Sleep paralysis (SP) is one of the phase states, which also include lucid dreams, out-of-body experiences, etc. Sleep paralysis can be quite frightening: the sufferer finds themselves conscious but suddenly paralyzed and unable to speak upon waking up or falling asleep. Sometimes these experiences involve hallucinations, a feeling of a third-party presence, and intense fear. But, as Muhammad Sudais from Pakistan notes, this rarely affects the person emotionally or mentally in the immediate aftermath of the experience.
Nevertheless, the author claims that sleep paralysis has a long-term effect on the psyche, in some cases causing negativity, anxiety, and even panic attacks. It has also been found that many people suffering from high blood pressure often experience SP.
The author interviewed almost 300 people to confirm his hypothesis. The results showed that young people aged 16–35 are more likely to suffer from SP, and that this condition causes emotional tension and anxiety. Almost 40% of the respondents reported feeling like they might die during SP.
The common causes of SP, according to Sudais, are:
– lack of sleep
– irregular sleep patterns
– sleeping on your back
– sudden stress
– excessive use of drugs and alcohol
The author also provides evidence that some statements about UFOs may actually be episodes of sleep paralysis. In particular, “abductees” report more cases of SP than the control group, and stories about alien abductions are often similar to descriptions of sleep paralysis. This echoes a recent Phase Research Center experiment in which 114 volunteers initiated contact with aliens in a lucid dream.
How do episodes of sleep paralysis affect you emotionally?
The article was published in January 2022 on the Research Square platform.
