Interior Locution and Sleep Paralysis

[AnonymousGuest]

Please do not judge me or my family. I am emotionally sensitive to being judged by other people and easily have my feelings hurt. With that said, I believe in God but do not attend church for many different reasons. But that is not what my post is about. I’d like your opinions on what I should make of this.

When I was younger, around 34-35 years ago, I was sitting alone in the woods behind my friend’s house waiting for her to join me. The sunlight shined through the heavy tree tops and the rays, which were coming from all different angles, somehow all managed to aim to the spot where I was sitting. In that dark wooded place, I was in the one, and only, area engulfed by sun rays.

Without a doubt, it was a very spiritual setting. And then I had what I understand to be an Interior Locution. God spoke to me and told me that I would have two sons, which I do, and that my first born son would be special. I didn’t have to ask, I understood that the word “special” would mean that God had plans for my son.

Over the years I tried to keep my eyes open for the special plans that God had for my son. I knew there would be a day that I understood and I patiently waited.

Recently, in the past year, my son has been having what is called “sleep paralysis”. He is asleep and awake at the same time. During those times, something evil is visiting him. My son is an Atheist. During his last sleep paralysis episode, he was so frightened that he told me that he is really considering that this is a true spiritual issue that cannot be written off by just being a dream.

I am truly worried for him. I just told him what I told you about God speaking to me. I said that maybe God’s plan for him was to reverse his belief system so that he could help others. I really don’t know what to do at this point. I am praying hard for him and he hasn’t had another sleep paralysis episode since I started praying so much. I’m worried about what might happen next.

Any thoughts on our situation would be appreciated.

 

[Dorothy]

First of all…keep praying for God’s will to be done. Second…make an effort to not worry, as worry does not help but only hinders things. When you are tempted to worry make an act of trust in the Lord.

Since you mentioned your son is an atheist and you said something to him about reversing his beliefs,…you may have planted a seed that the Lord can water.

 

[robert_chacon]

While I certainly do believe in the reality of the devil and demons, I used to experience the same sleep paralysis as a teenager and young adult, and at times still experience it. The experience does have a very evil , demonic sensation and I prayed fervently when I experienced it as a young person. However, I also realized that it could have just been the nature of the sensation that made the experience seem to have a nefarious cause. Since the sensation feels as though it is coming from outside of thebody and seems to take over control of one’sown body it definitely feels like an attack from an outside source. Since I have had these experiences occasionally as an adult, I have been able to experience them from the perspective of someone more mature emotionally, intellectually and spiritually. I am more inclined to believe the cause is most likely to be from the odd sensations of a more natural physiological phenomenon. Nevertheless, even as an adult, with the conscious awareness of what I just explained during such episodes, I still pray with the possibility of the experience being of a demonic nature being in mind. It is indeed a very strange and worrisome experience, but I wouldnt be too concerned. However, the devil is real, and I would not want to immediately rule out a possibility of his evil presence.

Whatever the cause, it would be a very good opportunity to discuss the nature and sources of good and evil. If there is a supernatural source of evil, then there is of course a supernatural source of good, and His name is God, and He has complete power over all, including satan and his demons.

 

[on_the_hill]

I’ve had sleep paralysis several times starting around age 12 and ending in my 20s. It’s very, very scary. After the first few times I learned to recognize the signs that it was coming, and I’d force/will myself to relax until it subsided.

I haven’t researched the cause, but my guess is it happens when your body is halfway between sleep and awake. It would get me in the mornings if I was awake and started to fall back asleep.

 

[AnonymousGuest]

Thank you all for your replies.

To Dorothy, I also hope that this helps plant the seed and start reconsidering his beliefs.

To Robert and OTH, I have done some research on sleep paralysis too and it seems that some people, like my son, feel it was a true spiritual attack on them. His first few episodes, he saw something dark and shadowy in the corner of his room that he knew was evil. This last episode, he didn’t see anything but felt the presence of something even more evil than the last episodes. He felt that it was there to harm him. For somebody who doesn’t think about spirituality much, if ever, this was a true awakening for him. He said this made him really think deeper about what his beliefs were.

