Sleep Paralysis Stories: Demons Or Hallucinations?

image of a classical painting representing sleep paralysis

Sleep paralysis stories typically involve unusual and frightening experiences. Perhaps you have one or two of these disturbing tales of your own to tell.

If not, I’ll first share one of mine to give you an understanding of what it can be like.

Then we’ll take a closer look at whether sleep paralysis demons or ghosts really exist. Or if science can provide a logical and comforting explanation.

My sleep paralysis experience

Imagine the following scenario: it’s been a long day, you go to bed later than usual and fall asleep quickly through sheer exhaustion.

But instead of waking up peacefully in the morning, you half wake in the middle of the night. And in the darkness of your bedroom, it slowly dawns on you that you can’t move your body…and that someone, or something, is watching you.

A weight pushing on your chest

You feel a weight on your chest, pressing you down and preventing you from sitting up. And not only is your whole body paralyzed, but you can’t so much as move your lips to call out for help.

You’re not sure who or what is pushing on your chest. Even though you seem to be able to move your eyes just a little, it’s too dark to see anyway. Regardless, you just feel that there’s a presence there. Something strange. Something frightening.

This happened to me last year and was a very unsettling experience. Fortunately, there was no demon, ghost or burglar in my bedroom.

After a minute’s panic, the feeling passed. And I was then able to stumble to the bathroom to make sure my face wasn’t decorated with demonic symbols. It was a classic case of sleep paralysis.

What is sleep paralysis?

Recurrent isolated sleep paralysis is classified as a parasomnia, which is a group of sleep disorders involving unwanted behaviors that accompany sleep.

The main symptom is being awake and unable to move your body. It might also be accompanied by hallucinations or dreams/nightmares whilst still awake.

It typically lasts from a few seconds to a few minutes before movement is regained. And although it may feel like it at the time, it’s not believed by medical organizations to be harmful.

What causes it?

The exact reason for why it happens to some people and only on some nights isn’t known. However, scientists do have a theory about what goes on during sleep paralysis.

During the night, you cycle through different sleep stages. When you enter the REM stage of sleep, your brain stops your muscles from moving – known as REM atonia. One explanation for this atonia is that it prevents injury from acting out your dreams in bed.

During sleep paralysis, the atonia starts, or continues, while you’re awake. And during this time, you might also experience what’s known as sleep hallucinations, or dreams while you’re awake.

So your body and brain are temporarily out of sync while transitioning between sleep stages, potentially creating a frightening experience.

As Dr. Michael J. Breus neatly explains:

Sleep scientists believe that sleep paralysis may occur when the transitions in and out of REM sleep and other sleep stages don’t go smoothly.

How many people experience sleep paralysis?

Sleep paralysis stories like mine are surprisingly common. In 2011, researchers aggregated 35 sleep paralysis studies to find out how many people had experienced it at least once in the past year, finding:

  • 7.6% of the general population
  • 28.3% of students
  • 31.9% of psychiatric patients

And according to the handbook of sleep disorders, it will happen at least once in a lifetime of 40% to 50% of normal subjects, but is “far less common as a chronic complaint”.

Who is more at risk of having sleep paralysis?

Scientists might not know the precise reason only some people have sleep paralysis yet, but there are a growing number of risk factors becoming apparent.

For example, researchers who analyzed 42 studies found several risk factors and associated conditions:

  • Sleep problems, changing sleep patterns and shift work.
  • Sleep disorders such as narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia and nocturnal leg cramps.
  • Stress.
  • Some psychiatric groups, particularly those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, anxiety and panic disorders.
  • Substance and medication use.
  • Physical illness.
  • Personality and anomalous beliefs.

Is there a genetic component to sleep paralysis?

In 2015, British researchers published a study of 862 twins and siblings aged between 22 and 32. They did find some evidence of a genetic role, but only a small one:

In this sample of young adults, sleep paralysis was moderately heritable

Interestingly, they also found other independent risk factors, including:

  • Disrupted sleep cycles
  • General sleep quality
  • Anxiety symptoms
  • Exposure to threatening events

Polls – readers’ experience of sleep paralysis

I polled readers of this article for a year to find out what kind of sleep paralysis episodes they had.

Note that it’s likely that many people who search online about it will have had the more frightening episodes, skewing the results.

But they still provide a fascinating insight into what people experience and how they cope.

Poll 1

In poll 1, the most common episode was thinking there was a demon or other being in the room.

chart showing the results of my poll about the type of sleep paralysis experiences people have

Poll 2

Poll 2 shows that many readers find sleep paralysis terrifying. Again, those who search online for it are likely to have found it particularly disturbing.

chart of poll results for how scared people are during sleep paralysis

Poll 3

Poll 3 shows that many readers first experienced sleep paralysis during adolescence.

chart with poll results about the age people first have sleep paralysis

Poll 4

Poll 4 shows that most readers don’t experience sleep paralysis on a regular basis. 

chart showing poll results about how often people have sleep paralysis

Poll 5

Poll 5 shows some of the ways readers deal with episodes. You’ll find more coping mechanisms below.

chart showing the results of the poll about techniques for stopping sleep paralysis

The not so scientific explanations for sleep paralysis

image of a woman floating above the bed

Since first writing this article several years ago, there has been an extraordinary number of comments. And the comments show that not everyone accepts the scientific explanation.

Interestingly, some people struggle to accept it even though they consider themselves to be scientifically minded generally. I think these cases highlight just how realistic the experience of sleep paralysis can be; how it can linger in your memory and makes you question what happened for a long time afterward.

The possibility of demons, ghosts, spiritual beings, and aliens all crop up from time to time in the comments too. And while many people accept their experiences as hallucinations or dreams, some people choose to believe another explanation – that those entities are real.

