Professor Espie says people tend to learn techniques to help them quickly break their paralysis. 'They may learn that they can move their finger, eyes, mouth or tongue and that can break the paralysis,' he explains. Partners may also help. 'If someone touches them, it can sometimes unlock their sleep paralysis,' says Prof. Espie. 'If a partner knows it's happening, for example if they can make manage to make a noise, their partner may wake and by touching them, get them out of the paralysis.' Indeed, he says learning to relax and try to go back to sleep can help some people but that obviously is easier said than done.
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