Questions about sleep paralysis

Hello everyone

I have few questions regarding sleep paralysis. I know that it happens during the REM stage, to prevent your body from moving while dreaming, and in some conditions it is possible that a person will regain consciousness while still being in sleep paralysis, and hallucinations may occur during that time. I've read some articles on the web and topics on this forum, but still didn't find the answer to some questions. I don't have time to read books about it right now, so I hope I will get some answers here.

I would like to hear only scientific explanations, not folklore or legends please.

• First of all, why do the hallucinations happen, and why are they always a terrifying, horrific experience? Why no one experiences a good trip?
  
  
• Why is it, that mostly the figures appear in the corner of persons eye, which is the main reason why he can't see them clearly and focus on them. How is it related to the way brain works?
  
  
• When people regain consciousness while in sleep paralysis, surroundings look similar to reality, but not quite. When it happens to me, sometimes the image of surroundings I see is more clear, sharp, and has less colors than usual, sometimes appearance of places changes. For example building outside the window looks different, instead of windows, there are completely black holes. Some people say colors change or go b&w. How is this all happening and why?
  
  
• There are many similarities in visions:
  
  - Shadow, a blurry figure of a creature similar to human, completely black or blue, sometimes only face.
  - The shadow in most of the cases is angry, looks evil and often shouts at person or speaks, but it sounds like different language and in slow motion and seems incredibly loud.
  - The figure often sits next to the person, and the person can feel its presence even when he doesn't see it.
  

Big question - how is it possible that people from different parts of the world with different minds and culture, see the same thing. Shouldn't hallucinations be completely random and based on individuals life experiences? And why dark creatures, not pink elephants or talking dogs? Why blue? Why shouting? Why evil?

I know this is not happening because people read and hear about it and then project those visions, because I had them when I was 6 and back then I imagined monsters as big trolls with sharp teeth. Yet in my paralysis I saw a blue face that was angry at me, looked evil and talked in strange language. Whole experience was so very similar to what other people say. How is it possible that so many different minds in different ages, from different times hallucinate the same thing?

I also think that many stories people tell that do not fit in the usual schema are probably just lies, or people mistake nightmares for hallucinations. I had a nightmare that I was in paralysis few times in my life too, I couldn't move as well and saw different weird things, but I knew it wasn't real paralysis cause the images weren't real and vivid enough, so it is possible to have a nightmare that feels like the real thing but is not. So I suppose that lot's of the stories with beautiful women, aliens etc. comes from that.

I had many sleep paralysis experiences and I saw most of the stuff people write about at this forum - blue and black figures, faces, shadows and white lights before I even read about it, isn't it to much to be a coincidence? What is the scientific approach?

For now, when I read scientific explanations on this, they sound more far-fetched than the folklore, and that irritates me, because I'm skeptical about all that demon and alien stuff. But right now the idea that I visited another dimension, sounds more logical, than the idea that everyone is having the same hallucination.

Hi ^^
Interesting thread. I will try to explain this from my point of view and try to be as scientific as possible

First of all, why do the hallucinations happen, and why are they always a terrifying, horrific experience? Why no one experiences a good trip?

That's probably easy to answer. When you first enter this state conscious, meaning your mind is awake, but your body is still asleep and your brain activity is different (theta waves), this is completely unknown to you. Your first reaction is only natural: fear. Because of your different brainwave-patterns, your imagination is currently very good. Therefore, you will interpret this fear into something known, and new fear will sprout from the visions that you receive. Next time if you do this, it's less unknown to you, but you expect to have horrific visions again. You will because of that.
I bet good experiences are possible. If people talk about seeing demons in SP, it might as well be a metaphor. Just what their brain did.

Hope this explained some stuff
Cheers

[edit on 19-8-2010 by incarnating]

Lots of good questions that i ask myself. Why are they always bad when it happens and not good stuff.

