Old witch syndrome
Nightmares - a fairly common phenomenon, especially among impressionable people. If these nightmares look too obvious, they are accompanied by choking and inability to move (paralysis), they get a special name - the syndrome of the old witch.
The whole strangeness of the name of this state is explained by the people's attraction to mysticism. One has only to face an inexplicable phenomenon, at first glance, and it immediately accumulates the most incredible mystical explanations.
So it was with the phenomenon, which in medicine is called sleep paralysis. The old witch, or the syndrome of the old witch, he is called from ancient times, when people firmly believed in the existence of evil spirit. Moreover, nightmares arising on the border between sleep and reality, often accompanied by visual and auditory hallucinations, were attributed to tricks of a witch or a house (in Rus), then to evil jokes of gin (in the countries of the East), then to the devil himself (religious version ).
Epidemiology
"Lucky people" who face this phenomenon once or several times in their life are mostly teenagers or young people under 25 years old, whose lives are full of impressions and experiences. People in adulthood experience this phenomenon much less often, and more often than not it happens against the background of stress, travel, overseas business trips or watching television programs with scenes of horror or violence.
Syndrome of the old witch is often a phenomenon among people who are easily affected by other, impressionable and closed personalities. It can also become a "side effect" of nervous overstrain or chronic fatigue.
According to their various sources, the percentage of people who at least once experienced the entire horror of carotid paralysis, varies between 20-60%. Visions in this case can be very diverse, ranging from religious and mystical images to modern ideas about the inhabitants of other planets. The content of a realistic dream is a game of the imagination of a particular individual, based on personal experiences, transformed information received on the eve of the event, as well as features of the psyche.
There are statistics according to which the probability of occurrence of the syndrome of the old witch is higher for those who sleep on their backs, although there is still no logical explanation for this.
Causes of the old witch syndrome
In fact, sleepy paralysis, or the syndrome of the old witch, is a harmless borderline state that has nothing to do with the influence of mystical characters. This is a kind of game of consciousness and subconsciousness in impressionable people or people in a state of stress, when real phenomena intertwine with residual images of dreams.
The causes of the syndrome of the old witch may be different. They are related both to the physiological and the psychological state of the organism. Most often, the occurrence of sleep paralysis is associated with increased excitability of the nervous system or excessive impressionability. Often, the occurrence of this condition against the background of a lack of night rest, associated with stress and feelings, both against the background of illness, and on labor and in personal life. Painful sensations and negative thoughts in the period of falling asleep easily pour out into nightmares, continuing and during awakening from a dream and fettering the whole body.
Risk factors
Risk factors for the development of the syndrome of the old witch can be:
- the change of time zones, causing failures in the mode of sleep and wakefulness,
- transition to summer or winter time,
- narcolepsy, or chronic drowsiness,
- alcohol, nicotine or drug addiction,
- gambling addiction,
- various mental disorders,
- overeating at night and some food preferences affecting the quality of sleep (coffee, spicy dishes and some spices, and even chocolate with its amazing short-term hypnotic and prolonged invigorating action),
- genetic predisposition.
Strange as it sounds, but sometimes sleepy paralysis is observed against the background of taking some antidepressants and drugs with a calming effect.
Pathogenesis
Sleep paralysis is not a disease in the truest sense of the word. There is also no international list of diseases. This pathological condition is not dangerous to human life, no matter how often it repeats. Nevertheless, it can greatly frighten anyone experiencing this for the first time.
The thing is that there is a syndrome of the old witch in the phase of fast sleep, when the dream of a person is not strong, and the state is close to awakening. At this point, real images are attached to the subconscious visions, but the muscles are still in a relaxed state. Such untimely awakening leads to the fact that different parts of the brain are not involved in the work at the same time, at first the part of the brain responsible for consciousness starts to work, and after a short time the motor functions are launched.
Since consciousness begins to be active before, a person begins to frighten that he can not move. The subconscious mind also completes the missing details: awesome shadows, mysterious sounds and visions.
The feeling of pressure in the sternum, as well as the choking, sometimes accompanying sleepy paralysis, also most often do not have a real basis, but are a kind of hallucination, reinforced by the fear of immobilization. It may seem to a person that he is strangled by some dark entities, in fact, no witch, allegedly sitting on the chest of a man and drinking all his powers, nor alien guests conducting their scientific experiments on earthlings, there is nothing to do with it.
