Sleep paralysis is a phenomenon that approximately 7% of the world’s population will experience at some point in their lives. Furthermore, it is thought that among individuals with diagnosable sleep disorders (e.g. narcolepsy), nearly 40% will deal with episodes of sleep paralysis. Sleep paralysis is characterized by the body and musculature being rendered completely immobile as a result of REM (rapid-eye movement) atonia.
During this REM stage, we may experience dream-like images and perceptions. A common entity that we perceive is that of a demonic entity (e.g. an Incubus or Succubus). During this time, we may become semi-conscious or fully conscious of the dream-like state as a result of beta wave surges. Our brain’s fear centers (e.g. amygdaloid complex) become activated indirectly by the brainstem, and we feel as if we are being terrorized.
Think of yourself as being either fully or semi-conscious, seeing a demonic entity as a result of subconscious dream activity, and being unable to scream or move your body to escape as a result of the REM-induced atonia. Although a variety of creatures have been depicted in sleep paralysis stories, demons appear to be among the most common.
Sleep Paralysis Demons
Those claiming that they’ve encountered a demon often don’t realize that their brain is playing tricks on them. We often come to believe that the sleep paralysis hallucinations are a sign of something metaphysical or spiritual, when in fact they’re the result of the brain’s inability to properly cycle through the various sleep stages. In some cases, we end up perceiving a demon in the form of sight, sound, and/or another sensation and believe that it’s out to induce harm.
Types of Demonic Encounters
The various types of hallucinations that occur during sleep paralysis correspond directly with various neural correlates. In other words, activity in the brain is responsible for producing the sensations that we encounter with perceived “demons.” These main subtypes of demonic hallucinations include: the Intruder, the Incubus, and odd demonic sensations. Additionally, there’s a fourth type that is less common characterized as a “mixed experience.”
1. Demonic Intruder
Those that encounter a demonic intruder tend to report that they were either threatened, terrorized, or sensed an evil demon in the same room as them. Those that experience sleep paralysis for the first time and/or are relatively new to the phenomenon of sleep paralysis are more likely to believe that there’s a demonic intruder or “sense the presence” of a demon. The “Intruder” subtype is strongly associated with sensing the terrifying presence of a demonic entity.
- Apparitions: Many people claim to see apparitions or the ghost-like image of a demonic entity. This entity may look like a traditional “demon” but may also appear as an evil person, animal, ghost, or other entity. This image may appear blurry or may be highly specific depending on individual perception.
- People: You may sense that a demonic person has entered the room. This may be someone that’s deceased and/or a person that’s still alive. Your sleep paralysis experience may project this individual as being closely tied with the devil.
- Noises: Some people claim to hear voices of a demon or another related evil entity. These voices may be subtle and hard to decipher or they may be loud, clear, and in your native language. They may give commands or make threats depending on your sleep paralysis experience. In other cases you may hear the demon moving through your room.
- Sense of presence: The most common attribute associated with this sort of hallucination is a sense that the demon is in the room. In other words, you can “sense” that a demonic threat is nearby, even if you cannot see or hear it. Your gut instinct may be warning you that a demon may be close.
- Touching: In extreme cases, some people end up experiencing tactile hallucinations in which they believe they were touched by a demon. In the “Intruder” subtype, the touches are generally vague and likely to induce a significant amount of fear.
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16120108
Source: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1023%2FA%3A1025373412722
2. Demonic Suffocation (Incubus)
The hallucinatory subtype of sleep paralysis most associated with demons is that of the “Incubus” – a term which translates to a male demon having sexual intercourse with a sleeping female. It is most common for those experiencing the “Incubus” subtype of hallucinations to believe that they encountered a demon or were victim of a demonic attack. In a majority of cases, people claim that the demon they encounter was attempting to murder them in their sleep.
Those that encounter the Incubus hallucinations tend to have similar brain activation as that experienced during the “Intruder” subtype. The fear center (amygdaloid complex) becomes activated by the brain stem while in a state of REM (rapid-eye movement sleep) and demonic entities appear while we are semi-conscious. No matter how much we try to escape, we realize that we cannot move due to atonia, so the demon is free to terrify us.
- Abduction: Many people believe that they are being abducted by a demon, demonic entity, or even an alien. Some people believe that their spirit is being extracted from their bodies or that they are being physically transported to another realm by the demon. If a person doesn’t encounter a demon, they may encounter an alien.
- Assault: The demons may appear to physically assault you by constricting your breathing or inflicting physical pain. It is common for victims to believe that they are being seriously injured by the demon and that they’ll never be able to recover from inflicted damage.
