I am male, 29. The following happened in 2003 when I was 23.
In 2003 I was living with my girlfriend and two male friends. The two guys’ rooms were at one end of the apartment, the room my girlfriend and I shared was at the other. One morning I woke up suddenly, hearing my girlfriend screaming in terror beside me. I sat up quickly and asked her what was wrong and why was she crying. It took a few minutes for her to calm down enough to be able to speak properly, and she eventually said “It was holding me down, I couldn’t move, I couldn’t breath”. I had heard of this happening to people and always heard it explained as sleep paralysis, a trick of the mind where you wake up but are not fully awake and haven’t yet gained control of your muscles. I asked her if that was what it was and she was insistent that it wasn’t. She was very distressed and I tried to calm her down, I held her until she stopped crying and shaking.
When she seemed back to normal (but still a little freaked), she explained to me that this had happened many times in her life, a few times a year. She said it started as a young girl when both her and her sister were affected by the same thing. She could see a dark form over her whenever it happened. The dark form would crush her and breath on her, not letting her speak or move. This is why she was sure it wasn’t sleep paralysis, this was some kind of entity. This was freaky enough, but then she said she was worried that it would attach itself to me. Apparently two of her ex-boyfriends ended up with this thing traumatizing them while they were with her… I asked why she hadn’t mentioned it before, and she said it was because it hadn’t happened in quite a while and she preferred to put it out of her mind as much as possible. This worried me a bit, because I have had my own experiences with evil things (that’s for an entirely different post) but I tried to forget about it.
So that morning went on and by the end of the day everything was fine, just a normal day. The next morning came without incident. So did the next three or four days. Then came the morning where it happened to me. I remember opening my eyes, feeling totally awake all of a sudden, not half awake and definitely not dreaming. I could feel something crushing my chest, it felt like I had been winded, and the dead weight was getting heavier. I couldn’t move a single muscle, not even a twitch. Breathing was very difficult, almost impossible. I was really panicking now and thought maybe my spinal cord had somehow snapped or something. My girlfriend was sleeping beside me, I could see her in the side of my vision, and hear her breathing. But I couldn’t turn my head. I tried to call her name… nothing happened. I tried again and again, each time nothing. Then I started to hear something. Something besides the sounds of my girlfriends soft breathing, it was a voice. A murmur, to be more precise.. It was low and guttural and I could not understand the words, or even hear them properly. It was like it was coming from through a wall, except it was right on either side of my ears. I could feel breath on my face (my girlfriend was turned away from me). I really thought I was going to die from either the crushing sensation, or just from fear. I could definitely feel something else there, something hateful. I tried to call out again but to no avail, but I could feel tears streaming down my cheeks and onto the pillow.
After I don’t really know how long, maybe 10 minutes, of complete and utter terror, I eventually tried to summon all of my energy (which felt like it was being slowly but steadily drained from me) and put every piece of strength I could find into a huge effort to call out and try to move. It worked! All at once, I screamed out and my limbs flailed as I sprang into a sitting position, every muscle aching like I had just climbed a mountain. This woke my girlfriend, who instantly knew what had happened to me. “I’m so sorry”, she said over and over.. “I didn’t want to pass it on to you”.. as she held me, crying herself. It took me quite a while to calm down, and now I knew what it was like for her; it was far worse than I thought.
We are not together anymore, I am living with a different girlfriend now, but that is not the reason we split up; she was from a different country and had to return home for money and education reasons a few months later. Strangely though, I have not experienced this since she left.. It happened once more to me about a month after the first time, when she was still there, but never again since. I really hope she is not still afflicted with whatever that thing is, because a lifetime of being tormented like that would be unbearable. I must get in contact with her actually, and ask her about it.
So now when I hear the term “Sleep Paralysis” being thrown around I think twice, and would really like to know if anyone else has had a similar experience. I don’t think science can explain this one.
I would just like to state that at no time did I pray to god, I am not a Christian (or a member of any organized religion). I do believe in demonic entities (from quite a few personal experiences), as well as good ones but I do not believe in heaven or hell. There are forces out there that sit on each side but no one religion has got it completely right. I’m saying this because I don’t want someone saying that god would have helped me, or that it was Satan’s chief commander or something. Any insight into what it could be would be much appreciated though. Thanks for your time.