It is awakening in the phase of fast sleep against the background of a rich imagination that causes such "terrible", frightening effects, which can last from a few seconds to 1-2 minutes. Many scientists do not consider this condition a deviation. This is a normal reaction of the body to premature awakening, and it is very rarely associated with any mental abnormalities.
Interestingly, forcible awakening with the help of sharp sounds can not cause sleep paralysis. This phenomenon is observed only with the early natural transition from sleep to wakefulness, caused by shifts in the phases of slow and fast sleep, when dreams of the slow phase are supplemented by real images and imaginary sensations.
Symptoms of the old witch syndrome
The syndrome of the old witch in each individual can manifest itself in different ways. Someone can perceive what is happening calmly, without actually observing something out of the ordinary, and the other wakes up in a cold sweat from the experiences experienced.
Scientists-somnologists distinguish two types of carotid paralysis, depending on what time it occurred:
- hypnagogic (the phase of falling asleep)
- hypnopopic (awakening phase).
The first, sometimes called semi-unconscious, can arise if a person wakes up at the very moment of falling asleep. Usually it passes in an easy form, when a person realizes what is happening around, but is not able to move or say something. After this, there is an ordinary dream.
Hypnopic sleepy paralysis, coming on the eve of a full awakening at the end of the stage of fast sleep, differs more intense sensations. He is more than the first characterized by fears and visions, as well as suffocation and audible hallucinations.
There is a separation of the state of sleep paralysis in frequency and intensity. So there were concepts of isolated and recurrent isolated sleep paralysis. The first occurs in healthy people 1-2 times in life, lasts for a short time and does not differ in the high saturation of visions.
The second, recurrent, can pursue a person all his life. He is characterized by rich in colors and events, visions, which sometimes last even more than 2 minutes. Sometimes a person may have a feeling that his mind leaves the body for some time.
Despite all the variety of images and sensations accompanying sleepy paralysis, it is possible to distinguish some symptoms of the syndrome of the old witch, allowing to diagnose this sleep disorder:
- the borderline between dream and reality, when a person seems to be in the mind, but not in a position to fully navigate the situation and influence it,
- impossibility to move hands, legs, head, move the body or say something (sometimes the mobility of fingers and hands is preserved),
- panic fear of what is happening,
- hallucinations (most often in visions people see dark angels, monsters, mythical creatures trying to harm the sleeper),
- labored breathing and the feeling that someone is pressing hard on the chest or squeezes his throat,
- heart palpitations, sometimes they say that the heart "pounding", almost jump out,
- sometimes there is a certain disorientation in space,
- it seems to the person that he can move and influence events, but something hinders him,
- The feeling of presence in the room of other entities,
- sense of separation of body and mind,
- exacerbation of auditory sensations and reactions to extraneous sounds, the appearance of sound hallucinations,
- bright and colorful realistic dreams, accompanying a motionless state,
- sometimes on this soil there can be noticeable sexual arousal.
Sleep paralysis itself can be a manifestation of certain mental illnesses and pathologies of sleep (sleepwalking, narcolepsy). For example, the same symptoms as with the syndrome of the old witch (CER) are observed in narcolepsy, which is one of the diseases of the nervous system. But the first (and main) signs of this pathology - often recurring bouts of daytime sleepiness - are absent in CERs.
Diagnostics of the old witch syndrome
In addition to narcolepsy and somnambulism, sleep paralysis can accompany other diseases requiring specialist supervision. Such a symptom, for example, is characteristic of the clinical course of depressive states, migraines, obstructive sleep apnea (respiratory arrest) during sleep, hypertension (increased pressure in the vessels and cavities of the body), anxiety disorders, mental pathologies. It is this moment that is the determining factor in the diagnosis of CERs.
The syndrome of the old witch does not pose a danger to human life and health, unless, of course, he suffers from serious heart diseases. But the illnesses that accompany him may need serious treatment. Diagnosis of the syndrome of the old witch is precisely aimed at identifying such pathologies.
There are no special methods for detecting this sleep disorder in medicine. The diagnosis is based on the results of differential diagnosis, and sounds most often as "parasomnia." This term in medicine denotes different types of sleep disorders.
Diagnosis of CER is based on the collection of anamnesis, i.e. A patient's questioning about his feelings, heredity, activity, medication, etc. Sometimes additional sleep studies may be required to get a complete picture of the existing pathology. For a diagnosis, you can refer to a specialist in the field of sleep and the psyche of a person: a somnologist or a psychotherapist. They should be consulted at least in order to exclude the possibility of serious diseases.
