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. Also, i forgot to say, as i was trying to get out of the experience i had, i also tried lifting the ” spirit” off of me and could feel fingers on me. THAT was possibly the most unsettling.

    • Hi Elaine,

      Thank you for the comment, and you’re most welcome to vent:-)

      It does sound like it could have been sleep paralysis that you experienced. Even if it had that extra ‘real’ feeling from the whisperings and fingers touching you, it is still very much in the realms of sleep paralysis, or just the bizarre hallucinations that we often have when falling asleep or waking up. And many people do experienced them very vividly and beyond simply the feeling of a presence.
      Hopefully it will be the first and last time for you!
      Regards
      Ethan

  2. Hello,
    I was really happy to see this forum because it did give me some comfort from an experience that is still fresh in my mind. I was having a really great sleep when my sister came into my room to tell me something before she left for work. I fell back asleep after she left and had good dreams after as well… But then when i was about to wake up i felt a presence wrapped around me from behind ( i was laying on my side) so i knew there was something but it was not easy to see.. But i do remember it saying words that i could not understand into my ear. It sounded threatening but it was also mesmerizing. It was very difficult to wake up from it and it confused me because i knew i was in my own room, not a dream. I am very shook up and upset that this happened. I believe if it was just a feeling of a presence i could get over that, but because it whispered in my ear I guess you could say it left a lasting impression. I wish there was a simple explanation.. Anyways, thank you for letting me vent!

  3. Mine was when I was a child. My dad was standing in my doorway, and I was able to speak and annoyed, ask what he wanted. He walked closer and I again asked, moving my mouth and making noise, what he was doing. He stood next to me by my bed silently, as I half-shouted “What!!”. I realized there was light coming through the window and there was no way he should just be a solid-black silhouette. I pulled my covers over my head and cried myself back to sleep. My dad had no idea what I was talking about. I wasn’t paralyzed, it wasn’t just a presence, and I wasn’t even scared at first. I am very interested in the psychology of dreams and would love a scientific explanation.

    • Hi April,

      Thanks for the comment and sharing your experience. It’s hard to say exactly what you did experience, as the time of night when you are going to sleep can be a confusing thing, with all kinds of possible strange occurrences happening. It could be that you were dreaming, or that you were having a hypnagogic hallucination, or a completely different explanation. The main thing is not to worry about it, as those kind of bizarre experiences happen to lots of people. Hopefully you won’t have that particular one again though!

      Regards

      Ethan

  4. I haven’t had an episode in about six years until last night. I’ve been really healthy and in a new place. I thought maybe I was done with it. Last night a guy friend came around my place drunk at three am. He knocked and stood outside my door and called my cellphone. I sent him to voice mail and lay in bed for a bit until I heard him go away. I never even answered the door. It took me a bit to fall back asleep. I “woke” at 5am feeling I couldn’t move. I thought he was back. I thought I heard the front door and felt a presence above my head. That would be at the door. I could not open my eyes. Everything was black, although I was finally able to move my lower jaw somewhat and eek out a help me, sorta. It was garbled like a seizure. I heard this loud roar like a movie explosion rushing towards my head and I thought, I am going to die. Then I could move again and my heart stuttered into fear mode and I lay there shaking for a few minutes. Its weird because my heart doesn’t even freak like my brain is when I’m having an episode. It doesn’t get adrenaline rush stuff until I can move. I’m laying in bed now after a sleeping pill wide awake. I have to work tomorrow and I cant sleep.

    • Hi Karen

      Thanks for your comment and sharing your experience of what sounds like sleep paralysis. It really does sound like the friend coming round has influenced your sleep / dreams / sleep paralysis. It’s not uncommon to be woken up by something in the night, and then that to influence your dreams and potentially trigger other sleep disturbances. Hopefully it will be a one-off (once you remind your friend that 3am isn’t an appropriate time to visit people!).
      I guess work will be a bit of a struggle, but you’ll get through:-)
      Regards
      Ethan

  5. hi I don’t know if u could help me with this but last night I had a dream..it was weird and I don’t understand it….I was in my kitchen and my mom and friend were in the living room. All of a sudden I see a flash of light like there was a camera in front of me…and all a sudden I feel a hand touch my face but there was nothing there and all of a sudden I blackout and wake up on my mom’s bed and my mom was in my room but this was in my dreams still I actually woke up in my bed in real life…but now I’m scared to use the flash on my phone or if I hear a noise I start shivering and I’m scared to death that this might actually happen and I feel like its happened before…do u have any idea what this means? I’m really confused plz help me.

    • Hi Jessica,

      Thanks for your comment, and sorry to hear you’ve had an experience which has clearly unsettled you. It sounds from what you say that you may have had a false awakening. This is where you dream that you are sleeping and then wake up, or just have a confusing memory of a dream where you think you wake up. But of course you’re still in your dream. It’s very difficult to describe what happens sometimes, and even harder to make sense of it. The main thing though is that it’s not that unusual. Some people quite regularly have experiences where they think they’ve woken up, but actually haven’t. I’ve personally had this, and I know it can leave you feeling a bit weird.

      The second issue seems to be about you feeling anxious in normal life now after this dream. This also happens to people quite often, especially if they have a very vivid memory of a dream and wake up feeling emotions attached to the dream. Again, I’ve experienced dreams where I’ve then woken up feeling really happy, or really sad, based on the dream. And I know it can take some time to shake that feeling.

      The key is to remind yourself that it was just a dream. The feelings you’ve been left with should fade with time, as they generally do. Try not to think about it too much and worry if something serious happened. Give it a week, and if you still feel scared of the flash or noises, then you might find it helpful to talk to someone close about it – family or friend.

      But I think you’ll be ok:-)
      Regards
      Ethan

  6. today is the 3rd or 4th time it happened to me.. numbness , not able to speak, and leg lifting… yes i was afraid and finally decide to search in net abt this….After reading this article of yours am very much relaxed… now i wont be afraid if it comes next time.. Thanx to God as i was praying to him and that was my only weapon… Thanx God and Thank you… love you

    • Hi Arun,

      Thanks for the comment, and the love! I’m very glad that reading this article has helped you to relax about sleep paralysis – that’s one of the key ways to deal with it if it happens again. Keep calm and carry on, as they say.

      Regards
      Ethan

  7. Since about the time I was 6 or 7 to the time I was a teenager I can count about 4 instances where I woke up in the middle of the night and would hear and feel loud vibrations, I could not move and when i tried to yell I couldn’t, a voice then said it was no use trying to yell and eventually I was able to struggle free to get up and tell my parents. It ceased till I was about 24, I had no bed and slept with blankets on the floor of my room, I wasn’t quite asleep yet and I couldn’t move and was pulled by my feet with my blankets about 3 or 4 feet across my room. Nothing like that has happened to for years, but they are instances that always stick out in my mind.

    • Hi Jacob,

      Thanks for the comment and sharing your sleep paralysis experience. Luckily these instances haven’t happened many times, and hopefully won’t happen again! Do you feel that you actually physically moved in the last instance, or that it just felt like you were being moved?
      Regards
      Ethan

  8. Hello there, this morning when I ‘woke’ up I couldn’t move, it scared me so much I tried to move but I couldn’t well after I thought I had accomplished waking up, I left my room. Well I tried turning on a light and it wouldn’t turn on, it kind of scared me but then I was back in my body trying to move. It happened one more time before I became to scared to go back to sleep. Then I was talking to my mom and she said she also experienced sp. But the second time, I heard my dad talking and saw a white figure. When I asked him if he had returned home at anytime he said he hadn’t.

    • Hi Brianna,

      Thanks for the comment, and it sounds like you’ve experienced some interesting, if scary, sleep paralysis events. It sounds like the first you describe was either a ‘false awakening’ from a dream, or even an out-of-body experience. Which do you think it might have been?
      It’s good that you can share the experiences with your mum. Talking about things like this is always helpful. Maybe you can help each other to find ways to deal with it if it happens again.
      Regards
      Ethan

  9. I lost a cousin, He died while sleeping at night. Autopsy was done and nothing was found that killed him. Final result: it was a normal death, natural death. He wasn’t sick or anything.

    *He died while sleeping* this Science can never explain. I believe in the fact that if you are sleeping and are having these kind of dreams (It happens sometimes to me as well). You gotta fight to wake up because if you don’t then you might sleep for good.

    It always start like this:

    1. You’re in a dream and when you wake up you’re in a real life.

    2. 2nd stage, your dream is in a dream and when you wake up you are still in another dream until you really wake up and you realized that you were dreaming but the dream was in another dream? I hope that I’m making sense. so what’s that supposed to mean? aren’t the demons trying to take you far away before they can finish you?