 

[bilop]

Please do not judge me or my family. I am emotionally sensitive to being judged by other people and easily have my feelings hurt. With that said, I believe in God but do not attend church for many different reasons. But that is not what my post is about. I’d like your opinions on what I should make of this.

When I was younger, around 34-35 years ago, I was sitting alone in the woods behind my friend’s house waiting for her to join me. The sunlight shined through the heavy tree tops and the rays, which were coming from all different angles, somehow all managed to aim to the spot where I was sitting. In that dark wooded place, I was in the one, and only, area engulfed by sun rays.

Without a doubt, it was a very spiritual setting. And then I had what I understand to be an Interior Locution. God spoke to me and told me that I would have two sons, which I do, and that my first born son would be special. I didn’t have to ask, I understood that the word “special” would mean that God had plans for my son.

Over the years I tried to keep my eyes open for the special plans that God had for my son. I knew there would be a day that I understood and I patiently waited.

Recently, in the past year, my son has been having what is called “sleep paralysis”. He is asleep and awake at the same time. During those times, something evil is visiting him. My son is an Atheist. During his last sleep paralysis episode, he was so frightened that he told me that he is really considering that this is a true spiritual issue that cannot be written off by just being a dream.

I am truly worried for him. I just told him what I told you about God speaking to me. I said that maybe God’s plan for him was to reverse his belief system so that he could help others. I really don’t know what to do at this point. I am praying hard for him and he hasn’t had another sleep paralysis episode since I started praying so much. I’m worried about what might happen next.

Any thoughts on our situation would be appreciated.

If you think this may be an actual case of demonic obsession/possession, contact the local Catholic diocese and ask to be put in touch with the diocesan exorcist.

He will examine your son, and likely insist on medical and psychological tests to determine if there are natural causes for his experiences.

On top of that, pray. Go to Church. Go to confession.

God Bless

 

[AnonymousGuest]

If you think this may be an actual case of demonic obsession/possession, contact the local Catholic diocese and ask to be put in touch with the diocesan exorcist.

He will examine your son, and likely insist on medical and psychological tests to determine if there are natural causes for his experiences.

On top of that, pray. Go to Church. Go to confession.

God Bless

Thank you for your suggestions. I’m really not sure what it is.

 

[Tous_Logous]

I started suffering from sleep paralysis as soon as I was in elementary school. Mine started out with me just hearing repetitive sounds, such as a siren or something else. I would be awake, and it would feel like it was going on for hours. Once I reached high school, that’s when my sleep paralysis got really bad. There would be some nights where I would have a very violent dream one and I would feel physical pain while sleeping. If I got stabbed with a knife in my back in my SP dreams, I would fail physical pain in my back.

I still remember one SP dream where I was running. Running from what I don’t know. But it felt like a hand grabbed my shoulder and once I turned around I woke up.

I haven’t had any severe “outbreaks” of SP since, but once in a while I feel like I do (I feel like I’m being poked with a finger in some of these SP dreams, like I’m being molested). It can be a truly horrifying experience.

If I were you I would really read up on sleep paralysis, the health effects from it at least and the possible causes. It could be that your son is going through a lot of stress. I still don’t understand the cause of mine when I was younger. Don’t assume that because your son is an atheist, that he is being attacked by “something evil.” It could very well be that maybe he is, but you should at least try to get him checked out by a psych doctor and have him evaluated. Don’t automatically link his sleeping condition as something demonic. Keep praying for him in time, but get him some help.

 

[bilop]

Thank you for your suggestions. I’m really not sure what it is.

Has he seen medical professionals? If they can’t figure it out, there is a possibility it may be a spiritual malady.

If your son was a Catholic, I would advise starting with regular confession, Mass Attendance, prayer, and the use of Sacramentals (Holy Water, the Rosary, Blessed Salt), etc. These thinks often can ward off minor spiritual issues, or even demonic activity.

