Sleep paralysis and certain foods

caretheaton

Does anyone here ever suffer from sleep paralysis? For those who don't know what it is, basically it happens when the brain produces too much of the enzyme that is suppose to keep your body paralyzed during sleep. Your mind wakes up but body is still asleep, leaving you unable to move or speak and is often accompanied by hallucinations.

I had a scary round of it last night. I've had it since I was a little girl, and even though I know what's happening and that I just have to go back to sleep until it wears off, it's still terrifying. Especially when I hallucinate and see the "shadow man" at the end of my bed.

I'm starting to wonder though if it is tied to certain foods eaten close to bedtime. Last night I had 2 diet cokes while watching movies with my friends. I never drink caffeine that late at night, so I'm pretty certain that is what set it off for me. Does anyone else notice patterns, or are ther certain things you try to steer clear of all together because they trigger sleep paralysis for you?

Whatareherthings711

I've only experienced that twice, and both occurences were within three months of eachother. I wish I remembered anything out of the ordinary that I was doing or eating so I'd be helpful. It was very scary the first time that it happened because I had never heard of such a thing before. Best of luck.

babydull

Sorry no advice here, but you have my sympathy, I've had it a few times, and it can be terrifying.

Amo_Angelus

My fiancé uffers from that...I think. Scares him half to death some nights, other nights I hear him whimpering and wake him up. I don't think it's triggered to certain foods because he doesn't get it in association with any...that we've noticed anyway.

pinkdayzies2

My daughter has this same issue. It is interesting to the exact same thing you are saying is what she describes. I am going to look into what she eats and drinks before she goes to bed. I am so very sorry that you suffer from that. I hope that you both can find the answer to this upsetting condition. Take Care.

sefonxo

I have it and it scared the crap outta me, but I just start freaking out and wake up seconds later. I dont think it has anything to do with foods, but a tip is to sleep on your side because it often occurs while sleeping on the back.

kristahelkins

I"ve also had it since I was a little girl and you're right - it is terrifying. Do you notice any link to your sleeping position? I can't sleep on my back at all because I will always get it. I've never noticed a link to the food I eat before I go to bed but will start paying attention now.

XXXMinnieXXX

Hi, this happens to me most nights and Is very very distressing. My doctor says its because of my medication. I take zopiclone which is a sleeping tablet and mirtazipine an antidepressant. I also see and hear things that are not there when this happens. I've been on the zopiclone a long time and trying to cut it out, but its so very hard. I'd recommend looking at your medication idf you have any and talking to your doctor. I've never noticed a link with what I eat. Hope this helps. Zara x

flipsit

Hi, this happens to me most nights and Is very very distressing. My doctor says its because of my medication. I take zopiclone which is a sleeping tablet and mirtazipine an antidepressant. I also see and hear things that are not there when this happens. I've been on the zopiclone a long time and trying to cut it out, but its so very hard. I'd recommend looking at your medication idf you have any and talking to your doctor. I've never noticed a link with what I eat. Hope this helps. Zara x

I take both these meds and also have episodes of sleep paralysis. It's terrifying.

I have noticed it's been less often recently though and wondered whether it was because I have been eating more healthily.

boisevore

See an Ear Nose and Throat specialist and ask him about a sleep study.

Azzariah

I have these several times a year and I am still confused as how and why it happens. I was talking to a group of spiritualists and they told me it was to do with our spirit guides taken us on what is called an out of body experience and either we woke up too early before our spirit had re-entered our body or we woke up as our spirit was leaving, just like a car without the engine!!! They said the shadows we see are supposed to be our guides.

What ever is going on this terrifies me big time and I do not like it, so if anyone can shed some light on this I would be grateful. I have also tried to find out if this has happened after eating big meals, but sorry to say it hasn't

SparkleShine

I have never heard of this before but I used to have these episodes when I was in my early 20's. I never knew what it was! I don't know about foods triggering it or not but I do know when this was happening to me I was under alot of stress.

Hugs to all that are dealing with this. I know how scary it can be!

caretheaton

I"ve also had it since I was a little girl and you're right - it is terrifying. Do you notice any link to your sleeping position? I can't sleep on my back at all because I will always get it. I've never noticed a link to the food I eat before I go to bed but will start paying attention now.