Sent in by “Shroomy”, Copyright 2009 TrueGhostTales.com
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i hear alot on here about sleep paralysis and it sounds all very similar to what is the norm for this kind of event. i don’t remember having gone thru it unless having a dream and not being able to wake from it and having it more than once is like that. but whatever the heck it is, i don’t want to go thru it ever. thanks for sharing a scary story!!!
I have to say that I hear the term sleep paralysis all the time and have actually suffered from it once. Honestly, some of these accounts I hear are truly nothing like my experience.
It is frustrating to hear people try to categorize something without researching each individual case, but what you are describing is definitely more severe and a lot scarier than a normal case of sleep paralysis, in my opinion.
Just as a point of reference, I will share my experience. Maybe it will help shed some light on why I disagree with the whole labeling of these events.
I went to sleep with no memorable events happening the day prior. I had a bad dream during the middle of the night, from which I forcefully awoke. I recall waking with a jolt, but was unable to move anything but my eyes. This is where our experiences differ: there was no presence in the room with me, there was no feeling of foreboding or fear, there were no voices, and there was no crushing or pressure sensation. I then had to forecefully regain control of my body. I then spent about half an hour trying to calm myself , more from the dream than anything. I then returned to sleep without any future occurances.
The only thing I have seen in sleep paralysis studies that correspond with some of these events are the feeling that someone is in the room, which could induce a fear or panick-stricken state. Other than that, there are no accounts (which I have read) that have pressure, voices, or absolute terror attached to them.
It is just my opinion, but I think there are two different phenomena being experienced; one of which is very different than that of a mere sleep paralysis episode.
Jenn, I agree with you, I do not believe all cases of this are caused by the same thing. I had one experience myself and I know without any doubts whatsoever that what I went through was not a “normal function of the body”.
Actually there are quite a few stories here that include pressure, voices, or absolute terror attached to them
http://www.trueghosttales.com/nightmares/sleep-paralysis.php
My brother used to experience sleep paralysis a lot, but only in his room. I had never experienced it, so I just thought it was from a stressful sleep. When I moved back home for a few months I had to sleep in his room since my sister had my old room. That was the first and last night I’ll ever sleep there because the sleep paralysis experience was one I won’t forget. It was not as freaky as yours, I didn’t hear anything. But I was paralyzed for about 3 minutes and I couldn’t even move a finger. I remember trying to move my leg with all of my strength and trying to cry, scream, whisper, anything. Then I finally could. And all I could think was “There’s something wrong with this room.” Unless it’s just a stressful room to sleep in? I really don’t know.
Hi your experience sounds very scary and i feel i can relate, i also experienced this so called sleep paralysis about 3 years ago at the age of 23, whilst on my bed in the middle of the afternoon. I was lying on my side just resting, when i became aware that i was totally unable to move, Then the noises started, first i could hear what i thought sounded like the blood rushing around my body and then what sounded like machinery in operation. As i lay listening, under the deafening noises of the machinery i could hear children singing and playing like in a playground. I knew i was wide awake because i was looking around the room and could see my lower body in the mirror on the wall ahead of me. I thought to my self that the sounds i was hearing were odd as i live in a close where no road works of and sort were taking place,the window was closed and i also do not lived very near to a school. As i pondered over this about 3 mins or must have passed, i was thinking to myself that the sounds were hurting my ears and that i wanted them to stop.All the time i had remained relatively calm more in a state of confusion, untill i heard the voice of a young child in the room with me at the foot of my bed. The voice said “shush be quiet!” this is when i started to panic ! As i knew both my children were at school. The voice repeated three times over but in a mocking tone and then giggled. I tried so hard to sit up, but couldn’t move a muscle although i could blink my eye lids and look around in front of me. Looking ahead into the mirror so see where the voice was coming from ,another loud noise came from behind me. at the same time the mirror reflection blurred. it sounded like a chair being dragged across a wooden floor( i have carpet). Then i sat up with a start, the paralysis had released me and the noises stopped immediatly. This has not happened since, but i have experienced very strange goings on in the past, mainly as a teen at my parents home. Im sorry that i can only share your frightening experience and not explain it.
Caretaker, I agree.
I think it is far too easy for people to attach the label of something which is scientifically proven to a phenomena that seems to be much more menacing.
It would be beneficial to those folks who suffer from, what appears to be, an attack of the paranormal. Simply identifying that there is a difference could really help people.
I liked your story.
