9 Terrifying Diseases That Turn Your Life Into A Horror Movie

1. Sleep Paralysis

You suddenly wake in the dead of night. You try to roll over, perhaps to check the time or turn on the light, and find yourself trapped in your own body, unable to move.

A suffocating claustrophobia washes over you as the panic sets in when, suddenly, you become aware of a figure stood at the foot of your bed. How long have they been there? It's impossible to tell. All at once, they're by your side, leaning over you, perhaps even right on top of you, squeezing the air out of your lungs so that you can't breathe, let alone scream.

Sounds hideous, but it's actually a terrifyingly common condition. Sleep paralysis can happen to anyone, but is more likely to occur in those who are sleep deprived or anxious. It happens in the moment between sleeping and waking, when the mind is alert and conscious, but the body hasn't caught up yet.

When you sleep, your brain actually paralyses your body to prevent you from acting out your dreams and hurting yourself. If your brain wakes up before your body and becomes aware of the paralysis, it can go into a state of panic, sometimes even hallucinating a threatening presence.

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