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Sleep Paralysis: Awake But Still Asleep
Biology 202
2000 First Web Report
On Serendip
Sleep Paralysis: Awake But Still Asleep
Hiro Takahashi
A person may wake up and find himself unable to move or speak as if he is frozen. He also may hear footsteps, see a ghost-like creature, or feel someone sitting on his chest. Throughout the history, people considered this phenomenon as work done by evil spirits. However, the modern science can explain the terrifying event as a Sleep Paralysis.
A Sleep Paralysis is possibly a hereditary disorder in which one experiences very frightening seconds or minutes of total body paralysis with little respiration and eye movements (1). A victim in this state feels awake, but he cannot move or speak (2). In addition to the immobility, the common symptoms include feeling choked or suffocated, hearing strange noises like footsteps and voices, seeing beings or dark shadows, and feeling an existance of someone in the room (1). Although these symptoms often direct the victims to believe in ghosts, mistransmission of neural signals in the brain causes Sleep Paralysis. When a person sleeps, his brain sends signals to inhibit any muscle contraction (3). If he comes into consciousness before the brain sends signals to activate muscle contraction, he cannot move his body, and consequently, become "paralyzed"(2).
In order to understand how a body becomes paralyzed while the person is awake, it is necessary to understand sleep cycles. In a mammalian sleep, the brain activity undergoes two different states called non-REM (NREM) sleep and REM sleep, which differ very much from wakefulness (3). NREM and REM sleep alternate cyclically through the night; in human, about 80 minutes of NREM sleep starts a night of sleep, about 10 minutes of REM sleep follows, and this 90 minute cycle is repeated about 3 to 6 times during the night (3). During NREM sleep, a body produces few movement, but the body has capability of tossing about in bed and producing some other motor events, such as sleepwalking and sleeptalking (3). The cardiac-muscle contraction and breathing occur at a uniform rate, and the eyes move slowly (2). During REM sleep, on the other hand, heart rate, respiration rate, and blood pressure vary (3). The eyes move rapidly because most dreaming takes place in this period, and the sleeper probably "look" at the moving objects in a dream (2).
The brain's control over muscles during REM sleep points out that in this period, a body is normally in the state of total paralysis, called a "nonreciprocal flaccid paralysis" (3). Probably to prevent a person from "acting out" a dream, the brain sends signals to inhibit any muscle contractions (2). Although some peripheral muscles, such as the muscles of the fingers and face, still twitch, the large skeletal muscles become relaxed, or "paralyzed" as a result (3). Some evidence supports that the motor paralysis of REM sleep protect against the acting out of one's dreams. A patient who suffers from rare syndrome called REM Sleep Behavior Disorder lacks the normal nonreciprocal flaccid paralysis, and he acts out violent dreams during REM sleep, often with injurious consequences (4). For example, a 60-year-old surgeon dreamt that he was attacked "by criminals, terrorists, and monsters who always tried to kill [him]" and fighting against them in the nightmare, he was actually punching and kicking his wife who slept in the same bed (4).
A nonreciprocal flaccid paralysis during REM sleep is accomplished actively by postsynaptic inhibition of motorneurons (3). Although the exact process of motor inhibition is not clear, some neurotransmitters and hormones are known to generate the many components of REM sleep. Aministering physostigmine, an inhibitor of the catabolic enzyme, increases the concentration of acetylcholine within the neurons in the pons, making it possible to artificially generate and start REM sleep in the middle of NREM sleep (3). Carbachol, the cholinergic agonist, produces a period of REM sleep in cat when directly injected into the pontine tegmentum (3). The hormone melatonin, a "master hormone" (5) that mainly controls circadian rhythms, also seems to play an important role in enhancing the REM state; the level of melatonin secretion by the pineal gland reaches its lowest during REM sleep (5). Such neurotransmitters and hormones probably activate or inhibit the activity of second messengers, which then activate or inhibit the third messengers, and so on till the last messenger inhibit the synaptic transmission or cause hyperpolarization of the motorneurons. And if, for some reason, the nervous or endocrine system continues to release the neural inhibitors, a person may experience Sleep Paralysis as he enters awakefully into or awakens directly from REM period (2).
While the modern neuroscience can describe the state of Sleep Paralysis as some errors of the neural transmission in the brain during REM sleep, a person who has seen or heard ghost-like figures/voices may easily believe that eveil spirits fully controlled his entire body. However, the images or noises, which the victim believes that he has seen or heard, are most likely hallucinations; and hallucinations, too, can result from the brain activity. In the 1960's, the Canadian neurologist W. Penfield introduced that electrical stimulation of the temporal lobe can cause the auditory hallucinations in the wake state (5). The buzzing or ringing sounds in the ears and other auditory hallucinations are closely associated with the activity of the auditory cortex and involves the temporal lobe (5). During the early period of sleep paralysis, the activity of the temporal lobe increases significantly, sometimes inducing hallucinatory sense (5). Similarly, the visual cortex generates internal visual stimuli, causing the victim to "see" terrifying figures during the paralysis (5).
How an episode of Sleep Paralysis induces visual or auditory hallucinations is still not clear, but it seems to have a significant relationship with anxiety (5). For anxiety is a neurocognitive event closely related to both psychological and physical processes, the extreme anxiety or panic may cause the release of several different signal molecules that trigger all kinds of physical events (5). A person experiencing Sleep Paralysis feels mortal fear or extreme panic, and hence, the brain generates and releases internal visual or auditory stimuli, producing hallucinations.
