SLEEP PARALYSIS: HISTORY, BIOLOGY, AND THE STRANGER

Sleep Paralysis: History, Biology, and the Stranger

Krisha Therese T. Pajarillo

University of the Philippines Visayas

SLEEP PARALYSIS: HISTORY, BIOLOGY, AND THE STRANGER

After a deep sleep, you slowly become awake. Then you hear your brothers and sisters
laugh and tell stories with each other. They are happy and you dont want to miss the fun. So you
decided to get up. You open your eyes, but for some unknown reason, you simply cannot. Then
you try to move your fingers but they would not move an inch. The situation seems like a dream
but you know it is not. You are conscious of what is happening around you but your entire body
is paralyzed. This type of experience is what we call sleep paralysis.

Based on the article of Craig Hamilton Parker entitled Demonic Possession, Attacks and
Sleep Paralysis (2012), people in the medieval times believed that sleep paralysis is caused by a
lascivious male demon that they refer to as the incubus, and his female counterpart, the
succubus. However, by the early modern era, many began to interpret sleep paralysis as a
product of witchcraft. Some psychologists even suggest that sleep paralysis may be due to alien
abductions.

In the Philippines, sleep paralysis is referred to as bangungot. According to Ilocano

folklore, bangungot is caused by the batibat that takes the form of a huge, old, fat woman that
resides in trees (Ramos, 1971). When these trees are cut down and made into support posts for a
house, the batibat then migrates into holes found in these posts. Humans are forbidden to sleep
near these posts. If they do, the batibat transforms to its true form and suffocates them by sitting
on their chests.

SLEEP PARALYSIS: HISTORY, BIOLOGY, AND THE STRANGER

Based on the report of Godofredo Umali Stuart Jr. (2013), attributed to bangungot are
SUDS (Sudden Unexpected Death in Sleep) that frequently occurs after gluttonous eating and
bacchanalian drinking. Bangunot is common to males of ages 25-44 years old, presumably
healthy and without any known cardiac illness. Death certificates filed in Manila during 19481982 showed that 96% of reported cases are men, mean age of 33 years, and 3am modal time of
death (Munger and Booton, 1996). In addition, the 2003 UP health survey on SUDS reported 43
deaths per 100,000 young Filipinos every year.
Indeed, history has played an important role in introducing the concept of sleep paralysis.
But what is the real story behind this phenomenon? According to Stephanie Pappas (2012), sleep
paralysis (SP) was discovered to be caused by certain brain chemicals. During the REM (rapid
eye movement) phase, the brain is very active and the person experiences the most intense
dreams. However, in some cases, some voluntary muscles in the body become paralysed during
REM. Found in these voluntary muscles are nerve receptors called the metabotropic GABA B and
the ionotropic GABAA or glycine. Certain drugs were used to switch off these receptors in rats
and it was discovered that the only way to prevent sleep paralysis during REM was to shut both
receptors at the same time.
According to Ryan Hurd (2010), sleep paralysis may be hereditary and it can occur to
both men and women. Other factors linked to sleep paralysis include erratic sleep schedules,
mental conditions (e.g. stress and bipolar disorder), sleeping on the back, narcolepsy, night-time
leg cramps, substance abuse such as overuse of stimulants (e.g. caffeine), physical fatigue,

SLEEP PARALYSIS: HISTORY, BIOLOGY, AND THE STRANGER

certain medications such as those for ADHD, and side effects of galantamine which is a
supplement taken by Alzheimers patients (Hurd, 2010).
As stated in Shelley Adlers book entitled Sleep Paralysis: Night-mares, Nocebos, and
the Mind-Body Connection (2011), she mentioned several symptoms associated with sleep
paralysis. These include the inability to move or talk, pressure on the chest, throat and abdomen,
pounding heart rate, difficulty in breathing, extreme fear and terror, feelings linked to death or
dying, hearing strange sounds like buzzing or crackling paper bag, feeling levitation or shifts in
gravity, sensing an evil presence in the room, hallucinating images of frightening intruders in the
room and feeling like they are touching you, and full mental awareness that everything was real.
Indeed, SP symptoms inject intense fear to sleepers. According to Ryan Hurd (2010), the
fear caused by the paralysis also allows people to easily bring up some of their past experiences
which provide the same sensation. Once the persons subconscious begins to connect these past
and present sensations of fear, the brain then starts to interpret the experience based on these
narratives. However, hypnagogic hallucinations (HH) after the paralysis could typically be
harmful.
The aftermath of SP is even worse because of its psychologically detrimental effects. In
order to overcome these, Hurd (2010) elaborated several ways on how to treat sleep paralysis
naturally. First, one must relax and refrain from moving too much. Second, try to break the
paralysis dream by wiggling your toe. Third, clench your fist and try to move your facial
muscles. Fourth, breathe deeply. And last but not the least, prepare an affirmation by assuring
yourself that you are not in danger.

