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Night terrors aka Sleep Paralysis
Gyrus from Dreamflesh made this connection between false awakenings and sleep paralysis: in both of these altered states, we feel like we are “awake” and aware of our surroundings. In a false awakening, this certainty of “awakeness” turns out to be a lucid dream about where we are actually sleeping. In sleep paralysis, we also feel awake but the situation is a little more complicated. Here our self-awareness is active and we may even have eyes open, but our bodies are still under the paralysis of REM sleep. The more we struggle, the more it feel like we are being “held down.”
I wrote about the creepiness of night terrors about a year ago on my culture shock blog, so I won’t go on at length here. Even though the REM paralysis is probably what is happening on the “exterior” levels of our reality, we really can’t reduce the entire experience of night terrors to biomechanics. After all, many people throughout history have described intense visitation dreams that follow from the initial feeling that “someone else is in the room.” These night visitors have ranged from dead relatives to benign ghostly apparitions to scary demonic entities to figures of light and peace.
These meetings have provided countless dreamers with deeper understandings of the psycho-spiritual realms that may be open to them. From my perspective, this isn’t evidence of the “supernatural” but an indication that we still need a more radical materialism to account for what is natural.
So rest assured that the experience of night terrors doesn’t have to be nightmarish. The best thing to do is to try to relax as much as possible, and if that doesn’t work, dig deep into your belief structures and find a way to trust in the moment. The experience will open up like a flower and you may find yourself in a whole kind of new dream.
I just spilled pickle juice all over myself so I gotta run.
Update: check out the comments to the previous post for Gyrus’s clarification about the distinction between these two states of consciousness.
The Terror That Comes in the Night
Wrestling with Ghosts by Jorge Conesa Sevilla
Topics: nightmares, visitation dreams |
October 22nd, 2007 at 5:11 pm
I just recently started experiencing sleep paralysis about a couple of years ago. It started out as feeling a presence in the room just as described in this article. The fear of not moving or never being able to move again, enveloped me more than the “presence” that I perceived was in the room.
I read an article about SP with suggestions on how to alleviate it. One of the recommendations was to try and fall asleep on your side. This eliminated most of my SP problems.
Another article I read suggested learning to “astral project” during an SP occurrence. The article suggested to attempt to ‘levitate’ out of your physical body to assist in alleviating the fear that encompasses most SP experiences. The last time this happened to me I tried this. I was able to raise it a few feet above my body all the while thinking about all the stuff my family would have to go through if I was really “dying”, lol. This was my mistake. There is something about the fear experienced during an episode, which (with me) made this situation worse.
October 23rd, 2007 at 12:18 pm
thanks for commenting - do you remember where you read the article about this? sounds interesting.
October 23rd, 2007 at 8:08 pm
Unfortunately, I read it about a year ago, after googling Sleep Paralysis. I find it I’ll be glad to post a link.
October 23rd, 2007 at 8:32 pm
This isn’t the same article I read, but if you google ‘old hag syndrome and astral projection’, you’ll find a bunch of info. It was while I was researching it that I discovered quite a few people were experimenting with astral projection and SP. Basically in attempt to rid themselves of the fear that is experienced during an episode.
http://www.stevenaitchison.co.uk/blog/2006/08/20/sleep-paralysis/
October 30th, 2007 at 11:25 pm
thanks for the article link. this is pretty creepy territory, and another reason why lucid dreaming isn’t all about butterflies and all the sex you want. Shadow figures have a lot to teach us but we have to learn how to behave in the dream first. this whole topic is scratching at me so look for a post about lucid dreams and NDE and OBEs sometime soon.
November 5th, 2007 at 8:07 pm
“From my perspective, this isn’t evidence of the “supernatural” but an indication that we still need a more radical materialism to account for what is natural.”
I love this line of reasoning. I find the “stereotypical idea of materialism” lacking in its ability to account for odd experiences like night terrors and whatnot, yet I don’t think invoking supernatural causes really makes sense.
November 15th, 2007 at 11:14 pm
Hi Ryan,
One of the lines in your article resonated strongly with me:
“From my perspective, this isn’t evidence of the “supernatural” but an indication that we still need a more radical materialism to account for what is natural.”
I wholeheartedly agree with you. There is so much that science has yet to explain, but that doesn’t mean science will never be able to explain the things we currently label as supernatural. A quick look at history demonstrates how often events labeled as paranormal or supernatural were ultimately explained by new developments in science. Perhaps science eventually will provide explanations for the mysteries we still haven’t uncovered. (Though, I do hope a bit of mystery remains when all is said and done. It makes life more interesting.)