Also, hallucinations during Sleep Paralysis may happen, for one keeps dreaming even after some parts of his brain wakes up directly from REM sleep. Since the nervous and endocrine systems continue to release the neural inhibitors which sustain the paralysis, it may be possible that those systems keep releasing the neural activators that stimulate dreaming. Thus, a person continues to "see" the images and "hear" the noises produced in the dream that he has just had in REM sleep from which he has awaken.
Understanding more neural concepts of Sleep Paralysis, some researchers now hypothesize that a very rare condition called Sudden Unexplained Nocturnal Death Syndrome (SUNDS) may closely relate to Sleep Paralysis (1). Upon the death, a SUNDS victim produces no body movement even though he experiences a myocardial infarction and strong breathing difficulties and should straggle in agony (5). The death may be caused by the extreme muscle atonia during Sleep Paralysis, which is so severe that even the cardiac muscles and the diaghragm paralyze (5).
Until I started researching on this subject, I have believed that the total paralysis of a body is due to an evil taking absolute control over the body. However, the interactions between neurons in the brain can explain this seemingly mysterious phenomenon in a scientific way. Although the explanation is not complete yet, for there are many unclear processes about Sleep Paralysis, the current hypothesis appears to reject the possibility of ghosts on this matter. Of course, it is impossible to completely disprove the existence of "spirits", "minds", or "God" affecting one's behavior. Nevertheless, like Sleep Paralysis and SUNDS, many or the mysterious conditions and behaviors which are only explained in supernatural terms probably result from brain.
WWW Sources
1)The Evil's of Sleep Paralysis
4)REM Sleep Behavior Disorder: A Neurologic Dissociative Sleep Disorder
5)Recurrent Isolated Sleep Paralysis
Comments made prior to 2007
I have been trying to figure out what was going on in my sleep untill i read this.Now i am happy to know what my body was expeiencing. It's quite scary your first couple experiences of sleep paralysis but now i'm gonna stay calm when it is happening to me and try to get my own understanding of the experience ... Jeremy, 21 March 2006
I have had sleep paralyisis at least once per month for the last 8 years. I am 29 as of this writing. I just had the experience about 1 hour ago and thus has caused me to do reasearch about it on the net. I noticed that many Dr.'s contribute this to anxiety, stress and other factors. My question is ... why is there always an evil presence in that concious yet body is still asleep phase? Today I heard a loud static sound, and opened my eyes to a spider crawling all over my arm. When I prayed to God, or said His name (Jehovah) the spider would start to disappear. I finally went thru my mental prayer when I awoke. This leads me to believe that it is more of a spiritual occurence, because I never have positive images while in this paralized state. I know there are many things in which our ancestors thought it was demonic rather than scientific, only to find there was a scientific explanation. However, I think this is different and cannot be simply written off as "scientific". There is not enough proof to show that it is scientific.
About a month ago I had another episode of sleep paralysis and I saw a small presence in the room with me. It was dark, and I could not see it's face (I am getting chills typing about it right now). My question is, why is there always an evil presence not only associated with my episodes, but so many others I have read about? ... Abel, 24 August 2006
i was thinking it is evil who do that during night but now i find out why. I am suffering from sleep paralyze possibly every nigh spicily when i have dinar ... Salah Nasser, 28 January 2007
I used to have this sleeping disorder when I was a child. It has come back once or twice with adulthood, but otherwise, it is in the past. I used to, with great effort, move my hand to my face and pull an eye open, which would wake me up, but sometimes the struggle was too much and I would go on into a deeper sleep.
Since the brain can do this to me, can it also cause me to get migraines just as I am about to wake up?
It seems, as I have discovered, if I get less than 4 hours sleep a night, I do not get migraines. If I get 6 hours or more, it's about a 90% chance I will wake with a migraine. Later in the day, I get an hour or two nap and that is the routine as it works. Doctors just sort of treat the migraine and don't get into the sleep thing I have. I take MaxAult for the migraines when they do get me.
I woke one time, and just as I woke, I felt this white-hot needle going into my head... bingo. A migraine in 5 seconds. That is how they can occur. I wake with them otherwise. I figure it my brain doing things it shouldn't. I have a clean bill of health otherwise.
