Hypnagogia/Sleep Paralysis

[Counterpoint]

Not really a nice story.

I meant that it was an interesting story. I know first hand that an encounter with a shadow person can be unnerving.

 

[Mr_Clean]

To the OP - You say you don’t have narcolepsy. Does this mean you had a sleep study and were found to be normal or you just don’t have the other symptoms associated with it?

As to what you are saying concerning out of body experiences and other phenomena related to the spirit realm. I have no scientific data at my disposal to argue for or against. I bet if I asked the sleep drs I work for I would get some rolling eyes. Not to belittle your beliefs because I don’t know one way or the other. I have an interest in these sort of events from a purely curious standpoint. I have read many accounts of NDE, which I find to be very similar. I don’t know what ppl see or where they go when they experience the episodes we are discussing here but I have a base fear of them. I fear that what is experienced is possibly encounters with demonic spirits. Even most NDEs I’ve read have some underlying part that tends to detract from what is taught and held as truth by the Church. Now hypnagogic hallucinations, whatever they may be, could be out of body experiences. You won’t find hard proof of this but I’ll accept its a possibilty. If you are in the spirit realm and seeing shadows or feel someone is on top of you or whatever, I doubt its of God. There are warnings concerning consulting the dead and such and I lump this stuff with it. So beware and be careful. All spirits are not good - some want to harm us. The harm is likely not going to be felt physically. I would not encourage going after these encounters.

God bless.

 

[annem]

Counterpoint:

I meant that it was an interesting story. I know first hand that an encounter with a shadow person can be unnerving.

Hi…What do you mean by shadow people?

Does this have anything to do with a course in miracles?

Here is a recent journal article on the subject of psychic ability:

*J Cogn Neurosci. 2008 Jan;20(1):182-92. Despite widespread public belief in such phenomena and over 75 years of experimentation, there is no evidence that psychic ability exists.

May God flood you with light, Annem

 

[Counterpoint]

What do you mean by shadow people?

“Shadow Person”

 

[Counterpoint]

To the OP - You say you don’t have narcolepsy. Does this mean you had a sleep study and were found to be normal or you just don’t have the other symptoms associated with it?

Yes, that’s what it means.

 

[annem]

Counterpoint

“Shadow Person”

Hi, okay what do you mean by shadow person and is it connected to a course in miracles?

Also, what do you think of this research: *J Cogn Neurosci. 2008 Jan;20(1):182-92. Despite widespread public belief in such phenomena and over 75 years of experimentation, there is no evidence that psychic ability exists.

May God flood you with truth, Annem

 

[Mr_Clean]

Counterpoint

Hi, okay what do you mean by shadow person and is it connected to a course in miracles?

Also, what do you think of this research: *J Cogn Neurosci. 2008 Jan;20(1):182-92. Despite widespread public belief in such phenomena and over 75 years of experimentation, there is no evidence that psychic ability exists.

May God flood you with truth, Annem

Is this what you’re refering to?

Although a friend of Schucman, Thetford, and Wapnik, Catholic priest Benedict J. Groeschel has criticized ACIM and the related organizations. Finding some elements of the Course to be what he called, “severe and potentially dangerous distortions of Christian theology”, he wrote that the Course is “a good example of a false revelation” [32]

and that "it has . . . become a spiritual menace to many.” [33]

 

[Mr_Clean]

Counterpoint

Hi, okay what do you mean by shadow person and is it connected to a course in miracles?

Also, what do you think of this research: *J Cogn Neurosci. 2008 Jan;20(1):182-92. Despite widespread public belief in such phenomena and over 75 years of experimentation, there is no evidence that psychic ability exists.

May God flood you with truth, Annem

Is this what you’re refering to?

Although a friend of Schucman, Thetford, and Wapnik, Catholic priest Benedict J. Groeschel has criticized ACIM and the related organizations. Finding some elements of the Course to be what he called, “severe and potentially dangerous distortions of Christian theology”, he wrote that the Course is “a good example of a false revelation” [32]

and that "it has . . . become a spiritual menace to many.” [33]

 

[RedFox0456]

I meant that it was an interesting story. I know first hand that an encounter with a shadow person can be unnerving.

Just wanted to make sure you were not taking it as a story for entertainment was all.

 

[jesuspsr]

Happens to me a couple times every month. Scary when it happens, but I usually laugh about it when I wake up.

I know it’s not real so I don’t feel threatened physically or spiritually.

Yup, same with me.

 

[Counterpoint]

Yup, same with me.

Have you had any experiences with hypnagogic entities?

 

[CHRISTINE77]

I wonder if this disorder is more common in men than in women? Personally, I have never experienced it, but my adult son has.

Also some of these experiences people are talking about on this forum seem like they could be demonic. Are you all sure that you have sleep paralysis, and not something more sinister?

 

[Counterpoint]

I wonder if this disorder is more common in men than in women? Personally, I have never experienced it, but my adult son has.

I don’t believe one gender is more susceptible to hypnagogia/SP than another. However, those who sleep on their backs appear to be more prone to it than those who sleep in the fetal position.

Also some of these experiences people are talking about on this forum seem like they could be demonic. Are you all sure that you have sleep paralysis, and not something more sinister?