- Breathing difficulties: A common sign of demonic encounters during sleep paralysis is that of breathing difficulties. The demons may appear to restrict breathing in various ways such as by strangling the sleeping victim. Although this is merely a hallucination, to the individual experiencing restricted breathing and seeing a demon, it can seem very real.
- Chest pressure: In many cases, people believe that the demon or evil entity is sitting atop their chest, constricting their breathing. Scientifically we know that this pressure is a result of an inability to breathe deeply during REM sleep. However, to the individual encountering the demon during sleep paralysis, they feel as if the pressure is a direct result of an attempt to kill or inflict pain.
- Malicious intent: In nearly every case, the person seeing the demon believes that it has malicious intent. They believe that the demon is out to either kill them or inflict some sort of harm. This is accompanied by sensations of pain, perceived assaults, and restriction of breathing. Since the fear centers of the brain are activated, we may feel a sense of paranoia or panic.
- Perceived pain: There have been reports of pain being inflicted by demons while in a state of sleep paralysis. The pain may be mild, moderate, or extreme depending on the individual circumstances. One case of a woman experiencing sleep paralysis reported that a devil sat atop her breasts, attempted to choke her, and inflicted pain that she claimed to have felt even upon awakening the following morning.
- Sexual intercourse: In very extreme cases, people have reported being “raped” by demons or having sexual intercourse with them. In recurrent cases of sleep paralysis, people have claimed to have been shown the hybrid offspring with demons and/or aliens. It should be noted that most research suggests that women are more likely to report “rape” during sleep paralysis than men.
- Suffocation: In numerous cases, people believe that the demon is out to suffocate them by either choking them or applying pressure to their chest. Those experiencing the hallucination believe that there’s nothing that can be done and that they will inevitably die. Oddly enough, they eventually awaken, realizing that sleep paralysis was to blame; they didn’t actually die.
- Thoughts of death: The demonic encounters that are experienced during this type of hallucination tend to be associated with thoughts of death. The victim of sleep paralysis believes that the demons are out to murder them in their sleep. The actions of the demons can appear vividly real from a first-person perspective, hence resulting in thoughts of death.
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18691361
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15881271
3. Odd Demonic Sensations
Those that experience the odd bodily sensations during sleep paralysis don’t commonly report demonic encounters. In fact, they may report encounters with pleasant beings like angels or happy spirits. Those that solely experience bodily sensations during their episodes of sleep paralysis are less likely to report demons.
Although demons are less associated with “odd bodily sensations” (vestibular-motor hallucinations), they still may occur. Should they occur during the vestibular-motor hallucinations, you may encounter a demon while having an “out-of-body experience” and/or feel as if a demon is attempting to extract your spirit from your body. This third subtype of demonic encounters just adds areas of the brain associated with perceiving “motion” into the hallucination.
- Falling: It may feel as if you’re falling during your encounter with a demon. You may feel as if you’re falling into a trap of some sort or falling to your death as a result of a demonic assault.
- Fictitious motor movements: In some cases, it may seem as if you’re able to move your body such as arms and legs. In reality, you may be having an out-of-body experience, thinking that you’re able to run away from the demon.
- Floating: It is common for people to feel as if they are floating. This floating sensation is generally associated with bliss and calmness. That said, it is possible to feel as if you’re floating near a demon.
- Flying: You may feel as if you are flying while simultaneously trying to escape the throes of a demon.
- Out-of-body experience: Some people may have an out-of-body experience and believe that the demon may fight them in some way or may harm their physical body. Although the out-of-body experience and the perceived demon are hallucinations, they may be perceived as real.
- Remote viewing: In some cases, people believe they are looking at their body from a third-person perspective (e.g. outside their physical body). They may feel detached from their physical body, yet perceive a demon attacking it.
- Suctioning: You may feel as if you’re being suctioned out of your body or violently extracted by a demon. It may appear painful and/or forceful and against your will.
4. Mixed Demonic Hallucinations
Some people may feel as if there’s a demonic intruder, end up feeling attacked by the demon (e.g. suffocated), and hallucinate that they’re being transported to another realm via flying or floating. While those new to sleep paralysis don’t often experience mixed hallucinations, a person may experience a blending of any of the three subtypes listed above.
It is most common for a person to experience the “Intruder” and the “Incubus” hallucinations simultaneously rather than either with the “Unusual Bodily Experiences.” The Unusual Bodily Experiences aren’t nearly as associated with demons and a majority of individuals tend to report feelings of bliss rather than fear during the experience.
Sleep Paralysis Demons & Entities (List)
Keep in mind that demons are fictional entities that are perceived as a result of a hallucinatory experience that occurs during sleep paralysis. While some spiritual groups may believe that they are a sign of something supernatural, the supernatural is pseudoscientific – especially in regards to cases of sleep paralysis.