    Some people say the death of my cousin means he was being attacked at night in his dream by someone.

    How do you explain his death?

    • Hi Hoy,

      I’m sorry to hear about the loss of your cousin. It’s not my place to explain his death though, so I’m sorry but I don’t think I can give you the answers you’re looking for. I personally don’t believe that demons exist, and don’t believe that you can be attacked in your dreams by people or other beings in a way that has a real effect on your existence. But beyond that, I have no way of offering you any alternative answer.

      I will say though that false awakenings, like when you think you wake up but you’re actually still dreaming, are not that uncommon. I’ve experienced them myself several times, though I’ve never felt that anything bad could have happened during them. They are just confusing and sometimes unsettling, and I personally don’t think they mean anything. They’re just another kind of dream that you can have.

      All the best
      Ethan

  10. i happen to have sleep paralysis on a sort of regular basis. when i first experienced this, it did scare me a lot and i would panic like crazy. but considering i have been dealing with it for quite a while the only thing that scares me is sometimes i have it at least three times in one same day. is that normal or should i worry?

    • Hi Valerie,

      Thanks for you comment, and sorry to hear you’ve been dealing with sleep paralysis for so long, and so frequently. I can understand how experiencing it so many times in a row would be scary. I’m not sure I’d say it’s normal necessarily, but you’re certainly not the only one. You could always talk to your doctor about it, if nothing else to rule out any other sleep disorder. Hopefully you’ll also have found some useful ideas in the article.
      Regards
      Ethan

  11. I’ve always encountered this “SP” since I was 8 and now I am 21 and still have it but rarely (Just have it a few days ago, will tell it soon).

    What I can tell from my experience, it’s just FEAR that is causing these “SP” or sometimes in very random times without feeling any FEAR, than you feel the FEAR circling around your body (starts from the back) causing the “SP”.

    The fear can start from the tingly feeling around your back for example when you hear very strange noises (interpret by the sound surroundings causing different sounds in your FEAR). It’s not just with sounds its also seeing with your eyes deceiving you in the dark to see weird entities or objects.

    I have so many, I mean so many of these “SP” daily, when I was 8. I will tell one of my experiences, when I was around 9 or 10.

    Alright, firstly I woke up in the middle of the night covering my house with sheets. I take a peak out and saw a black-brown figure on the end of my bed.

    I got so scared that I covered myself again and than I take a peak out again and it’s still there. Covered again, than look out and suddenly that figure jumped out of its position and the beast face was right on my face, with around 8 eyes with a very scary face that I cannot describe. I could not remember the hard details of the beast. Though I became “SP” I could not scream, move or anything at all until that figure went away from my face.

    Once the figure entity went away, I came out of “SP” so I looked at my end of the bed again and the brown-black figure was not there any more.

    I need to tell something first before I describe the next part, you know when you look at a bright light? Than once you blink you’ll see the purple effects or black\greyish of the light of the patterns.

    Well once the entity face has vanished, than I blinked I can see the pattern of the entity, which is very scary. That’s when I know that fear can actually cause these “entity” to appear by deceiving your eyes. How can you imagine this entity? I’m sure it’s caused by your own fear making them appear naturally out of your mind.

    Brothers and I experienced this but I have the most as I always can get fear easily to myself. We also tried to prove something out of this too, that’s when I got another one the past few days.

    FirstIy, I also want to tell you one other scary thing during these “SP”, that me and my brother came up with. The “SP” of FEAR will know when to strike your fear without others knowing you are “SP” (Everyone is sleeping or the FEAR knows it’s the right time to FEAR you without anyone knowing or seeing you).

    or they know when to stop the “SP” when others are about to come to the room. This “SP” fear also can happen during any time in the morning to night (I have once in the morning when I was a kid and than another one just a few days ago).

    This is the story that I can finally talk about that happened to me a few days ago when I was “SP”.

    Now, this happened around 6:30 AM where the room is still bland bright from the window of the early morning (I am on the top of the bunk bed and my little brother on the bottom). My little brother just woken up and head to the toilet, he also have woken me up and than in a few minutes tried to go back to sleep than I heard a thump on the room ground that’s when my fear start to kick in, than the entity (which I did not see yet) thump on top of my bed (I felt the bed went heavy).

    I felt the tingly feeling again from my back and I was NOT yet “SP” until I said to myself to look at my fear I have created by turning my head up and open my eyes and WOW I saw a skinless goat head (cannot see the rest of the body as I was covered with sheets as I only see from the head to the neck).

    That’s when I got “SP”, but I can move my lips and mouth but could not say anything, as again I have to look at that face until I feel calm but it vanished as my little brother was about to come to the room in 5 seconds.

    He went back in his bed, but I have not told him as I was still tired. Before I go on, sometimes you get “SP” and you can somehow talk very slowly or trying to talk and hear only few messed up words, that you are trying to yell out.

    Now, once my brother went back on his bed, I’ve felt the tingly fear around my back again, so I let my fear take over me purposely and suddenly was “SP” again and now saw the invisible goat head by moving its head around but now closer to my face. (The black outlines I saw from the goat head when it’s head moved).

    I was almost completely “SP” but I manage to get my brothers name out, and my brother replied my name out clearly. Than I tried to yell out to get out of your bed and check on me (I tried to yell these words as I can but no reply from my brother).

    Than the entity have vanished and finally out of “SP” and than I talked to my brother “Why haven’t you check on me, I just had the strange real life nightmare”.

    Than my brother said “What? I did heard you say my name but than you were talking very strangely softly or sound possessed, thought you were joking around”.

    I told him what happened and now finally solve some facts, that this FEAR is caused by yourself and this FEAR knows when to strike without anyone get involved to your “SP”.

    That’s when I found this thread, and wow finally I know that this had a name Sleep Paralysis but most people who have this is just created by your own fear that you need to control and not think ABOUT what gonna happen and stay calm. This also can happen when you are not sleeping or trying to sleep when your body is still active, than your mind have made these FEAR to happen and paralyse your body.

    To conclude:

    – People who have this “SP” are naturally from your own fear if you are one of the person who are trying to sleep or your body is still functional and your mind is creating fear and than the fear (tingly feeling) crawls up to your back, that’s when your mind is starting to paralyse your body and than your eyes will start to deceive you seeing these entities.

    Thanks for this subject Ethan Green, I feel very happy but as others have mentioned this subject is the most strangest and I know this is just our natural feeling of FEAR. Others also have mentioned that they do not see these entities as it depends what is fear naturally to the person or when they do not feel fear until they are “SP”.

    Thanks everyone, but my next step is hopefully find my last answer to be solved is:

    WHY “SP” started where NOBODY is around when this happens or see you into the “SP”? Like I said this only depends your natural FEAR.

    My FEAR I think it maybe is how about something happened to me and nobody is around to see or help me.

    Paul.

    • Hi Paul

      Thank you for your comment and sharing your sleep paralysis stories, and for your interesting analysis of the role of fear. I think you are absolutely right about fear being a major factor in sleep paralysis.

      Where I think you need to be careful though is in giving fear a ‘personality’ which is what I’ve interpreted from your comment. I know sometimes it’s helpful for us to think of things as being somehow ‘alive’, but in your case I get the feeling that you believe fear has some control, choice or individuality. For example when you say: “Everyone is sleeping or the FEAR knows it’s the right time to FEAR you without anyone knowing or seeing you”.

      Fear is an emotion, and one which is mostly autonomous. You can’t choose to feel fear – it happens as a natural mechanism to protect you. When you feel fear, a part of your brain assesses what is causing the fear, and if you don’t have an obvious and clear answer, it will consider a range of possibilities. This I think is one of the problems with waking up in the dark and being paralyzed! Your brain also releases lots of hormones when you are afraid, which can account for the tingling feeling around your back.

      I think there is a relatively simple explanation for why you experience a higher degree of fear when nobody is around. When you are alone, you naturally feel more vulnerable and less secure. However, some readers have said they experience sleep paralysis when their partner is lying in bed next to them, so it’s not always the case that it happens when nobody is around.

      I think your final idea about your fear being that something will happen to you while nobody is around to see or help is very logical. I know it’s a common fear that people have, especially people who live alone.

      Hopefully you will have found some useful suggestions in the article of things you can do to help in the future. Even if it’s something as simple as reminding yourself that nothing bad will actually happen to you during sleep paralysis.

      Regards
      Ethan

      • Oh oops, very sorry. I will always need to proof my wording. As you said fear does not have a personality, its a natural feeling that comes from your mind.

        It’s also depends the fear naturally to the person and what the mind and eyes will do when “SP”.

