So this is my first post, just read a bit on your forum today and decided to share some with you.

About 6AM one morning, I woke up and was having trouble getting back to sleep. I laid there for a bit and looked over at the sliding closet door. It was open about an inch or so, but then started to open slowly, and a really old mexican looking woman emerged wearing a white dress, hair in a bun, and kind of shuddered over toward the bed. Here is the diagram I threw together to give you more of an idea:



So I'm laying there, my wife is like 7 months pregnant, and the thing keeps moving towards the bed. I can't move or do anything, I feel kind of like a sweaty anger and the old woman starts like a motion of throwing something at my wife's pregnant stomach over and over. I started screaming "%%%% you, get the %%%% away %%%%%" and I couldn't speak or move, which totally sucked. Then I felt like I blacked out as it moved back toward the closet and was still trying to wake up.

Finally I got up and my heart was pounding and there was like little white dots floating around the room, that kind of stuff you see when you wake up in haste. I woke up my wife to see if she was okay, and she was and lulled back to sleep. I tried to goto sleep again, but I started hearing rustling noises under the computer desk and the bed started to feel like it was shaking.

At that point I was like %%%% this and woke up and turned on the light, really creeped out and my wife woke up. She went out with me while I smoked a cigarette and I told her about the experience, she said she's felt the bed shaking before too, but never seen an old lady or nothing. I felt the bed shaking before too in half-asleep states and afterwards feel like a ghostly watch is over me, but I'm not sure this has anything to do with the story, but maybe.

So I googled my symptoms and came up with sleep paralysis and what was so strange was that it was called old hag syndrome.



Although it wasn't sitting on my chest, its still really strange. And I can understand that I was probably half asleep and my body shut down while I was dreaming but still alert or whatever, but to imagine an old lady coming out of the closet is totally crazy.

Anyways, I think that pretty much sums it up. Sorry for the censored cursing if thats not allowed

I didn't know anything about this phenomena or whatever until the last experience occurred above, but my only other experience occurred in my wife's mom's/grandparent's house (when we weren't married, about 2 years ago).

Similar, trying to fall asleep about 3AM and started probably was slipping into the sleep paralysis and I started hearing banging footsteps getting louder and louder outside the room and voices that sounded like an old man yelling at something from a distance.

Anyways, can't move or speak again, then the door creeps open and theres a light on in the hallway which casts a shadow of some figure standing in the doorway. And in a woman's voice quickly whispers, "You let the dead get in."

My whole body got cold and I nudged my wife as soon as I could move and was like "Did you hear that?" and of course she was asleep but man I was really freaked out.

I guess this should go in the Sightings, Reports & Experiences forum, whoops.

weird, but maybe it is just sleep paralysis. i would research about that. also, i have seen stuff about sp on um forums, i just don't remember at which topic.
maybe it is some sort of dream clinging, and you're half awake, so you are aware of your surrounding, but dream is still going on. try searching through this forum, then on web, go to doctor, and if everything fails, then go to exorcist. this way, you're sure you'll rid of it.

I've never had a sleep paralysis but i've read about it. Thats what it sounds like to me.

The people who suffer from it swear it is as real as anything they have ever encountered and scientists say most people will suffer some form throughout their lives at some point.

The old hag does indeed come and sit on your chest but she shuffles over first so maybe if she stayed long enough she would have?

An amazing phenomena and widely experienced

Hi...welcome to the forum..

I've had a sleep paralysis/old hag thing happen to me...although I didn't SEE anyone...and

I perceived the presense as a man....if you want to read about what happened to me...go

onto my profile and see....Dramatic Happenings at Night.

It was a scarey old business!

I agree, I have had dreams where I have been thinking "I need to wake up.... NOW!!" but have been unable to do so, and then think about moving my arms and legs and feel paralysed... Its normal, your body is paralysed during sleep... just think what would happen if it wasnt ? Your mind thinks its really experiancing the things its reliving, so you are dreaming you are walking, does your brain tell your leg muscles to start walking ? that would play havoc.... Then virtually everyone would be sleep walking, thankfully sleep walking is relatively rare.

Also I have had dreams where I dreamt I woke up from a dream, but I was still dreaming.... I think this is a common trick, so your brain wants your conscious mind to somehow experiance the events its seeing are real... so it uses this as tool to convince itself it is actually real.