This depends on one’s interpretation. From a scientific perspective, hypnagogic entities are explained as hallucinations. From a religious perspective, they are explained as supernatural entities (e.g angelic or demonic beings).

 

[RedFox0456]

I don’t believe one gender is more susceptible to hypnagogia/SP than another. However, those who sleep on their backs appear to be more prone to it than those who sleep in the fetal position.

This depends on one’s interpretation. From a scientific perspective, hypnagogic entities are explained as hallucinations. From a religious perspective, they are explained as supernatural entities (e.g angelic or demonic beings).

I partially agree with you. From a purely naturalistic perspective, these are explained as mere hallucinations. From a purely spiritual perspective, these are explained as entities. From the Catholic perspective, each case would need to be analyzed independently to determine the probability of natural or supernatural causes. For instance, most cases where demonic activity is suspected result in the Church declaring a psychological condition. There are some that are determined to be the result of demonic attachment, however.

 

[jesuspsr]

Have you had any experiences with hypnagogic entities?

Oh yeah, very frightening at first, until my Psychiatrist explained to me what’s going on.
After that, it just tickles me now.

 

[jesuspsr]

This depends on one’s interpretation. From a scientific perspective, hypnagogic entities are explained as hallucinations. From a religious perspective, they are explained as supernatural entities (e.g angelic or demonic beings).

Believe me when I say, If it’s demonic you will know and you well not forget it. It stays with you. Even when it’s dark in your room you can see it. Those things are darker then the darkness in your room. You can feel the evil and you can smell the stench.

As for angels. I haven’t seen any. But I know that I have herd there music. It’s the most beautifulness music I’ve ever herd, that I know no human can mimic.

God bless

jesus g

 

[Counterpoint]

Oh yeah, very frightening at first, until my Psychiatrist explained to me what’s going on.
After that, it just tickles me now.

I guess you have decided to accept the scientific explanation.

 

[ROBO_the_First]

Okay…bear with me here…this is going to be LONG…and probably span multiple posts.

I have Narcolepsy(N). Technically, I’m diagnosed with N with Cataplexy. I was diagnosed only 4 months ago, yet…looking back…its obvious that I’ve had it for almost 10 years now. Up until about 6 months ago, N wasn’t even considered. I’ll get more into my own personal experiences in another post…I just want to give a quick rundown of the disorder to those who aren’t familiar with it.

For me, its pretty easy to look back and realize I’ve had this for 10-12 years (onset around 20 years old is pretty common). Specifically, the Cataplexy associated with it is pretty unique to N.

There are 4 typical symptoms associated with it: EDS, or Excessive Daytime Sleepiness, Cataplexy (70 %of narcoleptics), sleep paralysis, and hallucinations. I have all of them and seem to be pretty much a textbook case.

First of all, its important to understand our sleep cycles. When the average person without N falls asleep, they usually spend 2-3 hours in deep sleep (stages 1 and 2 ), after which they arrive at REM sleep (rapid eye movement, stage 4). REM sleep is known to be the stage in which a person dreams just prior to waking up. During my sleep study, I entered REM sleep 5 seconds after falling asleep. During REM, our brains put our bodies into a state of paralysis, to keep us from hurting ourselves if we act them out. This is where sleep paralysis and the ‘hallucinations’ come into play.

For narcoleptics, our bodies often put us into this paralysis BEFORE we fall asleep…hence the sleep paralysis. This is also when experiencing hallucinations may happen. Hallucinations are typically visual, auditory, tactile (physical touch)…although tactile are very rare. Horrific nightmares are pretty common, as well. Sometimes the freaky hallucinations roll right over into a bad nightmare or vice versa. I use the term hallucinations loosely, as that tends to lead to the belief that they are not real…to anyone who’s experienced a hypnagogic (falling asleep) or hypnapompic (waking up) hallucination, they and the terror they cause are very real.

Contrary to popular belief, most narcoleptics don’t sleep well at all. As our bodies are constantly putting us into REM sleep, we typically don’t sleep for more than 20-30 minutes at a time. Our ‘sleep’ usually consists of a bunch of nightmare riddled cat-naps. Proper medication makes things better, but its rare a person is able to completely adapt back to normal.

That is pretty much the relevant aspects of N, as it pertains to this. Hope this helps…any questions feel free to ask…I’m not sensitive about my N in any way.

Soon I will post about my own experiences, particularly. At work now (note: overnight shift + narcolepsy = unpleasant), and my brain needs a break for a little while!!

God bless!!

ROBO

 

[Counterpoint]

Believe me when I say, If it’s demonic you will know and you well not forget it. It stays with you. Even when it’s dark in your room you can see it. Those things are darker then the darkness in your room. You can feel the evil and you can smell the stench.

As for angels. I haven’t seen any. But I know that I have herd there music. It’s the most beautifulness music I’ve ever herd, that I know no human can mimic.

I was simply presenting two different interpretations.

 

[Counterpoint]

During REM, our brains put our bodies into a state of paralysis, to keep us from hurting ourselves if we act them out. This is where sleep paralysis and the ‘hallucinations’ come into play.

Based on my personal experience, the sleep paralysis is the result of reacting with fear whenever we find ourselves in the hypnagogic (upon going to sleep) and/or hypnopompic (upon waking up) state. Hypnagogia is not necessarily an unpleasant experience. In fact, I had my most profound spiritual experience in this state.