Sleep Paralysis: A Real Cause of Paranormal Activity
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Almost everyone has a ghost story. Either you've experienced it yourself, or you know someone who has. We're fascinated and horrified at the same time, which is why movies like Paranormal Activity and Drag me to Hell are always popular. Some part of us, irrational as it be, knows deep down that creepy encounters with not-quite-human creatures is a part of life.
What many people don't know is that a common cause of these encounters is not fantasy or even psychosis, but a surprisingly widespread sleep malady known as sleep paralysis. This sleep disorder is basically a hiccup in the process of dreaming, in which the mind becomes aware of our surroundings while the body remains asleep, paralyzed.
It feels like this: you wake up, but you can't move. You can't scream. And then there's a terrible weight pressing down on your chest or throat, almost like someone--or something-- is trying to push you back into the bed.
Or maybe, you think fearfully, back to hell.
The horror doesn't stop there. Victims of sleep paralysis also may see an intruder peering over the bed: often this is a dark hooded figure with gleaming eyes. Or simply a shadowy image that you can't wquite make out, no matter how much you focus.
Your heart-rate climbs as the figure than proceeds to sit on your chest. You get a better view: it is a terribly ugly creature, mis-shapen and evil looking. And with terrible breath, you notice, a detail that makes you certain the encounter is really happening. Am I going crazy? Am I dying?
The Science of Sleep Paralysis
This imagined event actually happens to thousands of people around the world each night. Sleep paralysis remains one of the biggest mysteries in dream science, but recently scientists have discovered in the lab that sleep paralysis hallucinations -- or visions, as I refer to them -- occur during REM intrusion into stage 1 sleep, or hypnagogia.
We are literally dreaming with our eyes open.
Fascinating and terrifying, sleep paralysis visions do have a rhyme and reason. The creatures of sleep paralysis are different in different cultures, suggesting that expectation and folklore play a role in the garb of the entities who show up on your bedside. For some, they are vampires; for others: ghouls and ghosts.
Actually, sleep paralysis visions have been connected throughout history to otherworld figures including werewolves, elves, fairies, gnomes, giants, angels, ancestors, demons, and every other creature of the night.
Today, many people experience paralysis in bed before being confronted by alien greys, suggesting that many (but not necessarily all) alien abduction tales are dream visions that occurred during sleep paralysis.
In my mind, just because these visitations occur during a dreaming sleep cycle does not mean they are simply "random" images drawn from fairy tales. Rather, these encounters occur at potent times in the victim's life, and they may have clues and wisdom for the dreamer.
I have had dozens of these experiences, and the good news is that there's plenty of easy ways to wake up from sleep paralysis.
But, for courageous and curious dreamers, these encounters can become less nightmarish by swallowing the fear, facing the Stranger, and listening to what the entity has to say. The figure may even transform to a less threatening figure, and become a helpful guide to realms on the edge of the imagination.
Over time, sleep paralysis can become a gateway to lucid dreaming, out-of-body-experiences, and other powerful visionary states.
This article is drawn from my book Sleep Paralysis: A Guide to Hypnagogic Hallucinations and Visitors of the Night.
I welcome comments and stories about your own spooky SP encounters!
 | My book on sleep paralyis is the only guide on the market that discusses these terrifying visions from a how-to perspective. Amazon Price: $9.96 List Price: $12.95 |
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wow Silva... that's a powerful image. repetitive images can be particularly insightful. Did you ever do any research or notice any more synchronicities about the white tiger?
I did some research, but interpretations are so varied it's difficult to pinpoint a meaning. I felt that it was threatening, that it represented some threat or problem that I needed to resolve.
I just discovered you in Hubpages, better late than never! :)
Interesting synchronicity that the first hub I read has a comment about a white tiger because I have dreamt of a white tiger this year, and it was gigantic, was walking past three holes in the street, and it was protective of me.
I have an experience to share: I took a nap in the living room during the summer, and fell into a deep sleep. When I tried to "wake up", I couldn't wake up, so I started to walk around the living room, but then I realized my body was sleeping in the couch, and my double was walking around, so I would wake up. I found it odd that it was my double that was experiencing awareness, not the "me" (body) sleeping on the couch.