Despite these beliefs, there’s one clear theme: nothing bad ever actually happens, other than being frightened and perhaps losing some sleep after an episode.

Around the world

Cultural beliefs also appear to play a role in how sleep paralysis is perceived by some people.

In Fiji, for example, the demon is sometimes seen as a deceased relative coming back to discuss an important or unfinished matter.

In Chinese folklore, it’s also seen as a ghost rather than a demon or intruder.

Some people in Iran and Pakistan interpret it as demons or spirits taking over your body. This could be due to black magic performed by an enemy.

The common theme is that the entity is usually something to be feared. I’m yet to find a culture which believes it’s a friendly creature!

Sleep paralysis treatment

When to see a doctor

Fortunately, most people don’t experience sleep paralysis very often, and no treatment is usually required.

However, if the following apply to you, it’s a good idea to speak to your doctor:

  • It happens regularly.
  • You’re anxious about sleep paralysis and going to sleep.
  • You don’t get enough sleep.
  • You feel very sleepy during the day, sometimes fall asleep suddenly or lose control of your muscles.

What medical treatment is available?

If you see a doctor, they might take the following action:

  • Refer you to a sleep specialist to assess if you have another sleep disorder, like narcolepsy.
  • Treat any underlying psychiatric condition.
  • Discuss any medication or substance use that might be a factor.
  • Explain the biological processes involved in sleep paralysis to reassure you.
  • Talk to you about developing good sleep habits. This is thought to help reduce the frequency of sleep paralysis.

Readers’ techniques for coping with sleep paralysis

Over the years, many readers have described how they cope with sleep paralysis, and I’ve created a list of the most frequent ideas below.

The first seven in the list are also suggested by sleep experts. The rest are a mix of personal opinions. Please bear in mind that none are guaranteed to work:

  • Don’t let yourself become too sleep-deprived.
  • Stick to a regular sleep schedule.
  • Try to reduce stress and anxiety in your life.
  • Try to vigorously flutter your eyelids or move your eyes, as this tends to be an area of the body that’s less affected by the paralysis.
  • Focus on wiggling just one finger or a toe.
  • Don’t take recreational drugs or drink alcohol in the evening.
  • Don’t sleep on your back.
  • Stay calm.
  • Tell yourself that you’re in control. You can order the experience to stop.
  • If you feel a weight on your chest, imagine there’s something friendly causing it.
  • Film yourself sleeping so you can see there was nothing in the room.
  • Don’t think about what it could be. Your imagination will probably make up something scary in the darkness.
  • Organize your bedroom in a way that makes you feel safe and secure.
  • Don’t hang dressing gowns, coats, or hats in places that make them look like figures in the dark.
  • Sleep with a night light, music, or radio on.
  • Remind yourself that nothing bad will happen.
  • Imagine your body rolling from side to side in your mind and count each roll. Focus on this and try to grow the capacity for movement from there.
  • Count numbers to focus your mind on something else.
  • Don’t sleep with a high pillow.
  • Keep your eyes shut and try to clear your mind.
  • Squeeze your eyes tightly shut if you can control the muscles.
  • Keep well hydrated – drink water before going to bed.
  • Talk about it to family or friends – they may have experienced it too.
  • If you have it once, get out of bed for a while to reset the brain.
  • Many people say prayer helps. Some also say that calling on their religious beliefs and commanding what they see to leave helps them.
  • Check if any sleeping pills or herbal remedies you’re taking are causing it.
  • Use sleep paralysis to lucid dream by relaxing and going with the experience instead of fighting it.
  • Once the episode has passed, tell yourself that you overcame it, are not afraid and will always overcome it.

How I recently stopped an episode of sleep paralysis

I successfully used two of the above techniques to stop a recent episode of sleep paralysis.

I woke to find myself in a strange position with my arms crossed on top of my body. And I could literally feel strong hands pinning my wrists to my chest.

I have to admit I was immediately petrified. The whole event was blurry, and I think I was having some dream overlap, but can’t remember exactly what now.

Stay calm and wiggle a finger

Two things sprung to mind after a moment of panic: stay calm and try to wiggle a finger.

The calmness I only managed with moderate success. But I did manage to focus my efforts on moving a finger. It felt quite odd – like my fingers were wiggling in different directions!

Eventually, I felt my arms loosen as well, and soon afterward I was able to shake the whole sensation away as I regained full control.

I then spent a few minutes doing some breathing exercises to ground myself and calm down, and then fell asleep again.

I think just knowing about the finger wiggling technique was enough for me to remember it when the sleep paralysis occurred.

Share your story of sleep paralysis

Have you had sleep paralysis? What happened, and do you have any suggestions to help others deal with it?

Please feel free to share your experience in the comments below.

3,365 Comments

  1. I am a very lucky person because i get sleep paralysis when i fall asleep instead off when i wake up and the sleepparalysis usually indicates itsself by random loud noises like clapping, banging or muffled talking. The first two times i had sleepparalysis it was very scary and when i woke up i’d always fall back again, it was exhausting. Now i’m not bothered at all by it, when ibhear weird noises in my head i’m like “ohh this again” and just wake myself up before it gets scary.

