What causes the "Mexican Sleepover"?

[Caboose671]

Hey guys, I didn't really know where to turn to for this, but could someone tell me what are the effects of a "Mexican Sleepover". Physically, I mean.

I am a Junior in high school, and at all of the parties that everyone having, they all try this out. I am not gonna try it because I don't want to mess up my life, I have to be the one handling all of the drunks and making sure they don't try climbing up construction sites by their house (teenagers do idiotic things). I know I can't stop there party so I have done damage control. Question the morality of that later.

For those of you who don't know what a "Mexican Sleepover" is when a person squats, takes deep breaths to almost the point of hyperventilation for thirty seconds, then when he or she stands up they cross their arms while one or two people press them in to their chest. The person gets knocked out for a few seconds, and while they are out they have a very vivid dream. From what I have heard it seems to the person that the dream lasts for 2 hours or so.

Anyway, could someone inform me on what goes on physically, what causes this, and would it damage a person with the over oxygenation / derivation / bloodrush. All the people that have gone though with it seem fine, but I just wanna make sure my friends aren't gonna kill themselves doing this. I just tell my friends that I don't wanna be a idiot / Slenderman stalks me in my dreams.

Thanks Escapists,

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

Sounds like lack of oxygen, bit like a shite version of huffing cream canisters, so it's probably fairly harmless provided you don't do it a lot.

 

[Geekiest]

It sounds like a really pointless thing to do, but here goes nothing on the physicality: Oxygen deprivation to the point that you're causing a strong neurological response isn't something we have mapped out yet, because there's still a lot we don't know about the human brain and what can damage/form habits in it. So the risks you're taking are really not clearly charted. That tends to be a bad thing, in my opinion. You could be risking anything from impacted sleep patterns to stroke.

However! If you're that keen to experience what your friends are gabbing on about? Look into sensory deprivation chambers. Lucid waking dreams and hallucinations are common in something that so long as you don't have a fear reaction to it can actually be a healthy and beneficial experience. Might want to make sure you're not claustrophobic first, though. And if you don't know where/aren't interested in time in a professional sensory deprivation chamber there are guides online about how to imitate one yourself. Just make sure you don't lock yourself into anything accidentally.

 

[Nathan Crumpler]

Why is it called a Mexican Sleepover?

 

[Friendly Lich]

Don't do anything that could damage your brain cells, last I heard you only have a limited amount and they don't grow back. Not worth it.

 

[Caboose671]

All right thanks guys, this is why I love these forums so much, anyway sounds like my friends are just being idiotic, but I guess this is probably not that great for them, here is a video I found online of it. Other than this I can't seem to dig that much up on it. Thanks for the help guys
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-ADVERxCaw