WOW, I have to say this is a great site. I just experienced my first sleep paralysis on thursday december the 8th 2010. It scared the crap out of me and my boyfriend. He called 911 because i would not wake up no matter what he did. I was dreaming about what was going on at the time but in the dream a few things were different. I could not speak, move and it felt like i could not breath. I thaught ok this is it iam going to die. Am i in limbo? I didn't know what to think. The next thing i knew, i saw the paramedics coming up the stairs to my appartment. In my dream state i was outside on the steps and it was summer. In reality it is winter here. I said to the paramedics. Hey i'm right here. They just passed me by ignoring me. Then i got woken up by a paramedic yelling at me opening my eye's, then he took two fingers and hit me in the chest quick and hard. I have fibromyalgia and lupus. So it really hurt. But that was the only way they could pull me out of it. I'm sure glad to know that i'am not the only person this has happend to. Thanks for letting me vent, and if anyone can email me with their story, and maybe some information on a support group for people like me that would be great. sweet_shanelle66@hotmail.com Thank you.
HI, it seems we had the same idea! I found that mine was because of my thyroid problem, but other people find it is because of stress, fascinating but terrifying, cheers nell
Hello! Great hub! It seems that it's not just me writing Hubs on Sleep Paralysis. haha. I find it interesting that you say that the visitations during SP'...may have clues and wisdom for the dreamer', I've never thought of it like that...Hmmm the next time I get one I'll keep that into consideration.
Sleep paralysis!? Wow! How interesting and amazing! Thank you for teaching me something new. Very nice.
What a great hub. Loved it.
I never knew there were sites like this. I really though I was alone in this till a couple of years ago. I am now 56 and have been suffering from sleep paralysis since my teens. They are terrifying. In my case, I wake up noticing how cold the room has become. I can't see anything although have this overwelming feeling I am being watched. I can't move or speak. I can only move my eyes. I can see all around the room and can't see who is there with me. When I am finally able to move the room becomes warm again. Although I feel someone or something in the room I have never seen it. But it a good presence. Once I realized this happened while sleeping on my back I made an effort to make sure a few years ago to not fall asleep on my back. I sleep kind of half way on my side and stomach. I have not had an incident since doing this. Sometimes I want to sleep on my back but then just before I fall asleep I get so fearful of this happening to me again that I change position.
Sorry typo above, I meant to say it is not a good presence. I am so overcome with fear.
I also wrote a hub on sleep paralysis vs. the paranormal, and I have experienced it [sleep paralysis] as well many times since I was very young.
This has been happening to me for a long time and I just encountered it or whatever it was tonight , that's why I looked this up for a name and reason . Each time the unknown appears its either dragging me across the room or fighting with me (because I try to fight back). Another moment was when something was at the end of the bed and all of a sudden I'm faced with something that(I'm literally face to face ) appears to be a girl but has wild black hair and black face and for some reason I said NOOO . And I was on the floor thinking WTF just happened . But now I know and have a better understanding thanks to reading this article . Still a little scared but fighting .
This happened to me once back in High School and it completely freaked me out. I couldnt move or yell and I felt like there was someone in the room with me. It hasnt happened since and I hope it NEVER happens again. scary moment for sure.
This happened to me last Wednesday while on a break on night duty during work. I lay on a bed in the office and while asleep, went through similar experiences, that describe sleep paralysis. I dreamed I was in a large but dim lit house and after walking into a room I stared at a mirror. I became aware of the door behind me slowly closing, yet no one else was present. I was also aware of an unseen entity being present. I couldn't speak out as I was rooted to the floor and before the door in the room closed I woke up. I was breathing deeply and terrified. The time on my watch was 3:15am. I covered dream analysis while studying Hypno-Psychotherapy and thinking back to last weeks experience, am aware that the house in the dream represents myself and the mirror, how I percieve myself. In reality I am experiencing a major life transition, in work and personal life including turning 50 shortly. What happened was sleep paralysis but wonder if my subconscious was acting out via a traumatic event.
This is a great subject area and wonder what others think as many previous experiences, had me waking up at the exact same time.
I have also read that the entity has been called an Incubus or a Succubus. They prey upon those at weak moments in their lives.
My first experience occurred about 3 years ago. I was sleeping and had a dream that a dark hooded figure was bent over my bed pressing an arrow into my chest very slowly. Of course, this snapped me out of my dream and when I awoke I could not move or scream and felt a very heavy weight on my chest. When I finally could move I ran so fast I pretty much ran straight into my door trying to get out lol.
I don't really remember seeing anything over me after I woke up. I had never even heard of sleep paralysis before that, so it was very frightening for me.
Great hub by the way!
Silva Hayes Level 4 Commenter 18 months ago
Hi, Ryan. I'm enjoying all of your hubs. Here's my story -- several years ago I experienced sleep paralysis repeatedly and then it ceased. I would seem to wake up in the middle of the night with a weight on my chest, unable to move, and floating in front of me was the face of a snarling white tiger.