Sleep paralysis (SP) is an inability to perform voluntary muscle movements at either sleep onset or upon awakening. It is considered a dissociated sleep state in which rapid eye movement (REM) sleep elements occur within a clear sensorium (American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 2014). Although common in individuals with narcolepsy, it can also occur in an idiopathic or 'isolated' form (i.e. ISP). SP has been associated with trauma, life stress, and numerous other variables (Denis, French, & Gregory, 2018).Fear and distress are frequently described emotional accompaniments to episodes of SP as well (Sharpless & Grom, 2016). The fear/ distress are not only due to the paralysis, but also to the accompanying hallucinations, which are usually negatively valenced (Sharpless & Kliková, 2019).Although much has been learned in the past two decades, relatively little attention has been paid to positive and/or pleasant aspects of SP. One study found that only 16% of episodes were pleasant (Lišková, Janečková, Kráčmarová, Mladá, & Bušková, 2016) and, in another, 17% of participants reported feelings of bliss (Cheyne, 2002). It is currently unclear why some individuals report more pleasant experiences than others. Is it possible that personality traits, levels of overall life satisfaction, or trauma history may predispose individuals to interpret and experience SP in more negative ways?There has also been some discussion of associations between SP and lucid dreaming. Both are REM sleep-based phenomena, with the latter being the ability to not only be aware of one's dreams, but also to directly effect changes within them (Denis et al., 2018). Reports from lucid dreamers indicate that SP can serve as a gateway to this practice (Denis & Poerio, 2017).
