At the risk of sounding stupid....

[smelltheroses]

I know this may sound like a silly question, but I am serious. I believe that there are ghosts, if you will. I had a nightmare the other night that I was with a dead patient and it turned and looked at me. I am only in my pre-reqs, but has anybody ever thought about the less clinical side? I mean does anyone ever think of the spooky side of things? I know it might sound crazy, but I just want to make sure I am not the only possible nurse to be with the thought.:sofahider

[Gompers, BSN, RN]

I've had sleep paralysis while lying on my front, arms crossed with my head on them. It is such a terrifying feeling... mine comes with a heaviness in my chest and the inability to take a desperately needed deep breath... in my mind I'm screaming and suffocating, willing my body to move and trying to take a deep breath... then when I am able to gasp in a breath the paralysis dissipates, leaving only the fear that it will return... I hate it. Fortunately, it only happens once or twice a year.

I really helps to know that we aren't alone in this, and that it's not "all in our heads" or something. I wish we knew more about this phenomenom.

[HealthyRN]

I'm not trying to discount the other theories and there may be many causes of sleep paralysis. However, in the medical world, sleep paralysis is a symptom associated with narcolepsy. About half of narcoleptics experience sleep paralysis. The sleep paralysis may also occur (although not always) with another classic symptom of narcolepsy- vivid hallucinations. Sleep paralysis occurs with an abnormal response to REM sleep. When in REM sleep, the brain "paralyzes" the body so that it does not act out on dreams (doing things that are going on in the dream, i.e.- running, etc.). With sleep paralysis, the body is still turned off and cannot move, but the person is now awake.

People who don't have narcolepsy may also experience sleep paralysis. If you have other symptoms of the disorder though, you should consider getting it checked out.

[Kim O'Therapy, BSN, RN]

I'm not trying to discount the other theories and there may be many causes of sleep paralysis. However, in the medical world, sleep paralysis is a symptom associated with narcolepsy. About half of narcoleptics experience sleep paralysis. The sleep paralysis may also occur (although not always) with another classic symptom of narcolepsy- vivid hallucinations. Sleep paralysis occurs with an abnormal response to REM sleep. When in REM sleep, the brain "paralyzes" the body so that it does not act out on dreams (doing things that are going on in the dream, i.e.- running, etc.). With sleep paralysis, the body is still turned off and cannot move, but the person is now awake.

People who don't have narcolepsy may also experience sleep paralysis. If you have other symptoms of the disorder though, you should consider getting it checked out.

Very interesting. Thanks for the info.