  2. Thank you so much for this article; it contains a lot of enlightening information. Reading the comments from other sleep paralysis sufferers is also helpful – I don’t know anyone else who experiences this on a regular basis and it’s nice to compare notes. I’m 66 years old and recall having the first SP episodes when I was in high school. There was always a distinct impression of an intruder standing beside the bed where I slept with my younger sister. It was terrifying – I couldn’t even open my eyes. And back then (in the mid 60s) there was no information available on sleep paralysis – in fact, I never heard the term until maybe ten years ago. Sleeping issues have been a problem for me as long as I can remember but I now use a CPAP so I’m getting the elusive REM sleep. However, I also take Ambien nightly and if I don’t take it, I spend the night in a cycle of nightmares (the intruder still intrudes, someone or some”thing” is pursuing me, one of my grandkids is calling me for help) and sleep paralysis, eventually struggling free only to repeat the cycle again and again. On these nights I usually just give up and stay up. After reading this article, I feel certain that nightmare overlap is part of my problem. A couple of things here: I can only sleep on my back because of other issues that will not allow me to turn on my side and I have been sleeping with my head propped up in an effort to alleviate some discomfort. As for the Ambien, my doctor resisted prescribing it for a couple of years but I was doing a great deal of chauffeuring grandkids and had become dangerously sleep deprived. I understand the terror that y’all are describing, the exhaustion and the fear of lying down to sleep every night. I would encourage you to seek help with a physician – I cannot imagine facing those horrific nights again.

  3. I have been having this since I was very young. 4-5 years old. I remember when I was little that once I would fully awaken, I would run into my parents room and I just would cry for hours and hours because I was scared.
    It stopped happening frequently when I was around 10 years old, and didn’t return until about 5 years ago. I am 32 now.
    I never could to talk to anyone about this, because I knew they would think that I’m crazy..
    Now, I have this every couple months, and when it starts, I’ll have it at least twice a week for a month or more..
    What I feel is so terrifying, because not only is my body completely paralyzed, but I can feel the pressure on my body as if something is holding every ounce of me down and I get a very strong and loud vibration in my head that works its way down through my body and I can see and hear everything that is going on around me, but I can’t move.
    And every time, I know that there is a truly evil presence surrounding me. With all of my being, I have no doubt of what I feel and what I see to be real. It got so bad about 6 months ago, that I had my husband put a surveillance camera in the corner of our bedroom, so I could see what was happening with my body when this occurs. And when I’m sleeping next to my husband and this starts happening I always try to tell myself to just grab him, and if I could just move one finger on him that he could wake me up.. but after reviewing the video I watched my pinkie finger flicker, but no ability to fully move it..
    I have seen very tall dark figures in the corner of my room, that just stand there and recently for the first time, there were two. One the size of a child which was at the foot of my bed, and the same tall one that is always in front of my bed or in the corner of the room.
    It’s gotten so bad, that I started sleeping on my couch with all the lights on and the TV.. but that didn’t help for more than a couple days.

    • WOW, thank you for sharing this, Suzy. I, too, felt an evil presence early in my experience with this, in various forms. I personally believe that my becoming a Christian and developing a strong prayer life greatly diminished the fearful, attacking aspects of the experience, but it was not gone altogether. Your video documentation intrigues me you should share the videos on Youtube for others to see. Yours is the first report I’ve heard of such documentation, but not of such dark experience. There is definitely more to this experience than science alone can explain!

    • Omg really 😱 I too experienced the same
      in past few days how could I get rid of this plss tell me this scared me a lot 😭

  4. I have had several lucid dreams growing up, and at 34 I am experiencing frightening sleep paralysis. It is so scary because I can hear my comforter moving as i feel something stepping around me on my bed, not on top of me. It is very real, i feel it completely, but I can’t move or scream or even look up to see. It continues to happen in the same way and always feels real. I live alone, and the other night someone grabbed me with one hand on each side of my chest when I was on my side, one hand at a time. I tried to turn and see who it was but was paralyzed. Has anyone else experienced this? I am scared to even go to sleep. I put a night light on tonight.

    • Yes. My experience is similar. I felt my bed move as surely as if someone climbed in it. I do not know how to console you; I turned to prayer and I’m not ashamed of that.

    • Yes,I just had a similar experience. I felt someone crawling on my bed and then felt the weight of something on my back holding me down. I couldn’t move or turn my head. I tried to move and get up but the weight was to much. This happened around 2:10-2:15 am. Very scary feeling

      • I sleep on my stomach and it happened again to me last night. It starts at end of bed like someone is climbing in they lay on top of me. Not strangling me but just put body weight on me. I feel like I hear a heavy breathing. I pretended to be snoring. It lasted less than a minute then stopped. It feels so real. It is real. I wasn’t fully sleeping but I was awake after that. It’s happened to me a few times in my life.

    • I have felt the physical contact twice during my paralysis experiences: once, it felt as if someone was holding my hand; another, it felt as if someone was laying across my chest, as my ex-wife would, only she was no longer there. The experiences were so very, very real. I regularly pray against demonic visitations and attacks.

    • Finally there is a diagnosis to what I have been experiencing. After reading this I recall a time as a child when my parents rushed me to the hospital because I work up paralyzed. But, in the last few months, I have been held down at my chest, grabbed by both ankles in what I felt like was an attempt to pull me off the bed and two nights ago, as I lay on my side, I felt a hand on my hip as someone tried to push me off the bed. When these things happen I am totally paralyzed and can’t move or talk. I have woken up and screamed “leave me alone!” Generally I like my bedroom dark and cool but lately have had to keep the TV on because I’m afraid someone is trying to kill me. I’m afraid I will die in my sleep. I long for nights of lovely sleep.

  5. I have recently started getting this around last year, it’s happened about maybe 5 times at the most, and it’s the same thing that happens. I don’t get it often tho, usually once a month, every month around the same date. The more it happens, the more scared I feel about it…I hope it goes away soon

  6. I had one of these, I swear on anything I saw some sort of goddess. When I couldn’t talk, I felt like I could hear what she was saying with her expression and faint talking in my head. She didn’t say a name or anything like that. She was around 6’0 tall, a white doctor lab coat looking thing and blackish leggings. I can’t recall what she said but one thing that was perfectly heard was, “A choice will come soon, and you must pick what is right, and what you think is easy.” Then I fell asleep and she was gone and I never seen her again. Has anyone seen a angel/God/Goddess before?

