABA) to "turn off" the muscles of the body so that we don't move during dreaming. This is an evolutionary skill that is important for preventing us from injuring ourselves or our bedmates when we dream.
What are the causes of 'oneness'?
As many as four out of 10 people have experienced it sleep paralysis. This sleep disorder is generally experienced by people in their teens to young adults. 'Overweight' may be genetic, but there are a number of other factors that may be associated with this phenomenon, such as:
- lack of sleep
- sleeping time that changes
- stress or bipolar disorder
- sleep on your back
- other sleep disorders (narcolepsy or nighttime leg cramps)
- taking certain medications, such as ADHD medications
- narcotics abuse
Extreme sleep deprivation and stress lead to chaotic sleep cycles. It is possible to skip the non-REM stage (light sleep or hen sleep) and go straight to the dream stage (REM) as soon as you start closing your eyes.
"I'm sure I see supernatural beings when I am 'crushed', really!"
Sleep paralysis occurs when the mechanisms of the brain and body overlap, not synchronizing during sleep, causing us to jolt awake in the middle of a REM cycle. When a person wakes up before the REM cycle is over, the brain is not ready to send wake-up signals, so the body is still in a dream state, aka a half-awake sleep. Therefore, you will feel a stiff body, have difficulty breathing, and cannot speak when you are "crushed".
Often times, this phenomenon is followed by hallucinations. Many report seeing ghosts, demons, and black shadows during their "crush" experience. Hallucinations are a common effect when the body and mind are in a semi-conscious state, although this does not occur in every case.
The length of time that a person is "on the edge" can vary, from a few seconds to a few minutes. After the symptoms of "sleepiness" are over, you will be able to return to speaking and moving normally.
What should I do when I am "crushed"?
Relax, don't fight.
Fighting back will only make your condition worse. In addition, fighting back will only increase the intensity of the fear and panic in order to break free; which actually triggers a brain reaction to amplify this "half awake, half asleep" sensation.
Calm down and go with the sensation, your ability to control your fear is critical to dealing with this condition. If your chest feels compressed, visualize that you are pushing your body in following the force pressing on you. This way, your brain will slowly choose to take action from two options: continue the dream, or wake up completely.
Most of the "squeezing" occurs in the upper body. To fix this, try to exert all your concentration to catch your breath, move your toes, move your facial muscles (like you smell something strange), or clench your fists a few times. Generally, this will allow you to move again.
