causes sleep paralysis!What causes sleep paralysis and night terrors?

I'm 16, and completely healthy and normal in all other regards, but for the last several years (since I was about 8 or 9) I've experienced sleep paralysis and night terrors, at the rate of about 1 or 2 times a month for the paralysis and more often for night terrors. Does anyone know what causes this?
Sleep paralysis is closely related to the paralysis that occurs as a natural part of REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, which is known as REM atonia. Sleep paralysis occurs when the brain awakes from a REM state, but the bodily paralysis persists. This leaves the person fully aware, but unable to move. In addition, the state may be accompanied by hypnagogic hallucinations. (strange shapes, faces, ect.)
some causes are:Sleeping in an upwards supine position
Irregular sleeping schedules; naps, sleeping in, sleep deprivation
Increased stress
Sudden encauses sleep paralysisvironmental/lifestyle changes
A lucid dream that immediately precedes the episode. Also conscious induction of sleep paralysis is a common technique to enter a state of lucid dreams, also known as WILD .
Artificial sleeping aides, antihistamines
Recent use of hallucinogenic drugs
low levels of melatonin, a hormone. Usually, melatonin peaks at its highest levels in the middle of the night, but low levels, especially at night, preventing the stimulation of muscles, causing the body to not have the ability to move during dreams, and even when they wake up.

night terrors also have to do with REM sleep. In adults and children over the age of ten, they usually occure because of some sort of trauma the person has experienced.
How is the answer not very good? it answers your question in detail and gives you background information on slcauses sleep paralysiseep paralysis.

i agree with g0ld!

The answerer also used some Wikipedia n did not give any credit to it.-_-
The major causes are listed in her answer:
* Sleeping in a face upwards
* Irregular sleeping schedules
* Increased stress
* Sudden environmental change
I get it as often as you n I find these 4 main causes true

I have the same thing. I wake up paralized, see tall black figures and hear strange noises. Why do we see the same visuals i wonder. People always try to come up with a solution like stress or bad sleeping habits. I had my first experiences with my face downwards. I believe its more spiritual