    • I have also seen such a figure during my sleep paralysis in the year 2008 or 2009 and it was probably the most terrifying of all the sleep paralysis have i ever had. i still remember that horrible face .She was a tall skinny woman around 6 feet tall with a long terrifying face ,her hands were long and skinny , her fingers long and tapering towards the nails ,she was pointing them towards my chest as i was watching all this while not being able to move and when i tried to recite some verses of Quran in my heart in order to get rid of it she said something which probably meant that “she knew what i was doing” .there was intense pain in my body during the dream and even after i woke up after struggling a lot as if somebody had squeezed it hard. After waking up i went downstairs and slept near my parents but soon after sleeping there i had one more such painful experience of sleep paralysis although i didnt see that entity again in my dream . I will always remember it .

  7. I just woke up with this horrible paralysis I saw someone beside my bed please help me out it’s happening again and again I try to pray whenever this happens I really scared of it

    • I have been having this since I was very young.. and it went away for many years and I am now 32 years old. For the last 5 years, I have been having it quite frequently. When it happens, my eyes are open, but I can’t move at all. And I get this very weird vibration feeling in my head that I can feel moving over my body, and a pressure as if something is holding every part of my body down. I as well as you began praying as soon as I knew it was happening.. and I thought that worked for a couple times.
      And the best thing I can tell you to help with it, is tell your mind to move your finger, or a toe.. and keep trying that and you will break out of the paralyzed state. But, like every time I’ve tried this I almost instantly fall back to sleep.. which is the worst thing, because it immediately starts again and is much worse. The next time this happens to you, when you break out of the paralysis state, make sure you don’t go back to sleep or close your eyes. force yourself to sit up and stand up and walk around.
      I have seen a tall black figure in the same spot the corner of my room almost every time..
      And about five months ago there were two of them, one was small almost like a child size standing at the foot of my bed and one by my bedroom closet. It is absolutely terrifying and I completely understand.

      • The same thing is happening to me. I had this happen almost every night, all night long in my junior and senior year of highschool…. and on and off through college. I am now 31 and have not really had any for years. They started back up again 3 days ago and I am terrified. I can feel something under my bed pushing up and crawling around on the top of my bed. Sometimes it gets to pull the covers under the bed.

  8. I had this a few times and it started when I was 15 years old. Now being 22, it still affects my daily sleep. I woke up one night in immediate fear. I knew what was happening, so I tried to stay calm. I forgot what I was dreaming about but I saw a figure of a tall man wearing a fedora and trenchcoat at the edge of my bed. it was terrifying. Since then, I sleep with a night light just in case it happens again.

  9. I get it every time. It is frightening me immensely. I cannot cope with it anymore is there any escape. I always get a feeling of someone in my room i hear heavy breathing and see things like bugs bunny but an evil version and buzz light-year. Someone please help it is affecting my daily sleeping pattern.

  10. My last dream I had of sleep paralysis involved dreaming of a female vampire in my room..I dreamed I woke up and standing in a corner of the room staring at me was a woman, dressed in black, with long black hair and a very pale skin. She floated towards my bed and there was a sound like static electricity in the room. I was terrified and couldn’t move as she bent over my bed,smiled, and some of the sharpest teeth I had ever seen. She brought her face closer to mine and bit me on the side of the neck. With a super human effort pushed her off, woke up and rushed to the mirror to examine my neck. No bite was to be seen. Oh by the way, there was a full moon that night and it could see her because my curtains were open and the moonlight flooded my room.

  11. I’m 19.. i have a sleep paralysis disorder maybe almost from 1 year.. I always ignored it from 1 year bcoz I thought it was just my hallucinations.. but now i face too bad experiences bcoz now every time i sleep i get paralysed maybe 3-4 times in one sleep I can’t able to move for seconds or minutes.. i saw everything what happened in my room.. i saw my mom dad nd what they say I listen everything but not able to move.. i wanted to shout i feel scared i want to move but I can’t.. nd then suddenly I woke up nd see everything is oke my body is in my own control.. nd then again i sleep nd again it happened to me..
    Nd I don’t knw how can I explain it to others.. how can i tell them i feel it.. bcoz I’m confused it is real or just my hallucination bcoz i can see who is sitting beside me but I’m not able to move.
    . now I’m afraid of sleep too

  12. This just happened to me it’s the third time of my life that it happened but I was about to go to bed and I was sleeping on a air mattress trying to fall asleep I was laying on my stomach I was still awake tho and out of no where I felt something lay on top of me and when that happened the air mattress went down as if somebody else sat down on it and it start moving my hands were pinned down I was staring towards the right of me but I turned to the left I was trying to lift my arm up from being pinned but when I tried it I swear it was like whatever was on top of me made a growling noise it sounded scary and evil and when I tried to move my other arm it just stopped and I could move again I was Terrified I jumped up turned the light on and start crying

  13. Hello, thank you for your story and information on sleep paralysis. I had my first episode as a young girl. Which was very intense and scary. In those days there was no internet and not a lot of info on sleep paralysis. I can say my first experience was so intense and also sexual, which at that time I new nothing about sex. I was only about 8 or 9. I have dealt with sleep paralysis my whole life. Sometimes I deal with it well, by praying and it usually goes away. But there has been 3 times I can occur. That was just absolute horror. I have educated my self on this matter. But when you actually experience it, words can’t describe what a horrific experience it is. Recently, I had one of the worst ones I have ever had. Where I was sleeping, and I woke to hearing foot steps approaching me from the back. I felt a masculine presence, and he was holding me down, I tried praying I tried fighting and nothing was helping. It lasted so long. Usually it last for a minute or two. But this time it felt like forever. I woke up feeling Sick, and in panic. This is something that nobody will understand unless you physically go through it. Although, I believe in science. There are things that I just believe are beyond science.