I have heard that, about back sleepers. This last time I was on my back, but I'm fairly certain it's happened when I was on my side before too. It runs in my family, both of my brothers and mothers have it, so I'm sure there is some hormonal/genetic link. I'd just like to discover if there's any way to minimize it.

Thanks for all your suggestions and encouragment! Isn't it good to know that there are people out there who can sympathize with each other, even for the most strange of things?

XXXMinnieXXX

Hi, this happens to me most nights and Is very very distressing. My doctor says its because of my medication. I take zopiclone which is a sleeping tablet and mirtazipine an antidepressant. I also see and hear things that are not there when this happens. I've been on the zopiclone a long time and trying to cut it out, but its so very hard. I'd recommend looking at your medication idf you have any and talking to your doctor. I've never noticed a link with what I eat. Hope this helps. Zara x

I take both these meds and also have episodes of sleep paralysis. It's terrifying.

I have noticed it's been less often recently though and wondered whether it was because I have been eating more healthily.

I've noticed a big increase if I drink alcohol so I don't anymore. I also find if I'm stressed they increase too. Ive been less stressed whilst exercising more, and think its lead to a decrease in episodes. Still pretty frequent though. Stress is definately a trigger for me, its like your brain won't turn off. I'm having cbt therapy to see if it helps... Just started so ill let you know if it helps. Don't know how its suppose to but ill try anything. Know of 2 other people on Mirtazipine and Zopiclone with the same problems, my mum and best friend. I'm cutting down on them both, with the aim of coming off them. Coming of Zopiclone is terrible though I've got to admit and lve been getting a whole array of strange things happening at night. I think the answer is defo to come off them, struggling to sleep though now at all and I've only cut a quarter off. Think its going to be a long hard slog x

XXXMinnieXXX

I"ve also had it since I was a little girl and you're right - it is terrifying. Do you notice any link to your sleeping position? I can't sleep on my back at all because I will always get it. I've never noticed a link to the food I eat before I go to bed but will start paying attention now.

I have heard that, about back sleepers. This last time I was on my back, but I'm fairly certain it's happened when I was on my side before too. It runs in my family, both of my brothers and mothers have it, so I'm sure there is some hormonal/genetic link. I'd just like to discover if there's any way to minimize it.

Thanks for all your suggestions and encouragment! Isn't it good to know that there are people out there who can sympathize with each other, even for the most strange of things?

Hi, zara again. I always sleep on my front and get it most nights. I've gone into it a little because I've had it for a long time, and from what I've been told it can be a lot to do with medication, stress, anxiety and bad stuff in your past. I tick all so guess I don't know which one it is. I'd love to understand it better though, so ill keep checking the thread for information x

flipsit

Hi, this happens to me most nights and Is very very distressing. My doctor says its because of my medication. I take zopiclone which is a sleeping tablet and mirtazipine an antidepressant. I also see and hear things that are not there when this happens. I've been on the zopiclone a long time and trying to cut it out, but its so very hard. I'd recommend looking at your medication idf you have any and talking to your doctor. I've never noticed a link with what I eat. Hope this helps. Zara x

I take both these meds and also have episodes of sleep paralysis. It's terrifying.

I have noticed it's been less often recently though and wondered whether it was because I have been eating more healthily.

I've noticed a big increase if I drink alcohol so I don't anymore. I also find if I'm stressed they increase too. Ive been less stressed whilst exercising more, and think its lead to a decrease in episodes. Still pretty frequent though. Stress is definately a trigger for me, its like your brain won't turn off. I'm having cbt therapy to see if it helps... Just started so ill let you know if it helps. Don't know how its suppose to but ill try anything. Know of 2 other people on Mirtazipine and Zopiclone with the same problems, my mum and best friend. I'm cutting down on them both, with the aim of coming off them. Coming of Zopiclone is terrible though I've got to admit and lve been getting a whole array of strange things happening at night. I think the answer is defo to come off them, struggling to sleep though now at all and I've only cut a quarter off. Think its going to be a long hard slog x

