Analysis Of The Nightmare By Henry Fuseli

You wake up. You can’t move. Chained by an inexplicable force, your body is paralyzed, and it feels as if someone--something--is choking you. There’s a crushing weight on your chest; you can’t breathe, you can’t speak, even if you want to scream.

You’re caught in a nightmare. And you’re not alone.

You feel an evil presence in the room, see glowing eyes and shadowy hands attached to even darker figures. You’re struck with terror as sinister voices whisper in your ear, those same hands reaching out to grab you. You can’t run, you can’t hide. You’re frozen, unable to struggle. Is it a demon? Incubus? Alien?

Hallucination?

These chilling visions, along with the physical symptoms just described, are part of an unnerving condition called sleep
Many all over the world have sought an explanation for it. Some have turned to demons and spirits as the source, who sit on the chest of sleepers, rendering the victims unable to breathe. As you can see here, Henry Fuseli’s 1781 painting, “The Nightmare,” depicts exactly that: a woman on her back with a demon on top of her and foreboding creatures in the background. This painting is often said to be one of the disorder’s first interpretations. With startling symptoms and disconcerting visions that leave sufferers full of fear, it’s no wonder this phenomenon is often thought to be caused by the supernatural.

Over the last thirty years, research conducted has derived a scientific explanation for this condition, which is caused by a disruption during the rapid eye movement or REM cycle, the deepest period of sleep. Normally, during the REM cycle, the brain stops certain neurotransmitters, chemicals that transmit signals from one nerve cell to the other, from being released. This paralyzes the body and keeps the sleeper from enacting out their dreams, and this state, called atonia, usually ceases before the sleeper awakens. However, during sleep paralysis, this process is disturbed, and the person regains consciousness while the body is still immobile, caught between the dream-world and the
According to sleep specialist Clete Kushida, MD, ways to prevent and cope with this condition include skipping naps and keeping a regular sleep pattern. It is also more likely to occur when you’re sleeping on your back, so researchers advise to avoid falling asleep in the supine position. During the attack itself, many have found that concentrating on moving one muscle, such as a finger, can break the paralysis. Staying calm and disassociating yourself from the attack by staying aware of what is happening can also lessen the length of the attack and make it less overwhelming. If the condition is recurring, it is recommended to see a sleep specialist, or mental health care professional if you’re also dealing with stress and anxiety. Thank