Why is it that over 90% of people who suffer from sleep paralysis have almost the exact same experience-a feeling of an evil presence being in the room, often a hooded figure, an overwhelming feeling of terror? As everyone is different and people's minds work in totally different ways, and everyone has different fears, why is the experience almost always the same for everyone? I'd understand if one person saw snakes, and they were afraid of snakes, and another person saw a vampire, if they'd just seen a scary movie about vampires that night, but everyone seeing the same thing? Is this purely psychological, or does anyone feel this could be something else...i.e. a different dimension type thing? I think it's just too big a coincidence that people from all over the world are seeing almost exactly the same thing, and having the same feeling, while experiencing sleep paralysis. Just for the record, I'm not religious, but do believe in sixth sense and the supernatural/unexplainable.
2006-08-01 10:06:27 · 9 answers · asked by heather g 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
That's an excellent question, to which I do not have an answer.
I've experienced sleep paralysis myself, although not in many years. However, I never saw anything. I can relate to the feeling of terror/sense of evil though.
I'll be interested to see what other answers you get. Hopefully someone will link to a study or some such on this subject.
2006-08-02 07:54:24 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
ii think it's a coincidence because all people experience the same stages of sleep so everyone has the potential to have it happen, regardless of fears, it's characteristically the same.
Sleep paralysis is a condition characterized by temporary paralysis of the body shortly after waking up (known as hypnopompic paralysis) or, less often, shortly before falling asleep (known as hypnagogic paralysis).
Physiologically, it is closely related to the normal paralysis that occurs during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, also known as REM atonia. Sleep paralysis occurs when the brain is awakened from an REM state into essentially a normal fully awake state, but the bodily paralysis is still occurring. This causes the person to be fully aware, but unable to move. In addition, this state may be accompanied by hypnagogic hallucinations.
More often than not, sleep paralysis is believed by the person affected by it to be no more than a dream. This is the reason why there are many dream recountings which describe the person lying frozen and unable to move. The hallucinatory element to sleep paralysis makes it even more likely that someone will interpret the experience as simply a dream, as one might see completely fanciful objects in a room alongside the normal vision one can see.
2006-08-01 10:10:37 · answer #2 · answered by Kismet 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think it's true to say that 90% of people who experience this have a sensation of an evil presence. Most people hallucinate, which in itself is scary but is not necessarily about a hooded figure.
Sleep paralysis might be triggered by stress, but it's not a psychological event - it's purely physical, and is a recognised medical condition. It used to happen to me as a teenager, and I can honestly say I never saw a hooded figure.
2006-08-01 10:17:39 · answer #3 · answered by Hello Dave 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Years ago I suffered from sleep paralysis alot.
It's really scary to wake up and not be able to move, but I don't think it's from an evil presence in the room, I've since learned that it's called "dead-man syndrome" and (for me anyway) it was a side-effect from taking asprin.
When I stopped taking asprin, I stopped having this symptom.
2006-08-01 10:11:58 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because they are still half way dreaming and since it is a scary feeling, their brain automatically associates it with an evil being.
I had this quite a few times, once I felt evil, a few other times I just felt pain, but saw and felt nothing evil. One time, I swore my brother was sitting on my stomach, pressing down all his weight on purpose for some reason.
2006-08-01 12:07:37 · answer #5 · answered by aljea 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
my mom has sleep paralysis, my 2 sisters have it and i have it. its awful isnt it? ya cant move, but i havent ever seen the 'figure,' my mom says she's seen it, but i just feel the evil presence in the room thing. i wouldnt really call it a dream to the first comment, because you can see your surroundings in the room. u just cant move...
2006-08-01 10:13:36 · answer #6 · answered by Nikki 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe it's psychological and the paralysis is a response 2 extreme fear brought on by a nightmare.
i also believe everything has a scientific explanation.
2006-08-01 10:11:47 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've heard it called "old-hag syndrome"
http://paranormal.about.com/library/bltales_oldhag.htm
My brother experienced it once, but says he didn't see anything, just heard a monstrous growling...
Like you, I'm undecided.
2006-08-01 10:36:27 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think it is a ghost wooooooooo!!
2006-08-01 10:35:59 · answer #9 · answered by yobogirl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