Thanks for your time. Have a good day ... Jay, 11 February 2007
I have a question, and hope someone out there has an answer, it has been months and I have thus far failed to find one. Has there ever been a record of anyone receiving the effects of sleep paralysis without having been asleep? The reason I ask this, is a while ago, having not slept in a few hours, I was sitting at my computer, and it seemed to have happened to me. Within seconds I was too tired to hold up my own head, and my breathing got very difficult. Then I began to feel a sort of dizziness as my limbs lost feeling, and dropped to my side. after this, the dizziness turned to near blindness. I could see, but nothing would focus, and everything I tried to look at seemed to dart around like a mosquito. By this time I had no feeling in my entire body, could move nothing without quite a bit of concentration, and I could barely breath. My mother heard me try and make out some kind of cry for help, and found me there spilled into my computer chair. She rolled me to my bed, and poured me into it. Within about 10-15 minutes I had regained everything I once had, but my sea legs did not ware off for another ten or so minutes. I went to the emergency soon after. I had an E.K.G. and a C.A.T. scan, with no results, and I piss less in a week then the amount of blood they took that night. After basically telling me I was lying, the doctor told me that my symptoms did not fit anything at all. What I do know, is I have been researching the issue ever since, and can only base my problem on Sleep Paralysis. All the symptoms match. And again, my question....Has there ever been a record of someone under the effects of sleep paralysis without ever having gone to sleep? I hope you can shed some sort of light on this subject, as it,...well, it freaked me the hell out, and no one has been able to answer me! Thank you for your time ... Mitchel Henderson, 7 December 2007
I used get this "evil paralysed me" feeling when i was paralysed and usually saw a ghost. i tried to shout or move but no sound escaped my mouth and couldn't move at all. it happened again yesterday and was almost convinced that ghosts/evil spirits were getting the better of me. But, me being a practical and logical guy, erjected this theory and started researching on this phenomenon. I came across this research paper on Sleep Paralysis. This greatly helped me in alleviating my fears. And next time i "see" a ghost during sleep paralyses, ill just laugh at it ;-) Thanks for the research ... Siddarth, 10 December 2007
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| This paper reflects the research and thoughts of a student at the time the paper was written for a course at Bryn Mawr College. Like other materials on Serendip, it is not intended to be "authoritative" but rather to help others further develop their own explorations. Web links were active as of the time the paper was posted but are not updated. |
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Comments
Your psychological state
Your psychological state seems to have a big impact here.
I never had any issues with these dreams beyond the first few seconds. I was raised a Christian but don't take anything I'm told as gospel. In regards to evil forces and hell, it crossed my mind but I was probably spared any ongoing issues when that went through my mind. If hell is real I had no fear of it and felt only concern for those there. I pitied what I perceived as present and felt I could willingly bare anything to save them. I maintain that everyone without exception can change. We all do. Those down the wrong path often lack support understanding or compassion or are purely victims.
You realise that and there is no room for fear
is sleep paralysis the reason
is sleep paralysis the reason why some people never wakes up.
My elder brother at a young
My elder brother at a young age of 23, at the prime of his life being a successful accountant never woke up. We assumed it was the culprit. Medical people here says it has something to do with an abnormal pancreas function.
Good question D:>
Good question D:>
it happened to me alot of
it happened to me alot of times, sometimes it happened several times in a single night, i could hear my sister talking but i cant open my eyes or move, my eyes is shut but i can see my room though...weird
I suspect the change of
I suspect the change of scenery is where you slip back into a normal dream state as panic levels drop off.
I had the "evil" presence and initially felt weighed down but was able to push my head up which felt heavy to see the black figures at the end of the bed with the glowing red eyes.
Where I felt the "evil" sense had a logical explanation and reasoned in moments that I had no concerns for myself and was more interested in their welfare (weird reaction I know) I assume that's where I slipped back to normal dreaming... after a brief transition the figures were replaced by childlike figures and the sense of evil replaced by warmth.
Logic tells me this is a psychological experience and biochemical and purely that. However in the interests of keeping an open mind, if there are indeed some sort of presence out there, there is a distinct possibility they are misunderstood in nature quite commonly. Conflict after all does not begin with fear of the unfamiliar. It is the actions and reasoning we take in response.
So it's not just me....
So it's not just me.... Although it's took me 17 year to actually google it. I experienced my first one when I was about 15. Like most, it's such a wierd feeling. Sometimes I'm just stuck their, aware of my surroundings, although when I'm stuck like this I get in a bit of a panic. I feel pinned to the bed and I pray for someone to wake me up. I try to force myself to wake, though I'm unable too straight away, though I've kind of mastered waking by trying to move my tounge...... (it seems to work) When I'm like this, I do get the feeling of someone/something is around me in the room.... and eventually I wake with a sudden...... More often than not, when I go to go straight back to sleep, I find myself back in it again and it happens a few times the same night. The strangest ones, which is one I had this morning, is when it happens and I'm stuck in a dream. Everything is so real and I can kind of explore what is around me in my dream. I feel awake and I can choose and control what to do in my dream. It's like I'm in another world. This morning I was stuck in a dark corridor and I couldn't get out.... hahaha... Although I always panic while in there so try and wake as soon as I can.... Glad I found this site...
Sleep Position......
I recently noticed that the position that I sleep in affects my "night terrors" lol.I will be lying on my back, for not even 5 minutes, and I will be FORCED into this.One time it was about 1 minute.It's like I am being pulled into these horrible situations.
So, I suggest that you guys try to change the position in which you sleep.For me, If I am not lying on my back, I do not have any bad dreams/apnea.Lay on your side, back, other side.Whatever position allows you to sleep w/ no super freaky s***.
Had it this morning
Ok I've had it before but never do I care it happens then it's over. But today was diffrent very diffrent I woke up feeling odd thought what the hay probably nothing put my head back down I then noticed my dog looking at the roof weird I tried to say whats up bruno but couldn't say anything he then got scared and got up against me and tryed to hide. I was trying to shake but couldn't I didn't hear anything but a hiss. I finally ripped my hand up allowing me to move. I got up looked around and thought it was nothing. Layed down and it happend two to three more times the morning very scary. Then it started rainy and lighting hard thunder really loud out of no where no weather channel said rain it was suppose to be sunny. Then I looked up and their were thousands of ants around in tiny circles on my roof they then made two large clumps so I killed them it was weird.