Hmm... that's interesting. I gave up alcohol a couple of months ago (although I only drank infrequently) and my stress/ anxiety levels have been lower since I have been exercising and eating better. I hadn't really tied it all up together but perhaps it's all related. My night terrors have reduced as well.
I'm not at a point where I feel safe to reduce my tablets but hope to be ready to consider doing so in the near future. Best wishes for the changes you are making with yours. x

XXXMinnieXXX

Hi, this happens to me most nights and Is very very distressing. My doctor says its because of my medication. I take zopiclone which is a sleeping tablet and mirtazipine an antidepressant. I also see and hear things that are not there when this happens. I've been on the zopiclone a long time and trying to cut it out, but its so very hard. I'd recommend looking at your medication idf you have any and talking to your doctor. I've never noticed a link with what I eat. Hope this helps. Zara x

I take both these meds and also have episodes of sleep paralysis. It's terrifying.

I have noticed it's been less often recently though and wondered whether it was because I have been eating more healthily.

I've noticed a big increase if I drink alcohol so I don't anymore. I also find if I'm stressed they increase too. Ive been less stressed whilst exercising more, and think its lead to a decrease in episodes. Still pretty frequent though. Stress is definately a trigger for me, its like your brain won't turn off. I'm having cbt therapy to see if it helps... Just started so ill let you know if it helps. Don't know how its suppose to but ill try anything. Know of 2 other people on Mirtazipine and Zopiclone with the same problems, my mum and best friend. I'm cutting down on them both, with the aim of coming off them. Coming of Zopiclone is terrible though I've got to admit and lve been getting a whole array of strange things happening at night. I think the answer is defo to come off them, struggling to sleep though now at all and I've only cut a quarter off. Think its going to be a long hard slog x

Hmm... that's interesting. I gave up alcohol a couple of months ago (although I only drank infrequently) and my stress/ anxiety levels have been lower since I have been exercising and eating better. I hadn't really tied it all up together but perhaps it's all related. My night terrors have reduced as well.
I'm not at a point where I feel safe to reduce my tablets but hope to be ready to consider doing so in the near future. Best wishes for the changes you are making with yours. x

I get night terrors too. Really feel for you and understand how you feel. It leaves you feeling exhausted and emotionally and psychologically drained, which leads to anxiety and so there's a vicious circle. Been to cbt today, they are trying to deal with my anxiety during the day, so hopefully ill be more relaxed at bed time and they will reduce. I really hope so. They said there is a good chance the medication is equally as big of a problem. I did drop my Mirtazipine from 45 to 30, felt fine so I decreased to 15, but it wasn't working for me so I've spoken to the doctor today and gone back to 30. Don't want my mood affecting my diet because I'm doing well, one thing at a time I think. Think I was getting carried away trying to do it all at once. Just hard because at the same time they cause other problems such as the night problems and increased appetite. Some days I could go crazy, because I crave sugar so badly. I didn't eat anything sweet and dislike chocolate before mirtazipine. Those were the days. Lol. At the same time though they were like a miracle drug for me at a time when I really really needed one. Swings and roundabouts. Lol x

flipsit

Hi, this happens to me most nights and Is very very distressing. My doctor says its because of my medication. I take zopiclone which is a sleeping tablet and mirtazipine an antidepressant. I also see and hear things that are not there when this happens. I've been on the zopiclone a long time and trying to cut it out, but its so very hard. I'd recommend looking at your medication idf you have any and talking to your doctor. I've never noticed a link with what I eat. Hope this helps. Zara x

I take both these meds and also have episodes of sleep paralysis. It's terrifying.

I have noticed it's been less often recently though and wondered whether it was because I have been eating more healthily.