Well i had similar expirience like that, only difference it happened in my class, in school. I simply falled a sleep in school, in my bench, then i woke up, and i heard everyone talking around me, but i couldnt take my head of my arm (it was position i was sleeping). I really got scared, i tryed to scream, to tell my bud next to me, to lift me up, but i couldnt do nothing. Lucky, it was happening only for like half of minute. But it is really scary feeling, glad i wasnt in ur place that time, heh.
Thanks for the comment guys, I’m glad to see I’m not alone in thinking that a scientific explanation cannot be applied to whatever this is; in a lot of cases anyway. Thanks for sharing your own experiences too.
I had it one time myself but it was not by waking up. it was like a half year ago but couldt be longer I guess I was 14 years old. I was alone in the classroom getting some stuff and I felt some strange presure on my chest. I was realy scared en tried to scream but befor I know I was lying on the floor and couldn’t move or speak. and breathing was almost impossible. after 5 minutes when I really thought I was going to die, somebody came to look for me and saw there was somting going on. she ran away for some teachers and they thought it was a panic attac but start mouth on mouht breath. after a few minutes I could move and speak again and the pressure was gone. it never came back but still people remind me about it. I want to forget it but thanks to them I can’t and they even are calling me names for it like I am the daughter of satan or somting. never thought I wouldt read that more people have that experiences!
I never really thought about it happening to others. As a child it would happen to me , but I always excused it for over stress or over tired. Untill last year. In November 2009 I was taking a nap . I was feeling extra tired. I laid on my couch and was alone for only a short time. My husband had ran out for a short while. When I laid my head down it felt very heavy, put the pillow around my neck. What felt like maybe 7 to 10 minutes i began to feel a panic caused by a presence . I honestly felt as though there was someone on my chest growing heavier and heavier. Every thing in my body was fight ti remove it. My mind ,my soul , my spirit was full of utter panic.Then , when I what I truely believe was the last of my conscienceness i WAS ABLE TO SEE LIGHT THRU MY EYELIDS . It was pitch prior to, then the most unnerving thing happened. I saw with my eyes clearly fused closed a shadow move beside me! it moved away and out of my space when I was fully able to get up, I was simply scared to death. My husband came just seconds later and saw the fear in me both in my body and eyes. For two days in a row that happened and thank God it hasn’t happened since.
I have experienced something similar to that. It’s why i finally started searching online. I was okay with the scientific explanation but…that seemed too simple and vague. Mine seemed a little more then that. These experiences have reoccurred for me.. its like once a month. In my first experience, it was morning and the sun was shining through my curtains, i was so sure i was up. But then i couldnt move when i tried. I was frozen in my bed staring around my room sort of(i was sleeping on my side). Then suddenly i see a little girl in black dress walk around my bed, she walked right out the door after pausing to smile at me (with her red eyes -shivers-), and she actually talked to me, she said “Say hello to him for me please?” …i could only stare back in horror. After she walked out i felt SOMETHING crawling up my body. It was slowly CRAWLING. Then i heard a male voice next to my face, i felt the breath of it, low and laughing just laughing..I tried so desperatly to see but i could not move, could not run or move. Then the blackness enveloped me and i could move again. As fast as i could i ran out of my (Bright and cozy) room, tripping over the blankets still wrapped around me. This has actaully reoccured. I was so scared to go near my room alone for awhile.. i had no idea what terrors awaited me.
Yes i know it seems like another fake scary story, but its true. I dont know what happened. I wish i could just have told myself it was just a nightmare, only i could see everything clearly my eyes i was sure were open. I had hoped to never experience these things again, but these experiences reoccur every so often. I am truely terrified.
I’ve had cases of both sleep paralysis where it is more of a physical condition than paranormal. I’ve had them since I was a kid and they would be very sparse and seem to happen the most when life is most stressful. I would say about 60% can be written off as just more of stress accumillating over time and then there are times where I would see something. A shadow or “prescence” that I felt responsible for the attack. Last night was Oct 31st was the worst case I ever had. I was having a bad dream, mind you not a night mare and it was basically a mixture of the events that happenned during that day. This attack came at around 3am-5am because we had to set our watches back for daylight savings.
