Could sleep paralysis be pleasant?
Monika Kliková, Brian A Sharpless, Jitka Bušková
Journal of sleep research June 1, 2021 DOI: 10.1111/jsr.13154 via PubMed
Summary
About 23% of people with recurrent sleep paralysis report pleasant episodes, though these often include some fear. Pleasant episodes are more likely to involve illusory body movements (vestibular-motor sensations), and some individuals can intentionally induce these hallucinations. The ability to lucid dream and higher openness to new experiences are associated with pleasant episodes. Lower trauma symptoms or higher life satisfaction did not predict pleasant sleep paralysis.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 172 |
| Population | People with recurrent sleep paralysis |
| Topics | Lucid dreaming |
| Keywords | Parasomnia Sleep paralysis Sleep-wake disorders |
| Citations | 17 |
| Key finding | Pleasant sleep paralysis episodes occur in 23% of individuals with recurrent episodes and are associated with lucid dreaming ability and higher trait openness. |
Abstract
Sleep paralysis is an inability to move at sleep onset or upon awakening. It is often a distressing experience that can be associated with significant clinical consequences. Few studies have focussed on pleasant sleep paralysis episodes. The present study aimed to determine the relative prevalence of pleasant episodes of sleep paralysis as well as variables that may make them more likely to occur. Participants (N = 172) with recurrent episodes of sleep paralysis completed a battery of questionnaires investigating sleep paralysis episodes, trauma symptoms, life satisfaction, and Big Five personality traits. Pleasant sleep paralysis was found to be a fairly common experience (i.e. 23%). Episodes were emotionally complex, with pleasant episodes often involving some admixture of fear. In terms of hallucinations, pleasant episodes were more likely to involve vestibular-motor sensations (i.e. illusory body movements) and some individuals reported an ability to induce these hallucinations. Contrary to expectation, neither lower trauma symptomatology nor higher levels of reported life satisfaction predicted pleasant sleep paralysis. However, the ability to lucid dream and higher levels of trait openness to new experiences appeared to make pleasant episodes more likely. Clinical implications are discussed.