What Is Sleep Paralysis?
You wake in the dark, eyes open, and your body won't move. Something is sitting on your chest. For centuries we blamed a demon called the mare, which is where "nightmare" comes from. The truth is kinder: whenever you dream, your brain locks your muscles so you don't act the dream out. Sleep paralysis is waking up before that lock opens. The dream is still running, your breathing is shallow, and an alarmed brain turns the weight into a visitor. About one person in thirteen has had it. It passes within minutes, and it's harmless.
It isn't a demon on your chest. It's a guard who hasn't heard the dream is over.
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Transcript
You wake in the dark, eyes open, and your body won't move. Something is sitting on your chest. For centuries, we blamed a demon called the mare. It's where the word nightmare comes from. The truth is kinder. Whenever you dream, your brain locks your muscles, so you don't act the dream out. Sleep paralysis is waking up before that lock opens.
Your dream is still running and your breath is shallow, so an alarmed brain turns the weight into a visitor. About one person in thirteen has woken up like this. It passes within minutes, and it's harmless. It isn't a demon on your chest. It's a guard who hasn't heard the dream is over.
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