But, as he is not, I would get him fully checked out medically and psychologically, and if the cause can not be found, consult an exorcist. They are trained to rule out natural causes, and deal with such issues. Also, many non-religious people seem more able to believe in demons and exorcists, than simply going to Mass or Confession.

God Bless

 

[Joseph73]

Your son is being visited by a demon.

You should contact your local parish priest.

I will pray for you.

 

[Aelred_Minor]

I used to experience sleep paralysis about once a year for many years, though fortunately it’s been about five years since the last episode.

Once it was just plain paralysis and a little fear and confusion at first just through not fully understanding what was happening, but no feeling of an evil presence.

Every other time though there was this feeling of something palpably evil and immediately dangerous nearby. It was slightly different every time. Once it felt like it was someone sitting on the other side of my bed, and I couldn’t turn to see it. Once I thought it was moving under the covers. Once it felt like it was right in front of my face, invisible but with a feeling of incredible malice seeming to pulse from it to me. I don’t even know how to explain the feeling. Only once (unless a strange early childhood memory was in fact an instance), the very last time, did it take visible form. It was like a pig-snouted demon out of a Medieval manuscript. That time I also thought my bed lifted off the floor, and the covers off my body, and the demon grabbed my paralyzed hand and bit it. When I awoke fully I was in the same position as when I had first half-woken up, except that my arm and hand which had been under the covers were now above them.

Anyway, sleep paralysis seems to be very much a medical condition, for which they make a medication if it is severe enough. I honestly don’t know whether the terrifying experiences that sometimes accompany it are purely natural hallucinations from parts of the brain still being asleep while others are awake, or if demons really do attack us when we are in that vulnerable state.

I don’t know what practical advice to give other than to keep praying, and better still go to mass with your son.

 

[on_the_hill]

This thread prompted me to do a little reading on it.

It turns out that most dreams that occur with sleep paralysis are about intruders, demons, etc. There’s been a fair amount of medical research into the phenomenon. It tends to be associated with anxiety, migraines, and sleep apnea.

 

[Phalanx]

I can usually feel a sleep paralysis coming on, it takes quite the effort snapping out of it before one is too far gone.

I have very vivid dreams and when i was younger I read alot about the subject and how to willfully force a sleep paralysis. I wanted to experience the outer body “floating”, total dream control and what not. I did not think about the negative sides that tend to happen. I found a very effective method involving diet and deep relaxation. Worst came to worst and I got visisted by “shadow people”. Its a very scary phenomenon that is pretty much unexplainable. Do NOT google it if you’re easily scared…

Needless to say I got scared s***less. So I immediatly decided to stop doing this. but i still wanted to try the “floating” thing, so I turned to deep meditation as practised by buddhists. And wow, after weeks of studying and trying I got into their deep meditation, where everything except your own breath cease to “exist”. And I could not stand the “floating” for more than 2-3 seconds before i went into panic and snapped out…

Anyways, what im going for here is, I kind of know how scary these things are. And after my experiences the tips i have are:

1. Do not eat at least 4-5 hours before going to bed.
2. If you feel your body going into total relaxation, change position. even if just a litte. Like move your arm under your head or something. This is what works best for me. It takes the muscles out of relaxation and lets the brain get in sync.
3. Keep a cross on you (necklace) or in your room. Its a good reminder to not be afraid.
4. And the mandatory: Remember that there is only one God, Jesus Christ our lord and saviour. And as long as you put your faith in him, you’ll be cared for.

These worked for me. But depending on your sons age I dont know if its good to tell him about these things. If he’s really young he could be having vivid nightmares or something, and yapping about demons or floating could scare him even more. I did not have a diagnosis or anything. Just too much “knowledge”, and these tips above are working out.

If his sleep paralysis continues, the obvious answer is to contact an expert.

EDIT: grammar correction.