- Aliens: While you may not think of aliens as “demons” for many individuals they are simultaneous. Aliens encountered during sleep paralysis often have malicious motives such as assault or obtaining genetic material for hybrid offspring.
- Animals: Some individuals encounter vicious animals that attack them in their sleep. These animals could include: dogs, wolves, cats, or rats. The animals encountered are thought to be evil and demonic in that they are attempting to inflict damage on the sleeping victim.
- Criminals: It is common for people to report encountering thieves, murderers, and/or other criminals during episodes of sleep paralysis. These criminals may be fictional or a byproduct of subconscious material (e.g. someone that you saw on the news).
- Devil: A common experience for people to report during sleep paralysis is that they encountered the devil. The devil is generally red in color, has pointed ears, is sometimes hairy, and may have a tail. If you search online for artwork of sleep paralysis demons, most will appear to resemble a devil.
- Evil spirits: You may encounter miscellaneous evil spirits that are difficult to specifically classify as a “demon.” Most people consider evil spirits and demonic entities to be synonymous.
- Ghouls: These are considered evil spirits that consume human flesh. In some cases people may claim to smell rotten flesh during their sleep paralysis hallucination, possibly as a result of a perceived ghoul.
- Ghosts: Some people encounter vague images, sounds, and facades that they believe are ghosts. The sensory perceptions that are experienced may be vague or highly specific. In most cases the ghosts are thought of as being demonic or evil.
- Goblins: This is a dwarf-like demon that some people may encounter during their episodes of sleep paralysis.
- Incubus: The technical definition of an “incubus” is a male demon that has sexual encounters with women while they’re asleep.
- Monsters: In some reports, people encounter imaginary monsters that are big, ugly, and fear-inducing.
- People: You may encounter another person (possibly one that you know) during sleep paralysis. This person may be perceived as having evil intentions or as having transformed into a demon.
- Succubus: The technical definition of a “succubus” is a female demon that has sexual encounters with men while they’re asleep.
- Trolls: These are creatures that may resemble demons that attempt to trick you, strangle you, or inflict some sort of damage upon your physical body.
- Vampires: You may experience a brief encounter with a vampire or vampire-like demon during sleep paralysis. It may be attempting to bite your neck for blood extraction.
- Zombies: If you’ve watched a little too much of the show “Walking Dead” and experience an episode of sleep paralysis, you may have an encounter with a zombie (or “walker”). This encounter may appear to be demonic.
Note: There are likely plenty of other entities that resemble a demon or demonic entity during an episode of sleep paralysis; they are not limited to the list above.
What causes sleep paralysis demons to appear?
There are likely many factors that cause people to perceive demons and demonic attacks associated with sleep paralysis. This includes things like: brain activity, mental illness, psychological priming, drug usage,
Brain activity: A person’s brain activity during sleep is thought to contribute to the hallucinatory experience of perceiving a demon or demonic attack. The brain activity is characterized by altered brain waves, overactivity of the fear-response, and alterations in short and long-term memory functioning.
- Brain waves: During sleep paralysis, a person’s brain waves are thought to be different than a person in normal REM sleep. During sleep paralysis, a person tends to have an abundance of alpha waves, with intense, intermittent bursts of beta waves.
- Vigilance system: Interactions between the brainstem and regions like the thalamus, amygdaloid complex, and anterior cingulate are thought to produce significant fear. When we perceive the “demon” during sleep paralysis, it appears so real, that the regions responsible for producing fear in the brain become intensified. We may become paranoid, feel the fight-or-flight response, and the fear-based neural pathways become strengthened.
- Limbic system: This is a part of the brain that is capable of creating intense, animalistic emotions. It is an older region, and during the perceived demonic encounter, we experience intensified emotions.
- Long-term memory: During sleep paralysis, our long term memory is activated, meaning our brain can kick up any imagery or perceptions that are lodged within our long-term memory “bank.” These memories may combine with our subconscious to project images of a “demon” during sleep paralysis.
- Short-term memory: As the long-term memories are activated, our short-term memories are suppressed. In other words, we aren’t able to consciously question who we are or our current experience.
Collective individual consciousness: This refers to our lifetime experience (culture, upbringing, individual imagination, etc.), which is recorded by our brain and shapes its activity. In this case I am not referring to the consciousness of the world, rather the cumulative collection of both internal and external inputs that you’ve collected throughout your lifetime. These inputs are likely to influence your projection of a “demon” or “devilish” entity and will also likely shape your subjective interpretation of the demon.