Evil, definitely know the fear of evil
This would happen to me in extreme cases sometimes 50 times a night for weeks at a time to the point where i would wake up in the morning so drained i could barely go throughout a day without my mind shutting off. i would lay in bed sometimes even sit on the couch and my body would turn off before my mind even would and i would be dragged into an extreme state of paralysis i would try so hard to keep my eyes open and keep breathing but always get sucked back into it. throughout my life before this had even started occuring or even believing in demons, evil beings etc. i had alot of strange things happen throughout my life when something evil is present it is a totally different feeling of fear that you can never fully explain, even thinking about it gives you goose bumps, i've had things sit on my bed. stand over me. hit me several times. i've even been fully awake and had something open the door and slam it against the wall. when this occurs over 50 times a night it becomes scary to the point your so scared to even fall asleep at night. my advice is seek faith and pray for protection every night, even if you don't have strong faith try it, i dont think science will ever fully explain this happening, fair enough they can describe whats happening to your brain but they will never be able to comprehend nor explain that different type of fear when you feel something present. my theory is it's evil trying to scare you away from believing anything to do woth a figure of godbut just pray for protection never loose faith fair enough there is a scientific explaination but there will never be an explaination for that extreme pressence of evil,
Re: " there will never be an
Re: " there will never be an explaination for that extreme pressence of evil,"
That's the easy bit. Lots of options. 3 pillars. The 3 dictate emotional state.. Combined effect of panic and fear and hard to name. Think of it as an effect of a polarised field. Bit like a seizure or mini epileptic fit. Subtle chemical imbalance but not so subtle it can't be spotted. Any dog with a good nose can spot it before it hits.
I'll bet ya you can train a dog to bark and wake you up before it affects you or at least forewarned ya.
Sleep paralysis!
This happens to me at least once a month.. I've had it for a few years now. I'm a 22 year old female who also lives alone, since moving house I've not had it happen to me, but the thought alone terrifies me. I go to sleep like any other normal person. Then I feel awake. I can see everything and the whole room is the same, although I cannot move any part of my body, not even my head. completely paralysed. I try so hard to fight it to the point where I can feel my eyes rolling in the back of my head. I get so scared because I always feel there is something in the room.. I never know what it is but it really isn't a nice presence. I try to move any part of my body but just cannot do it! All I use is my eyes. I get it so vivid sometimes to the point where I wake up screaming and short of breath. I've never seen anything whilst it happens untill one night at my boyfriends I fell asleep next to him in the bed and it happened. Everything was totally black. Was trying to scream and pull myself out of it then this even blacker blob of what I can on describe as a midnight black blob was sitting on my chest. It didn't have a face or any limbs just a black blob! was so scared I could feel myself trying to lift my arms up to pull the covers over my eyes but again was totally paralysed. I was so frightened I eventually came round what seemed like hours after screaming my boyfriends name with one hand clenched round the radiator!! my boyfriend said I was only asleep for a few mins. Is there anything I can do to stop it? sleep clinic? Doctors? Please help. Living alone is scary enough let alone that shit happening! I've always been a great believer in paranormal things is it linked? I've heard of an incubus demon who posses you in your dreams? please help me.
As I said in my post, when I
As I said in my post, when I was very religious I experienced this many many times, from the age of 17 or so to about 40. It happened so much I was afraid at times to go to sleep, and would turn on the lights and read all night long until I fell asleep from pure exhaustion. At a certain point in my life, I 'lost my faith", and after I quit believing in angels and demons, I also quit having this experience.
I think it was also linked to the guilt that was continually being heaped on me by the church. They were always reminding me how unworthy I was, and I never felt like I would ever be able to measure up, not in a million years, no matter how hard I tried to live their version of the 'gospel' perfectly. This combination of shame, guilt, and having been taught that scores of demons surrounded me at all times trying to destroy my soul, must have played a huge part in these negative and terrifying experiences.
I am curious if you are religious, and if so, what are the teachings of your faith having to do with worthiness, and the presence of demons in the world.
I would have to partly agree
I would have to partly agree with you about some of the pressures that church and religion can put on people. When your constantly being told that if you continue to do this or that...You're going to hell and etc., that can be terrifying all by itself. Then in your subconcious mind, you're trying to live as normal as you possibly can (to be sin free is impossible for humans- even GOD knows that), but you're in fear of being tortured and sent to hell. Now i'm not here to say whether not heaven and hell is real or not, but those ideations can stressful. Although you would have to notice in a lot of peoples experiences, they are not seeing beautiful clowns, children playing and like another commenter replied "pink elephants". I have also, experienced SP before, and thank GOD I cannot seem to recall having on this year so far. It is not funny (didn't say you said that) and I believe that is something that needs serious scientific research. I would also urge scientists and doctors to not void out the notion of other eccentric beings (aliens, ghosts, spirits, etc). Science is about forming hypothesis, asking more questions, proving facts, and not leaving no stones unturned.
Sleep well everyone and I would suggest to try to get "plenty" of rest, this might lower your occurrence rate.
One more thing...