  14. I literally just woke up from one of these terrifying experiences. This is the second time I have felt this feeling of being held down in my bed. But instead of being held down on my chest, I am being held down by my legs and the feeling of being held down slowly creeps up my body and the next thing I know I feel like I am being pulled off my bed. The one I just woke up from all of these things happened except this time I heard what sounded like scratching on my carpet. I tried so hard to scream and yell and fight back but nothing worked. I eventually woke up in a panic. My heart was pounding and I felt like I was hyperventilating. I have no idea why I keep having these weird feelings when I go to sleep. It doesn’t even feel like a dream, it honestly feels like a real life experience that I cant escape. I feel like my eyes are wide open, but there is nothing I can do. Scariest feeling I have ever had in my life.

  15. This is no joke! I have had several experiences each moment felt like the day would be my last. During my first time, surrounded by a lot of bedroom toys and decorations (slept in my cousin’s room) I uncomfortably was on the carpet floor with just one pillow. This is extremely sad; even my brother witnessed who also experienced this before but this time it was just me, he was very perplexed although he didn’t look at it as something scary, it was more amazing how I struggled my way out. As I’m laying on my side with my eyes closed loving soft spring wind blowing through the bedroom windows was a charm for me… I believe it’s very calming to have gentle chill, none of that mattered anymore I’m still having a rough sleep on one pillow that’s not very plushy, my blanket is what eased my unfortunate situation. I’m a very dramatic person so I might sound like I’m making this up, trust me “I hear this all the damn time!” However, (going to just dive in here) my body suddenly stiffens up from heaf-to-toe, I’m not knowing how to respond mentally, elementally, physically so this is a death trap zone. I’m wanting to shout at the top of my lungs because this is my first time experiencing something unfamiliar especially during my sleep sadly; I didn’t have any abilities to do so. This is around 9 o’clock AM everyone safe sound asleep, did you know this can happen in the morning too? What ever this is something’s got some nerve. Back to the scene: I’m having a hard time functioning my senses, couldn’t really see, hear, breathe, touch, none of that blaza bla. So my eyes started rolling into the back of my head nothing is showing off course everything’s dark and gloomy looking. I know I didn’t do that it’s not my forte okay, I actually have sleeping seizures so that’s probably what it was. It seemed like it lasted for a long time even though I saw a few creepy swirly lines flying across my vision. This is not normal. That threw me into shock. My body started twitching. In the process of it all (my brother caught this part in time) I bursted out a shout. I don’t know what I said to make it stop and that’s what stopped it. Maybe an angel jumped into my body and helped me. I believe it was the holy spirit (hallelujah ?) My brother came closer to me “oh my gosh lost for words……… We had to tell our mom it was the worst experience ever I still cry every once in a blue moon about that particular moment because why though? I’m not the mushy type at all so for me to randomly hug someone super close to me is a rare thing every since then I became more affectionate torwards my loved ones you never know.

    That’s not all, after some more occurred it wasn’t as bad as the first time. I’m glad about that actually.

    Now I’m 17 just experienced it again today March 14 2017 long story short I’m in my room everything’s dark accept for I left my TV on I was told something about that gives off negative energy I was looking for a movie that can play back to back on its own so I won’t have to get up and put another movie in the DVD player but I was too lazy so I crashed in my bed ha now I know the time after stuff like this happens because I turn over and look at my phone when that it’s over but because am familiar with this it’s not so frightening anyways I’m sleeping on my side again and I feel my bed sinking like the Titanic I’m freaking out because I don’t know where I’m going so in my head I go “uh-oh” and next thing I can’t move my eyes rolling back I’m thinking how does this look happening to me it wasn’t long but the bed sinking was super obvious I didn’t escape on time but I believe this is something about a person keeping tabs on my past about me and still has a major grudge against me I believe it’s my ex’s spirit he’s still alive but could never seem to let go of something that happened when he moved out of the country because I felt it so close to my body almost on my face and he loves to kiss me a lot so this was probably him sounds crazy but we all have different opinions I do love him still it’s just he’s got to let go of it I love that kiddo he knows it all I did was have my fast days doing things that are not in my character when he left I didn’t have anyone I was in love the boy moved to a continient that was hard as hell to deal with and came back angry as hell at such news luckily we got back together but still he’s been different like a whole new person or something every since so I broke up with him and I’m battling with my own strength vs his grudge

    I know for sure that’s the reason for this time all the other times I was younger and didn’t really have a clue but this time because it’s sorta recent it is definitely him

  16. I have often have sleep paralysis up to three times a night, sometimes I even wake from one episode only to be in another episode. When I eventually wake up I think i might not even really be awake. Nothing helps with mine I just get on with it. I use to be scared and fear people where strangling me or sometimes I would leave my body and I would race some unknown person back to it. That doesn’t happen now, I just freeze and can’t move but lately my girlfriend has noticed my whole body tensing and my jaw rattling. She can wake up from this which is a relief, although she thinks I’m a bit strange. With my girlfriend telling me this i have decided to get a camera and video myself to see what’s going on. I’m really interested in sleep paralysis and In a way i quite enjoy what happens to me. I will post any strange findings I get from these videos.

  17. I’m 15 and it usually happen when I just woke up. My whole body goes stiff for about 5 seconds and I have to force my hand to punch myself to wake me up. Sometimes, I can make myself have sleep paralysis by relaxing every muscle and falling asleep. I like the sensation of it.