        When I have this “SP” my fear is no one is around to see it, which my mind focus so much on it causing these “SP” to happen during no one is around. So its an interesting feeling that comes naturally to the person, that has different kind of “SP”.

        As always thanks Ethan, I just let my fear have the better of me. The natural feeling of fear is seriously the major part causing the “SP”.

        Thanks!

        P.S: Oops! I have accidental copy and paste your words into my post and I’ve posted on “Valerie” post. Please delete them two, and thanks!

        • Hi Paul,

          No problem, I spotted the double posting and removed it. Thanks for coming back and clarifying a bit more your thoughts. As I said before, fear is a major factor, and it sounds like you are very aware of that. Hopefully you’ll find a way to deal with it in the future – and hopefully near future!
          All the best
          Ethan

  12. I had this experience where I ‘woke up’ and I had a presence pinning me down and in my mind I kept thinking to hit it back but of course I was paralyzed and couldn’t. I was attempting to scream out to my mum but I couldn’t make a sound. It then dragged me out the side of my bed to the floor and I could hear in the distance of the house my sister but again I couldn’t scream for help. I woke up as I managed to make a slight grunt sound. IT WAS SO SCARY! its happened to me once before where I had the same pinning down feeling but I was dragged out the end of my bed. I’ve found that I only ever get it when lying on my back.

    • Hi there,

      Thanks for your comment, and what a scary experience that sounds like. Do you think it’s possible you were dreaming and then woke up on the floor? Or are you certain you woke up paralyzed, and then feel that you were physically moved off the bed and onto the floor while you were mentally awake?
      Regards
      Ethan

  13. I’ve had infrequent but odd episodes that don’t exactly fit the sleep paralysis definition. In the latest, I know I’m dreaming, there are fairly common things happening in my dream. Then I hear people mumbling in my living room. This enrages me and I emit this strong energy force in their direction. Then this wave of electric type energy pours across my body as if I’m going to be shoved off the bed and I wake up disturbed but not paralyzed. I’ve been looking for similar experiences by others but haven’t found any. Comments?

    • Hi Jan,

      Thanks for the comment, though it does sound to me like it’s not sleep paralysis but a dream instead. I imagine if you joined one of the many forums which discuss dreams, you might find someone who has had similar experiences:-)

      Regards
      Ethan

  14. I just had one of these dreams for the first time in about a year. usually I am in my room that I know but this time I wasn’t. I always know that I’m not fully asleep and I have even managed to play around with the flying thing that people have mentioned. This time my girlfriend was in it and I asked her to close the window as the light-shade was blowing around and I thought it would break. when she had done this she disappeared and I could see someone with their back to me who had shaved hair blonde at the bottom and spiky black at the top. this is when I realised it wasn’t my room. I also worked out as it went on that it wasn’t a person but a reflection of moonlight onto a mirror and the edge of a wardrobe. But the person I thought I was awake by this time and tried to move again noticing it wasn’t my room I panicked and felt like I couldn’t breathe then felt strangled as I tried to take a breath. luckily my phone lit up in my own room which was right beside me and I woke up screaming. I had searched this before but I done it again tonight just to calm me down. kind of hoping it happens again now to mess around with it a bit. its still scary though :p

    • Hi Colin

      Thanks for sharing your experience of sleep paralysis. It’s good timing as well as I just finished writing a long reply to a previous comment where I talked about how it can be confusing to tell different sleep experiences apart, for example the merging of dreams with sleep paralysis, which is what you seem to be describing. So your’s is a good example to illustrate what I was saying earlier. It does seem thought that you had a dream in which you were paralyzed, rather than waking up from a dream and then finding yourself paralyzed? Have I got that right, or did I misunderstand? If so, you seem to have had the double whammy of dreaming about sleep paralysis!
      If it does happen again, then I hope you find a way to interact with it without waking up screaming! Feel free to come back and let us know how you got on. It’s always fascinating to hear from people who actively try to engage with sleep paralysis etc
      Regards
      Ethan

  15. Early in the morning, while there was alittle light from the window, it seemed like I was half asleep. I was lying on my side facing the wall, and my eyes were still shut. I felt someone was slowly pull my blanket off my arm, and by the time it got to my elbow I felt someone pinch my arm and whisper “hello young one” in a whisper but it sounded like they were faking a weird voice. But the whole time I couldn’t move, like I wanted to move my arm but I couldn’t, and I wanted to tell my sister to bugger off because we share a room, (and it seems like something she would do) but I couldn’t open my mouth. When I could move I looked over and the bathroom door was closed and it looked like all her blankets were piled up, So maybe she piled them up to make it look like she was there while she was in the bathroom? But then she moved… She said she has no memory of doing such a thing and was in a deep in sleep. I have had the feeling of a presence in our room lately but never felt anything physically touch me before. I can’t even remember if i checked that the blanket was still on my arm. But i know i did. Please let know if it was SP or if some ghost was just deciding to be really awkward. I also never felt a loss of breath or weight on my chest

    • Hi Issa,

      Thanks for sharing your experience, and I can understand you being a bit concerned by it. It does sound like sleep paralysis, and maybe some blurring with dreaming as well. Not everyone gets the loss of breath or weight on the chest. The feeling of being awake but unable to move, combined with feeling a presence in the room, and the physical and auditory hallucination are very much symptoms of sleep paralysis. And with the blankets being piled up, your sister has probably done that in her sleep, and because you’ve had that scary experience, anything unusual in the room you see automatically taps into your mind trying to make sense of what happened.
      Personally I don’t think you need to worry about a ghost:-)
      Regards
      Ethan

  16. I have had these experiences in some way, a feeling of someone or something bring there, always a strange hissing noise, then a feeling of real pressure, usually around my back – really hard pressure last night. Frightening and difficult and I don’t sleep in a dark room anymore. My husband doesn’t believe me, so I just keep quiet, so it is a relief to know its a common experience. By the way, it happens when I am on my side……
    Please keep researching this, I like to convince myself it is just a sleep disturbance, but fear makes you think otherwise. The feelings seem to come in episodes, nothing for a few months, then they start again. A bit scared about going to bed tonight……

    • Hi Pat

      Thank you for the comment and sharing your experience. Sorry to hear it’s left you fearful of going to bed. That’s not a nice state of mind to be in.
      It’s a shame your husband doesn’t believe you. Have you just told him what happened, or have you tried explaining what sleep paralysis is, assuming that’s what you have? It might make it easier to talk about it if you present him with information you’ve researched rather than just telling him all this weird stuff happens.
      You’re not the only one to experience it sleeping on your side. I think it’s more common on the back, but not unheard of at all. Maybe try changing positions and see what happens.
      Hopefully in the tips above you might find something which helps you relax and get through it if it happens again.
      All the best
      Ethan

  17. This is a great article! I just came across it now as I’ve been experiencing SP a fair bit lately. I experienced SP around two years fairly often and only recently I have been experiencing it again every night and a few times during the night with a recurring theme.

    These are a few of the more ‘memorable’ experiences –

    Woke up unable to move and saw what appeared to be alien-like figures at my window. When I looked up my ceiling had turned green and these figures where at the foot of my bed dragging me off. When I was finally able to move and wake up I found myself on the opposite site of the bed.

    Unable to move a demon-like creature was moving quickly around the room while I was trying to chase it around with my eyes. By chance my partner had opened the door and to her surprise I was speaking a language she couldn’t describe but quite fluently – if only I could speak other languages fluently when I’m awake. I’ve had similar experiences like this (the speaking) when I was a child, on very rare occasions my mother has said to have come into my room and I would be doing the same thing.

    Another time last year, once again woke up and couldn’t move. Started to hear doors opening and shutting and then a cat came into my room and jumped onto the bed next to me. I went into a dream where I was chasing an old man in an attempt to see his face. As I got close he turned around and threw a liquid on me that burnt. Funnily enough I woke up the next day extremely sick and ended up being off work for a week.

    Just recently (this past week) I have been the same experience about 3-5 times during the night for 3 nights in a row now as I’m falling asleep. I’ll wake up to a screaming sound and find myself not being able to move. A little girl then walks into my room and stares at me from the end of the bed. During this time I try to move and wake my partner up but off course I can’t. This happens over and over, only once it was different and it was as if the girl was trying to pull my ribs out or something where it became very painful.

    • Hi Anthony,

      Thanks for the compliment about the article, and for sharing your experience. It sounds like you’ve had quite a variety of sleep paralysis and strange dreams/nightmares.

      If you are experiencing these on such a regular basis, it may be a good idea to get yourself checked out by a doctor or ask for a referral to a sleep specialist, just to make sure there isn’t an underlying cause which would need treatment, e.g. narcolepsy. And if your nighttime experiences are leading to you feeling ill, then I think that’s another sign to get yourself checked out. It could just be a passing phase, perhaps due to stress or some other trigger, but if it persists I would see someone about it.