One thing i started to do. and this depends on what you belive or dont belive but it works for me. I prey to god and jesus every night and ask to pretect me from Sleep Paralysis. Every night i have ever prayed it never happens but if i forget to pray it will happen. I really belive its a sperital attack what else will explane why when i pray they stop?

My sister used to have that happen to her, up until we moved out of our house and into a new one. I have no idea what changed, other than the house. She never had it till we moved there and once we moved out it went away.

When you first enter this state conscious, meaning your mind is awake, but your body is still asleep and your brain activity is different (theta waves), this is completely unknown to you. Your first reaction is only natural: fear.

That is a really good explanation, it would explain why people get scared and start to imagine bad things, but it still doesn't explain why the visions are mostly in the same form. People all over the world hear different stories and see different art describing evil, yet it appears in the same form in those visions. In real life I wouldn't be scared by a blue humanoid figure, there are things that scare me more, yet it appears this way.

One thing i started to do. and this depends on what you belive or dont belive but it works for me. I prey to god and jesus every night and ask to pretect me from Sleep Paralysis. Every night i have ever prayed it never happens but if i forget to pray it will happen. I really belive its a sperital attack what else will explane why when i pray they stop?

Well it accually is pretty easy to explain if you look at the scientific description. The reason you have problems with sleep paralysis is because of stress and insecurity. You are a beliver, so you belive that prayer will stop the demons from taking you over and this calms you down, and makes you more relaxed, that is why you stop having them.

Originally posted by Patenciq

When you first enter this state conscious, meaning your mind is awake, but your body is still asleep and your brain activity is different (theta waves), this is completely unknown to you. Your first reaction is only natural: fear.

That is a really good explanation, it would explain why people get scared and start to imagine bad things, but it still doesn't explain why the visions are mostly in the same form. People all over the world hear different stories and see different art describing evil, yet it appears in the same form in those visions. In real life I wouldn't be scared by a blue humanoid figure, there are things that scare me more, yet it appears this way.

One thing i started to do. and this depends on what you belive or dont belive but it works for me. I prey to god and jesus every night and ask to pretect me from Sleep Paralysis. Every night i have ever prayed it never happens but if i forget to pray it will happen. I really belive its a sperital attack what else will explane why when i pray they stop?

Well it accually is pretty easy to explain if you look at the scientific description. The reason you have problems with sleep paralysis is because of stress and insecurity. You are a beliver, so you belive that prayer will stop the demons from taking you over and this calms you down, and makes you more relaxed, that is why you stop having them.

yes that is very posible and i do indeed feel alot more relaxed and it works for me. i use to have SP 2-3 times a week. I was afread to go to sleep but now i sleep in peace most the time.

I would like to add, that I've found some information about seeing shadows only in the corner of persons eye.

It can be caused by pareidolia, a condition in which the brain incorrectly interprets random patterns of shadow as being familiar patterns such as faces and human forms.

It could just by a shadow of your furniture or any other item in your house, or even your own hair, but the fear while you can't move causes your brain to interpret it all this way.

It's a bit crazy to think that someone could mistake shadow of his desk for a human shape, but maybe in those crazy conditions in sleep paralysis, and with imagination working more than ever it is possible. Still not sure about it.

And it doesn't explain the sharp looking faces, that is definately not my doors shadow xD

Rising Against did a really good thread on sleep paralysis here

www.abovetopsecret.com...

There's a lot of good information in it, but having experienced it myself I know that it can be frightening.

I have read several posts in regards to sleep paralysis, and many ask why is it always something evil/dark/scary/threatening...I don't believe that is always the case, although thats how my first two experiences were. The first time it happened to me I was sleeping in my bed and "woke up" not being able to move or speak..I couldn't see anyone in my room at that point but I felt like there was someone there watching me. I then saw a black human-like shadow standing over me. It leaned down till it's head was right by my neck. I was trying to call out for help but nothing would come out of my mouth. I didn't know what was happening and I thought maybe this was someone who broke into my house . I ended up waking up and what were attempts to yell out came out as a whisper. It felt so real but I told myself it was just a dream and eventually fell back asleep. It wasn't until a couple years later that I heard about what sleep paralysis was and that it sounded just like what happened to me.