One thing I didn't mention, is that I spoke with a few others, who were also of the same faith as I was at the time, who shared with me similar experiences that they had. It was somewhat of a relief to hear that it wasn't just me, and on the other hand, it's interesting that I've only heard of this happening to religious people. (That's obviously not very scientific, since it's most likely due to the fact that I mostly hung around others of my faith.)
I would like to see a scientific study that could identify what role religion plays in all of this, and whether different religions, or different types of religions, factor in more or less strongly. I believe it would be very useful in helping those who suffer with these sleep disturbances to gain some relief. Personally, I think it would have benefitted me greatly to have come upon this information many years ago when I was young and uninformed about such things. How great it would have been to know that others suffered the same things, and also to know that it wasn't necessarily the devil and his demons that were the cause of it.
here's a start, STOP
here's a start, STOP believing in paranormal things !!!! and yes of course its linked because it makes the event even more frightening. no clinic, no doctors, no nothing, just reduce drinking ( if ur a drinker that is ), dont go to bed exhausted, and try to sleep early, and most important thing, there are nooooo such things as demons, plz u have to get this out of ur head because it will keep haunting u, once u convince urself that there are no demons, ur episodes will become less scary, and u wouldnt have to worry abt it much cz now u know that its only hallucinations created by no one else than ur own brain :)
good luck :)
... so what's it called when
... so what's it called when you're awake enough to look around your room, feel the static etc but asleep enough to see the glowing eyes and silhouettes. Asleep enough to initially feel the pressure but awake enough to loosen it and raise your head to look down the bed etc?
brain's awake, body isn't
I've been experiencing this all my life, so over 40 years now and even now is still frightens me, it's the fear of never being able to wake up again but obviously I always do. When my brain wakes up and my body doesn't I think I'm aware of my surroundings, I usually try and move my fingers, toes or shout out to try and release or shake my body to awake, very often this makes it worse and I feel lots of pressure in my head, at this stage I relax and let the pressure subside and then try again and up and till now I will eventually shake my body to awake. After a lifetime of thinking how can I avoid these episodes,the main link seems to be if I try to sleep without being really tired and my mind is still quite active, its as if my body falls asleep but separately my mind is awake.
This is EXACTLY what I have
This is EXACTLY what I have been experiencing for the past 3 years! Is there anything you have done that has seemed to make it better?
Agreed regarding the tone.
Agreed regarding the tone. Does read that way ;)
I've had the same reaction to some of the other posts insistent that people need to pray to some religion or other, or are in some way doomed. lol.
It is true there is no signal "right" answer here. Many people have had the experience and dealt with it in many ways.
Lesson of the day. Skim through. What works for you.. go with it. If it doesn't try something else.
It can be. For most though
It can be. For most though when waking unable to move and realising something is wrong, the first reaction is one of fear or dread. Several possible outcomes ensue but this condition seems to play heavily on your reactions or state of mind.
Perhaps the static sensation ties in with it and the recognition that your emotional state is being looped back into what you are seeing. Your own mind helps to fuel your dreams.
Sleep Paralysis
i would like to know why is it that we feel something terrible is next to us, i mean why cant it be something pleasant?
Pleasant experience w/ sleep paralasis
My experience was pleasant, and I saw a shadowed ghost/man walking away from my bedside. I didn't have any fear of him. I just realized it was a Spirit and I was paralyzed. But I had woken to the distinct feeling that he had been gently stroking my eyelids. So it was more of a loving act.....not scary at all. I have no idea who it was, but I know it was real.
Pleasant experience w/ sleep paralasis
you certainly must have felt awesome ....just a touch of love....bless you and hope if you ever should experience a sleep paralysis .... it would be something to this effect. :-)
Sleep paralysis
I used to have these episodes alot during my teenage years and into my twenties. I was very religious and had been taught that we are constantly surrounded by evil spirits who's main purpose is to destroy our souls and drag us down to hell. I had many terrifying episodes in which I believed myself to be surrounded by evil spirits who were trying to possess me. I saw and heard things, and often cast them out by invoking the name of Jesus.
Later in life, I came to see that the religion I was raised in was completely false, and thus no longer believed in the idea of the evil spirits all around me. As I dropped these false beliefs, the night terrors also disappeared, and I now understand that my brain, powerful as it is, conjured up such things according to my deeply held beliefs. It has been a great blessing in my life to no longer be a slave to the lies and deceptions foisted upon me by those who would control trhough fear and lies.
It's one of the ways that you
It's one of the ways that you know that you live with demons in your life.It's somththing that you're doing that God is showing you so you can get close to him,and that feeling would really physically leave.I'm closer to God more than ever since I allowed him to take over my life.I've been having the same gruesome feeling when I'm coming out of my sleep.It's an evil presences that's right next to you,scary feeling isn't it?I've been delivered from being in that realm,and it feels so good noy to go through that any more.I don't know your religious believe,but for me being a Christian and repenting for the things Ive did in my life and accepting Jesus as my lord and saviour things have been so beautiful.I am truly at peace with my sleep and life.
Interesting. Another set of
Interesting. Another set of symptoms common with seizures.