  18. Last night March 12, 2017 I felt in my dream cause I knew I was dreaming like a dark shadow was on top of me, I could feel his knee in me pinning me down with all his strength and I couldn’t move my hands, I felt like if the shadow was hurting my face, my mouth felt like it was being pinched and I could feel it hurting as well as my face, I felt I couldn’t breathe. At that moment I knew I was sleeping and remember that with my index finger and my thumb I was trying to pinch my husband next to me and I heard myself calling his name. I suddenly shouted out loud his name, but I work up from my own dream and still in the dream. I still couldn’t wake up feeling I couldn’t breathe. Then thankfully I really work up. My husband said I never pinched or scream his name as I said. It was aweful.
    I have felt this before in my dreams.

  19. I was taking a nap on the couch and I woke up on my back and couldn’t move or talk. My arms are at my side and legs are together. I felt dead but awake. I felt a weird sense of energy all around me. I look over to my left and there is a dark figure next to me and and soon as I saw it it started to whisper or telling me to say my goodbyes but I ignore it and pray. I lay there for a good minute praying to the lord and I’m finally able to move. I had a headache after. It was very terrifying. This was my first time having SP.

  20. I just woke from SP! It appeared to go back and forth between dreaming and paralyzed while awake. I was in a room sleeping in a bed with three other people. One was my niece. She was next to me. I was trying to scream. Nothing would come out. I was facing away from her. I could feel her touching my back or pushing into my back with her feet and hands. I kept trying to scream. I could barely breathe in air. And couldn’t move. I could hear my husband and dog moving around the bedroom. That felt like real time like I was awake in my own bed But couldn’t scream for help. And then back into dream where I am in the room again. And my husband starts to pray over me and I threw up an evil spirit. Then I woke up from the dream and I could breathe and move. Very strange. I’ve been googling and am afraid to go back to sleep it’s been an hour and a half. I believe it’s evil.

  21. OMG, never knew what it was until I watched a film on Netflix. For years if I fell asleep on my back. It would always happen. I always felt if I could fall off the bed that could wake me up as nothing else would. Dark figure, like a shadow having sex with the figure but just laying there stiff as a board. You can’t move can’t talk, It’s awful. Glad I saw this now I know I’m not crazy. I’m now 65 and have not had a episode in years.

  22. I experienced sleep paralysis twice. First time I experience it when I was 17 years old. I didn’t know that time that I was asleep, I thought I was awake. I wanted to turn my position to the left, but I can’t move, the only thing that I can hear was my breathing and my voice inside my head saying that I wanted to move but I can’t. That time I was so scared. I cant scream or even ask for help. But then suddenly I just woke up so scared. The second time I experienced was last night. It was March 11, 2017. Minutes after I fell asleep, the same situation, I wanted to turn my position. But then I can’t. In my head, I was screaming for my sisters name because she slept beside my bed. But then I failed. I am aware that I am experiencing the same thing just like before. I don’t know what to do. All I can see is just black but I know that my eyes are open, but not in reality I guess. I cant turn my back, my head, my shoulders. I felt like I was in instant comma. After a few seconds of being in that situation, my eyes opened and my heart is beating so fast. I waited for few minutes for my heart to be in its normal beating again then I sleep. I think I just experience having this when I am tired or stressed or not having a good sleep.

  23. I’m 19 years old, and first experienced this March 2016 where I wouldn’t be able to move or shout. My legs would overheat and one hand which i have underneath my pillow would get a deep massage feeling. I experienced this 5 times a week until August time when it stopped. I recently have gone to uni and nothing has occurred, however last night it happened again for the first time in 7 months. I’m open to any thoughts, however i have found this very scary and really affecting me as it first happened on the early morning of 12th March last year and started up again 12th March 2017, either it’s a complete coincidence but i find it very unsettling.

  24. I have a sensation before falling asleep like I know it’s going to happen, just as I close my eyes I feel a jolt, fear wakes me or so I think, (as I thought I had my had partly blocking my vision) I can move my eyes and look around, close my eyes again, then I feel myself being pulled up out of my bed, a total feeling of terror am unable to scream all I can do is a gurgle, which after what feels like minutes I wake up to find I am in the same position ( no hand blocking my eyes) but utterly petrifyed to sleep, I have tried going with it but it lasted longer and can see my whole room from the ceiling I am floating around ( I can see details on top of wardrobes) to the point it’s so clear and real I have checked on top of them the next day to see if what I saw was there, this happens every few months for a couple of weeks

  25. It happens quite often. Just did. I was in a very vivid dream, then I awake still feeling from the dream and hearing and sometimes smelling from the dream. And the dream was WEIRD!,, not going to go into details….anyway my eyes were open but nothing can move. Not even my tongue. I wake up in a panic feeling someone is in my room. Start trying to wiggle my tongue and eventually I can. I hate this. Had a sleep test done once they wanted me to come back for narcolepsy test but I didn’t. Now I think maybe I should.

  26. This happened to me early this morning snd was my first experience of its kind.

    I was sound asleep at 4:15 AM and felt someone sort of climb over me to get oob and move towards the bedroom door to go out to the hallway and use the bathroom out there. I woke up when the mattress started moving and he climbed over me and headed to the door. I was like, who the heck was THAT? In my mind, it was my 29 year old son, Michael, who lives about an hour and a half away from me. I was in my bedroom but instead of my Queen-sized bed, it was a twin bed which was against the wall, and Mike been sleeping on the side against the wall which is why he climbed over me. I felt there was a lot of space in-between my bed and another twin bed (which doesn’t exist in my bedroom) far across the room from the bed I was in, and it was in that bed that I sensed my 28 year old son, Connor was fast asleep. (He also lives in another town)

    While “Mike” was out, I was thinking “my god! I’m sleeping naked in my bed and my son was in bed with me? – no way! Is this really happening? Is it really Mike? Or could it have been Rick, my partner. No, Rick had left yesterday afternoon and wouldn’t be back until Friday… Who – WHAT was all that about?” And then….

    The thing came BACK from the bathroom! I knew it because I could feel the mattress moving as he climbed back over me, and back into the bed.

