Sleep paralysis
When a person is in between the stages of sleep and wakefulness, they might feel conscious yet incapable of movement, this state is termed as sleep paralysis. During these transitions phases, a person might be unable to move or speak, this state can persist for a few seconds up to a few minutes. Some people report the feeling of pressure alongside the sense of choking. Sleep paralysis is often accompanied by other sleep disorders like narcolepsy. Sleep paralysis can generally occurs at one of two times. If it occurs when a person is falling asleep, it is termed as hypnagogic or predormital sleep paralysis. When it happens as a person is waking up, it is termed as hypnopompic or postdormital sleep paralysis. There is a general prevalence of four out of every 10 people to experience sleep paralysis. This condition is usually first observed in the teen years.