Anyone know anyone who has fits? Do they have any of the same symptoms? Or do they not recall the fit starting?
panic!
this has happened to me on many occasions but mostly if i go to take a nap during the day. today it happened and was one of the worst cases i ever experienced,the minute i woke up i googled my symptoms and thankfully i found this page. It starts off just as your about to fall asleep and you feel as if something is taking over your body and feel as if your shaking. Then i seem to fall into a complete state of paralysis. It scares me so much and i immediately know whats happening and try to wake myself up properly but i cannot move/speak or open my eyes.. Today I couldn't even breathe and my chest still feels a little tight since the episode. I felt a presence in the room and could feel myself moving in the bed and whispering to talk to whoever i thought was at the door,even though it was all in my imagination. The whispers seemed to be making no sense at all and i could hear footsteps walking around my house even though there was nobody else in the house. I couldnt move any of my fingers or my mouth. I do think I'm awake but when i wake up fully,it's only then i realize i do be asleep the whole time. It's terrifying and I'm desperate to find the cause of it and a way of treating it. I'm too scared to go to sleep during the day now.. On the bright side at least I'm not the only person who suffers with this.
lol. Looked up empathy in the
lol. Looked up empathy in the past. There are two types of site bearing information.
The scientific. Facts quite simply and current understanding. We are all emphatic to some extent. It's normal.
The fantasy. Full of fairy dust. Attributes magical properties to it and frequently supernatural powers, none of which have yet to be proven in any context.
I do agree with you that all
I do agree with you that all this is based on normal human psychology and not the odd evil spirits or religion. But with all do respect to my kind religious friends and my friends that explain and believe in things differently than I, would you try to discontinue your insults or things that could be taken offensively. I enjoy reading some of these experiences of sleep paralysis and what you have found but in each of your comments I have found something offensive.
The dude wasn't having a go
The dude wasn't having a go at you in particular... loosen up. He just wants some unbiased open ended opinions. He wants you to consider all possibilities rather than fixate, but discuss what is known more than hedging guesses. It's a general thing not a personal thing.
Seriously dude... chill pill
Seriously dude... chill pill
I am so relieved in finding this
This once happened to me a couple of years ago, but only just started thinking about it again since one of my friends experienced the same thing, he was saying he couldnt move or talk and was have a dream about something scary, and i new exactly what he was talking about straight away. Anyway, this is when i was 12 years old, i was falling asleep and was having a dream about myself having a drink of beer in a pub (dont ask) and i suddenly started drowning, i woke up and i couldnt move at all, i tried calling my mum but my mouth wouldnt move it felt like something was preventing it. Ever since this has happened to me, i ahvent experienced anything like it again.
John, I can only offer
John,
I can only offer personal perspective based on experience and based upon what other people have posted.
in short, yes, potentially harmful, but potentially beneficial too. People can have a wide range of reactions to this. Common knowledge tells you that extreme panic or shock can be harmful in themselves. At the same time, others seem to retain a more positive experience.
For most, first impression seems to shape what follows. Not many switch views of what they are experiencing, but those that do seem to find their experience bends with their frame of mind. As such I would suggest a positive outlook and reassurance that there is no danger despite it not being the case. You are after all your own biggest obstacle.
Psychologically speaking, what long term effects do you think it would have if you remained convinced there were things out to get you when you slept? what physiological effect would that have?
The shock resultant of the waking and dreaming state and associated content result in often vivid recollection. Thus long termeeffects. In regards to benefits there's potential to overcome some forms of fear. I can attest to that at least. In your own mind it's the equivalent of looking your biggest fear in the face and saying "I don't care about me but I care about you".
I would as a rule encourage a healthier response to it where it occurs. More study needs doing though to fully understand it I suspect though most people follow the usual instinct offsetting for their first acceptable explanation. Our acceptable ranges differ wildly lol.
Sleep paralysis
I wonder how many of you suffer from sleep paralysis have been diagnosed with some type of seizure disorder or epilepsy? My sleep paralysis is an aura to my seizure. This occurs when I am going to have a seizure in my sleep. Also many of you have described seeing ghosts or spirits when you are going through this sleep paralysis, so how many of you have actually researched being empathic? I know if people were to talk to their doctor about these issues the doctor's going to put them in a straitjacket right away, but it is something that a lot of people go through it's not a psychological disorder and once people get a grasp of what they're actually going through the psychotic type issues disappear because they're getting a handle on what it is they need to handle, to get it under control. Being in Catholic you sort of take on other people's physical and emotional feelings without understanding these feelings are not yours. So as a result people into her anxiety and possibly feeling or diagnosed with psychotic type illnesses. Do not let the doctor put this type of diagnosis on you. Most of you responding are showing types of psychic not psychotic type behavior, I know many people do not believe in it but give it a chance, do some research, and read chip coffee's book I believe published either this year 2012 or 2011 but it's called growing up psychic. You will see a whole different side to what you're going through.
Wow..
First off, to the people arguing about this back and forth via comments, you are being disrespectful and selfish to the people who are trying to use comments to relate to the article. Additionally, who are YOU to tell a person that he or she is wrong for believing in an explanation to their, obviously concerning, situation. I'm sorry to those who are seeking advice for their situation, I too have recently been suffering lately from sleep paralysis. It sucks, it's scary, and most importantly it's distracting me from receiving adequate sleep at night. What is most alarming to me is the difficulty breathing, but most importantly I want to make sure it is not potentially life threatening. Sooo, if anyone can ensure me it isn't, I'll definitely feel more comforted and will try to deal with the circumstances on my own. Don't reply with a scientific argument trying to rag on the viewers who are believing in q religious connection to the problem, but at the same time, don't try to tell me it is a supernatural or extraterrestrial occurance. I won't even start to actually contemplate taking advice from someone who cannot even properly type their arguments. So, please describe your situation, please tell me what your concerns are, and please tell me if it's potentially life threatening or not. Thanks.
