But those who have experienced sleep paralysis can vouch for the fact that the episodes are terrifying. Why does sleep paralysis occur? While we have already explained the feeling, sleep paralysis mostly happens to people who have narcolepsy (a condition that causes overwhelming daytime sleepiness) or sleep apnoea (a dangerous condition in which a person’s breathing repeatedly stops and starts in sleep). According to them, sleep paralysis can occur either when you are falling asleep (hypnagogic), or just as you are waking up (hypnopompic). During hypnagogic sleep paralysis, your body relaxes and you slowly become less aware.

Source: Indian Express November 05, 2019 13:41 UTC