Old Hag's Syndrome is due to sleep paralysis..Maybe this can help..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_paralysis

I'm certainly no expert, and have never had this exact experience. Still, just because some Psychologists say the experience "isn't real" or "is imagined", doesn't make it so. Maybe it's "Sleep Paralysis" and maybe it's not. Maybe there is no such thing as Sleep Paralysis.

Certainly the stress of your wife being pregnant could exacerbate other problems or stressors in your life. Are you Hispanic? Are you interested in that culture? Have you been exposed to it much? How about your wife? If not, the presence of the Mexican woman is strange, even considering the paranormal.

I dont believe his circumstances are psychological. My son suffered from sleep paralysis as well. I took him to a neurologist because a few years ago I didnt know what was wrong with him. He described the same exact thing everyone else does. The Neurologist stated it has something to do with the neurotransmitters in the brain. Again which means, his body was relaxed and "asleep" but his brain had not gone into REM yet, so with that said, visual and auditory hallucinations occur, yet he could not wake himself up. It has nothing to do with stress, pregnant wives or sleep deprivation, just another strange occurance the brain can induce. It is NOT real, it is an illusion or hallucination, there are millions who describe the same exact symptoms such as feelings, sightings and the inability to move. Nothing to worry about, however frightening at the time. Best thing to do is relax, and use breathing exercises before sleep and like my son, they will subside..JN

My mother claims she has experience with the Old Hag, twice when she was a teenager and once in her adult life. I have yet to experience it (I hope I never do), however this story made me appreciate how much I don't have a closet in my room

I used to suffer from "old hag" syndrome as well. I'd wake up in terror to see a withered old crone standing in the doorway. I would want to move, but I could'nt. Eventually, I just stopped my mother-in-law from visiting though.........

You know how many people make claims like this a day just for attention?

LOL There ya go, that is the best solution I've heard yet..

No, how many?

You could be right JN, then again, let me clarify and expand upon what I was saying, because I might be right too.

Just because some neurologist says "it is NOT real, it is an illusion" does not mean that it is not real and is an illusion.

that is very wierd

I understand what you are saying, but it feels real, that much I know. But it is an hallucination right before we go to sleep or wake up, which means seeing the same things, feeling something is on your chest, unable to breathe or move, and total panic, sometimes a feeling of doom, and millions see the "old hag." There is a fine line between paranormal and medical, however I dont take a doctors word for it, I have researched it over and over again. If it was real, not everyone would have the same hallucinations or sensations....JN

the comment by the shadow is different but this is the common theme ....they don't want you to speak, do they? .....B







halfhandshuffle:ted nugent-great white buffalo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3J-XYnZHfU

No one can be 100% sure BF, but the common theme is "I was almost asleep" or "I was asleep" and they are all pretty much the same experience give or take a detail or two. I never believed any spirit had the power to not allow us to speak especially the "old hag" and in my opinion is just an old wives tale originating from sleep paralysis. JN-

Thanks for the comments, I just believe about the brain and REM side to the not being able to move, too.

I just found it really strange that an illusion or image of old lady came out of the closet and started motioning to my wife. I dream about people I know, friends, etc, never any old ladies, so I'm not sure where that came from in my brain haha.

Then after that morning when I saw it was called old hag syndrome, or a mara or whatever you want to call it, I just thought it was really weird that people would imagine that enough to associate sleep paralysis with spirits and things from folklore.

Here's what I found on wikipedia that was editted out of the main Sleep Paralysis page and thought it was interesting:

* In Newfoundland and other parts of North America, sleep paralysis is referred to as a visit from the "old hag" (Irish: Ag Rog).
* In Chinese folk culture, sleep paralysis is referred as "gǔi yà chúang" (鬼压床,鬼壓床), literally: "Ghost press bed": 鬼: ghost, 压: press, 床: bed. The belief is that a spirit or ghost is sitting or lying on top of the sleeping individual, causing the sleep paralysis. This is thought to be a minor body possession by the forces from the dead which doesn't usually cause any harm to the victim.
* In Japan, sleep paralysis is referred to as kanashibari (金縛り, literally "bound or fastened in metal," from kane "metal" and shibaru "to bind, to tie, to fasten").
* In Thailand, this condition is said to be caused by a spirit or "pee um" (ผีอำ) which sits or lie atop of the victim causing him or her to be immobile. The spirit causes no harm to the victim and is said to only be playing pranks.
* In Scandinavian mythology, sleep paralysis was caused by a Mara, or mare - a kind of malignant female wraith who is responsible for nightmares. She appears as early as in the Norse Ynglinga saga, but the belief itself is probably even older. "Mara" is the Old Norse, Swedish and Icelandic name, "mare" is Norwegian and Danish.
* In Mexico, as Se subio el muerto (the dead has climbed on top).
* In Greek, as demonokavalikema (in Greek: δαιμονοκαβαλήκεμα), which refers to a demon having climbed on top of the body.
* In German as Hexendrücken (witch pressing).
* In Turkish, as karabasan (literally: "dark presser": kara: "dark/black":, basan: "pusher, presser". Most Turkish people believe that it's a metaphysical incident, and especially religious people believe that it's a jini that causes the discomfort; so generally some kind of prayer is advised).
* In Hazaragi, as Shazia Zer Kado (pressing ink).
* In the Southern United States, people have described it as "The witch riding your back".
* In the Western United States, the Sleep Paralysis is commonly called "Scissor Lock".
* In Korea, it is referred as Gawinullim, (가위눌림) literally in English: "To be pressed by Gawi." The meaning of Gawi is clear, generally known to mean "spirits" or "demons." Another word in Korean "Gawi" is a homonym that means "scissors". Such occurrences are usually referenced as "scissor lock" in English.[citation needed]
* In Indonesia, Javanese people call it tindihan, spelled traditionally as "tindhihen" (To be laid upon). Also in Sundanese, people call it ereup-ereup.
* In the Philippines, Sleep paralysis is often associated with Bangungot.
* In Malaysia, known as "kena himpap", meaning being pressed down.
* In Vietnam, sleep paralysis is known as "ma đè", meaning a ghost or spirit lying on top of or pressing down on the person.
* In the West Indies, being "ridden by a duppy".
* In medieval times of Europe, attacks of sleep paralysis may have given rise to the belief in mara, incubi, succubi, other demons and witchcraft. People in England believed that witches or hags rode on men's chests as they slept, and the feeling of being unable to breathe was attributed to a hag. This is why people who have had very little sleep may be described as looking "hag-ridden".
* In traditional Russian belief symptoms reminiscent of sleep paralysis were attributed to the anger of domovoi, the home spirit, punishing people for bad husbandship or betrayal.
* According to traditional Hmong beliefs, various states of sleep paralysis are thought to be the processes in which an evil spirit or demon sits down on a person usually in retaliation to wrongdoings. Some Hmong have deemed it as the process of getting 'squashed'.
* Traditional Islamic cultures would usually interpret this as an encounter with a Jinn (or "djinn"); a race of beings, similar to humans which inhabit the earth. The word "jinn" literally means anything which has the connotation of concealment, invisibility, seclusion and remoteness, and is one of the two beings (the other being Human) addressed directly in the Quran. In Islamic text, and scholarship, Jinns are considered beings, which like humans are accountable for their deeds and thus have free will. They are considered to have life and death, society, culture and religion.
* In Laotian culture, it is called "pee um" translated as "ghost silencing you". The ghost or spirit is thought to visit you in the night, hold your arms and legs down, and even cover your mouth up so that no sound would come out when you scream.
* In Finnish a nightmare is called painajainen, but literally it means "pressing" and is thought to be originating from sleep paralysis sensory effects.
* In Hungarian folk culture sleep paralysis is called "lidércnyomás" ("lidérc pressing") and can be attributed to a number of supernatural entities like "lidérc", "boszorkány" (witch), "tündér" (fairy) or "ördögszerető".[1] The word "boszorkány" itself stems from the turkish root "basz-", meaning "to press".[2]
* In Polish folk culture sleep paralysis is known as "dusiołek", a creature that strangles people in sleep. This creature is a character of a poem by Polish poet Bolesław Leśmian "Dusiołek".
* New-age practitioners have argued that sleep paralysis might be the point of separation of the "dream body" from the physical body and out-of-body travel then begins.
* Scientists believe that many supposed occurrences of alien abduction, out-of-body travel, and other seemingly paranormal events may actually be due to misinterpreting the sensory effects of sleep paralysis.

Haha, thats hilarious.