-John
Evil or Natural fear reaction?
A few people seem to confuse a natural reaction with evil. you try to make out shape in the dark. as a human what's the first shape you look for? if you're half asleep what's your mind going to help do?
what's your natural reaction going to be?
whether these images are
whether these images are natural reaction or evil, no one is confused. we all have our own beliefs and we can hold to them to give us each our own psychological comfort, whether it be scientific logic or religious wisdom.
Sleep Paralysis and other "Phenomena"
Wow, chalk it up for technology. Had it not been for it, I would have never knew what it was that I'm experiencing or experienced. This comment may not even be read, but just knowing someone gives you the opportunity to discuss your issue concerning such a topic is all the more satisfying for me.
Any-who, my story:
Ever since I was in 3rd grade I remember my dad, and 3 of my brothers claiming they became "stiff" when they were sleeping.(Stiff is what I called it back then.) My first time was sleeping on the couch on my back. I could remember calling out to my mom and my brother said he heard me. In some cases, I would try some tricks like sleeping at the side of the bed so I can roll over, hit the ground and wake up. Well....upon the late middle of the night of my brother going to the hospital and hearing my other brother crying I remember I slept off the very edge of the bed but at fail. Upon being "stiff" the room was spinning and I heard a whispering sinister laugh...as if something was toying with me. When I snapped out of it, I realized I was still at the edge of the bed! Mind you we were very religious so I was pretty sure it was evil. We would call it a witch on holding you down. (more on that later) So I can see how the paralysis amplified the senses of fear.
But that's not all to my experiences. It was one time I was in the hospital room with my brother asleep around 3ish. I go "stiff" again and I see this weird image of this witch with a black robe and green skin.(Couldn't really see the face. Remember I mentioned a witch) It was bedside by my brother. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. That damn witch came to frighten me again. So in cowardice I put the blanket over my head. When I did it was gone.Note: Mind you I was completely aware of my surroundings, nothing in the room changed, and I could move freely.)
Time has passed and so have faiths. I am now an occultist (seeker of hidden knowledge) and had a killer toothache. I took some prescribed Oxycodene to ease the pain. I go into this so-called paralysis again only this was not a paralysis. I could talk, move, and think freely in this state. A bluish white light was in my room(same light as my TV) but said my name after I said blessed are you archangels.(Hell, I was a little scared I said anything. It really meant who are you please dont hurt me lol) So I sat up on my bed and then laid sideways to not see what it was. What or whoever it was it felt like I was being hugged (like your mom would) and later on I was so at peace I automatically started laughing. Soon after that I awoke and felt good. To make sure it wasn't good ole Oxy that gave me that "trippy" experience, I took the pill again and some Ny-Quil (when needed, I'm no junkie) and....I didnt experience the same thing I did last time.
Now the other time the paralysis happened was when I was locked up(dont judge me...like I care lol) and fell asleep. Now everything was dark. I noticed I had got "stiff" again but only now the room was fuzzy. I remember laying down but in the paralysis I was laying down with shoulders up elbows supporting me. Out of nowhere I seen this extreme white light with a huge roar of an echoeing voice with a soft quiet like melody I heard as a child accompanying it. (Again: I take and never have taken any drugs except for when I had a toothache. I never drank or anything like that.) Upon the voice finishing, I woke up. During that state, I felt no pressure, I didnt feel any of the symptoms paralysis gives you. I woke saying to myself, I know everybody heard that! But as I looked around some people were still asleep. Now at this time I got away completely from religion and couldn't care less about it.
Note: I've experienced this "weird stuff" a half bit of my life except the bluish light thingy. No I did not or do not suffer from anxiety or sadness. In fact, Im very healthy than most people my age.
What I do now sometimes is sleep on my side instead of my back to minimize the percentage of the paralysis from happening. It seems to work out most of the time. I never experienced it when sleeping in a chair. Mostly when Im laying on my back which is why I sleep with two pillows.
I always thought the reason I get "stiff" was because I had small lungs and a small esophagus.The reason for this is because all of my brothers grew out of it. As of today I rarely have these moments. And now when I do, I don't panic when it occurs, I simply just acknowledge it, build up enough strength to move and break out of it. Sometimes it works instantly, sometimes it doesn't. I truly believe that this paralysis can be explained and some of it cannot be. Noone....absolutely NO ONE has the right to demonize one's experience, nor theory, or hypothesis as the doctors and researchers are hypothesizing some things about this subject their self. But, it doesn't hurt however to get light shedded on the subject.
On a lasting note, I think I understand what my cousin passed from. She was doing a normal doctor's visit. She took nothing, she laid on the table after the doctor checked her out (blood pressure, etc..,but no drugs) And according to her aunts and uncles, she just fell asleep and never woke back up. Now if this sleep paralysis has something to do with SUNDS, that gives me all the more reason to research a little deeper. The brain is a very strange thing man. It can serve as our enemy or our ally. The subconscious however is what I try to understand. I am firmly convinced that whatever was or had a strong influence in our lives can heavily hurt or help us subconsciously. Perhaps that's the reason why people experience deja-vu, or esp, or certain talents and special memories of certain events or people. An occultist is no different from a scientist.