Anyways, The pressure came quick and suddenly. The intensity and pressure was quick enough to wake me up so I can open my eyes halfway. Now the position of my body was I was sleeping for some reason on my back and cross arms like I was in a coffin. The sight I saw put a deep fear in me that was beyond terror. I saw a woman with long black hair and her face looked young and beautiful but in an eerie way. The crazy part was she had that predator cloak that would resonate through her form. So it was like an entity taking on the form of a young woman but the cloak would scintillate throughout the form.
I am a god fearing man. I tried first too move but could not. Mind you I am probably in the best shape of my life due to training in boxing. I could not budge one bit. Felt like I was being suffocated. Now the figure was laying on top of me with her head to my left side angled down at me as I stared in terror but then I began to try and speak “In the name of Jesus”. In my mind I said the phrase once but then began to stutter. I felt my lips move but no sound. The strange part was in my mind as I was stuttering the words as well. After a min or two but seemed like eternity I finally got the words to shout out in my mind correctly.
The power came back to my mind and I muttered under my breath the same words “In the name of Jesus” and just basically prayed. I sat up on my bed and continued to pray and I felt everything return back to normal. Suffice to say, I was terrified but lay in bed with a certain calm that whatever attacked me no longer could do it at least for this night. This was the most intense attack and the one where I believe I was the most awake. I know what I saw and there are things in this world that our beyond our Ken. I just thank god my faith has saved me once again. I’ll put my trust in a higher power than rely on my own strength.
Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.
The Government, Medical higher ups, and anyone with power always have a fine way of explaining something to put us at ease. But they are just puppets. I believe that this “sleep paralysis” is OOBE or astral projection. You should check into the Emerald Tablet. Anyways what I am curious about it the dark figure we all seem to see. Wonder if when we get to close to discovering or understanding the true power behind this what happens… Maybe he’s the watcher for lack of better words. I know this, he isn’t evil I have spoke with him.
I guess whether you believe there is a rational explanation or a supernatural one depends entirely on your own world view.the first time i experienceed sleep paralysis was when i was about 14 years old.I guess at the time i was vaguely open minded about the supernatural but certainly had no strong strong beliefs.I remember waking up not being able to move and feeling a very strong presence.it is hard to describe but it felt like there was some kind of force invading my body.It was very wierd and quite terrifying and it only stopped when I managed to move part of my body[my toe I think]I believe part of the reason it was so terrifying was because at that time i had no understanding of what was happening.so although obviously not everyone is going to buy it but since I have never heard a so called convincing rational explanational I find the eastern theological explainations quite compelling.according to them we don,t just have a gross body but also a subtle body usually called the mind.there are also beings who exist who only have a subtle body [other dimentional beings if you will].some of them are malevolent and like to make mischief and cause people distress by harassing them when they are in a vulnerable condition,ie when they are asleep.it has happened to me so many times since then i have almost got used to it.I don’t think they can really hurt you so i don’t take it to seriously and just try to shrug it of .i hope this is of some help even if you are not totally convinced by my explaination.
I’ve had this experience only once, and just shared my story on this site as well. I can’t believe that people have this happen all of the time! That would put me in a hospital, I think. I almost want it to happen again…in a twisted way, but without the fear (as if that’s possible, right?). I just want to know what it is. I did feel a “dark” or evil presence, but I guess anyone would perceive it that way when this “thing” forces you to succumb to it’s paralyzing will! It’s interesting what you said about your previous girlfriend, seeming to pass this experience along to her boyfriends. My husband, as I tell in my account, had the same experience twice, and his mother had it once–that we know of.
There actually is an explanation for why you feel an evil presence. You should watch this portion on an ASP documentary that tells you what happens to your brain that causes all of those things that you mentioned.
Hi I am so glad there are others out there experiencing this!!I first had this problem when I was 17 and couldn’t understand what was happening to me,over the years I did some reasearch into many different scientific explanations but ended up turning to RELIGION!! and HURRAY it all made sense!!…In the holy Qu’ran it quoted about allah(god) being the lord of the WORLDS,MANKIND,JINN(SPIRITS) and all that exists and explain’s that there is an existence beyong this world a world of SPIRITS!! I have now found my remedy for everytime I have this problem as I receit the ayat Kursi (verse from the Quran) and gain full control straight away as this wards of evil spirits…I am so glad I have found a religion that explains so much about life and how there are other worlds apart from this one! I can now fully understand why ISLAM is the fastest growing religion in the world as everything about life that doesn’t make sense is explained! Do some reseach of your own and you’ll be amazed at the benefits!!