The second time this happened I woke up in my room again...everything looked normal & in place, but just like before, I could not move or speak & I felt a strong feeling that someone was in my room, despite the fact I couldn't see anyone there. I then felt hands grab on to my right leg and slowly slide my leg off the bed. I could see my leg moving but I could not see anyone. I think my heart must of been beating so fast it woke me up.
This time I told myself it was Sleep Paralysis. My third experience I woke up, with the same feelings of paralysis...everything looked the same in my room except for one thing; there was a palm tree right in the middle of my floor sticking out of the carpet, covered in lights. I felt like I was on drugs. I just stared at it wondering why it was there and fell back asleep again...I think it makes sense that most experiences are negative though. If you are already feeling scared because you can't move or speak then hallucinating something dark/evil reflects on that.

When you awaken in the Dream World you must understand why the Dream World exists and what it is designed for. It is a place where we are able to work out our dramas, our fears, and our hopes and promises.

I have been a Lucid Dreamer my entire life; and initially I too experienced horrific fear coupled with "entities" of a harming nature. Later in life, as I managed through my dramas in real-time and through the help of Dreams I find the Lucid State void of them. It is no less frustrating for me to find myself Lucid and unable to break the cycle, especially if I want out, most times I am fighting with myself as I work at waking up.

However, with that said something different did happen to me a year ago; I have always been a lurker here at ATS without signing up for membership and there was a post that was offering links to Binaural Beats. I had already purchased 'CenterPointe' programs and was using them for over a year, but I wanted something new so I download several.

One was called "Bach to the Future", another was called "Compassion", and several others.

Here is what happened when I used them:

I laid down to take a nap, with no intention to go Lucid because I do not want to be conscious when I just want rest. I had just laid my head on the pillow when in that instant I felt something get up onto the bed with me. I could feel the mattress depressing near to my legs and I assumed it was my dog curling up for a nice rest with me.

As I continued to let my mind wander I wasn't concerned by this movement near my legs when suddenly it felt like it was looming over me. Again, I really thought my dog was trying to tell me something like he wanted to go out, and I opened my eyes to tell him no. What happened next was so fast and so unexpected that I am still floored by it. A giant Snake/Serpent was coiled up next to me on the bed and was literally in the "poised to strike" position. It flashed its tongue and its eyes were glowing. It hissed and then went to strike, I immediately threw my arm up at him and he came down on my arm and I turned to the right and flipped myself off the bed.

This is where I really freaked. In that very instant I did flip myself completely off the bed and threw myself 3 feet against my dresser and slammed onto the floor with all my weight. For the first time I have ever been in the Dream I broke past the paralysis in real-time. It shook me up pretty badly, the Snake and the actual ability to move. The pain ran through my entire body from the experience both from the Lucid standpoint of the Snake biting me and slamming myself so forcibly against the dresser and onto the hard tile floor.

I knew this new set of Binaural Beats caused my brain to disengage my fail-safe of the paralysis. For days I was worried that I might go Lucid again and sleep walk, the possibilities were scary to say the least.

It is absolutely important that the paralysis exists, without that mechanism we could literally walk into traffic or walk off of a cliff. I could not imagine.

It did take some time but I finally plugged back into this set of Beats as I have enjoyed them since I first tried them. I am not pleased with the purchased product from 'CenterPointe' and I hate that they constant harrass with flyers and emails and the like. I do not believe they offer a full complete product because they want to "hook" you wanting more. I do not recommend their products even though they have helped me in several aspects of my life. As for the "vibes", "star journey", and others that are free online, yes it is important to know who is producing the product because you never know what it might do as your right hemisphere begins to meld with your left hemisphere. Some cannot take the transition and reject the products completely, but I feel I am more complete in my processing as a result.

