The few readily available books on sleep paralysis and “supernatural assault” mostly contain interviews with sleep paralysis sufferers and the history of different cultural explanations for sleep paralysis. This information is very helpful in understanding the history of sleep paralysis as well as identifying the common symptoms. I applaud these authors (such as David J. Hufford) for writing books containing invaluable information on sleep paralysis and bringing some level of knowledge to the public domain. However, I have yet to find a true scientific inquiry into the source of sleep paralysis and how to prevent it from occurring using empirical data.

Some people I have encountered on the internet (especially on YouTube) will insist that they know the cure for sleep paralysis. After inquiring, they will either try to sell you their $50 dollar e-book or claim that the only cure is to declare Jesus Christ as your only lord and savior. Within the e-books, you will find some general information regarding SP and some very generic tips on how to “cure” it, including religious suggestions (some of which may help you in decreasing frequency but not cure it). Twitter is not much better of a tool for information on SP. Most tweets are about “making money with sleep paralysis” and are elaborate affiliate marketing schemes to sell aforementioned e-books on the topic.

I have nothing against people believing in religion in their private lives. However, I do have issues with religion when religion tries to involve itself in scientific matters, in this case claiming that the cure to a medical sleep condition is to convert to a certain faith. I find it absolutely appalling that tactics like these are used as recruiting techniques by religious groups, although it doesn’t surprise me. Many of the videos I’ve seen on YouTube are of that nature. I do like to give people the benefit of the doubt, so maybe some of the aforementioned people have had success with praying during a sleep paralysis episode (as the feeling of empowerment does aid in ending episodes) and are just trying to help people with the only method they know to work. However, I will note that I have been attacked by some Christians for questioning their methods.

As for doctors, many are very poorly informed regarding sleep paralysis; that is if they have even have ever heard of the condition. It is entirely possible that psychiatrists, when are presented with a case showing the typical symptoms of SP (sudden paralysis, hypnagogic/hypnopompic hallucinations, vibrations, levitation,etc.), may diagnose their patients as schizophrenic or psychotic—both of which are certainly not true. Sleep paralysis sufferers aren’t insane. And the doctors who have heard of SP will likely prescribe anti-depressants, which inhibit REM sleep, thus curtailing the likeliness of an SP episode. Although partially effective in preventing SP episodes I don’t believe this to be the best solution since antidepressants will change the mood and biological chemistry of the patient not only during sleep but during the waking hours as well. Furthermore, the side effects of such drugs can be worse than the original condition they are meant to treat. I see this method as treating the symptoms of a disorder rather than investigating to find the source of the problem and treating that instead.

If we are to find a cure for sleep paralysis we first need to understand the root of the problem.

Possible causes of sleep paralysis

The first assumption I will make is that SP is caused by something internal and biological, as it would seem apparent to me that it would be.

Since the human body is only known to naturally become paralyzed during REM sleep (known as REM atonia and is hypothesized to stop the body from physically acting out dreams) and isolated sleep paralysis usually occurs as a person goes in or comes out of REM sleep, then we can conclude that SP is related to the biological mechanism responsible for REM atonia (paralysis). If this hypothesis were true then we must study this mechanism in SP sufferers as well as in non-experiencing individuals to determine where the problem lies.

There are, however, some questions I have regarding the aforementioned hypothesis.

Let’s assume that in individuals who experience SP have an irregular mechanism responsible for REM atonia. Would it mean that the mechanism responsible for retaining/blocking consciousness is working properly but the mechanism for ending/beginning REM atonia is irregular? Or could it mean that even in sufferers of SP the mechanism for REM atonia is working properly but for some reason consciousness is being retained where as in healthy individuals the memory of the paralysis is blocked out? Now let’s say either of these assumptions are correct; what is causing the irregularity to begin with? Is it diet (such inadequate levels of melatonin)? Genetic predisposition? Perhaps both or even some factor entirely different.

Another concern I have with the assumption that the cause of SP lies within a mechanism responsible for REM atonia is that many SP sufferers (myself included) have reported experiencing SP at the onset of sleep. Since REM sleep usually occurs after 4.5 hours of NREM (non-rapid eye movement) then why do many people experience SP at the onset of sleep? Can this mean that there may be an underlying issue in some or all of SP sufferers regarding REM sleep cycles?

