Buzz
Have you ever woken up and sensed an ominous presence lurking in your room? Do you think you’ve been abducted by aliens or encountered an eerie old witch or even a feline humanoid figure in the dead of night? Is it a common occurrence for you to awaken unable to move, speak, or breathe? If you answered 'yes' to any of these, chances are you’ve encountered the phenomenon of sleep paralysis.
Lately, sleep paralysis has begun to emerge from the shadows—no pun intended—and capture the attention of many. Numerous studies have been carried out to explore this unsettling phenomenon, and it has even sparked the creation of several viral memes.
However, sleep paralysis is far from a laughing matter. Keep reading to uncover some chilling theories that attempt to explain what really happens during these disturbing episodes.
10. Alien Abductions (The American View)
Approximately four million Americans claim to have been abducted by aliens. Unsurprisingly, many individuals in the United States and other Western countries believe that sleep paralysis could actually be a form of extraterrestrial abduction.
Numerous scientists have pointed out the striking similarities between the phenomenon of sleep paralysis and the concept of an 'alien abduction.' Anyone who has undergone a sleep paralysis episode would likely agree with this comparison.
Sleep paralysis often triggers vivid visual and auditory hallucinations. A common experience is waking up and realizing you’re completely immobile. From there, you may begin to sense a peculiar presence in the room, followed by sounds of buzzing and humming, bright flashes of light, and a feeling of pressure on your chest or movement around your limbs.
The hallucinations during sleep paralysis can feel incredibly lifelike, leading many individuals to genuinely believe that they spent the night aboard an alien spacecraft.
9. The Spells of Shamans (Canadian Inuit Folklore)
In the folklore of Canadian Inuit culture, it is widely believed that sleep paralysis is caused by the spells of shamans. These spells, it is said, inhibit movement and implant vivid hallucinations of an indistinct presence in the minds of the affected.
A study revealed that many individuals from this culture identified sleep paralysis as either 'uqumangirniq' or 'aqtuqsinniq.' Those who subscribed to the belief in uqumangirniq argued that people’s souls were particularly 'vulnerable' during sleep. In this state of vulnerability, they believed shamans or evil spirits could attack the soul, triggering the experience of sleep paralysis.
The researchers found that the participants' view of sleep paralysis as an encounter with 'supernatural power' only strengthened their belief in the spirit world. But does this belief serve as the catalyst for inviting such malevolent forces into their lives in the first place?
8. Paralysis Magic (Japanese Folklore)
In Japan, sleep paralysis is referred to as 'kanashibari.' This term originates from a medieval Japanese spell called 'kanashibari no ho.'
When broken down literally, the Japanese word 'kana' means metal, and 'shibari' means to bind: 'to immobilize as though bound by metal chains.' (This is often the first sensation people experience during a sleep paralysis episode—the inability to move.)
The kanashibari no ho spell was a form of paralysis magic, said to be attainable by priests of Onmyodo Shugendo through intense self-discipline and by abstaining from all forms of indulgence.
Some texts suggest that those who mastered this paralysis magic often employed the kanashibari no ho spell to banish evil spirits. This is quite ironic, however, considering that many who suffer from sleep paralysis often encounter what they believe to be evil spirits themselves.
7. Pisadeira (Brazilian Folklore)
While many sleep paralysis sufferers experience formless shapes and unidentified entities, some cultures give names to the mysterious beings that invade people’s dreams. In Brazil, this entity is called the Pisadeira, which translates to 'she who steps' in Portuguese.
Numerous accounts describe the Pisadeira as an old crone. True to the Portuguese meaning of her name, she is said to prowl the roofs at night. When she finds someone lying on their back with a full stomach, she sneaks into the room and presses down on their chest.
This is intriguing for a few reasons, the first being that sleep paralysis commonly causes a sensation of chest compression. The second reason is that sleep paralysis is most likely to affect those who sleep on their backs. Could there be any truth to this belief?
6. The Old Hag (Newfoundland Folklore)
The term 'The Old Hag' is another popular name for the sleep paralysis demon, believed to have originated in Newfoundland.