It has been a complete year since my last Lucid State and I do not wish for any further "Journeys" while in the Dream. I want to be able to sleep, dream, work out my dramas naturally, and then wake up to a Real World. I am already connected Spiritually and I am very much deprogrammed.

I do believe that most Alien Abduction cases take place within this state of mind and I believe that there is another dimension we are touching. There are Demons in this Universe because there is a parallel Universe to our own along side of us always. Through Lucid States there are moments when the veil falls and we can actually come in 'contact'. Not a good thing! They do not belong here!

As for the Serpent, his presence has made itself known to me more and more even through my normal Dream cycles. I do not want to think I am marked but I am prepared to fight for my Soul if that is the case. Some see the Serpent as a representation of our DNA. Some see the Serpent as a Positive Force and some see it as a Negative Force. At any rate the Serpent has been with us since the beginnings of Mankind in every culture and every community.

If anyone has any insights in regards to my Serpent encounter I would love to hear them! Oddly enough, when I was just in my early 20's I had a tattoo of the Caduceus wrapped around my left wrist (the same arm as the Serpent bite). The very next day after I got the tattoo a hot molten slag of metal popped onto my arm between the two serpents and burned a hole into the red ball that was part of the tattoo. I cannot help but feel that it was an "initiation" of the Symbol through fire. It scarred completely the same size as the ball.

First of all, why do the hallucinations happen, and why are they always a terrifying, horrific experience? Why no one experiences a good trip?

The reason that they're terrifying is the helplessness involved in the episode. A paralysis when you feel something is moving (pressing down) your body and some hallucinations is just terrible.

Why is it, that mostly the figures appear in the corner of persons eye, which is the main reason why he can't see them clearly and focus on them. How is it related to the way brain works?

There are some figures that can be seen in the corner of a person's eye but there are times that they are up front but the ones up front can be very vivid (e.g. large bugs crawling around).

The corner of the eye thing can be explained much like the times when you're exhausted and haven't slept for a few days and you see all sort of things going about in the corner of your eye or sometimes shooting off in the said place. With this, it's most likely your mind just playing with your eyes or vice versa.

Try looking at an object in your room using that is within the vision of your eye but you don't really notice when you're looking at your monitor. After you do that, you'll be aware of that object and sort of sees it even though you don't really notice it before. I think it plays around that technique.

When people regain consciousness while in sleep paralysis, surroundings look similar to reality, but not quite. When it happens to me, sometimes the image of surroundings I see is more clear, sharp, and has less colors than usual, sometimes appearance of places changes. For example building outside the window looks different, instead of windows, there are completely black holes. Some people say colors change or go b&w. How is this all happening and why?

Just a theory. During a short REM state, it's highly likely that your eyes and brain get refreshed in a temporarily "fresher" sort of state as opposed to waking up all groggy and stuff. I guess this is like sleeping around 3 hours in the evening and feeling not groggy at all when you wake up as opposed to say, sleeping for 4 hours +, and feeling even more sleepier than before. It's just my theory since I don't feel groggy when I sleep for exactly 3 hours (give or take a few minutes).

Big question - how is it possible that people from different parts of the world with different minds and culture, see the same thing. Shouldn't hallucinations be completely random and based on individuals life experiences? And why dark creatures, not pink elephants or talking dogs? Why blue? Why shouting? Why evil?

Not exactly. I only saw dark figures less than 5 times. An orange glowing figure once. Lots of foot long bugs (fat centipedes, pill bugs, cockroaches) maybe twice; A flaming spinning tunnel that I'm falling into once (which was actually the television turned on at the time), some other things that I forgot about; and lots of being pressed down while feeling that I'm being moved around even though I'm not.

If I don't see anything, that means that the lights are turned off.

My guess is that, people who see the same things are into the same things. As for me, judging from what I wrote above, they're a variety of stuff that I'm not too fond of especially the bugs. I don't know about the orange glowing thing. I'm not particularly afraid of glowing figures that's orange in color.

