EMDR for Sleep Paralysis: Trauma-Informed Assessment, Mechanisms, and Clinical Application

Course overview

Sleep paralysis is a distressing parasomnia marked by transient inability to move or speak during sleep transitions, often with vivid hallucinations and intense fear. While physiologically benign, recurrent episodes can cause anxiety, fear of sleep, insomnia, and functional impairment. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), an evidence-based psychotherapy for trauma-related conditions, is being explored for sleep paralysis maintained by trauma-linked fear networks, terrifying imagery, or hyperarousal. This continuing education activity reviews the neurophysiology, etiologies, EMDR principles, potential applications, clinician qualifications, risks, comparisons with other therapies, and prognosis for sleep paralysis treatment.