It sounds like the start of a horror film: a shadowy figure at the end of your bed, a faceless presence sitting on your chest ...

Sleep paralysis can be scary and overwhelming. But you can help wake yourself up from an episode by moving your fingers and toes or forcing a sudden and intense movement. Sleep paralysis is a ...

You wake up out of a murky sleep and find that you’re unable to move your body, from your forehead all the way down to your little toe. You’re completely paralyzed! You also have a crushing feeling in ...

Sleep paralysis happens when you wake up (or fall asleep) and your body stays in the "sleep mode," meaning it can’t move—like you’ve been frozen in place. Your brain is fully awake, but your muscles ...

Sign up for CNN’s Sleep, But Better newsletter series. Our seven-part guide has helpful hints to achieve better sleep. Baland Jalal lay in bed terrified ...

Sleep paralysis is the phenomenon of being unable to move upon waking from sleep. Episodes generally last for a few minutes. These episodes are often described as scary, and sometimes they’re ...

Jalal is a neuroscientist at Harvard University, Department of Psychology. He was previously a Visiting Researcher at Cambridge University, where he completed his Ph.D. with the School of Clinical ...

(CNN) — Sign up for CNN’s Sleep, But Better newsletter series. Our seven-part guide has helpful hints to achieve better sleep. Baland Jalal lay in bed terrified, experiencing his own real-life horror ...

(CNN) — Baland Jalal lay in bed terrified, experiencing his own real-life horror film. Newly awake, the 19-year-old could see his surroundings but couldn’t move or speak, and he didn’t know why. He ...