Much like the Pisadeira, the Old Hag is portrayed as a crone-like figure who ensures that sleepers cannot breathe, move, or call out for help by sitting heavily on their chest in the dead of night.
This belief dates back to the 1890s when the Journal of American Folklore published an article discussing the phenomenon. Even today, locals continue to avoid sleeping on their backs, as doing so leaves them vulnerable to the Old Hag, who uses the cover of darkness to invade the bedrooms of many unsuspecting sleepers.
While scientists attribute the experience to brain activity (more on that later), for many Newfoundlanders, the terror of being visited by the Old Hag feels far too real to dismiss as mere imagination.
5. A 'Glitch' During REM Sleep
Scientists in much of the Western world have sought to debunk many of the folkloric explanations on this list by offering a much more grounded explanation for the terrifying experiences of sleep paralysis: a neurochemical imbalance in the brain.
During REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, the brain releases chemicals that paralyze the body, preventing people from acting out their dreams and potentially causing harm. However, sometimes a malfunction in this process occurs, causing the brain to wake a person while their body remains frozen in paralysis.
At this stage, a person becomes aware of their surroundings, but the dreams they were experiencing during REM sleep continue to unfold. Rather than being confined to their mind, these dreams now manifest in front of their eyes... and they are rarely pleasant.
4. Possession
As if a crone creeping into your room at night weren’t terrifying enough, imagine a demonic force invading your mind, body, and soul. This is what possession entails, and sleep paralysis episodes have been associated with possession for centuries.
During the Christian era, friends, family, and neighbors—along with local religious authorities—would pray for the souls of those believed to be possessed. Exorcisms, in which malevolent spirits were forcibly expelled from the body, may also have been conducted.
This is undoubtedly one of the most chilling sleep paralysis theories; we can usually wake from a nightmare, but possession leaves us utterly powerless.
3. Pandafeche Attack (Italian Folklore)
In certain regions of Italy, particularly Marche and Abruzzo, sleep paralysis is thought to be the result of an attack by the Pandafeche.
Reports from studies suggest that the Pandafeche can appear in various terrifying forms. Some people claim to see a witch or crone, while others believe their night-time intruders resemble ghosts or spirits. Interestingly, some Italian sleep paralysis sufferers describe the Pandafeche as a menacing, cat-like creature.
Although accounts of the Pandafeche vary, many agree that the only way to avoid its attack is to place a pile or bag of sand near the bed. The theory holds that the Pandafeche will stop to count the grains of sand, thus delaying its terrifying visit.
This raises an intriguing question: Are there other distractions that could help fend off the evil that invades when sleep paralysis strikes? If such methods exist, let's hope we discover them soon. After all, no one wants to wake up face-to-face with a demon, right?
2. “The Ghost That Pushes You Down” (Cambodian Folklore)
We’ve already explored genies, hags, crones, demonic entities, and various forms of magic, but we haven’t yet discussed perhaps the most widespread supernatural phenomenon: ghosts.
In Cambodia and across other Southeast Asian cultures, it is commonly believed that sleep paralysis episodes are caused by visitations from ghosts. But not just any ghosts—specifically, the kind that push you down.
Some sources suggest that this belief stems from the idea that sleep paralysis is not caused by health issues or a 'glitch' in the brain, but rather is the result of one's luck—good or bad.
This folklore shares a common thread with many other cultural beliefs listed here: the sensation of being pushed down, held down, or even trampled upon during sleep paralysis. While science may explain the hallucinations and the inability to move, what does it say about this particular experience?
1. The Jinn (Egyptian Folklore)
If you’ve watched Aladdin, you’re familiar with the lovable genie who helps the main character, Aladdin, on his journey to win Princess Jasmine's heart. However, in Egyptian folklore, genies are not always so kind-hearted.
The word 'genie' comes from the anglicized version of 'jinn.' In Egyptian lore, the Jinn is depicted as a spirit-like being that torments individuals when they are paralyzed by the effects of REM sleep.
But the Jinn doesn't just haunt people's dreams. The fear surrounding this entity is so intense among Egyptians that it may actually cause them to wake up in the middle of REM sleep. And as we know, this only invites malevolent forces in...