 

[SinnersAnonymus]

Try to find a good priest who knows about spiritual afflictions, an exorcist (a priest who specializes in the demonic) would be the best. Do not be discouraged if you have to do some leg work until you find a good spiritual advisor knowledgeable about these situations.

Sleep paralysis can be very biological, however sometimes it can also be spiritual (I imagine it may also be both sometimes, the demonic tend to act like opportunistic parasites).

Based on the first experience and subsequent accurate fruition of the message (demonic prophecies from what I understand cannot tell the future but only give statistically probable predictions), I would lean toward it being very possible that spiritual issues are afflicting your son. Again a good spiritual director who can meet with you and talk to you is advisable before making a definitive diagnosis. Being checked by regular doctors is a good idea, normally an exorcist will want to rule out and understand current medical issues.

The problem is understanding what “special” means. A good spiritual director may have better insight.

What I would normally recommend to a practicing believer aside from spiritual advisement are the sacraments (confession, communion, baptism and such). Good confessions are the best way to break demonic activity. I found regular mass attendance to work as well when coupled with a daily rosary. I understand you mentioned you have reasons for not going to church so I am not trying to be insensitive or critical, I am just mentioning what I have seen work. I personally know other people who suffered from various spiritual afflictions and it helped them.

God Bless

 

[Deus_tecum]

Please do not judge me or my family. I am emotionally sensitive to being judged by other people and easily have my feelings hurt. With that said, I believe in God but do not attend church for many different reasons. But that is not what my post is about. I’d like your opinions on what I should make of this.

When I was younger, around 34-35 years ago, I was sitting alone in the woods behind my friend’s house waiting for her to join me. The sunlight shined through the heavy tree tops and the rays, which were coming from all different angles, somehow all managed to aim to the spot where I was sitting. In that dark wooded place, I was in the one, and only, area engulfed by sun rays.

Without a doubt, it was a very spiritual setting. And then I had what I understand to be an Interior Locution. God spoke to me and told me that I would have two sons, which I do, and that my first born son would be special. I didn’t have to ask, I understood that the word “special” would mean that God had plans for my son.

Over the years I tried to keep my eyes open for the special plans that God had for my son. I knew there would be a day that I understood and I patiently waited.

Recently, in the past year, my son has been having what is called “sleep paralysis”. He is asleep and awake at the same time. During those times, something evil is visiting him. My son is an Atheist. During his last sleep paralysis episode, he was so frightened that he told me that he is really considering that this is a true spiritual issue that cannot be written off by just being a dream.

I am truly worried for him. I just told him what I told you about God speaking to me. I said that maybe God’s plan for him was to reverse his belief system so that he could help others. I really don’t know what to do at this point. I am praying hard for him and he hasn’t had another sleep paralysis episode since I started praying so much. I’m worried about what might happen next.

Any thoughts on our situation would be appreciated.

I had those types of dreams years ago, and they did not begin to go away until in my sleep I started to rebuke them in the name of Jesus. This was in a period of time when I was distant from the Church. These horrific dreams were instrumental in my renewal of belief in Christ and faith in Him and Our Father in heaven.

 

[AnonymousGuest]

This thread prompted me to do a little reading on it.

It turns out that most dreams that occur with sleep paralysis are about intruders, demons, etc. There’s been a fair amount of medical research into the phenomenon. It tends to be associated with anxiety, migraines, and sleep apnea.

From what I read, they aren’t 100% sure what the cause is but they’re taking educated guesses. I’ve never heard of migraines being a cause. That’s interesting as I suffer from migraines and they tend to run in families. Ironically, he also has some anxiety and sleep issues too. He mentioned it to his doctor, but the doctor didn’t seem too concerned about his sleep paralysis.

 

[AnonymousGuest]

Thank you all for your helpful responses.

To those of you who suffer(ed) from sleep paralysis too, did you ever feel you had to talk yourself into believing that it was only a medical condition and not truly a spiritual attack?