Drug usage: If you are taking any drugs, they may increase or decrease your likelihood of encountering a demon during sleep paralysis. Some drugs, particularly those that have hallucinogenic properties, may be more likely to induce demonic encounters during sleep paralysis. Keep in mind that drug abuse as well as recovery (during withdrawal) may be associated with influencing demonic hallucinations.
Ecopsychology: This specifically refers to the study of the brain in relationship to its natural environment. Certain states of mind may be influenced as a result of environmental or geological happenings. Researchers have suggested that regions of the world considered to be geomagnetically unstable may be more likely to experience sleep paralysis and demonic hallucinations than other regions.
Mental illness: Those with certain mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, and anxiety disorders may be more prone to experiencing sleep paralysis. Several studies have drawn notable links between past trauma (PTSD), anxiety disorders (specifically social anxiety), and depression – with sleep paralysis.
Neurotheology: Some anthropologists believe that humans are hard-wired to see spirits, even if they don’t really exist. This is known as neurotheology and suggests that combined thinking, cultural loading, myths, fairy tales, subconscious manifestations, etc. This is a more specific theoretical aspect of collective internal consciousness.
Psychological archetypes: Various psychologists have hypothesized that demons during sleep paralysis may be a result of a psychological archetype known as the “Shadow Self.” This archetype refers to everything we don’t want to see, confront, or look at. It may scare us or represent cultural or internal taboo. Certain aspects of this “shadow self” may resemble those of the demon we encounter during sleep paralysis.
Psychological priming: If we are psychologically primed with demonic imagery and/or a fear-inducing stimuli prior to falling asleep, we may encounter something similar during an episode of sleep paralysis. It is known that exposing the human brain to certain stimuli, triggers representations of related stimuli – this is known as “priming.” If you watched a scary movie or show prior to sleeping, this may be related to perceptions of a demon.
Rapid-eye movement (REM): During this state we are immobile and usually dreaming. The dreams we experience during REM are often random mixes of conscious and unconscious information. This may result in a demon with traits as a result of both conscious and unconscious information.
Stress/Trauma: Those that have endured a significant amount of stress and/or trauma may become highly anxious and/or paranoid – which can contribute to sleep paralysis. This stress and/or trauma may activate other areas of the brain associated with fear, neural pathways, and other memories (or images) tied to the fear-response. This may cause our brain’s to project a scary, threatening demon during sleep paralysis.
Unconscious processes: Various unconscious processes such as our imagination (i.e. mind’s eye), internal inputs, and external inputs may result in an image of a demon or devil. Internal inputs may be related to our thinking and subjective perceptions, while external inputs may be related to images, books, movies, or television that we see in our environment.
Source: http://works.bepress.com/jorge_conesa-sevilla/8/
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Below are some frequently asked questions related to sleep paralysis and demons.
When is a person most likely to hallucinate demons during sleep paralysis?
The general trend is that those who encounter demons or report terrifying experiences during sleep paralysis tend to do so near the end of the sleep cycle. While sleep paralysis can occur at any time, it is most likely to occur near the beginning of the sleep cycle or end of the sleep cycle. Individuals that report hallucinations during the beginning of the sleep cycle don’t usually report demons.
Furthermore, those that encounter demons tend to be “novices” in regards to sleep paralysis history. In other words, they likely haven’t experienced many episodes of sleep paralysis. Those that experience recurrent bouts of sleep paralysis tend to overcome many of the fears associated with the condition and learn various coping techniques to lessen the fear. That said, some individuals experiencing recurrent bouts may report the same demonic entity in each of their episodes.
Does everyone see a visible “demon?”
No. In many cases, people may experience sounds, smells, or “sense” the presence of a demon – but aren’t able to visually verify that a demon was in the room. Others claim to “feel” that a demon is putting pressure on their chest, neck, or other muscles in attempt to restrict their breathing. While it is certainly possible for people to hallucinate a clear, vivid image of a demon – visual hallucinations do not always occur.
Do everyone’s demons look different?
In most cases, the demon that a person hallucinates during sleep paralysis will be a combination of internal and external stimuli. If you look at drawings of sleep paralysis demons online, you’ll discover that there are similarities and differences between the demons being reported. The similarities may be due to common cultural or universal traits associated with demons, and differences may be due to individual psychological interpretations, subjective reprocessing, and other projections.
Are the demons encountered during sleep paralysis real?
No. The demons encountered during sleep paralysis may appear to be real, but they are nothing more than a hallucination that is experience during sleep paralysis. Many people believe they are a supernatural sign or something mystical, when in reality they are a byproduct of collective individual consciousness, brain activity, rapid-eye movement, and subconscious bursts. During the experience these hallucinations appear “real,” but from a scientific perspective, they are nothing more than a fear-induced deception.