Sleepy paralysis itself does not need any specific treatment and can not cause serious complications (except for situations with a weak heart). Nevertheless, neglected, it can have unpleasant consequences in the form of chronic lack of sleep, anxiety and depression. All this is connected with groundless fear that such phenomena are the cause of mental disorders. Many people are afraid that with the recurrence of symptoms they can die in a dream or simply fall into a lethargic sleep. These suspicions are ridiculous, but can cause a state of anxiety and anxiety, affecting the quality of life of a completely healthy person.
Treatment of the old witch syndrome
Since sleep paralysis is not a full-fledged disease, it is also not about classical treatment. The syndrome of the old witch is considered to be a normal disturbance of the rhythm of sleep caused by fatigue or overexcitement of the psyche, which means that it is necessary to eliminate the cause, and such "pleasure" like sleep paralysis will start to disturb a person much less.
And the reasons are clear - this lack of sleep and rest plus anxiety. It's with them that we just have to fight. Most often, there is no need to resort to medical treatment, there is enough correction of the regime of the day and a change in attitude towards what is happening. But if such treatment does not work, doctors can prescribe medications with a sedative (sedative) and easy hypnotic effect. In single cases of CERs, there is no need for treatment.
One of the popular drugs with extensive advertising, promising a quick and easy sleep, is "Sondox. " This drug is specifically designed to correct sleep without changing its phases. It helps to quickly fall asleep and fully rest in a period of not less than 7 hours.
A drug is prescribed for people with sleep problems older than 15 years. It is contraindicated in patients with closed-angle glaucoma, urinary disorders (whatever cause they are caused), individual intolerance to the components of the drug. Adenoma of the prostate in men and lactation in women also make it unacceptable to use this hypnotic.
The drug does not have a negative effect on the fetus, and yet during pregnancy the use of "Sondox" is possible only according to the doctor's indications.
Dosage and route of administration. For correction of sleep with CER the drug is taken shortly before night rest, for 20-30 minutes before going to bed. The usual dose is 1 tablet, but in some cases it can fluctuate from 0.5 to 2 tablets per dose.
Some side effects of the drug explain its contraindications. This is a violation of visual perception and orientation, as well as problems with urination. In addition, there may be noticeable dryness of the mucous membranes of the mouth. There is also a certain probability of dizziness and constipation.
Precautions. In connection with possible dizziness to avoid falling and injury, after awakening and rising from bed it is undesirable to actively move and make sudden movements.
The use of the drug together with M-holinoblokatorami (for example, atropine) can cause increased some side effects, and alcohol will enhance the soothing effect of "Sondoks" and make it impossible to perform work that requires concentration.
It is inadmissible to use the drug after the expiration date and in doses exceeding the prescription of the doctor. The latter can cause an overdose of the drug with dangerous consequences.
If the cause of the syndrome of the old witch is stress and nervous exhaustion, tranquilizers, such as Quattrex, can be prescribed as an effective therapeutic agent . This drug is not specific in the treatment of sleep disorders, nevertheless it has a noticeable restoring effect for the nervous system. A person feels quite active and alert, psychoemotional stress is significantly reduced, fears and anxiety go away, and sleep is normalized accordingly.
This drug can be prescribed for patients older than 11 years who do not suffer from kidney failure and hypersensitivity to the drug. Do not get involved in it during pregnancy and lactation, as long as there is insufficient information about the effects of the active substances on the child.
Dosage and route of administration. For treatment of sleep pathologies, the drug is prescribed in doses not exceeding 3 capsules per 1 dose, provided the drug is administered 2-3 times a day. Capsules can not be chewed, they must be swallowed whole, washed down with a sufficient amount of pure water. The course of treatment with the drug can be from 2 to 6 weeks.
Allergic reactions in the treatment with the drug "Quattrex" are extremely rare, but at the beginning of the drug may appear drowsiness, which is added dizziness, a slight headache and nausea. Side effects of the drug are often limited to the first application.
Precautions. The drug can affect the concentration of attention, especially when side effects occur.
With extreme caution, you should treat the "Quattrex" with patients with gastrointestinal disturbances due to the irritant effect of the drug on the mucous membranes.
"Phenobarbital" due to its sedative, hypnotic, antispasmodic and anticonvulsant action is also an effective remedy for UHV. He quickly removes the symptoms of anxiety and fear and normalizes a night's sleep. It is released on prescription.
The disadvantage of this drug is a significant number of contraindications, which must be read after reading the instructions to "Phenobarbital" before the reception.