      As for the sleep talking, it’s not unheard of for people to speak at such length that it sounds like a foreign language. If it seems like one you don’t know how to speak, then the chance is it’s not actually a real language. The best way to tell is to record it and then identify if it’s a real language the next day.

      Regards
      Ethan

  18. Hi, I’m fairly certain I experienced SP last night. I had to do some research to figure out what had happened to me! Your article and the comments here have been very helpful. However, I feel my experience is a little different than a lot of the above stories.

    Last night I feel asleep with my right arm around my wife. I awoke and immediately noticed I couldn’t move. I couldn’t move my arms or open my eyes fully. I tried to call for my wife, but couldn’t muster any words. My entire body was convulsing almost like having a seizure. It didn’t feel as if anyone or thing was shaking me. During this time I didn’t feel any sense of fear or panic. Didn’t have any trouble breathing. And more or less just very confused as to why I couldn’t move or speak. A time passed, as if I fell back to sleep, only to be woken again with the same symptoms. I feel as if I was fully awake during this time and decided that if I could shake my convulsing arm more, maybe I could wake my wife. I recall being able to eventually say her name, but it was very soft like a whisper. I must have feel back to sleep after this because I have no more recollection after that until I woke up this morning. I’ve always thought it was strange, but I never wake in the morning and can recall my dreams..I know I dream, just can never recall them. It didn’t really seem to me as if I was having an OBE.

    This was my first ever sleep paralysis experience. I talked to my mom, who said she has also experienced this more than once. Her description sounded very similar to the previous experiences I read about. Mine just seemed very strange, but not in the least bit horrific. I didn’t feel as if there was anything supernatural or menacing going on. I didn’t feel as if anything bad was gonna happen, but very confused as to why this was happening. Has there been any research done on a possible heredity link between family members who have experienced this? Thanks for hosting this thread!

    -Randy

    • Hi Randy

      Thank you for the comment and sharing your experience, which does sound quite different from previous readers’ experiences of sleep paralysis. Though to be honest, I can’t remember the details of every one any more!

      I believe that researchers do think there is a hereditary element to sleep paralysis. I also know several previous readers have said other family members experience it.

      When you say your whole body was convulsing, do you mean that it was actually physically doing so, or that it felt like it was while you were actually still paralyzed? If it’s the first, then I would suggest getting that checked out to rule out other possible conditions. But if it was a hallucinatory experience, then it is an odd one indeed!

      Regards
      Ethan

      • I do believe that it was a hallucinatory episode because when I later asked my wife if she remembered me trying to wake her, she didn’t. I also find it odd that I was laying on my side while it occurred. It seems much more common for people experiencing this to be laying on their back.

        Thanks again!

        • That makes sense now Randy, though as with so many people’s stories, it’s hard to tell the difference between awake hallucinations and dreams/nightmares. But as we know, even the hallucinations during sleep paralysis can be very extensive and involve all kinds of strange things happening. And of course, there is the fact that sometimes our dream imagery persists into the conscious awake state, so you may feel awake, but be ‘seeing’ or experiencing what you were just dreaming about over-mapping onto what you can actually see in the bedroom.
          You’re right in that most people do tend to experience sleep paralysis while sleeping on their back, but not everyone. From what I remember, a couple of other readers have also had them in different positions, including lying on their front.
          Regards
          Ethan

  19. I had a number of bouts of sleep paralysis during my teens. They often occurred while trying to get to sleep. I would always try to shout for help but could only manage a stifled moaning. My mum in the next room heard one of these one night, and told me the next day that I sounded like I was in pain.
    One particular incident sticks in my mind above all others. While lying paralysed one night, I got the distinct feeling something bad was coming up the stairs headed for my room. Although I was paralysed, my eyes were open, and thanks to The landing light being on, I could dimly see the room around me because of the light beneath the door. Suddenly a shadow blocked out some of the light. The next thing a tall silhouette of a man was standing by the door to the left of my bed. It looked a lot like Norman Bates’ silhouette on the poster for the film Psycho, in which he is standing by the side of his house. Being paralysed and having such a menacing figure standing there watching me was terrifying, and I’ve never forgotten it.
    I eventually grew used to the weird things that used to happen while trying to get to sleep: the hallucinations, heightened awareness, very loud screeching sounds etc. I almost miss them now, and wouldn’t mind experiencing them again, but doubt I’d like to be plagued by them.

    • Hi Chris,

      Thanks for the comment and sharing your story. I can imagine how Norman Bates’s silhouette would be slightly disturbing! You’re definitely not alone in finding these experiences interesting, though as I think you point out, there is often a trade-off between having interesting experiences and not being able to decide or control when they might happen and to what degree. I don’t think many people would like to be plagued by them!

      Regards
      Ethan

  20. I have experienced sleep paralysis since I was a kid, but they are reoccurring events and they always happen in the morning before waking. I experience these a few times or more each year. As a kid my bed always faced the closet and a creature-like person that I referred to as the “Beast” would come out of the closet and hold me down with an evil laugh. I would try to scream for my parents but couldn’t make any noise. I dismissed them as being anything but just nightmares.
    As an adult, I experience reoccurring events of a ghost-like presence in my room visiting right before I’m ready to get up for the day. I can’t see it but I hear it and feel it. I sometimes hear it knock at the door or just walk in. I hear the foot steps and brushing against the bed covers. It comes up behind me on the bed as if it just sits/lays there in a distance or does other things. I hear and feel the bed/covers move. I had a waterbed for many years prior and would hear and feel the water move in the bed and no one else was home. After several experiences over the years, I was finally able to touch it but never can turn my head to see it. I would feel a very cold, hard, slender arm and fingers. I always thought that it was a dead person spirit visiting maybe? There’s never anything/anyone in the room when I got up. After a while I didn’t feel scared of it anymore. It was never threatening. In the beginning of my adulthood I dismissed a lot of it as being my imagination or dreaming. It wasn’t until maybe within the last 10 years that I became more convinced of a presence actually being there due to the fact that what I heard and felt became so pronounced. Recently I just had another experience and for the first time I heard many voices like whispering/mumbling all at once at the foot of my bed and felt many fingers or hands over the covers touching my legs and a growling noise. I tried very hard to move my head to look and that’s when I felt a strong force holding me down keeping me from looking. That was beyond frightening! I know that I was wide awake because I had just snoozed my alarm clock few minutes prior. I feel very disturbed about this. First thing that came to mind was a demon-like presence and I’m not even a believer in demons. I know that I felt and heard something… I also noticed that some of the others that wrote their experiences see things, but I don’t. I also couldn’t believe how many others had similar experiences. Unfortunately, the scientific explanation does not make me feel any better. I strongly feel that something is there, maybe not these so-called demons or ghosts, but it’s a presence of some kind that apparently science can’t explain or prove. Dismissing it all together by calling it mind tricks or hallucinations is not convincing.

    • Hi Deb

      Thank you for sharing your story with us, and I’m sorry to hear that you have been left feeling frightened and disturbed by your experiences. I can completely understand why it is so unpleasant for you. And I can appreciate that the scientific explanation is difficult to accept when you have such unpleasant experiences over so many years.
      Having read the other comments, as it seems you have done, was there anything you found which you might be able to try doing to help? Perhaps even just the simple trick of sleeping with a light, television, or radio on?
      I keep meaning to go through the comments and compile a ‘reader’s list’ of tips and tricks to help, but haven’t had the time. If you have read them, it would be interesting to know what you felt might be able to help in your situation.
      Regards
      Ethan

      • The reoccurring experiences that don’t feel threatening, I try to relax and just go with it and
        see what experiences I can have.
        As for any frightening experiences, I think anyone is going to panic no matter what they try & do. Natural instinct.
        The following tips that I found listed above may be the key to resolving some of this though.

        •Don’t let yourself become sleep deprived or too tired as it often happens more then.
        •Try to deal with stress in your life, as periods of stress and change can make it worse.

        The scientific explanations do make sense but only to a certain degree. From what I read on a variety of websites, so many people seem to experience the “same things”, hearing the footsteps/moving around, see or feel an evil presence standing/sitting nearby watching. It all seems too coincidental to imagine the same things from being scared or are our minds all programmed the same way? Still trying to make sense of this…

        • Hi Deb,

          Good to hear back from you. And I’m glad you’ve found something in the new tips section which you think could be helpful. I also think you are right in that the natural instinct is panic, though some lucky few seem to not panic at all.