These questions need to be addressed by conducting studies (likely using a combination of EEG and EKG and other recordings) before anything can be answered.

Possible solutions

If the cause of SP involves REM sleep mechanisms then we should be able to find a cure or remedies involving correcting these mechanisms. Through my research and tests (albeit on myself) I have found natural ways to get SP episodes under control and many ways to minimize its occurrence. I believe if these methods were tested further, they could strengthen the argument that SP is caused by said issues with REM sleep mechanisms.

I categorize these into three possible routes of treatment:

1. Minimizing the number of sleep paralysis episodes without the use of drugs.
2. Preventing sleep paralysis with the use of drugs.
3. Learning to control SP episodes (and being able to end them at will).

Minimizing sleep paralysis episodes

If we want to minimize the occurrence of SP naturally then we must look at the factors which are known to exacerbate its frequency. These factors include:

• Irregular sleep schedule
• Lack of sleep
• Mental conditions such as stress and bipolar disorder
• Sleep problems such as narcolepsy
• Sleeping in the supine position
• Use of certain medications and substances

Most of these issues are easily correctable. Sleep schedules can be altered through will and exercise can be encouraged to promote healthier sleeping patterns. Stress can be minimized through a number of methods including exercise, activities such as yoga, meditation, lifestyle changes, therapy, and so forth. Sleeping position can be altered through practice (sleeping on your side is better overall). Lastly, medications can be changed and substance use (such as caffeine) curtailed or stopped.

I’ve found that just correcting these issues vastly diminishes the prevalence of SP.

Preventing sleep paralysis with drugs

If any drugs are to be used to treat SP, I would assume the most effective ones would be those which alter REM sleep. There are two types of drugs that come to mind: anti-depressants and cannabis, although each one has its pros and cons.

Antidepressants are well-known to suppress REM sleep and are currently being prescribed to patients with SP. The Wikipedia article on antidepressants states:

All major antidepressant drugs, except trimipramine and mirtazapine, suppress REM sleep, and it has been proposed that the clinical efficacy of these drugs largely derives from their suppressant effects on REM sleep. The three major classes of antidepressant drugs, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), profoundly suppress REM sleep. Mirtazapine either has no effect on REM sleep or increases it slightly. The MAOIs almost completely suppress REM sleep, while the TCAs and SSRIs have been shown to produce immediate (40-85%) and sustained (30-50%) reductions in REM sleep. This effect often causes increased fatigue in patients who take large doses of antidepressants for extended periods of time. Such fatigue can occasionally interfere with a patient’s everyday activities. Abrupt discontinuation of MAOIs can cause a temporary phenomenon known as “REM rebound” in which the patient experiences extremely vivid dreams and nightmares.

It has been shown that antidepressants are effective in preventing SP episodes. However, I do believe that the side effects of such drugs for use in all SP patients may outweigh the benefits. The use of antidepressants should be a last resort for SP sufferers and should, in my opinion, only be used in extreme cases. Effective but with many side effects.

Cannabis, on the other hand, has similar REM suppressing abilities but fewer side effects (more about marijuana and REM sleep). I’ve had excellent success treating SP with medical marijuana. It is not necessary to smoke copious amounts to obtain positive effects. I’ve found that all that is necessary is one hit (about .1 gram) of smoked cannabis (indica variety) 30 min – 1 hour before bed or .05g of baked and ingested cannabis 2 – 3 hours before bed. There has not been a single time I have experienced SP directly after using cannabis. The side effects are far fewer than antidepressants and cannabis is after all a natural substance. Nevertheless, marijuana is still highly illegal in many countries around the world and states within the United States. Unfortunately, funding for research involving cannabis is still taboo and prohibited in many places.

Controlling sleep paralysis

Surprisingly there are benefits of having SP. The more you have SP, the more you learn about it, thus the ability to control it may become apparent. SP can also lead to what is known as an out-of-body experience (OBE).

