Sleep paralysis is when you can't move or speak for a short time when you are going asleep or waking up. In this state, the brain is awake but the voluntary muscles are briefly paralyzed. It happens between being awake and REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. There may be intense hallucinations, a feeling of pressure on the chest, or a sense of being watched along with this. Sleep paralysis is generally not dangerous and only lasts a few seconds to a few minutes, but it can be scary. Sleep hygiene, dealing with stress, and sticking to a regular sleep routine may all help lower the risk of sleep paralysis. If it doesn't go away or causes a lot of stress, you should talk to a healthcare expert.