          A couple of previous readers also mentioned the idea that people often experience the same things. I personally think that this is quite normal – we are programed in the same way to a certain extent, especially in terms of what we think is frightening – right from when we are little and watching cartoons for example, or telling each other ghost stories. And growing up we are constantly exposed to media portrayals of what constitutes scary, horror or bad. And of course religion also has a part to play in forming our ideas of what evil looks like.
          But at the same time, having carefully read all the comments left here, I’ve now come to see that actually there is a huge range of experiences that people have. Sure there are some common themes, but then even within those themes there is a lot of variety.
          My advice would be to filter carefully the websites you read! I’ve also done a lot of research and found that while there are some great websites, there are also many which are probably not going to do a lot to help a worried reader.
          All the best
          Ethan

  21. Is it heard of or possible for the experience to begin as sleep paralysis and then become an OBE?
    Last night, I had the more exciting, frightening experience, that I can remember. I was told it was SP, but after reading a few of your replies to others and you wondering if it was a nightmare, I’m not sure what it was.

    • Hi Chris,

      It is quite widely reported that sleep paralysis can lead to an out of body experience, yes. I sometimes reply to people that it could be a nightmare, or dream, because of the way they describe the experience themselves, and because I think it can be hard to work out one sleep experience from another. But some of the other readers have been very clear about what they feel happened, and it seems more like an out of body experience. So in your case, if you’re not sure, you may have to see if it happens again. And maybe with more knowledge now about the possible explanations, you’ll be more aware of what is happening to you if it is an OBE.
      Hope that helps!
      Regards
      Ethan

    • Hello! I just wanted to say that In my experiences, sleep paralysis does lead to OBEs if you can resist the urge to fight it off and if you can manage to remain conscious and not fall asleep. I’ve been able to do this a few times and its pretty weird but interesting. However, sometimes i’m not sure if they are actually obe’s or lucid dreams. I also should mention that I cannot travel to other countries or any interesting places during my obe’s but I can pretty much only walk around my neighborhood. I think this is because I’m afraid that I will get lost and not be able to find my body again. This happened to me once about 15 years ago where I could not get back inside my body and i ended up over sleeping by 2 hours because I could not get back. It was very scary and I thought I would die!
      Anyways, the reason why I think some of these experiences might be lucid dreams is because in one of my experiences, i walked to my friend Rita’s house just to be nosey, and I saw that she was cooking this huge fancy gourmet meal in the middle of the night. I knew that this could not be real so thats how i figured it was a lucid dream and not an obe. Another time when I think I had a real obe happened when i stayed at my boyfriends motel while he was working out of town. What happened was the phone rang in the middle of the night and somehow when i woke up, I found that I was laying on the floor below the phone instead of laying in bed. So I got up and tried to answer the phone but I realized that my hands kept going through it as if I was a ghost. I also looked over and saw that I was still laying in bed next to my boyfriend (who was being too lazy to roll over and grab the phone). after the ringing stopped, I suddenly snapped back into my body and my boyfriends co-worker called back and asked him who was the girl who answered the first time. they argued for a while about how I was there but that I didnt grab the phone because my bf would have known if I climbed over him and got it and he told the guy that this definetly did not happen. It was very weird because someone else had some kind of experience with me while I was out of body.
      Anyways, sorry for the long post. I just wanted to share my obe moments with you:)

      • Hi Chrisy,

        Thank you for your very interesting comment and sharing your experiences of sleep paralysis, if that’s what it was, and your out of body experiences and lucid dreaming. I think, like you say, it can be tricky to work out exactly what happened, which is something which has come up a few times during these comments. But your stories are definitely fascinating and it’s interesting the way you go about trying to logically determine what you experienced.
        And importantly it’s again another positive story which might help some people to come to terms with what they experience and see it as an interesting phenomenon rather than one to be controlled by and potentially very scared by.
        All the best
        Ethan

      • Okay I wasn’t going to tell what happened because it was so weird, but your story was just as weird I think. :)
        As I lay with my back to the door, I suddenly felt as though something was there.. behind me.. hovering and watching me. I decided it was probably just someone else that lives in the house checking on me.
        Then suddenly I was being held at my shoulders (I’m laying on my side btw) paralyzed.. I try to speak but there is no sound, in fact there is no sound anywhere. No fan blowing, no tv in the background, no voices or even a low hum from the electric devices. All I had was the feeling of dread and wanting to turn to face the invader. I remember thinking I should wait til they say something before I swing. I waited a minute still being grasped at my shoulders, as I thought “okay I’m going to roll over to see it”.. I felt something cold and wet behind my shoulder blade. Like a dog sticking it’s nose to me or something licking me but the sensation changed and it was like pressure and the feeling became below the surface of my skin. Like something had just forced there tounge INTO my back. It wasn’t painful but it was uncomfortable. I felt helpless..
        After what seemed like a minute I felt it remove itself from my shoulders but I didn’t move for fear it may still be there. I waited a few seconds then I had somehow gained control of my body. I flung my. Feet to the floor and saw the closet. It was closed… I ran to it and ripped it open.There was no animal, person or creature there. Now worried it may be somewhere else in the house I proceeded to banging on the closet door and yelling to lure it back or scare it away entirely and still there is no sound. I looked out of my bedroom door and in the frame of my little brothers door was a shadow about four feet tall. I moved towards it thinking I was going to do to it what I did to the closet door. As I approached it I stretched my arm out toward the shadow.. and then felt it. My hand was on the top of the shadow… it was soft and like fur not hair. I felt it inch forward and like time just rewound my feet flew to the floor. And I saw the closet.. open. I got up walked out of my room and told my little brother what just happened to me.

        • Hi again Chris,

          Was some of this happening as what you described as an out-of-body experience in your first comment? It’s not clear, but I am assuming it it?

          Regards
          Ethan

  22. I don’t know if this has any relation to this but;
    I literally just woke up out of a dead sleep, chest beating and the feeling the I needed to release an energy, maybe even a power of some kind before I felt like I was about to leave my body. WIDE AWAKE, and typing this now 4 minutes previous to google searching “feeling of transferring self-being to another source”… This £$%! happens once, maybe twice a month! Scares the £$%* out of me, and I feel it may be related to something to body vs. mind.

  23. Recently a friend correlated my experiences to sleep paralysis. I never knew what it was, but it has happened 3 times in my life. The first when I was 18, taking a nap in the afternoon. I felt a body trying to slide out from under my bed. It was as if I could feel the mattress being pressed against my back in waves as if the “body” was stuck and was struggling to get out. Next the “body” seemed more child-like as it felt like it was jumping up & down on my bed by my feet. I felt like my own feet were depressing into the mattress with each jump. I struggled to reach out & grab the “child”. I could not move. I was not really asleep as I was completely aware of where I was. I wasn’t dreaming & I could hear what was going on around me. Again, this was a nap in the afternoon and I could hear my friends in the dorm room across the hall. The jumping on the bed stopped only to move to the other side of the room. I was frightened but the “being” wasn’t threatening.
    The next time it happened while taking a nap around 7:00pm. I was in my early 20s, living at home & could hear my parents & a few relatives having a get together. I was aware of where I was. I knew I was in my bed, laying on my side when all of the sudden a horrid disgusting presence felt like it was an inch from my face. It felt like it’s face was bright bloody red, like it’s skin had been stripped off. It was angry, vile, incredibly evil and I couldn’t move. Couldn’t call out…nothing. It was a shorter experience than the first, but was absolutely terrifying!
    The third time I was in my early 30’s. It was in the morning after a full night’s sleep. Same situation in that I was aware of where I was..in my bed, with my husband sleeping right next to me. An overwhelming presence hovered over me. It was female and older, more of a guardian. I felt like I couldn’t breathe as the presence seemed to be guiding me to “let go”. I fought hard but could not move. I tried to call out my husband’s name…I tried to move my legs in an effort to kick him to wake me. I felt as if my life was being sucked out of my body & thought I was transitioning to heaven. If I hadn’t fought it off, I felt as though I was surely going to die in my sleep and I wasn’t ready to leave. The presence was positive & in some way trying to let me know that I shouldn’t be afraid, but I didn’t want to leave my husband. I am now 45 ad have not had an episode since.

    • Hi Rena

      Thank you for sharing your 3 sleep paralysis episodes, and as with many people, they sound quite frightening. I’m not quite sure I understood how you felt that the third was positive though! I guess the feeling was that it was OK to transition according to the presence that you felt. I think I would have still found it a bit scary…

      Hopefully those 3 will be the only ones you experience though, and there will be no repeats.

