What Is Sleep Paralysis: Why You Might See Demons on the Edge of Consciousness
- Chethana Janith
- Aug 30
- 5 min read
Chethana Janith, Jadetimes Staff
C. Janith is a Jadetimes news reporter and sub-editor covering science and geopolitics.
Understanding Sleep Paralysis Hallucinations
Hallucinations are one of the symptoms of sleep paralysis, a phenomenon where you are temporarily unable to move or speak as you transition from sleep to consciousness. These hallucinations differ from dreaming in that dreams typically have storylines with superimposed images, while hallucinations involve things you see, hear, or feel that are not there in the present moment.
The cause of sleep paralysis hallucinations is poorly understood but is regarded as a form of parasomnia (a group of sleep disorders that involve abnormal movements, behaviors, perceptions, and dreams during stages of sleep).
What Are Sleep Paralysis Hallucinations?
Hallucinations are defined as sensing things such as visions, sounds, or smells that seem real but are not and are created by the mind.
With sleep paralysis, these hallucinations occur while you are in a paralytic state while transitioning from sleep to wakefulness. The hallucinations can take different forms, some of which can co-occur., including:
Visual hallucinations: These can range from seeing flashing lights and colors to seeing floating objects or physical presence. In some cases, an actual person, animal, bug, or imaginary creature (like a demon) may be seen beside or just outside of a person's peripheral vision.
Auditory hallucinations: These include imaginary sounds like radio static, footsteps, knocking, or ringing. Others might hear breathing or actual voices, including laughter, whispers, or screaming. The sounds may be non-specific and hard to remember.
Olfactory hallucinations: These include imaginary smells that are generally unpleasant, like burnt toast, burning rubbers, smoke, rotting food, chemicals or metals, or mold.
Tactile hallucinations: These include imaginary sensations like being touched when no one else is there, being physically held down, or being sexually assaulted. Other common hallucinations include bugs crawling, vibrations, being bitten, or sensations of floating, flying, or falling.
Sleep paralysis hallucinations are not related to the types of hallucinations that may occur in people with schizophrenia.
Emotional Effects
Sleep paralysis hallucinations are generally characterized by fear. For many, the experience is described as a "waking nightmare."
For instance, you may sense that a dark figure in your room is an evil presence intent on doing you harm. Or, you may hear what you believe to be an intruder who you are unable to fend off. The fear is compounded by the fact that you cannot move or do anything to protect yourself.
During sleep paralysis, a person commonly experiences what is known as a "locked-in syndrome" in which you are conscious but unable to move anything but your eyes. The ability to see, feel, and hear can make the hallucinations seem all the more real.
Words commonly used to describe sleep paralysis hallucinations include "terrifying," "shocking," "weird," "otherworldly," "helpless," "angry," and "disgusting."
Rarely, some people will describe the experience as comforting.
Other Symptoms
Hallucinations are a common component of sleep paralysis but not the only one. There are others a person will commonly experience, including:
Inability to move or talk during sleep transitions.
Trying unsuccessfully to cry or scream for help.
Limited eye movement.
A sensation of suffocation or breathlessness.
Out-of-body experience (like you're looking down at yourself).
The level of awareness during sleep paralysis varies. Some people claim that they are completely awake and aware of their surroundings. Others describe only partial awareness.
These symptoms can last for several seconds to several minutes before a person spontaneously "snaps out of it" and comes to completion consciousness without any physical impairment.
Can You Snap Out of Sleep Paralysis?
Generally, there is no way to stop a sleep paralysis episode when it happens. Some people contend that they can "snap out of it earlier" if they focus on making small movements, such as moving their fingers one at a time until they eventually achieve full consciousness.
Causes
Normally, people have a smooth transition between different phases of sleep. But when a transition is interrupted, you might experience sleep paralysis. This can happen either when you first fall asleep or when you're about to wake up.
The cause of sleep paralysis is poorly understood but is thought to involve a disruption or fragmentation of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. REM is the stage of sleep characterized by low muscle tone and a propensity for vivid dreams.
In people with sleep paralysis, there may be an overlap between REM and non-REM sleep wherein wakefulness is approaching but the brain is "stuck" in a state of low muscle tone. At the same time, brain wave activity may be temporarily "stuck" between a dream-like state and full waking consciousness.
These mechanisms are thought to play a role in other forms of parasomnia, including night terrors, sleepwalking, and narcolepsy.
The hallucinations themselves are thought to be largely driven by anxiety, which accounts for the high level of fear associated with them. This is evidenced by the fact that sleep paralysis is more common in people with major depression disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and chronic pain.
Other risk factors include sleep deprivation and narcolepsy.
Are Hallucinations Normal in Sleep Paralysis?
Hallucinations are common with sleep paralysis, but not everyone gets them or gets them in the same way. Studies suggest that three out of every four people with sleep paralysis experience some form of hallucination.
By definition, sleep paralysis involves hypnopompic hallucinations that occur while you are waking. However, people with sleep paralysis will experience hypnagogic hallucinations that occur as they fall asleep.
The events may be episodic and "once-off," or they may be recurrent.
Prevention
Sleep paralysis doesn't tend to affect people frequently. Once you understand what it is and why it happens, it may not bother you as much.
Practicing good sleep hygiene may help prevent sleep paralysis episodes. Among some of the more helpful tips:
Make sure you're getting enough sleep.
Try to wake up and go to bed at the same time every day.
Avoid alcohol and caffeine in the hours before bedtime.
Turn off your phone and other digital devices an hour before bedtime.
De-stress before bedtime by meditating, listening to music, or taking a warm bath.
Keep your bedroom cool and dark, using earplugs if needed to block out any sounds.
Can You Die From Sleep Paralysis?
Although some people say that sleep paralysis "practically scares them to death," there is no evidence of this occurring. While sleep paralysis can cause emotional distress, it usually doesn't happen frequently enough to pose any significant risk to your health.
With that said, people with recurrent episodes (such as those with PTSD, major depression, or narcolepsy) may require treatment by a psychiatrist, therapist, or sleep specialist as these conditions can pose long-term harm to your health, both physically and mentally.
Coping
If sleep paralysis happens often, you might be able to develop strategies to make it less distressing. For example, focusing on one moving one small part of your body such as a finger may help you come out of the paralysis more quickly. It can also help to remind yourself to stay calm and think about how you are breathing.
Remember that what you're feeling is normal and try to reassure yourself that any hallucinations you're having aren't real.
Summary
During sleep paralysis - a phenomenon in which you are temporarily unable to move as you transition from being asleep to being awake - it is possible to hallucinate and think you're seeing, hearing, smelling, or feeling something that isn't actually there. It can be a scary feeling, but it's usually not a sign of anything serious.
Sleep paralysis hallucinations may be preventable by maintaining a regular sleep routine. If you experience sleep paralysis, a board-certified sleep specialist may be able to help you.
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