SP often is accompanied by vivid visual hallucinations, usually of evil connotations (e.g. demons, witches, shadow figures, or aliens). Although these hallucinations are often terrifying for the experiencer, they are merely reflections of that person’s current state of mind, that is to say that they are fearful and rationalize their situation in such a manner that they conclude that it must be caused by supernatural forces. Once they come to this assumption and truly believe this, they do indeed experience terrifying hallucinations. The hallucinations cause panic and more fear, which in turn cause the sufferer to become more stressful, which in turn leads to more SP episodes—a vicious cycle indeed.

Some individuals who have experienced SP long enough will eventually conclude that the hallucinations are not real and will no longer fear them. At that point the hallucinations cease to strike fear in the individual and can even be conjured up and manipulated at will. Instead of seeing negative images and experiencing a feeling of impending doom, the individual can see fantastical images and experience a sense of bliss or ecstasy.

Personally, I have experienced SP for most of my life and in recent years I have not had a single negative experience. I have conditioned myself to focus on positive thoughts whenever I feel a symptom of SP. Now, instead of thinking about ghosts or demons, I imagine a close friend, family member or celebrity whose works I enjoy and instantly they appear before me, often smiling or doing something silly to make me laugh, which in turn breaks me from the SP episode within seconds. Laughing is also effective in ending SP as breathing ability is retained and can be just enough to regain movement. I see no reason why patients can not be taught similar techniques by their doctors to mitigate the trauma brought on by SP.

Another benefit of cultivating control of SP is the ability to attain an OBE directly following an episode of SP. I find OBEs to be absolutely amazing for self-development as well as just being fun. The OBE (sometimes referred to as “astral projection”) has been written about and documented, although it still remains a fringe topic in terms of science. I am highly skeptical regarding the claimed nature of the OBE as some claim it is actually the mind traveling outside of the physical body to other dimensions and such. I find that it is more plausible that OBEs are a form of lucid dreaming or at least a closely related form of conscious dreaming. Again, more needs to be studied to determine the true nature.

When I feel SP coming on I focus on separating from my physical body and “projecting” myself to a certain location (either real or imaginary) and suddenly I’m in the scenario with the ability to move about as a spectator. I can fly around and move through objects at will. Eventually after a few seconds or minutes I return to my body and wake up immediately.

I haven’t met a single person who has regretted having an OBE and most people say they were life-changing experiences. I believe the correlation between SP and the OBE needs to be studied further as it can have vast implications in the field of biology and psychology, namely on the topic of consciousness.

I truly hope more will be researched on the topic of sleep paralysis and knowledge spread among doctors, since they have the greatest ability to affect the lives of SP sufferers if only they were more informed regarding it. It has to start somewhere, so this is my call for more to be done to help prevent and cure sleep paralysis.

Note: I am not a doctor and the information contained here should is only for informative purposes.

This is the same question many sufferers of sleep paralysis have; one I once had myself. A quick search in google brings you to stopsleepparalysis.org, a website that claims to have all the answers. Here is their introduction video:

(note: see how long you can last without laughing)

I was in complete shock after watching this video. I still cannot tell if the creator of the video is serious or if he knows there is a lack of readily available information on sleep paralysis and decided to take advantage of its sufferers. Either way, the information on the site is misleading.

Let’s break down this video.

For the first two minutes of the video, the speaker talks about the folklore pertaining to sleep paralysis. Nothing too out of the ordinary.

At 2:25 is where things get interesting. The speaker says:

…I know what sleep paralysis is and I know how to stop it and I’ve seen tons of people beat it for good. So bear with me while I explain all this, because I’m sure many of you will not like the truth about this. But this will be all the information that you’ll need to terminate sleep paralysis for good from your life.

Yes, I want to know more!

You may have guessed by now that sleep paralysis is caused by demonic presence in the room.

Wait a minute…. So, you are trying to tell me that each time I experience sleep paralysis it isn’t because of REM atonia and my mind hallucinating but instead because of demonic beings possessing me? I’m going to need a bit more convincing than that.