I usually dream of bugs when life hasn't been treating me well so I'm just connecting it sleep paralysis with dreaming.

Personally, I tried inducing sleep paralysis by eating fatty foods or sugary drinks before sleeping. It worked at first but after that, I get it even though I sleep with an empty stomach so that's a no-go. Why do it? I just want to discover what makes it so I can finally stop having sleep paralysis that I'm getting at least once month as far as I can remember (maybe when I was 6 years old or something) However, I haven't been getting sleep paralysis for more than a year now after I got into the Bible (for fun) a while back. I'm not saying they're evil spirits or whatnot since I'm still in the fence regarding religion but it worked for me - that or I'm getting older.

Just a tip though. There's a foolproof method that someone told me to wake up from a sleep paralysis. Just wiggle your big toe and voila, you're out of it. It hasn't failed me yet and it sure beats the extremely exhausting struggle technique. Remembering to do the toe wiggle while in SP is another thing though since I constantly forget to do that. Kind of like forgetting things during dreaming.

I enjoy this topic since I would say S.P. first happened to myself at a very young age I would say between age 4-6.I was in my room and all I can remember is waking up and not being able to move and I was facing a very large double window that was about 4-6 ft high and it seemed as though the sun was blaring through(Now most would attribute this to lights/abduction like scenario although it was daylight I assume?
I really don't know being that it was so long ago and my memory is not 100% accurate with my age and the events have never left me though) I could not move although awake. now since then I have experienced sleep paralysis many times over the years,it seems to come by randomly and not necessarily acquainted or caused by anything that I can contribute involving dramas,situations in my life Etc.

One thing I must state is although I have experienced S.P. may times I have never seen anything nor anyone...I have experienced the Terror and yes...I say terror for anyone who has had the unfortunate experience of s.p. or similar exp. knows what I mean when I state just how scary and helpless the episodes can be!!!I have a few questions myself if anyone who either has had the same things happen or could maybe just shed their opinion:1.)More than once I have had s.p. and best to my abilities to explain have had the humming/buzzing sounds/vibrations as if my body or parts were vibrating(like being shocked without the pain) and not vibrating as though my body was convulsing but def. had a rhythmic vibration where almost internally i was shaking(?) no pain or visible movement was seen.

2.)Another thing I have experienced was where i could feel and hear my heart(? I am not sure)was pounding so furious and once i came "awake"
conscious that I was unable to move...I would feel/hear/experience this throbbing/beating sensation that i equated to my heart and it would go sooo fast and increase in pressure an speed I thought I was going to either die or for a lack of a better word explode/implode haha...No pain was felt during either of these exiperiences. I ask anyone to please respond or shed light on the topics and experiences I have poted.Please and thank you.Btw this is my first post on A.T.S. So thanks in advance for any responses and I appologize if some of these questions have already been answered.

anyone able to reply or have any suggestions,opinions on what I have posted? I wanted to start a thread but was unable...thanks in advance.

reply to post by PerfectPerception

anyone able to reply or have any suggestions,opinions on what I have posted? I wanted to start a thread but was unable...thanks in advance.

I will if you don't mind.

First off, let me explain a little bit about what sleep paralysis is exactly, or what it is to the best of my knowledge to hopefully give you a better understanding if that's ok.

Ok, so basically, when a person wakes up from the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) stage of their natural sleep cycle, one which everyone should go through every single night, the body is naturally (and please remember this is natural and not an alien or paranormal phenomenon as far as I'm concerned.) in a state of paralysis. I believe the term is commonly known as REM Atonia.

Although, the actual cause for the paralysis is still up for debate as well I believe, but some experts say that the drop in the levels of melatonin during the REM period of sleep may on occasions take some time to come back to the normal level that it was once at and the body remains temporary paralyzed during this gap.