This topic reminded me of a story that my neighbor relayed to me. He and I both moved into old victorian style houses about the same time. People in the neighborhood always joked about both of our homes being haunted. Needless to say we were both very wary and always asking each other if we'd seen anything strange yet. One day he came to my door clearly shaken up and said "It happened. I finally saw something." I proded him for info of course and he said he woke up in the middle of the night and was laying on his bed facing the door way to his room. As his eyes began focus he noticed a gray shape moving rapidly back and forth in front of his doorway. He said he just looked at it and thought "WHAT! THE HELL! IS THAT?!!!"lol Apparently the thing noticed him too because it just stopped moving and turned toward him in the doorway. My friend said it had two dull glowing white spots where eyes would be in a human form. it looked toward him for a fraction of a second and then was instantly hovering above him about 8" off his body. He said he couldn't move, breath, speak or even close his eyes. The thing's "eyes" were right above his and my friend said he just felt sick the whole time it happened. This happened for just a few seconds, then it was gone. A few day later he did some research and learned about Old Hag Syndrome. That was the first time either of us had ever heard of it. Anyway, this story has always creeped me out so I thought I would share.

Ok really good share. First off, the first experience that you've had with the old hag, as you've already found out is a typical sleep paralysis form. If you want to go into the paranormal here, first you gotta find out, why you of all people, why you in particular. Finding out a history of your house is always good.

Then again, it could just be a dream, the paralysis is paralysis but the vision of the hag is just a manifestation of your mind. The only weird thing is that so many people have encounter and so many of the with a hag of some sort, except most of the accounts have them as being in black, and literally old.

The later experience you had can be explained in many ways. Since there is no real specific vision and that you were just hearing noises and seeing lights, all of that could have just been a nightmare ESPECIALLY since what was heard "you let the dead get in" is a line from the movie The Ring Two.

If the sleep paralysis continues, I'm not your neurologist, so I can't really help you, but I can tell you what to expect, you may see one of these guys:


These are called shadow people and are commonly seen in and out of sleep paralysis. Like on of the members had said before just yesterday, the shadow entity trend is starting up again.

Next time you have sleep paralysis, see if you can treat it as a lucid dream, try to realize you're sleeping and take control, of course, if this doesn't work, that would just be scary but at least it's better than just panicking.

I'm sure you read the wiki article, so just try not to induce it with sleeping medication or sleeping facing up, etc.

Good Luck

This is one of the most interesting posts I've ever read, Thank you!
I've often wondered if the term "haggard" also comes from this phenomena.

Thats normal, there are common sociological patterns in dreams... for example the old hag might represent our fears of old age (i am not saying this is what it means just using a possible example) and it might be a common social theme to transform these fears into the representation of an old hag

Hi conundrum, I thought you may be interested in checking these threads out about sleep paraylsis, it would be cool to get more votes for the SP poll..

http://www.unexplained-mysteries.com/forum...c=86032&hl=

http://www.unexplained-mysteries.com/forum...c=86363&hl=

I wonder if the Old Hag is associated with Hecate in some way. It's interesting (in your case particularly) that she's considered to be the Gatekeeper to the spirit world, and is strongly associated with crossroads, in particular, locations where three pathways meet...

Oh.... so these are archetypes? .....what do the hooded , hat wearing or cloaked, shadow figures represent?....the figures that different people from all over the world, from all different walks of life see in the SP state?....

no answer, as usual, from anyone

Mr Halfhand

Question:

If the mind is capable of hallucinating visions we tend to see on a regular basis in the sleep paralysis state, why would it be any different to hallucinate or actually see other beings from other dimensions? If the brains hormones and functioning ability to wake while still "asleep" cause hallucinations and temporary paralysis, people who see aparitions and other forms of activity (beings) on a regular basis during the day, cause me to wonder what is so different about them. It's the state of your own brain functioning level during SP that allows you to see these things at that time and not while your physically awake. Those who experience the paranormal on a regular basis make me wonder what exactly it is they have differently than the average Joe, be it physically, spiritually or mentally, and if it is all connected somehow with those certain individuals who see more than meets the eye.

Probably 5 a day. Way to many.

Wow, you have one huge bed. Your wife is almost as big as the bed? These diagrams are horrible. But, yeah - I say sleep paralysis.

Lmao.