Is there a way to prevent demonic encounters during sleep paralysis?
Yes. There are many useful techniques that you can use to stop sleep paralysis and prevent future episodes. Although it’s relatively common sense, an easy way to decrease the likelihood that you’ll experience sleep paralysis is by getting more sleep per night and increasing your sleep quality. Sleep paralysis is typically caused by poor sleep hygiene and restricted sleep over a long-term.
Other useful modalities for reducing the likelihood of sleep paralysis include: keeping a sleep journal and reducing stress. If you can reduce stress and consistently get enough sleep (with good quality), episodes of sleep paralysis should decrease. If they don’t, you may want to consult a sleep expert for additional advice.
Have you encountered a demon during an episode of sleep paralysis?
If you’ve been unlucky (or lucky) enough to encounter a hallucinatory “demon” during an episode of sleep paralysis, feel free to share your experience in the comments section below. You may want to describe: the specific appearance of the demon (e.g. whether it fit common cultural stereotypical characteristics of a “demon”), what the demon “did” to you or attempted to do, as well as the perceived duration of the experience. There are many people that have experienced sleep paralysis, and numerous cases of reported demons.
I’m not sure what’s going on here, I see many sexual demons in the middle of night. They are only interested in wife, and hide, sneak, when I’m not asleep, and have sex only with wife. Times I’m unable to see anything in the areas of her mouth while they are passionate and loving.
I get out of bed, return to bed full of Male and Female. She denies all, but they only have sex when she entertains the idea! This appears as a group of sex demons, I can see them in detail, hair, eyes, mouth, etc. They love her, and torment me through her. Why do I only see them after her?
How can she describe the sexual in detail as it happens and claims nothing. I see this and she says it exists, although it appears she is hiding it or waiting until I’m asleep. It’s very real to me, no harm done, but it appears it could be harmful! What am I experiencing?
I had sleep paralysis once and I saw a person – a crying woman… but she lied beside me then I fainted. I don’t know what that means. Does anyone?
‘Mental health experts’ seem to go to great lengths to try to disprove the existence of a supernatural world. They have NO IDEA what they are talking about and it is really a shame because if science could work hand in hand with spirituality so many more people would be helped. Demons and Negative Entities are VERY real.
I am a possession case and the victim of black magic and it happened to me after consulting with a fortuneteller who turned out to be a very evil person. When you come face to face with a demonic entity there is no denying their existence.
This thing actually grabbed me by the throat and threw me up against a wall with my feet off the floor. How do you explain that one science? It threw me down on the ground, got on top of me and pierced a hole straight through the center of my chest. It felt like I was being stabbed with a sword…then it violently entered me.
It has drained my soul of all of it’s energy…because that’s what negative entities do they feed off of human soul energy…and I no longer have ANY human emotions or have the ability to feel love. Love is not a chemical in your brain people, it a a construct of God in your soul.
When I prayed to God I would feel love energy enter my body and shoot out of the center of my chest and push this thing out of my chest. I have become mentally ill and all day long I have to listen to hateful, evil thoughts, and reason after reason as to why there is no God.
I never before had a mental problem in my life or even thought negative thoughts. I was a happy person. Now I am unable to feel happiness or even the human emotion of laughter. I feel the demons inside and around me, they squeeze and suffocate me and have wrapped themselves in and around me.
I’ve been through Catholic exorcism where I witnessed angels enter my body and fight with these things. Angels feel like pure love. Demonic energy feels like pure hate, depression, sorrow and it actually burns your skin when it touches you.
Anyway, I will not go on, but I will tell you the spirit world is unfortunately VERY real. I, honestly, wish that it wasn’t.
When I was 20 years old, I was having a dream and at some point I looked into a mirror (in my dream) and saw behind me a grassy, rolling hill with blue skies and white clouds. It was really pleasant. But then I noticed two dark beings wearing aprons (I think the aprons were red) standing on the hill behind me, and they were facing my direction, in other words, they were facing my backside.
(I’m still looking in the mirror, mind you, at what is behind me.) They were male figures, but totally dark. I thought, at first, that they were angels. Then I noticed a dark cloud behind them which was billowing behind them and moving towards them (towards their backs) and thus towards me. As soon as I saw these dark beings wearing aprons, I had the impression that the dream I was having was over, as if it had ended, and what I was experiencing from that point on wasn’t a dream.
