"It Started After Trauma": The Effects of Traumatic Grief on Sleep Paralysis.

This article investigates the association between traumatic bereavement and the frequency of sleep paralysis (SP), a rapid eye movement (REM) parasomnia characterized by temporary inability to move upon falling asleep or waking. Using a mixed-methods approach with 168 participants, the study found that individuals who experienced the traumatic death of a loved one reported significantly higher frequencies of SP episodes, particularly between one and six years after the loss, rather than immediately following the death. Qualitative data revealed that nearly half of those identifying precipitants for their SP linked episodes directly to grief-related memories or trauma associated with the deceased. The findings suggest that prolonged grief and social constraints on mourning may contribute to increased SP, highlighting the need for healthcare providers to recognize SP as a potential component of traumatic grief and to consider it in bereavement support and treatment.