Common questions

No. Although this is a phenomenon that can be very scary, it is impossible to be physically harmed. However, sleep paralysis can cause anxiety, depression and, in extreme cases, trauma.

While we dream, the body is paralyzed in order to protect the sleeping person from actually doing what he dreams of. In sleep paralysis the person wakes up but the paralysis of dream sleep is still active. However, no definitive explanation has yet been found as to why people see threatening figures or experience an exit from the body.

There is no universal solution, but the following steps can help reduce sleep paralysis:
* Avoiding sleeping on the back
*Sleep more than five hours but less than nine hours a night.
*In cases where the paralysis appears during stressful periods, it is recommended to treat the stress factors.
*Prayer or inner intention, has been found to be useful in preventing sleep paralysis.
*Maintain sleep hygiene.

The following methods have been found to be effective for most people. You can try and see what works best for you

• hold your breath (this action forces the body to wake up)
• try and move one of the fingers or toes
• Relax and tell yourself it's not really dangerous
• Say the Shema or any other prayer

Yes. There are several techniques that can lead to sleep paralysis and, as a result, to lucid dreaming and out-of-body experiences.

No. anyone can experience sleep paralysis regardless of his mental state. Sometimes stress and anxiety can be triggers for sleep paralysis, but this does not necessarily mean that all those who experience sleep paralysis suffer from stress and anxiety.