You suddenly wake up and realise you're aware of everything around you...

But for a few moments, you can't move your body properly.

Sounds like something from a movie, right? 😭

This can happen during an experience called sleep paralysis.

During certain stages of sleep, especially REM sleep, the brain normally reduces most voluntary muscle activity. This is thought to help stop us from physically acting out our dreams.

Sometimes, a person can become aware before that normal muscle control has fully returned.

So the brain is basically like:

“Okay, we're awake.”

But the body is still like:

“Give me a second.” 😭😂

The result can be a brief and sometimes frightening feeling of being awake but unable to move normally.

Sleep paralysis can happen to otherwise healthy people, and factors such as disrupted sleep or irregular sleep schedules may make it more likely for some people.

Quick fact: During REM sleep, your brain normally reduces activity in most voluntary muscles. Sleep paralysis can occur when awareness returns before normal movement fully does.