But then again, it's thought that most sleep paralysis cases are down to certain mechanisms in the brain stem, particularly the vestibular, reticular, and oculomotor neurons, which prevent bodily movements, block sensory input and provide the forebrain with the internally generated activity that characterizes brain activity during REM sleep.

This is necessary to stop us acting out our dreams. Muscular Atonia I believe it's commonly known as.

During this period, you're perfectly able to see the world around you, as your eyes are not affected by this, but at the same time completely unable to move your limbs which can be a great cause for concern to anyone experiencing this. (well, I know I was scared the first time it happened to me)

In fact people are reported to have even had panic attacks at this time which is understandable for anyone familiar with it. Especially those who are “new to experiencing it”.

Now, your story in my humble opinion is interesting yes, but It sounds a lot like a simple story of Hypnopompic Sleep Paralysis to me as well. (could be wrong ofc.)

It's nothing to worry about so rest assured but to the best of my knowledge Hypnopompic Sleep Paralysis will occur upon waking up - waking up into the Sleep Paralysis. Something which I've experienced quite a lot myself in the past. And what I believe was the cause for the story in your post.

Now, since your memory, this being a long time ago and experienced at a young age, is somewhat edgy it's hard to get a definitive answer to what the bright light is that you saw. Now it could be exactly what you said and was simply the sun coming through the window or it could have been the result of HSP. (Hallucinatory Sleep Paralysis) for example. )

Or something else perhaps!?

Now, there are 2 types of Sleep paralysis to the best of my knowledge, One of them being HSP - Hallucinatory Sleep Paralysis and CSP - Common Sleep Paralysis.

Hallucinatory Sleep paralysis meaning that when we're experiencing Sleep Paralysis, we start to hallucinate and see things that aren't really there, (an explanation for many abduction and paranormal cases as well as Old Hag Syndrome for example) which can be a truly terrifying experience or i can be a dull one but the matter of the fact is it’s not real.

This type of SP also lasts for quite a while as well adding to the terror, so if this is occurring for you a way of telling is the duration as it can be anything from a few minutes up to 10 in total.

Common Sleep Paralysis is as the name suggests ...common. It's nothing to worry about, much like HSP IMO is nothing to worry about, and it occurs to a lot of people but it isn't accompanied with sometimes terrifying hallucinations and it doesn't last as long at all. Maybe a few minutes at it's maximum level.

now since then I have experienced sleep paralysis many times over the years,it seems to come by randomly and not necessarily acquainted or caused by anything that I can contribute involving dramas,situations in my life Etc.

Well, you may not realize it but yes, you are causing the paralysis to occur yourself. It may not seem like it but sadly it’s true and it could be something as incredibly simple such as sleeping on your back for example, something which is a huge benefactor in inducing SP.

(Note: Sleeping on your side could stop you having them )

As well as other factors such as stress, irregular/inconsistent sleeping patterns, or using hallucinatory drugs, although being at a young age I'll assume the cause in this instance was sleeping on your back.

Now, seriously I can't stress enough that this is IMO not a dangerous event to occur to someone, quite the opposite in fact. SP and even HSP can't hurt you as what your experiencing isn't real at all. The SP is what’s real but the Hallucinations aren’t!

The individual that it's occurring to unwillingly Makes it real, although I'll admit that it's only human to feel scared when it's occurring still.

But, hopefully, this link may be helpful to you and anyone else who wants to stop SP still as what your seeing isn't real ....But the SP is.

Hopefully this is helpful to you:

Stopping Sleep Paralysis

1.)More than once I have had s.p. and best to my abilities to explain have had the humming/buzzing sounds/vibrations as if my body or parts were vibrating(like being shocked without the pain) and not vibrating as though my body was convulsing but def. had a rhythmic vibration where almost internally i was shaking(?) no pain or visible movement was seen.

Something I don't have an answer for, on why it occurs, right now but you should know, this is common indeed. In fact this happens to me every time and at first I myself was wondering what the hell had just happened to me. lol

It can be frightening and a bizarre feeling but remember, it's common and it doesn't just happen to you.