      Regards,
      Ethan

  24. I woke up from either a dream or sleep paralysis 2 hours ago and have spent that time reading all of the comments. I’d really like to believe the scientific explanation but I’m still trying to catch my breath and keep watch of my surroundings while typing this. I was laying on my back when a noise coming from the living room woke me up. However, I was unable to move or open my eyes. I felt a presence walk into my room, walk up to my left side and slide it’s hands under my arms to raise me up. I tried to scream and move but was paralyzed. Finally after concentrating really hard I was able to raise my right hand to swing at it and then I could move and open my eyes. After checking the house and calming myself down, I rolled onto my right side to go back to sleep. I suddenly felt “someone” grab my hair and yank my head back. So, as I said for the last two hours I’ve been looking for an explanation to calm myself down. I even checked my home alarm system to see if the motion detectors had picked up any movement. There was nothing. I’m trying to remind myself that I’m under a lot of stress and anxiety which I’m sure caused this. I appreciate you putting this page together and allowing people to “vent” their scary experiences. Saying it out loud helps to calm me. That and watching reruns of ‘Three’s Company’! :)

    • Hi Jen,

      Thanks for the comment, and I’m glad you found it a useful place to vent. I think that’s probably one of the most useful things about the page. Sometimes I think about closing the comments because of the work that goes into editing spelling mistakes and replying, but then I remind myself that it serves a useful purpose beyond just providing information. So it’s nice of you to acknowledge that:-)

      So, I can fully appreciate and understand feeling so shook up after your experience, especially if it was a first (and hopefully last) time. I know it’s hard to accept the scientific explanation, but as I always say, it’s a good way to deal with the fear!

      Anyway, hopefully by now you will have watched enough episodes to calm down and start to forget about the experience. And make sure you try to do something about the stress and anxiety if possible.

      Regards
      Ethan

  25. Mine is not a long one but it scared me to death this morning about 7 when I normally wake up. I live by myself. I opened my eyes and there was a figure next to me dressed in fully black, stocky , about 5″6 but I couldn’t move or speak. I leave my light on so I could see perfect then the figure got up it was like an old funeral laced dress thing it looked to me then all I could do was follow it with my eyes it went round behind my cupboard and keeps poking its head round but the face was really hard to see, it was really scary but I couldn’t move or scream for help. I had very little movement, I tried to bite my tongue, then suddenly I could move so I grabbed my army knife and ran towards it in case it was someone messing about, but my bedroom door was still locked and my key was still on my bed there is no way out apart from that door. It’s really freaked me out.

    • Hi Daniel,

      Thanks for your comment, and sharing your story of what sounds very much like sleep paralysis. It’s understandable that you were freaked out by this, but hopefully you will be able to find some comfort having read this article and the other comments people have read.
      And also hopefully this will just be a one-off and not happen again.
      Regards
      Ethan

  26. I had experienced a bit of sp when I was stressed out. I felt like my leg was flying and felt something trying to drag me out of bed. I stayed calm because I’ve heard of this kind of thing before. I thought of it as something positive. “Demons” do not like positive things so they would go away once you think of something positive. I just slept like nothing happened.
    I do know that there are ghosts because I’ve seen one showing up many times when I was a little kid. Also, my twin sister was my proof that ghosts exist because she saw the same ghost as me. For example, me and my sister went to look out a window to see our backyard at night. We both saw the same ghost. I said,”Did you see that white lady ghost?” My sister said,”What is that? Why is it appearing and disappearing?” Its face was covered by its long black hair. It’s a good thing that we were at the second level of our house when we saw it.

    • Hi Letusia,

      Thanks for the comment, and it’s good that you have a way of staying calm when sleep paralysis happens. I think that is probably one of the best ways to deal with it.

      Regards
      Ethan

  27. I actually had my first encounter the other night. I found myself in the back of my car at night. I was like what is going on and then all at once I was struck with the paralysis part as this loud thundery demonic voice started yelling at me that I didn’t know anything about love or something. Which was weird.
    But This morning it happened to me. And I got the feeling that someone was here but I learned that instead of straining, trying to break through the paralysis you can just calm yourself down and it seemed to work. After it happened I would try going back to sleep and almost immediately when I put my head back down( 3 or 4 times in a row) I would get hit with paralysis and couldn’t move. But calming myself seemed to work to wake myself up

    • Hi Will

      Thank you for sharing your story. Can I ask how you found yourself in the back of your car?! Had you been sleeping walking?
      I think you are absolutely right about trying to keep calm being a good technique to deal with sleep paralysis, and many other readers have said the same thing.
      Hopefully this will just be a passing phase for you.
      Regards,
      Ethan

  28. I have just recently started experiencing Sleep Paralysis, and I am beyond freaked out from my last experience.

    I was laying down at night, when I awoke, I found myself completely immobilized. Not only that, but I could feel two hands pinning me down, touching my colllar bone/inner shoulders.
    It didn’t talk, but it snarled, and breathed heavily ontop of me. I could feel its breath on my face, and the snarling was first in my right ear, then it moved around and started growling in my left ear. I got the impression it was inspecting me.

    I was able to start moving my arms, and I lifted them infront of me to try and stop this beast from breathing in my face. Once my arms were in front of me, the beast vanished. I then woke up, and heard my front door slam.

    I peered out my window and found my mom and stepdad getting into their car. I looked down at my phone and noticed it was a little passed 3:00AM, and it was very unusual for my parents to be up– let alone leaving the house at that hour.
    I called my mom’s cell, and she picked up. I asked where she was going, and she said that our family friend, Smitty, had just died of a heart attack.

    I always had bad vibes from Smitty, so I always felt that this occurance somehow related to his death.
    Whether it was him, or demons that were inside of him, or demons rejoicing his death and seeking to mess with people he knew.

    Who knows…?

    • Hi Harmony,

      Thank you for sharing you story with us, and I can see why it freaked you out. My own take, as always, would be that it is just an unfortunate coincidence. But I can definitely understand why you would question that simple explanation considering the timing. Hopefully you’ll be able to relax about it and that it won’t happen again.
      Regards
      Ethan

  29. I am 48 and have suffered SP since I was a kid. Didn’t know the name for it until a few years ago when I heard my sons discussing it. My now 21 year old has had episodes since about the age of 14, usually seeing a figure coming toward him. My now 20 year old had one episode I know of. I usually have one when I am exhausted and fall asleep on my back. I try to avoid sleeping on my back but sometimes end up rolling from my side in the middle of the night. I do know how to wake myself but it is still an experience I would prefer not to have. As a Christian, my mother always insisted it was demonic, I never agreed.

    • Hi Rebecca,

      Thanks for the comment, and it’s interesting that all three of you experience it. At least you can discuss it, share you experiences and find ways to deal with it together if it is particularly upsetting for any of you. Out of interest, how do you go about waking yourself up?
      Regards
      Ethan

  30. It’s most probably a sleeping position (often on your back) which puts extra pressure on the heart to pump oxygenated blood, especially importantly, to the brain. Sleeping flat on your back also puts extra load on you lungs to breathe. If you drink or smoke these factors will only increase the problem.
    Suggestions.
    1.Sleep on your side.

    2.Use only one pillow.

    3.Use a large book under a single pillow.

    4,Leave a small light on in the room.

    5.Leave the radio or TV on quietly in the background.

    6.Do not read in bed before you sleep, as this encourages sleeping on your back.

    7.if you find yourself in a S.P. start a rocking motion in your mind, from left to right, and count each one. Attempt to wake yourself up by increasing the roll of each rocking motion. Count to 20 and then reset back to 1 and continue until you wake.

    8. As you rock, you may become away of a leg, arm or eyes having more motion. Concentrate your efforts on moving this area more to bring you to full wakefulness more quickly. As you come back from unconciousness to wakefullness (the semi-conscious stage) you may experience a ‘sea swell’ sensation, at this point you need to focus all your efforts in increasing this unpleasant sensation until you wake.