There is some good news and some bad news. The bad news is that demons are smart and deceptive and very evil…

We’re doomed! Those damn demons. They are so smart and deceptive…and evil.

…the good news is that there is a way to turn the tables on them and make them the victims of your next encounter, as well as end [sleep paralysis] for good.

OK, this guy is totally full of crap. I won’t spend any more time analyzing his promotional video. Bottom line, stopsleepparalysis.org is full of lies. The site is to sleep paralysis science what FOX News is to journalism. It is pandering to those who believe in superstition and giving them false information regarding a medical condition.

I know some people believe in the occult and the hypnagogic/hypnopompic hallucinations associated with a typical sleep paralysis episode are enough to sway your beliefs on the matter, but I must stress that there is concrete science behind sleep paralysis. Not everything is known about the sleep paralysis but new studies are currently being done, which hopefully will give us a better understanding of the condition.

He does allude to one decent point, that being that it is possible to manipulate a sleep paralysis episode with proper techniques.

How to stop sleep paralysis

If you find yourself paralyzed in your bed, the best thing to do is to not panic. Keep yourself calm. Assure yourself that you are only experiencing an episode of SP and it will subside shortly. Try to focus on moving a finger or your facial muscles. These are good techniques that always help me break from SP and wake up.

However, you may find that it is better to “ride out” the episode and instead of focusing your mind on negative thoughts. Try tuning your mind in to something a bit happier (maybe a loved one, a place you enjoy being, a fond memory). This will manipulate your hallucinations and possibly send you into a lucid dream, effectively dodging the negative symptoms associated with SP.

If you want to prevent sleep paralysis from occurring altogether, well, that can also be done.

Change your sleep habits. Sleep paralysis often occurs during periods of extreme drowsiness, from high stress levels, or awkward sleep patterns. Get your proper dose of REM sleep and SP will usually subside.

Sleeping position is also important. Make sure you aren’t sleeping in the supine position (on your back) as SP tends to occur in this position. Sleep on your side of on in the prone position (on your stomach).

Since I enjoy using sleep paralysis and the MILD method as a starting point for lucid dreams, I would advise you to learn to control sleep paralysis first before trying to prevent it from happening all-together. I know that the experiences sleep paralysis can offer can be life-changing (good or bad) and the connotation of the episode depends on your mind state. But if you don’t want to lucid dream and want to be able to sleep in peace, then the preventative measures will be more satisfactory to you.

First, a video from YouTube user Viper93000 recreating an episode of sleep paralysis he experienced.

Thus far, this is the most accurate portrayal of an episode of sleep paralysis I have found. Although this video clip does not show the fear experienced while one is paralyzed (well, maybe a little bit), it does allude to the psychedelic and possibly spiritual experiences SP can have.

Here are some of the symptoms of sleep paralysis I have experienced:

• Inability to move
• Tingling
• Pressure
• Levitation/falling
• Hypnagogic/hypnopompic hallucinations
• Panic / Sense of impending doom
• Strange odors
• Noises
• Tastes

Let’s go into a bit of detail about each of those symptoms.

Inability to move

Just like it sounds. You literally are paralyzed, thus have no control of your body. However, the eyes still retain their ability to move. I believe this to be the link to what REM (rapid eye movement) sleep consists of, or rather why we move our eyes while asleep.

In Lucid Dreaming by Stephen LaBerge, he goes into detail regarding the sleep research he did at Stanford University. One section talks about the correlation between eye movement and where the dreamer is looking in the dream, mainly that his studies found the two to be linked (i.e. the direction the dreamer looks corresponds to the direction his eyes are moving).

You also have no control of your vocal cords while in sleep paralysis. You can try to scream, but no sounds will come out. Maybe you’ll be able to get out a squeak (or at least imagine you are).

Trying to regain control takes a lot of focus. I find it’s easiest to focus on one finger or to try to cough; that usually helps if you want to break free.

Tingling

Right before your body becomes fully paralyzed, you may experience a series of tingling vibrations, beginning from my toes and going up unto the top of the head. Others have reported a heat sensation that starts from the toes and goes up to the head.

