Have you ever woken up in your dream? Do you feel awake but unable to move, completely stuck to your bed? Sleep paralysis and false awakenings are both common sleeping problems that you may experience from time to time. This is one of the scariest things that can happen while sleeping, so it’s important to learn how to prevent these two things when you visit your NYC sleep doctor. Let’s look at sleep paralysis vs false awakening.
Sleep Paralysis vs. False Awakening
Let’s take a look at the biggest differences between sleep paralysis vs. false awakening so you can determine which one is plaguing your ability to sleep. Get in touch with your sleeping doctor if your sleep paralysis has been affecting your ability to get a good night’s rest, get in touch with Sleep MD NYC today.
Sleep Paralysis
Understanding the symptoms of sleep paralysis can help you separate this condition from false awakening. Sleep paralysis refers to the loss of muscle movement while you sleep, which temporarily restricts your movement. This can happen as you are falling asleep or when you are starting to wake up.
While sleep paralysis causes the frightening inability to move, you can take some comfort in the fact that it is a fairly common sleeping condition. In fact, research shows that up to 40% of U.S. adults suffer from sleep paralysis from time to time.
Symptoms of Sleep Paralysis
- Difficulty breathing
- Inability to move or speak
- Feeling afraid
- Feeling like you are being pushed down
- A feeling that someone is standing in the room
- Sweating
- Aching muscles
- Paranoia
Sleep paralysis episodes will usually end on their own after a little bit of time, and they can also happen after someone touches you to get you to wake up.
False Awakening
A false awakening can be described as an experience where it feels like you have fully woken up and you have started going about your day, but then you wake up for real and you realize it was just a dream. One thing that is important to note is that false awakening and sleep paralysis are different than REM sleep, meaning you usually do not experience false awakening (or sleep paralysis) when you are in deep sleep.
Much like sleep paralysis, false awakening can happen when you are falling asleep or right before you wake up. Different symptoms of false awakening can be a result of extreme stress, anxiety, or PTSD.
Symptoms of False Awakening
- Trouble falling or staying asleep
- Feeling like you are moving through a dream
- Feeling disconnected from mind and body
- Confusion
- Disorientation
There is a strong link between mental health symptoms and false awakenings. If you are experiencing false awakenings or sleep paralysis on a regular basis, it is time to assess your sleep health. These conditions can lead to more serious sleep disorders such as insomnia, narcolepsy, and fatigue.
Treatment Options
If you are experiencing these conditions often, you need to get in touch with your sleep specialist. There are different treatments available to bring your sleep schedule back to the right track, eliminating the common symptoms of sleep paralysis and false awakening.
Your doctor may prescribe a sleep study known as a polysomnography, in which you will spend the night at the doctor’s office while they monitor your sleep. Depending on the results of the test, your doctor may prescribe a sleeping device or anti-anxiety medications to help you calm your mind before bed.
Get the Best Sleep Treatment Today
If you are worried about the inability to move or speak when you wake up, or you have been experiencing a lot of false awakenings, get in touch with Sleep MD NYC today. We offer innovative sleep paralysis treatment in NYC that can help you relieve your stress and sleep more soundly at night. Your entire health depends on it!
