What Causes Sleep Paralysis?
Although the exact etiology of sleep paralysis is uncertain, the following elements are thought to be possibly connected to the condition:
- Insomnia
- Disrupted sleeping patterns
- Narcolepsy
- Nighttime leg cramps
- Use of certain medications (such as those for ADHD)
- Substance abuse
- Panic disorder
- General anxiety disorder
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Family history of sleep paralysis
It is normal for those who suffer sleep paralysis to initially feel terrified and alarmed. Although the event itself is not hazardous, it might be upsetting emotionally.