I think this symptom actually feels pretty good but is mildly awkward. If you let yourself go, you may find that this tingling sensation feels somewhat like an orgasm (probably why I like it).

Pressure

It may feel like there is an immense pressure on your body (especially the chest) while experiencing sleep paralysis.

I’ve felt as if a ton of bricks were on my back (when sleeping in the prone position). I’ve also experienced the sensation of being underwater (such as ears popping and an overall pressure on my body). These were uncomfortable positions but not painful, at least not for me.

Levitation/Falling

This one actually feels pretty cool. It’s like your bed vanishes and you just start falling into a pit (well actually it can be quite scary in that case). Or you may find yourself levitating above your bed.

I’ve had pretty fun experiences once I got acclimated to the strange feeling of suddenly falling or levitating.

Visual hallucinations

This is the fun/scary stuff.

While experiencing sleep paralysis you may hallucinate. What you see while hallucinating is entirely up to you. Your personality and experience with SP will determine what the apparitions can be.

The first few experiences I had with sleep paralysis were terrifying, mainly because they happened unintentionally.

Once I “got stuck” and after about 5 seconds concluded that Death had condemned me. I saw a small, doll-like Grim Reaper fly through my wall and into my room. It was hovering around my bed until I closed my eyes. Suddenly, it was inches from my face staring at me with a blank white skeletal face. Oh the terror!

But on the flip side, I’ve also had many positive experiences with sleep paralysis.

Another time, after getting the tingling sensations and hissing noises, I focused my mind on positive thoughts, namely a girl very dear to me. I watched as my room transformed into a wooden villa situated on a pristine beach, staring at said girl. A feeling of ecstasy engulfed me. How could this be? She was right in front of my eyes! Every last detail perfectly represented. I spoke with her as I caressed her hair. After about 2 minutes the scene started to fade and I had to focus very intently to keep it from vanishing. This bought me some time but eventually I lost control and woke up.

Basically, I’ve realized that once in sleep paralysis, your mind can wander and your superstitions and fears can haunt you. If you are scared of aliens then you’ll probably imagine that you’re being abducted. If you believe in ghosts then a ghost will come and haunt you. This probably explains all the people who have claimed to have been abducted by aliens or have seen and been attacked by ghosts or other creatures of folklore (just a thought since I don’t necessarily subscribe to paranormal stuff).

Panic / Sense of impending doom

You may believe you actually died or that your death is approaching rapidly.

I believe the initial panic leads to the frightening hallucinations. The key is to stay calm when sleep paralysis presents itself, unless of course, you get a thrill out of being eaten alive by zombies.

Strange odors

You may smell phantom smells.

This hasn’t happened to me many times but a few times I smelled strange stuff; can’t really explain what I smelled so all I can say is they were strange. I believe if I were to focus on the sense of smell while in SP, I could possibly smell whatever I wanted (the same way you see things you think about).

Noises

During sleep paralysis you may hear buzzing, static or even high pitched frequencies (or anything for that matter).

I’ve heard voices before while in SP. I often realize I’m experiencing SP when I hear a phantom person say something to me then try to look but can’t move. It’s usually stuff I’m thinking about in my head and it suddenly makes the transition into being said aloud (but not by me).

More often I experience a series of buzzing and high pitched frequency noises.

This YouTube user, AKMetal666, posted a clip of the noises he heard during an episode of sleep paralysis (remember, this is one person’s representation of the noises heard).

Pretty intense stuff.

Tastes

Some people report tasting odd things while in sleep paralysis.

I normally don’t have a sense of taste while in SP (or at least I don’t taste anything strange). However, I’ve done a bit of experimenting and have found that it is possible to taste anything while in SP. I once just thought of sushi and instantly had the taste of salmon sashimi. I decided to push it one step forward and experience the sensation of eating wasabi, only to discover I could replicate it faithfully. I haven’t done too much more experimentation besides that but I’d imagine you can taste anything you desire while in SP.

These are the most common symptoms of sleep paralysis. If I missed anything please drop me a comment and I’ll be sure to include it.