The drug is for adults. The dosage is determined by the doctor, based on the desired result. Usually, to normalize sleep, 1-2 tablets are prescribed before bedtime (half an hour before the night rest), and as a sedative, "Phenobarbital" is used 2 or 3 times a day for half a tablet.
Precautions. To achieve a good effect of treatment, it is necessary to take into account the drug interaction with other drugs, since "Phenobarbital" is able to enhance the effectiveness of some drugs and reduce it in others. This information is in the instructions to the drug.
The drug belongs to a group of potent and even poisonous agents. It is not recommended to use it for a long time and to use during child-bearing and feeding.
Affects the speed of the reaction. The cessation of treatment with the drug should be gradual with a decrease in dose in order to avoid the onset of the withdrawal syndrome and the return of certain symptoms of CERs.
Interesting from the point of view of the effect is the preparation "Melaxen", whose active substance - melatonin - is a synthetic analogue of the hormone of the epiphysis, responsible for the normalization of the biological rhythms of the organism, including the "sleep-wake" cycle.
Taking the drug allows you to speed up the process of falling asleep, make sleep sufficiently strong and reduce the likelihood of unplanned awakenings. "Melaxen" is not addictive and makes awakening easy and enjoyable. It can be used as a preventive agent for CERs when moving with the change of time zones or to reduce the stress on the nervous system under stress.
Contraindications to the use of the drug are children's age, pregnancy and breastfeeding, severe kidney disease, diabetes, epilepsy, oncological blood diseases, diseases caused by disorders in the immune system, allergic and other reactions against a background of hypersensitivity to the components of the drug.
The use of the drug can cause such side effects: headaches and drowsiness in the morning, some disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as minor swelling at the beginning of the drug.
The dosage and the way of using the drug is set by the doctor and does not exceed 2 tablets per day. Take the pill you need once a day, somewhere for half an hour before going to sleep. As a prophylactic drug the drug is taken on the eve of a flight or relocation for laziness before the onset of this event, and then for 2-5 days in usual dosage: 1 tablet before bedtime.
Precautions. It is inadmissible to take the drug in parallel with hormonal agents, MAO inhibitors, GCS and cyclosporine.
During the reception of "Melaxen", sensitivity to light increases, so it is undesirable to stay in a bright environment for a long time.
Affects the speed of the reaction. Has an insignificant contraceptive property, therefore can negatively influence probability of conception of the child.
In addition to drugs with sedative and hypnotic effects for sleep regulation, doctors prescribe vitamin-mineral complexes that contain vitamin B, magnesium, zinc, calcium, iron and copper in sufficient quantities.
Along with medical treatment, in some cases, physiotherapeutic treatment of UHV can be prescribed , which allows to safely and effectively normalize the patient's mental state and sleep. Most often, such treatment is prescribed within the framework of stay at specialized resorts, where the physical procedures are combined with the correction of the daily regimen and biological rhythms.
To effective methods of physiotherapy in CERs include massage, water procedures, reflexotherapy, magnetotherapy, electrosleep. A positive effect in sleep disorders is provided by mineral and herbal baths.
Alternative treatment of the syndrome of the old witch
Sleep paralysis is a variant of the norm, and to treat what is considered normal is simply meaningless. Nevertheless, with the help of traditional and alternative treatments, it is possible to significantly improve the quality of sleep and strengthen the nervous system, which will significantly reduce the likelihood of repetition of such an unpleasant half-asleep state, which is the syndrome of the old witch.
In this case, the alternative medicine in this situation is not only not less effective than the achievements of the pharmaceutical science, but also quite pleasant. And besides, they are absolutely harmless.
Take, for example, the same honey. Many people have heard about the healing properties of honey, but not everyone knows that this delicious sleeping pills are not known. But there are many recipes for drinks based on the exquisite delicacy presented to us by bees, and these fragrant drinks will help relieve tension and get pleasure from a sound, restful sleep.
And here is a matter of taste. A teaspoon of honey can be dissolved in a glass of warm water, milk or kefir, drink the drink received before going to bed and receive a few hours of a quiet night's rest, not burdened with the symptoms of the syndrome of the old witch.
Sometimes as a basis for a drink use a cucumber pickle, diluting in it already a tablespoon of honey. This is an excellent remedy for improving sleep with tides to the head of the blood, and also to relieve the intestines from food processing products.