It was as if I had entered a different state of perception and that I was now awake, or lucid, yet I was still looking through the mirror and noticing what was behind me. Anyway, suddenly everything turned purplish, the cloud turned purplish and also the two beings, and I heard a tone, like some great power had just been switched on and it’s vibration caused a specific tone to be heard, and I noticed that the billowing cloud rapidly overtook the two dark beings, so that I could no longer see them and then proceeded to rapidly overtake me (from behind.)
All during this time I was still thinking these guys were angels. Once the dark, purplish cloud overtook me, I could only see blackness, for nothing else was discernible, and I tried to move, and that’s when I noticed that I was bound somehow. Instantly, I attributed this to the two beings and thought that the cloud wasn’t a real cloud, but was some kind of powerful spiritual binding device, which worked once it was upon me.
So then I thought these weren’t angels, at all, but evil spirits intent on destroying me, and I panicked and thought I was about to die and so I called upon God to help me, but discovered that my mouth wouldn’t move, either, so that I couldn’t speak any words. At that, my panic went up about 1000% more and I again called upon God to help me (but this time calling out in my mind), “Father!” Once I did that I noticed light piercing the darkness, and that I was now no longer bound, and immediately afterward I discovered that I was in my bed, my heart still racing from the experience.
I had no idea that this experience was common or that it had a name: “sleep paralysis.” Since that day I’ve never experienced it again.
I have experienced sleep paralysis on a handful of occasions. In every case I get the feeling that a demonic entity is in my room. I do not see it, but it feels as if it comes upon me while I’m laying bed and attempts to suffocate me. It feels like it is covering my mouth and keeping it closed.
I am a Christian, but I don’t discount the science behind sleep paralysis. I understand that brain chemistry can create hallucinations, but I’m not willing to say that there isn’t a chance that these experiences are also spiritual. I was told as a child that a demon must leave or obey if you say the name of Jesus.
It is my natural response to attempt to say “Jesus” when I have these occurrences, but during these experiences it is as if my lips are glued shut. I have to force out, with great difficulty and struggle, the name “Jesus”, but when I do I instantly wake up.
These dreams/experiences feel as if they last for less than a minute. As I mentioned before I don’t actually see the demon. Although these experiences are intense, and may have different or mixed explanations, I do not fear the occurrence of them, because I truly believe that demonic forces have no control over me, or you, in Jesus’ name and authority. Sleep Well!
I experienced sleep paralysis for the second time last night. The first time it happened I was just drifting off to sleep. I hadn’t closed my blinds that night, and I could see a ghostly face at the window. It entered through the window and was floating above our bed. I couldn’t move or make a sound to wake up my partner, eventually I fully woke up and it was gone.
Last night again as drifting off, I felt a horrible presence in the room. I looked to my right and there was a black demon with red eyes standing next to the bed looking down at me, smiling. I closed my eyes tight and again was trying to call my partners name but all that would come out was air. This went on for about 10 minutes.
I have recently been taking Co-codamol before bed to help with back pain, and also take the antidepressant Amitriptyline, I think maybe this has something to do with it? Either way it is absolutely terrifying and I always feel exhausted the day after it happens.
I have had these types of experiences over the last 12 years. At times I awake sensing that something is in the room with me and a general sense of malicious intent. Other times I feel like I am going to die and fear motivates me to wake up, I am aware I am dreaming. Before I would call the name of “Jesus” and I would awake.
Like many of you, I go right back in if I fall asleep right after waking. I must stay up for 10 to 15 minutes to end the experience. At times I am so sleepy I cannot help but fall right back asleep. I always know it’s a dream but the fear is real. I think the demonic spirits are real.
I have had share experiences with other’s sleeping in the same room as me. Last night, for example, I had an experience where I felt like something was pulling my hair. I was finally able to wake my self up after sometime. I stayed awake for about half an hour and finally feel back asleep. A few hours latter my little cousin awoke with a nightmare that a ghost was trying to kill us.
While he didn’t experience the same incubus effect I did, I do think these events are connected and because my cousin is a child, his conscious is less refined. But it does helps to know I am not alone. I will pray before bed and cleanse my house of negative energy, hopefully this will help.
When I was young I had hypnagogic hallucinations fairly frequently. I discovered that I had them only if I was alone in bed and sleeping on my back. Now I always sleep on my side with my husband, my dog, or both.
However, I fell asleep in a recliner a few days ago, and had my first hallucination in over 20 years. I dreamed that I encountered a demon and for some reason bit its hand. I could feel its fingers between my teeth and could feel that I was nearly severing one of its fingertips with my teeth.
I came to and when I lifted my head to look up, the dream was immediately over. Although I’ve had some pretty intense visual and tactile experiences over the years, this one stands out–I can still vividly recall the sensation of biting that hand.