If the medical field could give a firm diagnosis as to why it was happening, and not just taking educated guesses, then I would accept that. Obviously, we will never hear them say, “why yes, you really are being visited by something evil, I can’t help you with this”. That’s not how the medical field does things.

The thing that really, really, has me thinking about medical vs. spiritual is that this is supposedly the subconscious mind doing this. My son’s subconscious mind wouldn’t be giving a second thought to something evil in his room.

Edited to add - my son is an adult (23) who still lives at home. Nobody on my husband’s side of the family nor my side has ever experienced this (that we know of).

 

[AnonymousGuest]

The problem is understanding what “special” means. A good spiritual director may have better insight.

I know it means chosen for something. I don’t know what he was chosen for. I never doubted that God actually talked to me that day. He told me I’d have two sons and that’s exactly what I have (no daughters, just 2 sons). I also somehow knew that he’d probably be an adult when we understood what he was chosen to do.

 

[on_the_hill]

To those of you who suffer(ed) from sleep paralysis too, did you ever feel you had to talk yourself into believing that it was only a medical condition and not truly a spiritual attack?

To tell you the truth, that it may have been a spiritual attach never crossed my mind until reading this thread.

I simply learned to recognize the signs that it was coming on and I forced myself to relax and breath calmly, to not fight it, to just let it happen and it would subside pretty quickly. It’s one of those things that seems to be worse if you fight it. Basically it was the same technique I used to overcome a couple middle-of-the-night panic attacks.

I can’t say whether or not Divine intervention helps people when they pray during a sleep paralysis event, but I would bet that praying helps people relax and refocus, which alleviates the physical symptoms. Sort of what I did, only without the prayer. Like I said, I never had any inclination that it was a spiritual attack.

 

[fred_conty]

Thank you all for your helpful responses.

To those of you who suffer(ed) from sleep paralysis too, did you ever feel you had to talk yourself into believing that it was only a medical condition and not truly a spiritual attack?

If the medical field could give a firm diagnosis as to why it was happening, and not just taking educated guesses, then I would accept that. Obviously, we will never hear them say, “why yes, you really are being visited by something evil, I can’t help you with this”. That’s not how the medical field does things.

The thing that really, really, has me thinking about medical vs. spiritual is that this is supposedly the subconscious mind doing this. My son’s subconscious mind wouldn’t be giving a second thought to something evil in his room.

Edited to add - my son is an adult (23) who still lives at home. Nobody on my husband’s side of the family nor my side has ever experienced this (that we know of).

I think you are having a difficulty time deciding the source of the problem, whether it is from the spiritual realm or from the natural realm. But you really don’t have to decide.

It is easy to fix the spiritual side. Just get a green scapular, have it blessed by a priest, and have your son wear it. Then do the same for yourself. Then say the prayer each day, “Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death.” Now that is simple and inexpensive. But how will this take care of the supernatural side of this problem?

Mary, the mother of Jesus, appeared to Sister Justine in Paris France, 1840, and told her to make the green scapular. And that those who wore it she would protect from the devil.
But it had to be blessed by a priest, and worn or carried by the person. It is effective.
Here’s a story.

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=690740&page=3
“…Dreams of demons holding me down while i slept and trying to strangle me. Horrid stuff.”…“Also, i’ve never suffered from those terrifying dreams while i slept with me scapulars on. I have a green one and a blue/black St Michael one. They 're a bit grotty after never taking them off but i reckon its worth it.”

After you do this, which is so easy to do, then you have one side out of the equation taken care of.

I would just like to add, that just because your son may be harrassed by the devil it dosen’t mean he is taken over by the devil. Harrassment does not require an exorcist, prayer will usually do it. Use the green scapular as the man above in the story used, and see how that turns out for you.

I would also recommend some pictures of Jesus and/or Mary in his bedroom.

To get a free green scapular, google “green scapular”.

May God bless and keep you. May God’s face shine on you. May God be kind to you and give you peace.