To enhance the sedative and hypnotic effects of honey, you can use natural apple cider vinegar. 3 teaspoons of vinegar, added with a glass of honey will make the sweet drug more effective, and a sleep more robust.
Not only honey is famous for its wonderful soothing effect. For example, beets are not only good for your intestines, but also unique vitamins for the nervous system. Useful beets, including young leaves, in any form. You can eat it as a separate dish or as part of other dishes. Beet juice is very popular. A third of a glass of beet juice mixed with other juices will saturate your body with vitamins and will noticeably heal the nervous system. A strong nerves - the key to a good sleep.
Dill is considered to be a fragrant seasoning for dishes, and in fact it is also an excellent means for a good sleep. To do this, you need to grind fresh grass or dill seeds, and pour a teaspoon of raw material with a glass of boiling water. Such an unusual drink is recommended to eat before eating ½ cup (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and 1 glass of drink to drink half an hour before bedtime.
In alternative medicine, the treatment of sleep pathologies with aromatic oils is popular . They are added to the bathroom, they are smeared with whiskey and complement the soothing composition of the herbs, which are filled with pillows, which facilitate fast falling asleep and a sound sleep.
Treatment of the syndrome of the old witch with herbs and homeopathic remedies
Worthy results in the correction of sleep disorders are provided by the treatment with herbs that have a soothing effect on the nervous system, which, of course, also affects the quality of sleep. To such grasses with confidence it is possible to carry a sage, mint and melisu, valerian, hops, thyme, oregano, Leonurus, wormwood.
Despite the fact that wormwood is a fairly poisonous herb and requires special care in the application, it is considered one of the best means to improve sleep. For these purposes, either infusion of herbs or roots (1-2 tablespoons of raw material into 2 cups of boiling water), or oil from the seeds of bitter grass (1 tablespoon of ground seeds for 4 tablespoons of any vegetable oil) is used.
Medicinal herbs can be consumed in the form of decoctions and infusions, as well as in sedatives, which, by the way, can be purchased at any pharmacy. Lavender, thyme, mint, hops and other herbs, which have a pleasant aroma, are also an excellent filler for "sleeping pills". It's enough just to choose a suitable, unobtrusive scent, which will help you to plunge as quickly as possible into the sweet embrace of Morpheus.
Medicinal herbs and collections are the basis of many means of homeopathy used in the treatment of the syndrome of the old witch. The most popular of these is the homeopathic drug "Notta", which helps to significantly reduce nervous tension and normalize the physiological rhythm of sleep. In its composition, we can see oats, chamomile, transformed valerian extract.
This drug is designed to reduce mental stress and nervous excitability in adults and children older than 3 years. It is available in the form of tablets and a solution for internal use.
Absence of contraindications, except hypersensitivity to the drug, as well as side effects, makes the drug intake safe and comfortable. The drug in tablets is designed to treat adults, the drops are suitable for absolutely everyone.
The dosage of the drug is standard. For adults and children over 12 years, one tablet (10 drops) is sufficient for a single dose, children from 3 to 12 years are prescribed 5 drops, diluted in a spoonful of water, at a time. Take pills and drops necessary for half an hour before meals or an hour after it. Homeopathic tablets should be placed under the tongue and keep so until they are completely dissolved.
The drug does not exclude the possibility of using it for the treatment of babies up to 3 years after a preliminary consultation with a specialist doctor.
No less popular drug based on valerian and balm Melissa "Dormiplant" due to its sedative effect is successfully used to prevent symptoms of the syndrome of the old witch. Like the previous drug, it quickly relieves nervous tension and speeds up falling asleep.
The drug can be used in the treatment of sleep disorders in people older than 6 years. It is not welcome treatment with the drug for liver failure or a high probability of reactions of intolerance to the components of the drug. When pregnancy and lactation require medical advice.
Dosage and route of administration. As a sedative, the drug is used twice a day for 2 tablets, in case of sleep disorders, a single dose of a standard dose (2 tablets) is enough for half an hour before going to bed.
Precautionary measures. Do not take more than two months and before performing actions that require increased attention.
In the popular phytopreparation "Persen", valerian and melissa are also supplemented with peppermint, which provides the drug with both sedative and spasmolytic effect. The drug effectively fights irritability, anxiety and related problems of falling asleep.
It is used in the treatment of people over 12 years who do not suffer from intolerance to lactose and fructose, low blood pressure and bile duct diseases. Undesirable reception of this product during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and, of course, with intolerance of the components of the drug.
Side effects of the drug are usually associated with an allergic predisposition.