SLEEP PARALYSIS: HISTORY, BIOLOGY, AND THE STRANGER

In addition, Hurd (2010) also suggested several ways to prevent multiple paralysis attacks
of SP in one night. One way is to spend at least ten minutes of exercise before going to bed. You
can also turn on a lamp and look at it for a full minute to reset the circadian rhythm of your body.
It is also important to refrain from eating foods that contain heavy fats and sugar. Instead, have
carb-heavy snacks such as pasta and bread. Another good option is to drink a glass of milk.
Hurd (2010) introduced the concept of the stranger in his book entitled Sleep Paralysis:
A Dreamers Guide. According to Ryan, there are times that the strangers face is not clear, and
sometimes, there is no face at all. In worst cases, not being able to see the strangers face causes
people to hallucinate about scary images such as witches and demons. Therefore, it is important
to stay attentive and focused on the actions of the stranger. The stranger could be an angel and
give you healing gifts, and accompany you to different places you never imagined (Van de
Castle, 1994).
No one really knows about the real identity of the stranger. Many have tried to provide
explanations, but all of them were inconsistent. However, at the end of the day, the strangers
identity would not really matter. What is important is how you react to the situation.
When in state of sleep paralysis, it is important to note about trust and acceptance. Assure
yourself that you are not in any harm, and just allow the paralysis to take over your body.
Remain calm and positive as you patiently wait for the moment when your body will finally be
able to move and break the paralysis.

SLEEP PARALYSIS: HISTORY, BIOLOGY, AND THE STRANGER

References
Internet Sources
Bizarre Phenomenon Of Sleep Paralysis Causes You To Encounter Demons In Your Dreams.
(2015). Retrieved May 3, 2016 fromhttp://www.messagetoeagle.com/bizarrephenomenon-of-sleep-paralysis-causes-you-to-encounter-demons-in-yourdreams/#ixzz48CXKLQZ0
Culture and History. (n.d.). Retrieved May 3, 2016 from
http://www.thesleepparalysisproject.org/about-sleep-paralysis/culture-and-history/
Hurd, Ryan. (2010). Review of Sleep Paralysis: A Dreamers Guide eBook by Ryan Hurd.
.Retrived March 17, 2016 from http://www.lifeevolver.com/review-sleep-paralysisdreamers-guide/
Hurd, Ryan. (2010). Sleep Paralysis, Fear, and Spirituality. Retrieved May 3, 2016 from
http://dreamstudies.org/2010/02/26/spiritual-sleep-paralysis/
Sleep Paralysis Definition.(n.d.) Retrieved March 17, 2016 from
http://www.medicinenet.com/sleep_paralysis/article.htm
Sleep Paralysis.(n.d.) Retrieved March 17, 2016 from http://www.webmd.com/sleepdisorders/guide/sleep-paralysis?page=2
The Sleep Paralysis Project. (n.d.)About Sleep Paralysis. Retrieved March 17, 2016 from
http://www.thesleepparalysisproject.org/about-sleep-paralysis/
Pappas, Stephanie. (2012). Brain Chemicals That Cause Sleep Paralysis Discovered. Retrieved
March 17, 2016 from http://www.livescience.com/21653-brain-chemicals-sleepparalysis.html

SLEEP PARALYSIS: HISTORY, BIOLOGY, AND THE STRANGER

Pappas, Stephanie. (2013). Strange Sleep Disorder Makes People See 'Demons'. Retrieved May
3, 2016 from http://www.livescience.com/28325-spooky-film-explores-sleepparalysis.html

Book Sources
Adler, Shelley. (2011). Sleep Paralysis: Night-mares, Nocebos, and the Mind-Body Connection.
Hurd, Ryan. (2010). Sleep Paralysis: A Dreamers Guide. Electronic version.
Hurd, Ryan. (2009). Transforming Sleep Paralysis into a Healing Gift. Paper presented at the
annual Psiber-Dreaming Conference, October 3, 2009.
New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press. 4. Hartmann, Ernest. (1984). The Nightmare: the
Psychology and Biology of Terrifying dreams. New York:Basic.
Parker, C. (2012). Demonic Possession, Attacks and Sleep Paralysis.
Ramos, Maximo D. (1971). Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Philippines: University of
the Philippines Press.
Munger, R. and Booton, E. (1996 ). Sudden and unexplained death in adult Filipinos.
International Journal of Epidemiology.
Van de Castle, R. (1994). Our Dreaming Mind.New York: Random House.