November 19th, 2007 at 1:44 pm
i’m a big fan of mystery too. but as you say Kris, mystery isn’t permanent and science may explain many unknowns later down the road. but when folks ignore a mystery because the data doesn’t fit their paradigm, then scientism - not science - is the result. be sure to check out Allan Wallace’s Taboo of Subjectivity for a great read on the culture of science.
February 19th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
[...] can be terrifying or transcendental, depending chiefly on our previous experience with working with sleep paralysis, also known as night [...]
May 20th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
I am amlost 30 and have been suffering from SP since I was about 5. It started to hit me the hardest in my mid-20’s and now that I am 29 it happens I’d say about 2-4 times a month. I battle with this constantly. I also sleep long hours day and night. I can’t stop sleeping. I probably have a sleep disorder, but like most Americans don’t have health insurance to solve the problem. Anyhow I’ve learned to recognize when I am in the state to wake myself or make enough “sounds” (i think i’m talking, but am not) to have my husband wake me. If you have anyway to help me or know of a study going on, please let me know.
May 21st, 2008 at 7:40 am
Zensen, thanks for commenting and sharing your story. There are a few things you can do to help with sleep problems without spending too much. First off, you may want to take this simple questionnaire that measures the general level of sleepiness:
http://www.narcolepsynetwork.org/do2.php
It’s not a diagnosis of any condition, mind you, but it does help with walk-in visits to free clinics in your area.
Besides free clinics, there are also support groups for people suffering with excessive sleeping. If not where you live, probably in the nearest city. Try searching on google something like: sleep disorders free clinic Your Location.
As for dealing with sleep paralysis, I really recommend Wrestling with Ghosts by Jorge Conesa Sevilla. He discusses methods of letting go of fear while in sleep paralysis and transforming the experiences into positive dreams. Sevilla’s practices are a great self-help method if you don’t have access to medication. (Of course, I’m not a doctor so this is not medical advice.) Sleep apnea and narcolepsy are also correlated with these symptoms, so getting a diagnosis at a free clinic is the first step.
Check out the National sleep Foundation for more information:
http://www.sleepfoundation.org/site/pp.aspx?c=huIXKjM0IxF&b=2417415
July 16th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
I know everyone doesn’t believe in the supernatural but I have had SP happening 2 me since I was 13 & I am now 19. It’s a supernatural thing in my case bc besides SP happening 2 me I have the strangest things about me. I can get a good reading on how someone is by looking at them or just having one conversation (that might be y I am so picky about who my friends and associates are) and I also have deja vues like crazy. But back 2 the point, I have actually had visions and pains happen while I was captured in the grips of SP. But there is a difference in levels of spirits (demons or whatever they maybe) that visit you at night. In my case it doesn’t matter if I sleep on my back, side, or stomach they would still be able 2 attack me. I have gotten worse over the years…at first it started off with me being able 2 see the apparitions…and then moved up 2 to them actually attacking me 2 where I could feel pain and that’s when I started fighting back. Mines also doesn’t have a specific time that it happens it can just over take me whenever I sleep. But I noticed the more it happened 2 me the more my strange abilities grew. 2 years ago I recently developed a 6th sense 2 feeling when things are going 2 go wrong back home or here where I am (I’m military). I’m just gonna give everyone the same advice my mom gave me…Don’t fear it just fight it and if you feel comfortable enough try 2 understand what’s going on because little do you know you can communicate with them. This is kinda hard 2 explain here but I will try…beware of the intity you talk 2 because demons will lie 2 get you…you will just have 2 trust your own judgement…and whatever you do don’t let evil spirits win the fight because little do you know that could turn into a possession(depends on the person) or it can cause minor changes in your tempor or other things among that and trust me I would know that because it has somewhat changed me at one point in my life when I wasn’t fighting back but I realized what it was doing 2 me and I changed it through praying of course. Also one more small note…careful who you hang around because they may habor a spirit that may want 2 cling onto you because you are more aware of there presence than there current host…but if anyone has any questions feel free 2 ask?
July 16th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Thanks for sharing your experience, Dee. I moved safely away from similarly painful and scary experiences by focusing on reducing my fear and intending to find protection that is based on my own personal beliefs. I wonder if you have tried similar techniques? Openness to the dreamstate (the imaginal realm, the astral plane, etc) is a double-edged sword - both the light and the darkness come through. It’s important as you say to learn how to fight (also known as ego-strengthening) as well as learning how to surrender (letting go of control in total trust that you are safe).