I've noticed a big increase if I drink alcohol so I don't anymore. I also find if I'm stressed they increase too. Ive been less stressed whilst exercising more, and think its lead to a decrease in episodes. Still pretty frequent though. Stress is definately a trigger for me, its like your brain won't turn off. I'm having cbt therapy to see if it helps... Just started so ill let you know if it helps. Don't know how its suppose to but ill try anything. Know of 2 other people on Mirtazipine and Zopiclone with the same problems, my mum and best friend. I'm cutting down on them both, with the aim of coming off them. Coming of Zopiclone is terrible though I've got to admit and lve been getting a whole array of strange things happening at night. I think the answer is defo to come off them, struggling to sleep though now at all and I've only cut a quarter off. Think its going to be a long hard slog x

Hmm... that's interesting. I gave up alcohol a couple of months ago (although I only drank infrequently) and my stress/ anxiety levels have been lower since I have been exercising and eating better. I hadn't really tied it all up together but perhaps it's all related. My night terrors have reduced as well.
I'm not at a point where I feel safe to reduce my tablets but hope to be ready to consider doing so in the near future. Best wishes for the changes you are making with yours. x

I get night terrors too. Really feel for you and understand how you feel. It leaves you feeling exhausted and emotionally and psychologically drained, which leads to anxiety and so there's a vicious circle. Been to cbt today, they are trying to deal with my anxiety during the day, so hopefully ill be more relaxed at bed time and they will reduce. I really hope so. They said there is a good chance the medication is equally as big of a problem. I did drop my Mirtazipine from 45 to 30, felt fine so I decreased to 15, but it wasn't working for me so I've spoken to the doctor today and gone back to 30. Don't want my mood affecting my diet because I'm doing well, one thing at a time I think. Think I was getting carried away trying to do it all at once. Just hard because at the same time they cause other problems such as the night problems and increased appetite. Some days I could go crazy, because I crave sugar so badly. I didn't eat anything sweet and dislike chocolate before mirtazipine. Those were the days. Lol. At the same time though they were like a miracle drug for me at a time when I really really needed one. Swings and roundabouts. Lol x

Best wishes for the CBT. Mirtazipine makes me ravenously hungry for about an hour or two after I've taken it. This is manageable until the zopiclone hits in as I don't really know what I'm doing and tend to get up and eat whatever is to hand. I tried not having any snack food in the flat but then I started cooking things! I'm lucky I didn't set fire to the building. I can't remember what I've eaten in the morning but there is usually evidence on the floor or bed. :ohwell: I think I'm getting it more under control now by adjusting the time I take the meds but also now leave out healthy snacks in the hope that's what I'll pick up (seems to be working).
Hope your anxiety and night terrors ease with all the work you're putting in. x

quinmc

Hello. I have had sleep paralysis for yrs. No hallucinations but it feels like you are locked in, the only difference is that you cannot hear those awake. You feel you "MUST" wake, and you beg those in your dream to wake you, then just BAM, your awake, but scred to go asleep. It usually does not happen to me more than once in a night (early morning). I cannot remember where, but years ago I read something that related simple carbs, mainly pasta, to the attacks. It seems to be that way for me. Yesterday I had a big pasta day and maybe the worst one yet. I do not get them when pasta is not involved, and not everytime it is, but there is a relation. I would like to say "check it out", but I would not wish it on anyone.

fxg20

I've found that it is most likely to happen to me if I have woken up and gotten out of bed to putz around a bit, before getting back in bed to go to sleep again. I feel like your body/mind can't figure out if you are starting your morning routine or sleeping and you end up stuck kinda halfway. I think if you have some caffeine before bed, especially if you usually don't have it late in the day, it might put you in a similar state. I have no medical evidence for any of that.

Web MD has a good overview of the medial point of view on it here, it doesn't mention food.

http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/sleep-paralysis

"Up to as many as four out of every 10 people may have sleep paralysis. This common condition is often first noticed in the teen years. But men and women of any age can have it. Sleep paralysis may run in families. Other factors that may be linked to sleep paralysis include:

Lack of sleep
Sleep schedule that changes
Mental conditions such as stress or bipolar disorder
Sleeping on the back
Other sleep problems such as narcolepsy or nighttime leg cramps
Use of certain medications
Substance abuse"

Personally it's happened to me so often it doesn't bother me anymore. I recognize it, don't panic, and embrace the weirdness. I have done a certain amount of hallucinogenic drugs in the past though so I have practice in not letting weird mental experiences get to me.