2.)Another thing I have experienced was where i could feel and hear my heart(? I am not sure)was pounding so furious and once i came "awake" conscious that I was unable to move...I would feel/hear/experience this throbbing/beating sensation that i equated to my heart and it would go sooo fast and increase in pressure an speed I thought I was going to either die or for a lack of a better word explode/implode haha...No pain was felt during either of these exiperiences. I ask anyone to please respond or shed light on the topics and experiences I have poted.Please and thank you.Btw this is my first post on A.T.S. So thanks in advance for any responses and I appologize if some of these questions have already been answered.

See answer I gave to question 1.

I hope this is at the very least slightly helpful to you and anyone else. My apologies if not and feel free to ask anymore questions!

Oh and welcome to ATS!!

Thank you very much for your time and attention to my inquiries Rise Against.
I also was reading in your posted thread and found a lot of information I was unaware of.I am also in the majority that this can explain a lot of what exactly S.P. truly is.Although I am open to the fact that some experiences cannot be so easily explained and could actually be of a paranormal nature.

I know the vibrations sensations and the increase in speed/pressure is odd to say the least and I believe I have read the link between O.B.E.'s or/and possibly Kundalani(spelling?) energies at work? Sleeping on the side may help in general or for some people.not that I have found at least. And like I've stated I have yet to hear or see anything(except one time....and I was actually awake and not under s.p.) at one time I felt as though...as i was falling a sleep I sometimes enjoy the sound of a fan(I am not sure why haha??? just stimulates sleep easier I suppose...I am sure there is prob. a reason that could be psychologically/physiologically explained)

I fell a sleep with the sound of my fan and I passed out and found myself "trapped" in s.p. and had this almost fan like whooshing/droning/vibration.....at times it feels like im racing towards something as in....like it increases in intensity...but cannot say i personally have ever had a o.b.e. (Remembered at least)
Thanks again for your answers and time!!!
And yes I am glad to have found this site and so far it has be immensely of interest.

Although I am open to the fact that some experiences cannot be so easily explained and could actually be of a paranormal nature.

Oh, I so agree, and please don't think that I'm under the impression that all "at first seemingly out of the norm experiences" designated as 'paranornal' can be simply explained away so easily (and as plausibly IMO) as SP because I know that they can't. I know strange unexplainable things do happen in our world and I know we don't know enough about this subject as a whole to simply say, this is what happens, here's why this isn't paranormal and this is fact because just false.

If it wasn't false then we wouldn’t be having this discussion trying to figure out SP and the paranormal.

IMO, all you can do is speculate and give an opinion on what science has to give us so far, and science seems to explain away certain paranormal experiences as a natural SP, but that's not to say all of the paranormal can be explained away.

I have read the link between O.B.E.'s or/and possibly Kundalani(spelling?) energies at work?

I won't go into too much detail as I know a minimal amount when it comes to OBE and SP together but this link could be pretty helpful/enlightening to you and I think you should check it out.

A Comparison of OBEs with sleep paralysis: 2 case collections

And like I've stated I have yet to hear or see anything(except one time....and I was actually awake and not under s.p.) at one time I felt as though

Sorry, but I was a bit confused with this....was you experiencing SP and all it's effects but you was awake?

If so then this is entirely possible assuming you did in fact feel the effects of SP.

It's the opposite of Hypnopompic Sleep Paralysis (Hypnopompic: which is, as I've mentioned previously, where you wake up into the SP) called Hypnagogic Sleep Paralysis which is where you experience SP while awake. and you induce SP while awake.

Sorry, if I misunderstood here as I feel like I have done.

at one time I felt as though...as i was falling a sleep I sometimes enjoy the sound of a fan(I am not sure why haha??? just stimulates sleep easier I suppose...I am sure there is prob. a reason that could be psychologically/physiologically explained)

A good method I use is just simply putting some music on my iPod while going to sleep. It seems to distract you from experiencing SP and works very well.

