🌙Occult and Psychical Sciences:”Sleep Paralysis”🌙
“Why does sleep paralysis cause a feeling of a presence on you?”Sleep paralysis causes a feeling of a presence because your conscious mind wakes up while your brain is still stuck in a REM sleep dream state. [1, 2]The Science Behind the “Presence”
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Facebook Share on Bluesky (Opens in new window)Bluesky Share on X (Opens in new window)X Share using Native toolsShareCopied to clipboard Save 4 Comments Add Daily Kos to Google CatCat Angmar Angmar “Why does sleep paralysis cause a feeling of a presence on you?”
Sleep paralysis causes a feeling of a presence because your conscious mind wakes up while your brain is still stuck in a REM sleep dream state. [1, 2]
The Science Behind the “Presence”
(So I had my first sleep paralysis ever…Weird stuff. Brain awake body could not move. It happens sleeping on your back I guess.Finally I moved my fingers and it went away. I admit I had that ”something in the bed” illusion too.I thought it was my cat- but the door was closed. I can definitely see how people feel it’s aliens or occult experience. Anyone had it?)
Although the core features of sleep paralysis (e.g., atonia, a clear sensorium, and frequent hallucinations) appear to be universal, the ways in which they are experienced vary according to time, place, and culture.[9][34] Over 100 terms have been identified for these experiences.[18] Some scientists have proposed sleep paralysis as an explanation for reports of paranormal and spiritual phenomena such as ghosts,[35][36] alien visits,[37] demons or demonic possession,[9][38] alien abduction experiences,[39][40] the night hag and shadow people haunting- Wikipedia
Sleep Paralysis and the Supernatural: Exploring the Paranormal Connection
Individuals who have sleep paralysis frequently experience a mix of physical immobility and vivid hallucinations.
The following is a description of a sleep paralysis episode:1)Paralysis and immobility — Individuals who experience paralysis or immobility upon waking up or throughout the transition to alertness cannot move or talk. They may sense tremendous pressure on their chest or feel pushed down. This paralysis usually lasts between a few seconds and a few minutes.2)Hallucinations — Paralysed individuals frequently suffer intense hallucinations that might be visual, aural, or tactile. Visual hallucinations might include seeing shadowy figures, odd forms, or even the appearance of another person in the room. Hearing voices, whispering, or strange noises are examples of auditory hallucinations. Tactile hallucinations include sensations of touch or pressure on the body.3)Intense stress and fear-Sleep paralysis episodes are frequently accompanied by intense fear, anxiety, and a sense of impending catastrophe. Paralysis and hallucinations can be exceedingly upsetting, resulting in increased emotional reactivity.
Some research has examined the link between sleep paralysis and parapsychology, especially paranormal or supernatural experiences. However, it is crucial to emphasise that the scientific consensus does not support the idea that sleep paralysis is directly related to paranormal or supernatural occurrences https://medium.com/@svk0316/sleep-paralysis-and-the-supernatural-exploring-the-paranormal-connection-815058c5b78a
The original definition of sleep paralysis was codified by Samuel Johnson in his A Dictionary of the English Language as nightmare, a term that evolved into the modern definition. The term was first used and dubbed by British neurologist, S.A.K. Wilson in his 1928 dissertation, The Narcolepsies.[33] Such sleep paralysis was widely considered the work of demons, and more specifically incubi, which were thought to sit on the chests of sleepers. In Old English, the name for these beings was mare or mære (from a proto-Germanic *marōn, cf. Old Norse mara), hence comes the mare in the word nightmare. The word might be cognate to Greek Marōn (in the Odyssey) and Sanskrit Māra.
Between 8% to 50% of people experience sleep paralysis at some point during their lifetime.[2][4] About 5% of people have regular episodes. Males and females are affected equally.[2] Sleep paralysis has been described throughout history. It is believed to have played a role in the creation of stories about alien abduction and other paranormal events-Wikipedia
The night hag is a generic name for a folkloric creature found in cultures around the world, and which is used to explain the phenomenon of sleep paralysis. A common description is that a person feels the presence of a supernatural malevolent being which immobilizes the person as if standing on the chest.[41] This phenomenon goes by many names.
Literally every culture in the world has this folklore….
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About this article
- Length
- 864 words · 4 min read
- Published
- October 9, 2026
- Source
- Ghanamma