Thank you for reading my story. Until then, may we find a cure or an absolute solution to this annoying problem.
Thanks again fellow researchers.
Nightmares Coupled with Sleep Paralysis
I had a nightmare last night that was connected to sleep paralysis for the first time. Normally, my brain wakes up and I can't move. I dreamed that a burglar had broken into my home and I could see his shadow and flight. I tried to yell at him but I had no voice. I woke up.
Help
This has been happing to me sie i was 11 i used to hate going to bed incase it happened to me but it stopped about a year in a half ago since i moved out an last nigth it happend to me but not as bad as it used to be any why i fell asleep before about 2:20 felt like i was just lynin there for a few monets an it haped to me again but like never before could'nt move apart of my bord at all aparty from my eyes an when did open my eyes it felt like they were getting pussed right back down when i manged to open my eyes i made sore i keeped them open as much as i could an like a big kid i sat up dead quick an put the light on but was still scared eve gettng out thebed went the loo an i could hear foot steps i allmsot crapped my self felt like locking my sleep in i jut hope it dosnt come back wot eve it is coz i want be going back to sleep tonight that has put sh**ts up me
ps. anyone at all no wot this is it feels like someone sits on my chest an my arms an legs or stapped to the bed theres eve been times were iv been waking up but feel like am skinging into the bed an i cont move tena it fells like am just about to go right under my body thros it self up
sleep paralysis
I get this occasionally to this day however when I was 10 years old it stated and happened every single bight till I was 19 well they say its not evil ..I disagree I have researched this for many years & I know they have absolutely no eveidence its not evil in nature. When I was 10 I was a very shielded child as I knew nothing of ghost or anything bad at all..how would I know to have dreamed it up....Also, I would have many sp episodes as soon as I lay down...I was definitely NOT asleep..I still to this day have most epsisodes as soon as I lay down...its crazy but if you pray it helps..hmmm..also, once you start to lose fear it will all but go away..its way too many similiar traits allover the world to be anything else but pure evil in a raw state..I have yet to have one seeing pink elephants. Come on its a hallucination, so why can't it be something besides evil if it isn't evil....
same
same
Sleep paralysis
I've had this happen before, but then I'd wake up. Last night, however, it happened while I was awake. I laid down to go to sleep, and felt pinned down to the bed by some presence. I couldn't move, and my blanket was spinning around in the air. I yelled for help, but couldn't yell loud. I then started saying the Lord's prayer, and it slowly released it's grip on me, and I stood up. Like I said, the other times it happened, I would eventually wake up. This time, however, I just STOOD up, when I was finally able to, so I can't just say that I probably fell asleep and didn't know it.
I have had this happen to me
I have had this happen to me twice in one week and this has never happened to me befor, I don't have hallucinations or see things, I'm just laying in bed on my side (which is how. I sleep) completely paralyzed, my eyes wouldn't open, my mouth wouldn't move but I could make a sound, before this I was having a horrible nightmare, but in the middle of it, where it was a demon speaking to me in my dreams I realized I was asleep and therefore woke up. I couldn't move at all but I didn't experience any ringing or heavy pressureo on my chest besides realizeing I couldn't really move or breath that well. Is it common for 16 years old though? In twice in a week when I don't have any memoey or anything. That its happened before, till now.
suffering from speeling paralysis
hello serendi ..i want to share m yexperience with you since last 18th years...I have been suffering from sleeping paralysis ..its reall very undescribly painful ..i cannot hanlde it anymore ..i dont know what to do ..whenever it aattck me i see ghost n some spirit..i sujt dont understand why i see ghost...today also i had sleep paralysis for 1 hour.. n its really painful..
Did someone say it's
Did someone say it's definitely aliens? If so they are probably as wacko as the ones saying it's definitely a Jesus demon thing.
Hey, anyone on this site
Hey, anyone on this site fighting over religion and spirits and such, cool it please. lets discuss dreams and what we figured out, there is no need to judge or to criticize each other about the religion subject. we can believe what we want to believe. I recently had a few of these dreams after lack of sleep and stress when i napped during the day. it is scary and in a way more exhausting then not sleeping. i hope people find a way to get over this. sweet dreams everyone.
Seriously what is it with the
Seriously what is it with the demons and Jesus babble? Two options. One. It's a mental construct explainable scientifically. Two there is something real and out of the ordinary. I wouldn't jump to believing stone grandiose religious jumbo jumbo as there appears to be no evidence to support it.
Everyone has their own view of this partly because the shock has resulted in the memory retained being that much more vivid.
I don't believe for one moment that chanting "magic words" or names, drawing "magic symbols" or religious symbology will have any effect other than a psychological one. Of course if you have a primitive superstitious mind that requires that sort of thing to improve your mental state then by all means. I suspect that as this condition seems to tie in with mental state white strongly any improvement of a psychological nature may help.
if trying to move don't work
if trying to move don't work try mentally i have been getting my self up in 1 minute ant the lest so i have no time to see images the first time it happen it lasted what felt like minutes i only say two images watching me.