Sleep's Critical Role in Everything Humans Do
Sleep paralysis is real, and it's terrifying
During the REM sleep phase, the body is completely immobilized; it literally cannot move a single muscle aside from the ones that control the eyes, and the ones which regulate breathing. This sleep paralysis is a normal measure to prevent our body from kicking, punching, and otherwise acting out dreams on those nearby. The problem with sleep paralysis is that it sometimes may leak out into wakefulness, which results in an intense 20 to 30 seconds of the person struggling to move, but remaining unable to until the paralysis wears off. These periods include difficulties to breathing, as they may feel a weight sitting on their chest, as well as the inability to move anything except the eyes; the person is completely aware, yet unable to do anything until a few seconds have passed.