Again, I hope this was helpful.

Thanks again for your insight and time.
To clarify what I actually meant before with the experience I had while "awake"
I will try my best to explain what exactly happened and I personally would lump it into the "unknown" category haha

I will try and best describe my experience and what has happened to me exact as I had stated earlier(hearing something while being awoken )
I was spending the night over at a friends house one night,we had stayed up pretty late talking about everything including paranormal activity amongst many other topics.Well we agreed it was getting late and she went up to her room to sleep while I was staying downstairs in the basement ...Of all places! on her couch-bed....I would say I layed for about 5-10 mins and i assume i drifted off,well I awake out of no where.it is pitch black and I look over to where the t.v. was located and looked at the red numbers...all in a matter of secs I would presume...Now this basement is half carpet(side I was on) and half tile/linoleum(? not sure) I begin to here walking...stepping around far off on the tiled side of this huge basement...now a few things crossed my mind while this "stepping" around was going on and all of this thinking was probably nanoseconds i thought of all the possibilities of what could be making this sound...and none I could come up with made a lick of sense(her father up for work? her dog? an intruder and then finally I thought ghost/demonic force for the simple lack of not knowing what the hell it was) so after realizing it was not anyone physical (minus and intruder after thinking bout the exits/entrances to said basement...I started to panic...indeed...I said a prayer()not being extremely religious or anything of the sort) and i can say whatever "it" was stopped and i drifted off to sleep...
now the best way I can describe this presence/sound was as if it was looking for something? i mean almost like shuffling steps stop....more movement stop...hard but i had the impression as if looking for something i do not know...well long story short i told my friend in which she had laughed and said she will tell her parents they have a ghost.....A couple weeks later her younger sister was having a sleep over....in the basement....well from what i can remember one or two of the girls said they saw someone in the corner ....i believe looking like a middle aged man(?) either way that is what happened haha

I will not tell you folklore but the truth.

What you choose to believe is your own business.

Not all sleep paralysis can be explained as a natural abnormal waking while dreaming experience.

Your first question should bear that out don't you think.

Many episodes are caused by the negative spirit world.

It is an effort to destroy a "good" soul by destroying the sanity of the body behind it.

Now again, whether you choose to believe me is your choice.

There is a way to stop the episodes, but it's probably not what you want to hear in light of the fact that you have already gone the scientific explanation route.

reply to post by joe7pack

I will not tell you folklore but the truth.

With all due respect, but if it’s definitely the truth then you would be able to back it up wouldn’t you?

Now don’t get me wrong here, I’m a 100% believer in the paranormal and that's because of my own personal experiences but even I know it’s not right to say it’s 100% real and any other explanation is wrong etc. (not that you have said this but your post gives off that impression for me)

Many episodes are caused by the negative spirit world.

Actually, the most likely explanations for inducing Sleep Paralysis is an increase of stress, odd sleeping patterns (i.e. not enough sleep) and sleeping on your back can also induce it.

There is absolutely no evidence which suggests its negative spirits like you say. It’s the most interesting conclusion yes, but that all it seems to be.

If you can prove otherwise then please do so.

There is a way to stop the episodes, but it's probably not what you want to hear in light of the fact that you have already gone the scientific explanation route.

Yes, there is a way to stop it, reduce stress and follow a good sleeping routine for example

Again, If you can prove it’s “spirits” then please do prove it otherwise you really shouldn’t be claiming your presenting the truth.

[edit on 2-9-2010 by Rising Against]

reply to post by Rising Against


What is truth?

That which I have seen with my own two eyes, and results witnessed in the tangible real world that affected the input of that world would be truth.

I can only tell you the truth as I have seen it. And to say, in my 42 years on this planet I have never been adjudged as insane.

And as for witnesses, yes I do have another witness to the fact this can be caused by the spirit world.

Again, it's your choice to either believe or not.

No need for long discourse.