    Boomp boomp boomp

    This time, whoever or whatever it is, decided to settle at the foot of my bed like a big dog would. Part of its body is resting on the back of one of my calves and I can’t move it out from under him. I can feel the weight and warmth of the thing.

    I was in a strange state of paralyzation. I tried to call out to Connor and wake him up to ask, trepidatiously, “Hey Con, is something on my bed?!”, but I couldn’t get my voice to work, and I still couldn’t move my leg!

    Finally, I was able to reach over and switch my bedside lamp on and look around. Nothing of course. No bed across the way either.

    I guess it wasn’t real. It must have been a dream.

    But the sensation of the mattress moving and the timing of someone walking out to use the bathroom, – and returning was all in real time.

    But for it to come back into bed again after I thought it was over (and scary enough!) was the worst of it all, really. That and being unable to move or utter a word!

    I hope it doesn’t happen again! It reminded me of stories I’ve heard where a spirit (a ghost or something) sits on your chest and you become paralyzed.

    Did a bad spirit enter my house? Did someone die in this house? Oftentimes this happens when there’s a restless soul. I’m tired today after that restless night. Ugh!

  27. I had slepp parlaysis i have experenced someone stiing on me and i t was terrifying i felt like i was awake and also see a demon and couldnot move. Then i wake up suddenly and saw theri was nothing

  28. I get SP often i mean allot! Ive dealt with it almost in every way already. Wiggling fingers,staying calm,just wait for it to past, trying to see if i can see a figure or a face something,try so scream as hard as i can…so my Gfriend can wake me up and sometimes it works. But i got used to it. i get the choking part allot to. I always get scared but in the proces i get relaxed because i know its just for some minutes.
    but as you say it can be something good like a dog sitting on my chest or it can be a demon. But if its something good…why do i need to pray for it to go away,that doesent make sense i believe more its something not good but still he or she cannot do something about it. Because when i use the technique of Prayer. I can feel how im disturbing that presence. I can feel he or she doesent like it. A Prayer is really powerfull i think thats why the most people do a Prayer! Sometimes i get up in the morning forgetting i had a SP. Thats how used to it i am, its when my girlfriend asks me if i slept well. Thats when i realise i had a SP the night before.

    I Work 24/7 on a boat. My colleagues. Once told me that i talk in my dreams. I actually wasnt talking…i was screaming for help but my mouth was shut. He then turned on the light as we sleep togheter in one room. He saw my legs in the air. And thats when i was having my SP.

    Thankyou.
    very interresting this page.

  29. I’ve had SP for a couple of years now, and it always comes around when my life is stressful. When I first started experiencing it I was paralysed in my bed, but nothing else seemed strange. As I get my SP in periods I can confirm, that for me, it gets worse for every new period. After I while I started hearing noises, different every time, but I always stayed calm and woke myself out of it, then I started seeing shadows, and now, only 30 minutes ago I experienced the worst one yet.
    I was paralysed in my bed, as usual, when I heard someone (or something) entering my bedroom. At first it just made noises, but I couldn’t see what it was, and then a force started spreading my legs (and getting raped is my worst fear). I tried to scream, it didn’t work, I tried to hit and/or kick it, but as my body was paralysed that didn’t work either. I woke up in panick, and now I’m afraid of going back to sleep.
    A couple of months ago I started getting afraid of the dark, which I have never been before, this thing is changing my life, not only my sleeping pattern. I am so scared it is only going to get worse

  30. I had one episode of sleep paralysis maybe between the age of 17 and 22. The episode involved a demonic figure choking me while I was in bed. I remember praying to God to help me and soon after I felt ok. It all felt so real like I was really awake. I dont know if I was awake or just dreaming but I was paralyzed. I am now 28 years old and have noticed sleep paralysis emerge when I watch youtube videos of ASMR in the morning. I will wake up around 8 am or 9am and watch a youtube video of ASMR which is a relaxation video of someone whispering or doing an activity involving whispering. It supposed to help you fall asleep. I notice after watching these videos in the morning and falling back asleep the paralysis starts to happen. I usually watch these videos on saturday mornings and that when the paralysis has only happened. This has been happening for the past few months maybe. In the paralysis event it always involves an intruder or a shadowy figure. I am not able to identify if I am dreaming or if I am awake and paralyzed. I just had an occurence today where I believe my eyes were open while I was in bed and paralyzed. I was staring at a hat that was sitting on my dresser and that hat gave the image of a figure. It was super scary and I felt an intruder inside. I cannot know for sure if these occurrences are happening while I am truly awak and conscious or while I am asleep. I notice they only happen when I watch the videos, so thats what triggers my paralysis. Usually in the event Im trying to call for my husband to come and get me out of bed but hes not there. Maybe I really am calling for his name in real life but think Im dreaming. This event of sleep paralysis is so scary to me. My whole body is paralyzed and it freaks me out. I guess I need to stop watching those darned youtube videos!

  31. i am 15 and have had two of these episodes. the first one was a night where my nephew had stayed the night I kept seeing a dark figure pacing around my room and when I looked down at my feet my nephew was gone. When I woke up I was sweating and breathing heavy and shined a flash light around my room because I was so sure someone had been in my room. The second one happened last night and was TERRIFYING!! Before I had actually woken up and was aware something was wrong in my dream I winced a presence and kept trying to turn my lights on but none of them were working when I woke up I saw a black figure again but this time he was choking my sister. I eventually was able to move and realized nothing was there so I immediately went back to sleep. After I had gone to sleep I had another episode I had a demon on my chest who was choking me . I really felt like I couldn’t breathe. Well apparently the demon I saw choking me was shaped like the blanket that was in front of my so when I woken up completely and saw the actual blanket shape in front of me I immediately started bawling my eyes out I couldn’t fall back asleep for abt an hour and ended up watching family guy to call my nerves

  32. I have had this on & off from i was young, i find if i count to 3 & push my whole body it helps to wake me bit its not easy to s awake once my muscles awaken i go & splash my face & normally fall back over with no problems. I went through a stage i would see what looked like something in a white suit which was extremely bright haven’t experienced this one in particular for years now. On a lighter note ive always been fascinated with sleep/dreams most of the time i know im asleep & can control my dreams.. but the other experiences are very scary & very welcome.

