Sleep Paralysis and Sexual Abuse

[O'nus]

Very recent study shows the significant relationship between sleep paralysis and childhood sexual abuse. Sleep paralysis (SP) occurs when rapid eye movement (REM) activity and concomitant paralysis of the skeletal muscles persist as an individual awakens and becomes conscious of his/her surroundings. SP is often accompanied by frightening hallucinations that some researchers suggest may be confounded with memories of childhood sexual abuse (CSA; [McNally, R. J., & Clancy, S. A. (2005). Sleep paralysis in adults reporting repressed, recovered, or continuous memories of childhood sexual abuse. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 19, 595-602]). The purpose of this study was to evaluate relationships between CSA and SP. Based on self-report, participants (n = 263) were categorized into three CSA groups: confirmed, unconfirmed, or no history of CSA. Relative to participants reporting no CSA history, those reporting CSA reported more frequent and more distressing episodes of SP. Post hoc analyses revealed that participants with clinically significant post-traumatic symptoms (irrespective of CSA history) also reported more frequent and more distressing episodes of SP. Significant correlations were found among SP indices and measures of post-traumatic symptoms, depression, dissociation, and absorption. Implications and future research directions are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2008 APA, all rights reserved) Title: Prevalence and correlates of sleep paralysis in adults reporting childhood sexual abuse. Author: Abrams, Murray P.1; Mulligan, Ashlee D.1; Carleton, R. Nicholas1; Asmundson, Gordon J. G.1 Affiliation: (1)University of Regina, Regina, SK, Canada Source: Journal of Anxiety Disorders. Vol 22(8), Dec 2008, pp. 1535-1541 What do you think...? ~

[Shift]

Very recent study shows the significant relationship between sleep paralysis and childhood sexual abuse. Sleep paralysis (SP) occurs when rapid eye movement (REM) activity and concomitant paralysis of the skeletal muscles persist as an individual awakens and becomes conscious of his/her surroundings. SP is often accompanied by frightening hallucinations that some researchers suggest may be confounded with memories of childhood sexual abuse (CSA; [McNally, R. J., & Clancy, S. A. (2005). Sleep paralysis in adults reporting repressed, recovered, or continuous memories of childhood sexual abuse. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 19, 595-602]). The purpose of this study was to evaluate relationships between CSA and SP. Based on self-report, participants (n = 263) were categorized into three CSA groups: confirmed, unconfirmed, or no history of CSA. Relative to participants reporting no CSA history, those reporting CSA reported more frequent and more distressing episodes of SP. Post hoc analyses revealed that participants with clinically significant post-traumatic symptoms (irrespective of CSA history) also reported more frequent and more distressing episodes of SP. Significant correlations were found among SP indices and measures of post-traumatic symptoms, depression, dissociation, and absorption. Implications and future research directions are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2008 APA, all rights reserved) Title: Prevalence and correlates of sleep paralysis in adults reporting childhood sexual abuse. Author: Abrams, Murray P.1; Mulligan, Ashlee D.1; Carleton, R. Nicholas1; Asmundson, Gordon J. G.1 Affiliation: (1)University of Regina, Regina, SK, Canada Source: Journal of Anxiety Disorders. Vol 22(8), Dec 2008, pp. 1535-1541 What do you think...? ~ I think it's simply possible that having such f'ed up memories could severely increase the fear during an SP episode, just like PTSD. But either way, it gives me another reason to be glad that I don't suffer from ISP. I'm gonna need to dig this one up tonight though, thanks for posting it

[Maeni]

I think it's simply possible that having such f'ed up memories could severely increase the fear during an SP episode, just like PTSD. That's what I'm thinking aswell... With a mind clouded with terrifying memories, you're more likely to, well, not fall asleep when SP comes... Also because SP is probably pretty close to it, Old Hag and stuff like that, it does seem somewhat like rape :S

[Mysteryhunter]

Interesting,and nice post - I'll have to read it through. I can not help to think of Tool's song Prison sex when I read your post though. What long lasting pain someone can inflict on the innocent.

[Shift]

Interesting,and nice post - I'll have to read it through. I can not help to think of Tool's song Prison sex when I read your post though. What long lasting pain someone can inflict on the innocent. I wish everyone got that upset about drunk driving

[Lëzen]

I dunno...I saw "repressed memories" and immediately became dubious (as a former psychology student, I learned that Freud's concept of "repressed memories" is just about as scoffed at by modern psychologists as are the "Oedipus complex" and "penis envy" concepts).

[O'nus]

I dunno...I saw "repressed memories" and immediately became dubious (as a former psychology student, I learned that Freud's concept of "repressed memories" is just about as scoffed at by modern psychologists as are the "Oedipus complex" and "penis envy" concepts). They were subjective reports. ~