The Old Hag Disorder and Sleep Paralysis



Posted: Friday, March 14, 2008

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I have experienced this a lot and its far from being fun. What is sleep paralysis? I will explain. I am no expert on sleep disorders but I know enough about them considering the fact that I have one that is unexplained. When we fall asleep we enter different stages and eventually we got to REM state (rapid eye movement) where believe it or not our brains are the most active, our metabolic rate is at its height. A hormone is also naturally secreted to our muscles to temporarily paralyze them while we are in this state which prevents us from acting out our dreams. When we come out of REM state we enter lighter states of sleep and during that time the hormone naturally wears off so we can wake up properly. However, occasionally that does not happen. We can once in a while, wake up during our REM state. Therefore when that happens we are well aware or even too aware of our surroundings. But we are unable to move or speak. But sometimes hallucinations occur during an episode of sleep paralysis. We may hear buzzing, ringing, knocking, roaring or any kind of sound that may not even be happening. Or if there is a soft sound like a whisper, it may be amplified because of the state we are in. If you believe in having an out of body episode, they say this is the best state to experience one. Sometimes we may feel like we are floating or falling.

Sleep paralysis can be an odd thing to experience. However at times we can have some frightening experiences during a sleep paralysis episode. Many times a malevolent presence has been noted. Sometimes we may see a dark entity that appears very much like a hag attacking us either by crushing, strangling, or sitting on the individual. And the whole sleep paralysis episode whether the hag phenomenon is experienced or not only lasts a few seconds up to a minute at the most. However it seems much longer than that to the individual experiencing it. It has been known to happen when the individual is either making a huge lifestyle change, under incredible physical or emotional stress, or hasn't been getting a proper sleep over a long period of time. Also if you sleep on your back its more likely to happen. But not necessarily. I never sleep on my back and I have had it plenty.

I have experienced all of the reasons as to why this kind of thing would happen. Occasionally I experience it without having to experience the hag phenomenon. One time I felt like I was spinning, saw lightening bolts accompanied with a metallic sound. There were no hags that I can remember but the experience was frightening. Who knows, I may have had an out of body experience. The last time it occurred was at the end of this past January. I was sleeping on my stomach, and thought I heard the phone ringing. I couldn't pick the phone up obviously. I saw every angle of the room, and sensed a woman using the phone probably trying to call me. I was stressed about unable to get the phone. Then all of a sudden a dark entity, the shape of a man enters the room and he opened the door. I thought it was my husband at first but then I saw it wasn't. The man had a demonic voice and yelled at me to stop being so lazy and to get the phone. Next thing I knew he pushed me down onto the mattress. Then I woke up, confused as to what had happened. Everything in the room appeared normal and it was 6:30am. Later that day I asked my husband if he by chance heard the phone ring at 6:30am even though I knew it never happened. He said he didn't. I even checked the call display to see if anyone did phone at that time. Of course, nothing was registered. And as far as that dark entity was concerned. Some may believe we are at our most vulnerable state while experiencing an episode of sleep paralysis. Some may believe during this time you are seeing "evil spirits". But the more I think about it, this entity was a part of myself, I am not exactly easy on myself so it may have been my dark side calling me lazy. We could drive ourselves crazy wondering what really occurs during this state. I am not even sure what I believe. Maybe there really are spirits during that time playing around with you, knowing you are in a vulnerable state. But maybe it's our brains doing odd things. No one knows.

I just hope to not have to experience any of it again. Especially if those "hags" are going to be involved. 
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Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)
» left by CaSandra
 2 years 106 days ago.
Oh yes, this is what happens to me however I don't have the hag experience. I have however experienced nightmares where I know it is a nightmare and is not real but I can't get out. When I call on the name of Jesus Christ I wake up.
» left by Lynda
from Washington 2 years 92 days ago.
I've saw an article in a science magaizine describing this. I was so relieved to see it described by someone else. My first thought was, that is me. I usually have it happen once or twice a week. I come awake to find an older woman leaning over me and it startles me and I wake up waving my arm at her as though I'm trying to shoo her away. For a while I was totally convinced these were ghosts after me and that I was going crazy. It still scares me when it happens but at least I know what it is now.
» left by chas from granite city 149 days 3 hours ago.
Ok ive had all of the above.but it can happen to me 3 or 4 times a night.ive seen the figures ive felt like i was being held down or floating.one inncident i seen the figure fly towards me it got closer an closer then felt like it went n me or passed threw me it was screamin.its been happening to me for 20 something years now.and they say stress or something triggers it.its happend to me when none of that has happend to me no stress no nothing.but the odd thing is it happens alot when i sleep n a place that is supposed to b haunted or has a ghost
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