    • Hi Medico,

      Thank you very much for your comment and the range of practical suggestions. I think they are all very good suggestions, though I’m a bit confused another the large book under a single pillow idea, especially if you first recommend only using one pillow. But all the rest seem very useful tips. I especially like the idea of focusing on a rocking motion and seeing if it then triggers movement in the body.
      I am planning on building either a new practical tips section to this article, or a separate one altogether at some point. And I will definitely include that one to see what people think.
      Many thanks
      Ethan

  31. just had my first sp attack last night it didn’t last long. to be honest i feel excited that it happened to me even though i felt as though i was having an anxiety attack at first i feel happy to have had the experience. i woke up and next to me is my large bull-mastiff dog as she always sleeps with me (lol) and i remember thinking poltergeist straight away for some reason i couldn’t move my body what so ever i tried shouting out in fear but was unable to do so, first i tried moving my arms and nothing happened that’s when i panicked then i tried moving my legs nothing happened then i tried dramatically kicking out my legs and still nothing i also remember looking into the corner of my room and seeing a black cloud. i fell asleep straight after i regained control of my body. it must have all happened in about 5 minutes. i fell straight back to sleep afterwards and woke up forgetting what had happened. something clicked in my head a few hours after i woke and i instantly recalled the experience. my mother also has had this experience on 2 occasions on one occasion lasted for roughly just over 1 hour.
    i have actually been going through depression for some time now and haven’t had the balls to seek help. maybe this has something to do with it. there is too many explanations as to why it happened i am just grateful i had the experience and cant wait for the next time so i can $%&# those demons up! A MEN

    adam 21 liverpool

    • Hi Adam,

      Thanks for your comment, and it’s always good to hear from people who have managed to find a way to enjoy the experience of sleep paralysis, even if the content sounds quite scary still. I think some readers will find it helpful to know that it is possible to take control of the situation and not feel so helpless.
      I would strongly recommend seeking some help if you have been feeling depressed. Even if it’s just to reach out to a close family or friend. Social support is one of the best ways to tackle those kind of issues.
      Regards
      Ethan

  32. Hi! Iv experienced SP many times, the first time I honestly thought I seen either a ghost/spirit/demon, I couldn’t breath, I couldn’t talk or roar, I couldn’t move or open my eyes. Eventually I was able to open my eyes and when I did it was like a hand was in front of my face, I was then able to jump up and I seen a kind of black floaty figure at the end of my bed, I opened my blind and it vanished as soon as the light brightened up my room. I stayed in my bed for an hour as I was too afraid to do anything! Noting happened 2 me again for about a year or so, until one night I taught I could hear people running up my stairs, they barged into my room and I felt my blanket being ripped of me then it felt like they grabbed me by my legs and it felt like I was being ripped out of bed! I was able to roar this time and by god did I roar, I woke the whole house! The same thing happened over and over until I realised it always happened when I tried to go to sleep on my left side, I now always sleep on my right side and it never happens me (fingers crossed it doesn’t) hope people can relate to my story, and find that sleeping on their right hand side stops SP to a certain extent!

    • Hi DH

      Thanks for sharing your experience of sleep paralysis with us, and it does sound frightening! I think it’s interesting that you found a position which stops them from happening. I’m not sure everyone will have the same from sleeping on the right, but I do think there is a common theme with many people saying it happens on their back for example.
      So I do think it’s a good idea for people to experiment with sleeping in different positions.
      Regards
      Ethan

  33. hey guys i’m always wondering why is always happen to me
    during the sunlight i’m always fall asleep paralyze and i know some kind or something wants to my body i feel something hugging me hard and i cant breathe and all of my body is paralyzed and imagine terror i cant explain it how, i’m always praying and please i’m asking this question sorry for my grammar or anything please help me. How i can fight this?

    • Hi Ralph,

      Sorry to hear you are experiencing what sounds like sleep paralysis. There is lots of advice here, both in the article and in the many comments other readers have left. If you read through, hopefully you will find something which helps depending on your particular belief.
      My personal advice is to try to stay calm, and to remember the scientific explanation. Though I know not everyone agrees with that! But I think it is one of the best ways to deal with the fear – by remembering to tell yourself that nothing bad will actually happen.
      Regards,
      Ethan

  34. I had my very first sleep paralysis at about 16yrs old. I think this is a common age when this begins to occur as I have spoke to others. Im wondering if there is a reason why this seem to start around puberty. I also want to share my experience in which I was able to reduce the occurrences. Its been about 3 years since I had one and before that it was 2 years but before that it occurred anywhere from once a week to about to once every month. I have gotten so used to it that I learned to instantly wake myself out of it when I needed to with effort. I went from being scared to being frustrated, angry and scared. So I began to fight back, even though I didnt have control over my body movement. I believe I fought with my mind therefore it felt as if I was moving my body. I would fight back while calling the demon every name in the book..cursing and screaming in my mind but I knew it was registering. The very last experience, he was on my chest and I scratched his face repeatedly for a few seconds, even though it felt like I was scratching air I knew he felt it, and when I stopped and to my surprise he started scratching me back in my face repeatedly just as I did to him. My face started burning pretty bad and he stopped within a few seconds. Then I yelled at him again and woke myself up. I havent had an episode since then (about 3 years ago) I like to believe it got tired of me cursing it out, fighting back and then waking myself up having the last word and sometimes telling him “I control this” or “I can end this” or “your history”. I wanted it to stop and it did, or at least it doesnt occur nearly as often. Im not sure if this would mostly likely suggest that I fought away a demonic spirit or if I just simply cured or controlled a psychological hallucination. I would believe that it more likely suggest fighting away a demonic demon because thats basically all I did and it stopped. For I am still fearful of this and dread it happening again.

    • Hi Tanya,

      Thanks for sharing your sleep paralysis story, and sorry to hear you’ve had some unpleasant experiences, and still living with the worry that they will occur again. It’s great that you managed to use your strength of mind and will to confront and deal with the sleep paralysis. As for your question about what you actually managed to do, well my personally take would be that it doesn’t really matter if it’s been 3 years since you last experienced it. If you can, I would try to put it out of your mind and try to start believing that you will continue to sleep peacefully without a re-occurrence. I’m sure if it does happen again in the future, you’ll find the same strength to manage the situation.

      All the best
      Ethan

  35. I am plagued by nightmares on a daily basis. Most of the time I come to accept them for what they are, dreams. However there are certain times where something more is at hand; recently, I had a nightmare of being on an operating table and having my body from a previous life across from me on another operating table with my second personality inside it. I was tortured and tested on so much that my old body had been destroyed in turn returning my other personality which made me stronger since losing my other personality made me weaker. The whole dream went on for five years till I was able to break out and attempt an escape ultimately failing and dying. I can specifically remember this encounter from a previous life for unknown reasons. The next day I had sleep paralysis. However, this wasn’t like the sleep paralysis that you described. I was unable to open my eyes, heard a maniacal laugh, felt pressure on my crotch and a blade slowly trying to pierce my chest while I was cut in an x formation up and down my arms entirely. I woke up to such cuts after I made every attempt to open my eyes and move (I managed to open them and break free of the paralysis by moving my toes. Im unsure as to why since twitching my fingers and other parts of my body wouldnt work.) This isnt the first time this has happened. This has happened over a thousand times. Call it what you will, however, in my experiences and prior knowledge science is unable to explain certain things for we dont have the brain capacity to understand such things on the level and degree of intensity they are brought unto us.

    • Hi there

      Thanks for sharing your story, and it sound really horrible to have experienced! I don’t think I’ve ever had a dream which I woke from with the feeling that it had lasted for years. That must have been strange in itself.
      You are right in that science doesn’t satisfactorily explain everything, and of course we know that scientists are constantly finding out new information and information which replaces what we previously thought all the time.
      However, in the case of sleep paralysis, to me the explanation seems reasonable. But accepting it in the face of the intensity that you and many others experience is of course quite difficult at times.
      Hopefully you will find a way to deal with this as some others have and be able to sleep peacefully.
      Regards
      Ethan

  36. It’s sad to see how much people are struggling with sleep paralysis. I’ve had a couple experiences myself, and although they’re terrifying in the moment, I also find them so fascinating I wouldn’t want to be without. I’ve even been wondering if there is a way to induce them, but then I’ve always had an interest in both dreams, the occult and “supernatural” experiences. All the while being a non-believer in the two latter, despite my very vivid experiences. I think if you are a strict non-believer, it’s probably more in the front of your mind that what is happening isn’t real, and therefore it’s not as traumatizing. Also, my “episodes” don’t last more than a couple minutes, I imagine the ones that drag on for longer must be pretty awful.

    My experiences have been “by the book” so to speak, except they always start with a nightmare, and when I wake up from it I see her. A demon/witch standing by my door, unable to move as she glides towards me and suddenly jumps up on my chest. I can feel her sucking the soul out of my body while she’s strangling me and holding me down, I can’t move or speak, and eventually I pass out (feels more like I’m dying than falling asleep). She looks into my eyes, and makes a loud, strange sound that sounds like a cross between a high pitched scream, static noise and nails on a chalkboard (so pretty much the worst sound you can imagine). Her skin is wrinkly and dried up, she has long black hair, and looking into her eyes is straining and painful, like sitting right in front of the tv and staring at the static.

    • Hi S.H.

      Thank you for your comment and for sending a shiver down my spine!! I’m one of those people that can’t handle chalk board noises, so your description put my hairs on end…

      It’s nice of you to acknowledge that suffering that many people experience. And you’re not alone in finding the experiences interesting. I think I should come up with a name like ‘sleep paralysis explorers’ for the readers who actually enjoy the experience. If only there was a way to transfer that attitude to all the people who can’t bear it.