The method of application and dosage of "Persen" are identical to the previous preparation. The maximum daily dose is 12 tablets.
Combined herbal medicine "Sedavit", in addition to extracts of valerian, hawthorn, hops, mint and St. John's wort, contains vitamins B6 and PP, which help improve sleep quality, reduce anxiety, improve memory and attention.
The drug is in the form of tablets or drops for internal use. It is not intended for treatment of persons younger than 12 years, patients with IHD, asthma, myasthenia gravis, liver diseases and ulcerative gastrointestinal lesions. Depressive states are also a contraindication to the use of Sedavit.
Side effects of the drug are rare and can manifest as muscle weakness, nausea, abdominal pain, changes in stool quality, dizziness, drowsiness and allergic reactions. These symptoms usually require withdrawal of the drug.
Dosage and duration of treatment is established by the attending physician.
Precautionary measures. During pregnancy and lactation, the drug can be used only according to the doctor's indications.
It is forbidden to take the drug in parallel with medicines containing levodopa.
It is worth mentioning about the Ayurvedic herbal remedy "Stress Veda", one of the components of which is the same valerian. This drug, in addition to the sedative and hypnotic action necessary to counteract the syndrome of the old witch, also has a host of beneficial properties that help strengthen and rejuvenate the body.
The drug has no specific contraindications and side effects.
The receipt of this phyto is shown within 1 month. Such courses can be repeated 2-3 times throughout the year. Recommended dose: 1 tablet (capsule) 2 or 3 times a day. Tablets should be taken before meals (15 minutes before meals), with enough clean water.
To normalize sleep cycles and improve sleep, take one or two tablets an hour before bedtime.
If, for any reason, all of the above drugs are not available to you, then the familiar "adult" drug will come to the aid - a valerian in the form of tablets or a liquid extract, which can be found literally in every home medicine cabinet or purchased at any pharmacy. This cheap medicine and nerves will calm, and a sweet dream will present no worse than expensive.
Prevention
Most often, therapy is limited to advice on how to make the right regime of the day with enough time for rest. But it happens that only complex measures, including medicinal treatment, physiotherapy, alternative methods of treatment, bring positive results. Sometimes, in stressful situations or increased anxiety, psychotherapy sessions may be necessary. Operative treatment for sleep paralysis, if it does not accompany more serious pathologies, is not practiced, because there is no evidence for this.
There are still some measures based on the experience of ordinary people that will help prevent the recurrence of symptoms of the syndrome of the old witch. Doctors also agree with the effectiveness of these councils and consider them, among other things, excellent preventive measures to prevent the onset of sleep paralysis. So:
- Make a mode of the day, in which the time for going to bed will be constant on weekdays and weekends. Learn how to get up by the alarm clock.
- Take the rule in the mornings to make jogs, and in the evening walk in the fresh air. Learn to listen to nature during them.
- Take a hobby needlework that perfectly calms the nervous system through repeated actions and massage of the fingers.
- Before going to bed, take a bath, the water in which should be slightly cool, but in no case hot. Add to the water a decoction of medicinal herbs or a drop of your favorite essential oil with a slight, pleasant smell.
- What else can affect the inner state of a person the way music does? It can be both energetic, stimulating to action, and gentle, relaxing, able to calm the raging nerves. Favorably on the nervous system, the sounds of nature, recorded on electronic media, as well as classical music, act.
- Bedding is not a place for thinking and building plans. Before falling asleep, try to think about something abstract, and not plan tomorrow or re-live today.
- Try to change the habitual position of the body "lying on your back" to another, in which the probability of paroxysmal paralysis is much less.
- Try not to eat before bed. If you have certain problems with the stomach, then limit yourself to light food. And remember, dinner is not the time for heavy, fatty foods.
- Do not hesitate to take to bed soft toys, wear fluffy colored pajamas, use "frivolous" bedding. This is your bed, and you should feel comfortable and cozy in it.
As you can see, everything is extremely simple, and if these tips do not help you to stop the syndrome of the old witch, they will definitely frighten the "evil old woman", and she will come to visit you much less often.
Forecast
In principle, the syndrome of the old witch is not dangerous to health. His treatment is performed with frequently recurring symptoms and is aimed at reducing the number of repetitions of such an unpleasant, frightening state. The prognosis of treatment of this pathology of sleep is always positive.
Medical expert editor
Portnov Alexey Alexandrovich
Education: Kiev National Medical University. A.A. Bogomolets, Specialty - "General Medicine"
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