"The Nightmare" by John Henry Fuseli

I wake up in the middle of the night and try to change positions, but my body is immobile; every muscle completely paralyzed. Panic sets in and thoughts of impending doom scurry to the forefront of my mind. The door slowly creeps open. I see a stout robed demon coming towards my bed; haunting me with every step. I try to scream but only a small squeal comes out. All of a sudden, the demon is choking me with immense pressure. I shut my eyes, assuring myself that this mustn’t be real, yet the pain and terror persists.

As quickly as it began it ends. My fingers slowly regain their mobility. I’m still in my bed although I now lay alone, seemingly safe from danger and without any fear. The terror is over. But what exactly happened?

This may sound like a scene from a horror film but it is a very real occurrence associated with a sleep condition called Sleep paralysis.

Sleep paralysis (SP) is condition in which your body experiences REM atonia (the natural biological mechanism which prevents you from acting out your dreams) but your mind retains conscious thought. Think of it as your mind being awake but your body is asleep.

The Wikipedia article on Sleep paralysis states:

Sleep paralysis occurs when the brain awakes from a REM state, but the body paralysis persists. This leaves the person fully conscious, but unable to move. The paralysis can last from several seconds to several minutes “after which the individual may experience panic symptoms and the realization that the distorted perceptions were false”. As the correlation with REM sleep suggests, the paralysis is not entirely complete; use of EOG traces shows that eye movement can be instigated during such episodes. When there is an absence of narcolepsy, sleep paralysis is referred to as isolated sleep paralysis (ISP).

Sleep paralysis may occur at the onset of sleep (hypnagogic) or when emerging from sleep (hypnopompic). A Sleep Paralysis episode may also be accompanied by hallucinations. These hallucinations tend to be terrifying in nature, often having to do with being attacked by aliens, ghosts, monsters or other creatures of folklore. The hallucinations associated with SP also tend to be very realistic, so much so that sufferers truly believe the hallucinations to be real.

Many cultures have come up with elaborate folklore likely associated with SP. For example, the Japanese refer to this phenomenon as kanashibari (金縛り, literally “bound or fastened in metal,” from kane “metal” and shibaru” to bind, to tie, to fasten”) and in Iceland folk culture it is generally called having a “Mara.” A goblin or a succubus believed to cause nightmares (the origin of the word ‘Nightmare’ itself is derived from her name).

I’ve experienced Sleep paralysis at least 100 times in my life, the first episode occurring when I was about 14 years old. Typically, I’d stay up reading until I passed out with my face in my text book. An episode of sleep paralysis lasting anywhere from 10 seconds to a minute would occur on some nights as I awakened from sleep or went into sleep.

I’d be reading an American history text book and suddenly find myself staring at Ben Franklin, standing stoically by the foot of my bed. He would just stare at me until I freaked out and finally regained control of my muscles.

Or after a long day of school I’d return home for a nap only to find myself “stuck” for a few minutes while a witch licked my body with her ghastly tongue, keeping me completely still with her Medusa-like gaze.

And yes, I felt pain during these episodes. I distinctly remember being able to feel pain, smell odors, taste odd tastes, hear strange noises (lots of hissing and radio static), and of course see what was going on around me.

Needless to say, these episodes would scare the living crap out of me. At that time the information on SP was not as extensive as it is now (I’d argue that there is still a lot more to explore regarding SP than has currently been researched). It was hard to find information on the internet regarding SP that wasn’t just speculation. Still, at this time not much is known as to how sleep paralysis happens.

There is a lot of negativity on internet sleep forums regarding sleep paralysis. This is entirely understandable since SP can be terrifying. I, however, am a staunch advocate of the cultivation of SP in order to lucid dream.

Sleep paralysis episodes are great launching pads for lucid dreams, especially those which allow complete dream control. I look at SP as a blessing to lucid dreamers or those who want to experience an OBE (or astral projection). Every time you experience an episode of SP, you are presented with the chance to go seamlessly into a lucid dream. This requires a lot of practice, especially in relaxation and mental control.

If you experience sleep paralysis, I advise against thinking of yourself as a sufferer but instead as a lucky individual because you have the opportunity to experience fantastical dreams and possibly spiritual events that will alter your perception of life and reality.