      But importantly every time someone like you does explain that it’s possible to experience something horrible and take it on, it’s hopefully another little positive that anyone reading this comment chain can find solace in.

      All the best and thanks again
      Ethan

  37. So just now its Friday may 30th. I’m pretty sure I experienced sleep paralysis. I share a room with my little brother he fell asleep way before me. I started to fall asleep at about 220 and all of a sudden I heard the door open and from my bedroom door its right in front of it. I feel the need to get up and look but I couldn’t. My heart started beating really fast and it felt heavy like I couldn’t breath and I felt like I was yelling for my brother and mom but none of them could hear me or answer me. And then I felt like my mom was coming to help me then all of a sudden I was able to move again and she was gone and the door is shut. I do believe in ghosts and I always say my house is haunted I was wondering if this cud have anything to do with it.. Now it’s 319 am and I’m still scared and my heart still feels a bit fast. ? Details if this really was sleep paralysis or not..

    • Hi Brittany,

      Thanks for sharing your sleep paralysis story, and it does sound like a familiar one which is very similar to many other readers’ descriptions. Personally, I don’t think you need to worry about ghosts, though what you choose to believe is of course up to you. But as I said in the article, if you experience things like this, it’s probably going to be easier to deal with if you accept the scientific explanation and don’t start worrying about ghosts!
      Hopefully it won’t happen again and if it does, try to stay calm if possible.
      Regards
      Ethan

  38. I am only 16 years old & I had a very unusual experience. At first I thought I was just having a nightmare, but I don’t think I’ve ever had a nightmare where I was laying in my bed and a demon/creature visited me and I couldn’t move. So I did some research and I found out I experienced sleep paralysis. I just want to know if it’s unusual because of my age. Everyone’s feedback would be extremely helpful.

    • Hi Fabian

      Thanks for your comment, and sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I’ve been snowed under recently.
      I don’t think it’s that unusual, no. There have been other young people saying they have experienced it, and older people saying they remember having it when they were very young. If you’re concerned, then I recommend talking to your family, a close friend, or a doctor about it. You may well find they have also experienced the same. If they call you crazy, you can always show them this website and this comment:-)
      Regards
      Ethan

  39. I felt after reading down thru all the peoples stories here to add my own and after growing up in rural Ireland in a land of fairies and leprechauns and the Bean shia or banshee i guess my mind was set for the events which took place in 1994 ..id been asleep with my girlfriend at the time and was lying face to the wall.. when i felt a presence move into the room from left hand side and move towards our bed in the corner and somehow i was awake i saw the wall pattern as it was evening time but i literally felt the black cloaked monk like shape reach for me and press me down with great force into the bed… now having been a rascal in my younger days my friends and i used to enter supposed haunted houses and graveyards searching for ghosts and anything else .even in one for sure old house that dates back to famine times we didn’t pick up any feelings..
    To return to my story all i can say is and anyone who’s had what i call SP if you could bottle and sell the fear the pure heart stopping hair raising fear of that demon monk on my chest that late evening well its what movie makers and game creators strive to give their audiences… pure unadulterated spine-chilling crying out but cant move a muscle fear…
    By tiny amounts i by willing it to release me felt its pressure lessen and i felt it move back across the room.. the strangest thing was as i felt it pass over my girlfriend she woke up screaming and that set me off also but i felt the presence slip into the other room and away from us…she after felt as though hands were pulling her out of bed …
    So 2 adults no drink or drugs scared by a combination of each others fears who knows..
    I thank you for reading my little tale and it might help others because for years it was my ghost story and i would tell it to people and some would look with that knowing cringing hair raised on back of neck feeling that only someone who had experienced fear like that knew..
    All i know is i’ve had once and that was enough hihi…
    Sleep well and safe folks.
    John

    • Hi John

      Thanks for bringing a taste of good Irish story telling to the comments thread, and as much as I know your story has a serious and frightening side, it was well told:-)
      You are definitely right about the level of fear that sleep paralysis can induce in people. You only need to take a look through the other comments to see just how many people have been through horribly frightening experiences.
      I can’t remember how many exactly have spoken about having a shared experience. Not many, but definitely one or two I think. But again, I think there is probably something to be said for one person being able to sense the others fear. And of course, the fact that the mind can supposedly create a dream in a flash, which can make unusual coincidences occur.
      Thanks again for sharing your story in such a descriptive way.
      Ethan

    • Hello Ethan.
      Just before I post my second, of three experiences I’ve had, I’d like to add a comment in relation to prayer, and more specifically, God.

      A question – do you take a scientific approach exclusively, or, are you open to a spirit realm aspect? It seems to me, that there are some very disturbing patterns which to me, seem to be coalescing to the point where I believe a strong case can be made that there are dark spiritual forces at work.

      I don’t believe we can take a demonic possibility off the table, even though the very idea goes against any true scientific paradigm.

      As I’m sure you know, there are specific dark entities, real or imagined, which keep popping up over and over again. The old hag, is a powerful example. I think we can cross the power of suggestion off, due to the fact that this specific entity has been reported for a couple of hundreds of years, and most probably even longer.

      Of course, what makes such possibilities very close to impossible to corroborate, is that for the most part, main-line scientific methods can not be utilized as a sort of, diagnostic tool right?

      So, I guess my question is this – it is obvious that a scientific approach cannot solve the mystery of S.P.
      We can use scientific methods as a documentation tool

      Also, people who are terrified night after night, month after month, and year after year have the option of medication, and, or, counseling. However, I wonder if that route may end up simply masking one serious issue, and replacing it with another. I’ve seen cases where people who are very dear to me, have had their personalities taken away, and replaced by an alter-personality, and that can be traumatic, and heartbreaking.

      Just some things to consider, because I know there are people being traumatized, and hounded in their own bedrooms. So, if some of these poor souls are willing to appeal to God, either as these attacks are actually happening, or when they are awake, I would be curious to know what the effect, if any, would be.

      Alright, now for my most bizarre, and terrifying encounter with what I call – my enemy.
      Coming Right Up

      With that realization

      • Hi Jack,

        Nice to hear from you again. In answer to your question, I do personally take a purely scientific approach. Whilst I fully understand why many people don’t accept it, and choose to believe in a spirit realm aspect as you say, I personally don’t believe in such things.

        I know science still doesn’t explain many things in the universe, and struggles at times to provide concrete or universally agreed upon explanations for things which we would imagine it would, but just because it doesn’t have explanations yet, doesn’t mean that they aren’t there waiting to be uncovered.

        But in the case of sleep paralysis and the other strange hallucinations we can have during the sleeping hours, I personally feel that the scientific explanation is good enough. That’s what I choose to believe though, and the main reason why I focus more on helping people find practical solutions to sleep paralysis rather than exploring in depth the alternatives.

        That said, I do think it’s interesting to hear what people have to say about their experiences, and what they think about them. I also think it’s helpful for people to have a space to voice their opinion on the topic, even if I don’t agree with it. But I generally try to maintain the line that it will be more helpful to focus on practical steps that can be taken to deal with sleep paralysis. I’ll leave musing on other ideas to the various readers who want to do so.

        Your second idea about appealing to God, I think is a valid way of dealing with the problem. Even if I’m agnostic, I fully appreciate that if using your religious faith is what helps you get through a moment of terror, uncertainty and helplessness, then it can be a useful tool. The difference though is probably that some people believe that the evil forces may be ‘defeated’ by the religious faith. My personal view would be that having something to focus on that helps give you strength when you most need it is what is helping.

        But in either case, the end result is the same. The sleep paralysis is overcome, and you get through the night in as peaceway way as possible.

        Anyway, I’ll leave it at that and read your next story!
        Regards
        Ethan

  40. The first SP episode when was 17 (now I’m 29) I am not a religious nutcase or a superstitious. I believe in God respect all religions. And I chose to be muslim because Islam accepts all religions. But alas, I neither do 5 times praying nor follow other Islamic attributes.
    I experienced SP and it happens randomly. Each episode is different and so vivid. And every time my body is immovable and I am suffocated. In the first episode I heard errie laughters. And I started to pray and wanted to awake myself though I was conscious but I couldn’t understand what was going on. I just kept praying. ( I am muslim so I repeated the verse from Koranover and over)All of a sudden something tall in white appeared in front of me and then vaniashed. In second one I saw a lady with

    • Hi

      I think your comment got cut off…if you want to come back and finish it, I can piece it together. Prayer is something which several readers have said they found helps them. I think just the focus that it gives you can be helpful in itself.
      Regards
      Ethan

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