  33. Hi there. In my life I have experienced sleep paralysis twice. The first time was on my honeymoon in an old fishermans cottage,I awoke during the early hours and I could feel a very tall dark cloaked man slowly move through the bedroom door into the room, i felt pure evil, he had no face, I could see him (in my minds eye perhaps) the man had a creature with it, I called it a dog afterwards when talking about it but I don’t know what it was, it was black and jumped onto the bed next to me, oddly I tried to pet it and found I was completely unable to move. I was terrified and couldn’t get my breath. My sleeping husband was next to me and I desperately tried to move my hand to knock him to wake him, I was trying to scream his name but nothing came out. Eventually I was able to move and speak and I was a sobbing uncontrollable state. We left our honeymoon that morning, a day early – my husband was scared too. We thought the cottage was haunted, my husband knew me well enough for my reaction to scare him.
    The second time it happened was 9 years later, I was at another cottage on a weekend away with my partner and I was upset as we had argued and we’d gone to bed early but I’d barely slept, during the early hours I awoke and straight away realised something that wasn’t my partner was holding my hand. It didn’t feel evil like last time. It was like it was trying to be comforting to me but the hand was utterly repulsive. I can only describe it like a skinny boney decomposing hand with a tiny half dead creature on the end. I wanted to let go of that hand so badly I was like a whirlwind of desperate fury and panic inside my unresponsive body, inside I was screaming and flailing about and I eventually fought myself back. I came back to myself and with my heart beating like crazy I woke my partner for a cuddle. Such scary experiences but I still find them fascinating.

  34. Tonight was my first encounter with sleep paralysis. I had a surf dream as usual. Most my nights aww filled with bizarre dreams and often nightmares. But i have never felt the feeling of something like this before.
    After a series a weird dreams i was back in my room and i almost felt as if i was watching my body as a dark figure with arms sitting next to me then it held my arms and pressed my body down. I tried to move free and the figure pressed harder. I couldn’t movemy head or my body. Then i began to recite a psalm i could remember but it was difficult to remember all the words and the pressure intensified. Almost as if the presencedidn’t want me to recite a verse from the bible. But as soon as i was able to complete a full sentence the pressure released. I kept reciting more and more till the presence disappeared.
    When i felt it gone i got up and went to the restroom. But i still had the feeling of a presence.

  35. I was half a sleep had the cover over me then l heard someone run in the room call me and was breathing over me could not move at all eventually when I did there was no one there was a bit frightening what could that mean

  36. One more thing my dreams weren’t as bad or too demomic idk but they have been more like a godly side they are like angles and once I remember sumn like me living earth at night when i sleep that’s why I think it has sumn to do with religon all of course my memory was like erased or sumn idk I remember waking up with the dream shuffling like a puzzle its hard to peace to together I fell on a rock literally. I’ve woken up and saw a dark shadow like putiing the thought wake up I’m not here to harm it tilted its head as if it was fascinated and it wasn’t its first time being there It disappears after I said who are you.

  37. I’m 18 and been having sleep paralysis(SP) since I was very young I think maybe 11 but anyways I read other stories about their experiences with SP and mines never match theirs. I believe mines are much worse. Of course I experience the not being able to breath and unable to move but I can see everything in my room or area I fell asleep at. Which is also normal right ? Yea ik but as I get older & the more I do it (I have SP at least 6 times or more a month) it gets worse. Now I SEE figures I don’t feel like someone or something there I KNOW it’s there. I see a black figure each time and each time I have SP it gets closer and closer. Not only that they sometimes talk but I can never remember what they say when I wake out of it. There was a time I had stayed at a friends house and I had SP that night I seen the shadow figure as always and i always yell at it and try to pray to wake out of it (which no longer works) and as it walked away from me it walked to the other side of the bed where my friend was sleep and look dead at her like he was warning me and then I snap out of it. You can’t tell me dats normal. And I use to be so good at snapping out of it and controlling it but now I can’t snap out of it until it is done with me. If I close my eyes and pray I start feeling sharp pains in my legs,arms, and ect. You can’t tell me this is normal. And the information w/ the science and bull crap is false I do believe this is demon type stuff and it’s after me…….and one day/night it’s gonna win or I will be seriously injured (by injured I have also woken up with fresh scratches on my body)

  38. One time I some up super young way to real I had a dream I was lime starwars woke up hopped on the wall like spider man and jumped on stairs and ran back and went to sleep another I was lifted but I felt the soothing presence and the touch of my pillow it felt as if I was going crazy I’ve learned how to wake myself from any dream as well by moving my eyes I’m able to wake up when I have bad dreams. Also every night I have black dream most I can’t remebr I know but sometimes I don’t dream as if I was a phone at etc id be woken up by my mom rested but knowing I wasn’t asleep if and if I wanted to I can stay up for 24 hours and fuction well.

  39. This is my third time in a two nights wakeing up screaming because I felt like i was being spooned from a demon or something, like I was being crushed from the inside out… I tried to breath and I couldn’t. Finally I screamed at the top of my lungs… I am scared to go back to sleep. I’ve experienced these alot through our my life. I figured I’m just an active sleeper because I talk, cry, laugh in my sleep some times. I don’t know how to stop this, I don’t understand what this is.

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