Sleep Paralysis?
 

I'll try not to ramble too much, I'm a bit worried about the other half and not sure what to do.
Last night I was up til about 4 in the morning looking after him cos he was having sleep paralysis (at least that's what we think it is). He said to me that he can't move or breathe or speak for about 30 seconds and it's really terrifying. So I had to stay up and make sure he was ok, it happened probably about 10 times last night.
He wanted me to bring him out of it as soon as it came on and I have no idea what to do to bring him out of it or if you can even bring someone out of it. Every time I tried to, it ended as quickly as it started.

I was just wondering if there was any way to stop it happening or even calm it down and if there's any way of bringing someone out of sleep paralysis.
I know he doesn't want to carry on like it and I don't mean to sound selfish but I can't be dealing with another night of it, I'm so drained and tired already without staying up all night again.

I've had sleep paralysis several times, and while it is absolutely terrifying (especially since you can't even cry out for help), as far as I know it's harmless - when you go to sleep, the part of your brain responsible for moving your body shuts down so you don't emulate how you move in dreams (I know that's a poor way of describing that, sorry), and sleep paralysis is just waking up before that part of your brain becomes active again. So it's basically your mind waking up a few seconds before your body.

I don't know of any way to bring someone out of it, but as you said, it passes after a few seconds. If you're worried about it though, I'd suggest sending him to a doctor. I've certainly never had it anywhere near 10 times in one night, so maybe a doctor could help with that.

I'm going to ring them up tomorrow and get an appointment for him, whether or not he'll go is a different story. He sleeps all day as well now, dunno if that's anything to do with it or not. Have to see what happens I suppose

I've had it happen a few times. I'll second Fifteen Dollar Eagle...you may want to have it checked out as often as it is happening. In the meantime, does he sleep on his back? If so, he might try sleeping on his side...that seems to help me, anyway.

Could it be a sign of sleep apnea?

I tried getting him to sleep on his side but he said that it makes it worse. I said to him to go to the doctors but he's refusing and saying it isn't that bad and comes and goes. Tempted to make an appointment behind his back for him, I'm that worried about him. It's not been so bad the past couple of days but then I've been having really early nights so I guess I wouldn't know.

I'll echo everyone else and say he should get it checked out. I get it occasionally, usually at times when I'm very stressed, and it's scary and horrible. For me, lying on my back makes it worse and more likely I'll feel like I can't breathe. I also get it most often if I'm sleeping in the middle of the day and falling asleep very slowly.

This thread has sent me into a googling frenzy as I never realised it was a real thing <facepalm>.

yeah I get this sometimes - can't work out why it happens when it does tho, i think its worse for me when i'm more tired than usual. Its a horrible experience but you do get used to it & it gets less scary - now i know what it is i panic less so he might find the same. I don't think there's anything you can do to help him tho? I think it's over quite quick but feels longer to the person (altho obviously re-occurs).

If you find anything out from the docs (thats not personal etc) then please share! i also wonder if certain meds could cause it?

http://helpguide.org/life/sleep_apnea.htm sleeping better on your side is a symptom of apnea please guys check out the symptoms and get checked out, sleep apnea can lead to long term health problems and if bad can cause accidents through lack of concentration. Sleep paralysis is linked to apnea, I googled it.

I've had it a couple of times, the first time was really scary, I thought it was just a really horrible nightmare and ended up too scared to go anywhere on my own that day and even to go to sleep that night.
Now I know what it is it's not so scary for me.
Is it possible that I could ask a doctor what's going on without him being there do you reckon? Cos he is point blank refusing to go.

Maybe, but if all the websites are anything to go on, sleep paralysis on its own isn't harmful and there isn't any kind of treatment, so I don't know if your doctor would really be able to do anything. However, it could be a sign of sleep apnea or narcolepsy which are more serious so doc might want to test your bf for those. Although, maybe could tell you some other symptoms to look out for?

Generally, if you are awake when it happens, then it is sleep paralsis, if you are asleep when it happens then apnea.
If your on meds to help you sleep, these can be a cause.
If it is apnea, then seeking treatment can help loads. You can sleep with a machine that prevents it, and in doing so lets you sleep deeper and then end up more awake the next day. It does sound like apnea as he is sleeping more in the day. If you are over weight this can also be a cause.

I've had it many times, sometimes with hallucination-like dreams at the same time. I've found it much worse when I sleep on my back. I've always read and been told it isn't harmful, just scary. It can also be a symptom of narcolepsy but you didn't mention anything to suggest that possibility. If it turns out there is nothing else causing it, managing stress supposedly helps. It has happened to me far less frequently since I've been on antidepressants.

The fact he is unable to breath during the episodes suggests it is not sleep paralysis ( which refers to an inability to perform voluntary movement)

Is he overweight? On any medication? Def see your doctors about this.

It's not been so bad lately unless I've been asleep when it's been happening.

He's lost loads of weight lately and hasn't been on any medications in ages. I'll try and get him to see one when he's in a more co-operative mood.

Sleep paralysis consists of a period of inability to perform voluntary movements either at sleep onset or upon awakening.

Sleep paralysis may also be referred to as isolated sleep paralysis, familial sleep paralysis, hynogogic or hypnopompic paralysis, predormital or postdormital paralysis

He's finally going to go to the doctors about it, he's been having seizures now, started just in his sleep but they're getting worse now, he said yesterday he had a couple yesterday and fell down the stairs during one of them but didn't tell me until today because he said he didn't want to worry me.
I'm going to ring the doctors tomorrow and get an appointment sorted and then make sure he goes because it's starting to scare me now.