I have had multiple instances of SP that started 3 years ago. Some involves demons, some don’t… But I have encountered almost all of the subtypes, but just last night, I had the most terrifying experience with SP to date. It was the usual, you are immobile but you are completely aware of your environment – but I can feel a presence touching me. I always see demons in my SP/dreams before, but never have I encountered them getting into physical contact with me.
I was being touched almost everywhere, mostly on my private parts, and I was so scared and bothered but cannot really do anything about it. I was surprised that I was able to lift my arms to force my lips open to scream or breathe, but it just won’t open. I was trembling when I woke up and my friend on the other side of room freaked out when I told her about what happened to me. I mean, who wouldn’t? A demon sexually harassing you? Holy sh#t.
I have been seeing things that I know are not really there for 2 or 3 weeks now. I wake up and see myself in a room that has been burnt and my children who are sleeping with me are burnt. I start touching their face because it looks very real to me. It’s not until they wake up and ask what I am doing do I realize they are ok…
It’s me that’s not. This has happened several nights now In a row. Except last night they weren’t in bed with me and when I “woke” up I saw on the table next to my bed black women’s heads just sitting there and a red flame dancing around them. I looked I front of me and saw a tribe of painted black me dancing as I rubbed my eyes and sat up telling myself this is not real they began dancing on one foot, their faces were painted half red and yellow.
They only had cloth over their privates. I reached over and turned on the light and they were gone. I have started sleeping in the day so that I don’t have to be terrified at night. I am really unhappy
I have had 6 episodes (hard to forget) all of which have been the same entity. It wasn’t listed but the outcomes are familiar. My hallucination consists of a cloaked figure carrying a scythe who I perceive as the grim reaper. Every dream he appeared in was a combination of being outside or inside the house and the setting was always in the exact location of where I fell asleep.
He would walk towards me and as soon as I caught a glimpse of him, my legs would tense up, my body would feel tight and I would immediately fall down or freeze in place if I was already lying down. He would then walk towards me and as soon as he touched me my entire body felt cold with goosebumps popping everywhere and it would be hard to breathe.
I couldn’t yell or speak, but I have been told that in my efforts to scream in my dream would come out as weird animal moaning noises in the real world. In one dream I did manage a glimpse of what was under the hood and it looked like a face put together by smoke but nothing familiar looking apart from the hood and scythe.
I’ve suffered for 20 plus years. Sometimes I’m just attacked, choked, sat on hit and other times I’m molested. My body will start feeling like electric shock is going through it, then I see the shadow of the demon it’s black and looks like a reptile of some sort. It will choke me, bite me, sit on me and molest me. I’ve had several assault me at one.
I feel myself quit breathing at times. Other times it will just choke, sit on me and bite me. I will cry and scream from the pain. I pray to God for me to wake up. I too can wiggle my hand and try to bring myself out. I have many experiences and stories too many to list. Enough to write my own book which I intend to do someday. All I know is this is a scary experience and I sure hope it goes away.
I’ve learned that allowing them to do what they want to do I feel less pain. It’s so hard for me to believe it’s just in my mind because I see them and feel every single thing that happens to me. The electric shock and biting is the most painful if it all. The choking is so scary and there are times where I’m face down and they are laying on top of me suffocating, being choked and smothered while they are biting and molesting me.
It’s so scary. Any help would be appreciated. Just remember praying to God and fighting them for me anyways has worked the best to come out of it. Be safe and take care.
I’ve been having these exact dreams since I was 10. I can never move or make much noise. I’m ALWAYS being assaulted by demons and ghosts in multiple ways. My head gets sawed off, I get raped, I’m forced to marry one, they send my spirit to hell, they molest me, and they trick me. I hate it. It’s scary and there’s no way I can rest like that. Worst part is, no professional could ever help me understand.
I have had SP intermittently within the past four years or so. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, I FEEL as if a HUGE gust of wind is blowing on me, and it’s as if I’m being suffocated. I can’t move my body, at all! I can’t even open my eyes! But my mind is thinking…so I pray to God to protect me, and I remind myself that it will be over soon. That I won’t die.
Recently, within the past two months or so, I had SP…that whole charade…fell back asleep, and had another SP attack. I do suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome–though, I’ve never been officially diagnosed. I have had medical testing for my thyroid, anemia…etc, but I’m in the clear. I’ll pursue getting further tested soon, and I want to explain my SP experiences… I think that would help a doctor to perhaps diagnose me with CFS? Any one else have similar experiences??
