The School of Greatness The #1 Thing Impacting Your Sleep More Than You Know & How To Overcome It
47 snips
Aug 25, 2025 
Join Dr. Baland Jalal, a Harvard researcher and expert on sleep paralysis and lucid dreaming, as he unpacks the chilling world of sleep paralysis. Discover how cultural beliefs can reshape our brain's response to fear and sleep phenomena. Dr. Jalal shares a groundbreaking four-step meditation technique that can cut episodes in half, revealing how to shift perspectives for empowerment. Plus, learn about the deep connection between our understanding of sleep and self-identity, and uncover the secrets of neuroplasticity to enhance your mental well-being.
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First Terrifying Sleep Paralysis
- Dr. Baland Jalal describes his first sleep paralysis in Copenhagen where he felt a creature pressing on his chest.
- The episode felt vividly real and motivated his 20-year research into the brain and sleep paralysis.
REM Paralysis Vs. Partial Wakefulness
- REM sleep paralyzes the body via brainstem circuits to prevent acting out dreams.
- Sleep paralysis occurs when higher cortex wakes partially while the brainstem paralysis persists, producing a clash.
Neurochemistry Behind The Clash
- Noradrenaline (norepinephrine) is low during REM, making dreams diffuse and unfocused.
- Premature noradrenaline return can partially wake the cortex while REM paralysis remains, creating sleep paralysis.
