I was wondering, has anyone had a history of sleep paralysis before going gluten free? I've been reading about the neurological problems associated with celiacs, but haven't found anything about this problem specifically. I started getting it consistently when I was fifteen. Now I'm curious to see if it will subside once I am completely gluten free.

Sleep paralysis comes and goes. Going gluten-free hasn't changed it for me. I wish I could relax when it happens and not panic about not being able to move.

Having practiced lucid dreaming, I did run into the paralysis thing. But being able to reason, I keep in mind that it's not anything to worry about. Normal motor nerve functions are essentially turned off when sleeping. This is normal and healthy, so you aren't supposed to be able to move consciously. A likely reason is so we don't act out our dreams. So when you become lucid at the same time, it can seem like you're body is paralyzed, which in a way is true.

I've found that relaxing enables the mind to obtain a deeper sleep state, thus out of the "scary zone". It just takes a bit of practice. Then you can enjoy lucid dreaming all the more.

I have had this off and on since childhood. Once, when living with friends temporarily (one summer), this happened quite freqently......something in their house, I truly believe, because I, um, saw really weird and rather demonic looking things at night, in my room, also. Prayer was and is the only thing that works when this happens. It virtually never happens to me any more, been several years, at least.

The moment I utter the word Jesus out loud, the "paralysis" instantly vanishes......

Yes - constantly. After gluten-free and casein free, never again. And other sleep issues - all gone.

RiceGuy - what is lucid dreaming?
When I get sleep paralysis, I wake up completely. I can see everything in my room if it's light out (usually it happens first thing in the morning), feel the covers, but just can't move for what seems like a long time, but is probably seconds. Usually, I work on wiggling my fingers and toes and when I can move those, I try my hands and feet etc. I wake up very quickly so it's disorienting and scary to find I can't move. Maybe if I could experience this in a more controlled way, I'd get more comfortable with the feeling.

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Well, lucid dreaming is when you're (at least partially) conscious while asleep. It can allow you to direct and control your dreams, but much more if you get adept at it.

I haven't experienced sleep paralysis to the extent that you do. Most times though, I'll become conscious maybe two or three seconds before being awake enough to move. The way I see it, it's not like I'm paralyzed, only that my conscious mind kicked in sooner! I just lay there and don't try moving at first. Maybe if the duration was longer it would bother me.

I do wonder about nightshade foods though, as the toxins have a paralyzing effect. Might these foods contribute to sleep paralysis? I don't doubt the possibility. Should be worth avoiding nightshades to find out if it helps. I currently can't eat them anyway, but with all the other changes in my health and sleep patterns I'm not sure if there's been any change in motor function vs wakefulness. Again it wasn't ever so much a problem for me anyway.

Every night until I went gluten free. Now it never happens.

Sounds like a "night terror" or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypnagogia. I used to see a weird, spider-like creature descending onto my bed from the ceiling. I always thought I was awake at the time. But I read up on them and realized it is a state in between.

But they always seemed incredibly real. Once I read about them, it became more of an interesting event than something scary.

I actually don't eat any nightshades. I seem to be sensitive to almost everything and eat about 8 foods (well-cooked fruit, carrots, boiled chicken and fish) so I guess these don't have anthing to do with diet - except maybe lack of some nutrients.