This just happened to me. I was lying in bed and I kept jolting awake and then suddenly I felt like wind was rushing through me and out my back through by chest. I opened my eyes and didn’t see anything in my room. I was way more conscious of it and I was awake. I was able to move a bit (making it seem way more real and freaky). I prayed so hard for Jesus to banish evil from my body, and the moment I thought the word “Jesus,” it stopped. I wanted to cry, it was terrifying. This is the first time its happened to me – I will be sleeping on my side from now on.
I have SP at least 4 times a week and sometimes I’ll go to sleep have SP wake up go back to sleep and have it again. Then I’ll just stay up and won’t go to sleep. Usually my SP is a dark presence in my room. I can hear it but I can never really see it. I will feel it sit down next to me or make me feel like I can’t breathe.
But last night On Valentine’s Day of all days, the demon, person, thing IDK what it was raped me and kept biting me really hard. At first I freaked out and in my dream I thought I was kicking my legs and moving my arms… but I know it was just in my mind. Eventually I realized I’m dreaming and just let it happen until I woke up. And now I can’t fall asleep BC I’m scared it will happen again and I can’t stop thinking about it. I would love a surefire way to make this stop.
I experience sleep paralysis a lot, and when I do I always feel someone massaging both of my breasts and it won’t stop till I force myself to wake up by breathing heavily. I don’t see anything, I just always feel it. But sometimes I see hands but no faces or anything other than that. I also experience the feeling of my soul being sucked from my body twice.
I’m really scared I don’t know how to stop this permanently. I just always force myself to wake up by breathing really heavy, praying to God and sometimes trying to move my hands, it always works but what if it won’t work next time anymore? I’m scared, is it possible that I might never wake up from sleep paralysis? I want this to stop permanently. It’s really scary and I feel raped and disgusted please help. Any other tips?
I am 17 now and I have had 4 encounters, all between ages 16-17. My first encounter started on pretty quickly, I was in a white room and suddenly everything went dark, and I found myself half awake half asleep, my body was in flight or flight mode, and I could feel my fear and adrenaline kicking in, but I still couldn’t wake up. Finally I felt something around me and felt like I was have my chest pressed on while my whole body was being pushed up, my back arched not just in my “dream state” of mind but also my physical body, I tried to scream for my mom in the other room yet my words wouldn’t come out.
And for some odd reason I finally was able to scream “lord help me” and I woke up. Now I’m not a religious person, I don’t go to church anymore, and I am very confused on what religion to believe in, but that’s beside the point. I woke up in fear and I couldn’t sleep in the dark or with the door closed for weeks. My second encounter was a little more unclear I believe I was waking up if not already and all of a sudden, I opened my eyes to a dream right next to me.
I closed my eyes and kept chanting what my friend told my to about how I am with god, and he will protect me, but this time the demon only laughed and had a conversation with me, saying things to taunt me, and also to know me. I always have so much fear and my chest always tightens up before the “demon” comes and even if I think about it before I go to sleep I have a feeling he will show up, the feeling is very unpleasant, and I have not had a nightmare where I feel the fear that I do when he’s around.
It’s like nightmares and other stuff are ridiculous and baby things compared to him. I can’t remember my third because I feel as if I backed it out or it was just like the 2nd one or close to it. But my forth was just last night 11/14/15-11/15/15 I dreamed of some funky things like fishing and my dad and dog dying which left no impact on me at all but for some reason I started to think about the demon. I kept trying to stop saying you do he will come, and he did.
When I saw him I thought he would say something try to taunt me or scare me turns out her just stared at me the whole time, fight and flight mode was still going on. Yet it looked like he was just watching me or examining me, so I pulled myself out of sleep all the way, somehow and woke up, later I went back to sleep, yet again he showed up after a dream of gymnastics this time he had something to say…
I can’t remember word for word of what he said and I don’t want to make something up, so I won’t say anything. But me and him where in a dark landscape where it felt empty and free. But when he was there my body did the normal tighten of the chest and fear that I never really felt until I met him. But this time he left, I finished another dream and awoke, not going back to sleep since I could see light through my window.
I’ve had SP/night terrors for years I called them my two wake ups I’ve had them on my back and stomach mine started with hearing the intruder enter To him getting in bed then sitting on my back bending over to breath in my ear my bed was a waterbed with the mirrored headboard and SP was so regular I laid vertical one night facing the headboard so I could see knowing I wouldn’t be able to move – and he came and I saw him.
He was like a monkey mixed with something about the size of a two year old. Over the years I’ve had many experiences and I’ve learned to wiggle my finger to bring myself out. I can almost call for help, but have noticed the longer I’ve had them (approx 18 years), when I come out of one, I go right back in 3 or 4 times.