Sleep paralysis, natural or spiritual ?

the official medical explanation is that the body locks-in itself so you "dont act out your dream" for example jump off the window while dreaming and asleep. However now there's a popular topic on internet creepypastas about "the hat man", a presence you feel when in sleep paralysis.
however many people report seeing benevolent or positive figures during sp. not evil entities 100% of the time

 

All of these descriptions of this phenomena bring me back to Sr. Josefa Menendez. Her experiences were far more terrifying as she was spiritually dragged into Hell over 100 times but all who go through these encounters are sufficiently terrorized.

An exorcist, who is now dead, told us that some of these events were our purgatory on earth. Others were lessons in humility. Others still were to draw us closer for our absolute need for God.

The following is one of Josefa’s nightmares.

From that day on Josefa frequently endured this mysterious martyrdom. All was mystery in those long, dark, and gloomy sessions beyond the pale. Each time she was warned of the oncoming of the fiends by the noise of chains and distant yells, but they came nearer and nearer and finally surrounded and overwhelmed her. She tried to fly, to distract her mind by work, to escape the hail of blows which in the end overcame and threw her to the ground. She had just time to take refuge in her little cell before losing all consciousness of her surroundings. She began by finding herself in what she described as a dark hole, faced by the demon who appeared to think that she was definitely in his power forever. He boisterously commanded her to be thrust into her fiery niche; and Josefa, tightly bound, would fall into the chaos of fire, the dolorous abode of rage and despair.

Her notes were written objectively, and in the simplest terms she told things just as she saw, heard, and experienced them.

To those watching only a slight tremor made known her mysterious abduction. Her body instantly became entirely soft and supple, like one whose soul had just departed. Head and members were no longer under her control, though her heart beat normally; she was as one alive, yet dead.

This state was prolonged more or less according to God’s Will, who thus delivered her over to the powers of darkness, but held her still in His very sure and strong hand.

At the moment decreed by Him there was a slight, almost imperceptible, tremor once more and her body came back to life.

 

Has anyone ever had a dream that included a mobile phone or modern technology like computers or TV?

Just curious as I don't remember ever having one that included modern tech.

 

Yes, I have experienced sleep paralysis on numerous occasions over the years. Thankfully, I haven't had one for quite some time. They are absolutely terrifying. As hard as I try, I cannot move a muscle, or even open my eyes. It feels like a huge weight is pressing down on my body. But the most terrifying part is that it feels so completely evil. I'm sure others who have experienced it, will know what I'm talking about.

 

I know well those descriptions. My copy of her diary is in tatters from being read so often. Thpse accounts are terrifying. She was suffering for priests. Imagine! That was long before all the trouble and yet even then there were very bad priests.

 

that's one of the things that "don't work" in dreams and almost instantly make you go lucid. I think it has to do with the functioning of the ocular system? throwing a straight punch, looking at your reflection and counting fingers are neurologically impossible to achieve in a dream..

 

I have had dreams in which television appeared, even showing events like the resignation of Benedict XVI, which would happen years later. However, to be quite honest, at the time I might have been influenced by a false Brazilian Catholic seer from the state of Santa Catarina who predicted Benedict XVI's resignation in 2008. However, he got several other prophecies wrong, such as the rise of the Antichrist in February 2012 and the three days of darkness at the end of December of the same year.

 

I know I've had at least one dream with people watching TV, and I think I had one recently that had cell phones in it, but yeah, it's uncommon. Hadn't noticed this before but it appears to be a widespread phenomenon if you google it.

 

RE sleep paralysis, back when Covid was starting to go around the world and our country was in its first hard lockdown, I was living alone and not sleeping very well, generally. Anyway, one night I was awake, I think, but in bed, feeling somewhat anxious and I felt/ sensed something / someone evil enter the closed door of the room and within seconds the evil presence had come straight for me. It started to press down on my chest in a way that made me feel like I could not breathe. I could not see anything or anyone, I could only sense this scary demonic presence. I could not speak or call out, but in my mind I did call out to Our Lady. It left, as quickly as it had arrived, and I felt quite shaken by it.

 

Saint Teresa of Avila compares the soul to a Castle. In the middle of the Castle is the Citadel which is the Will which is the souls centre, the ability to choose right and wrong. The devil can invade all areas of the Castle (with the permission of God) except the Will to choose evil or good. We see this in the lives of the saints and very holy people who have wound up , for one reason or another as possessed. The devil seized control of everything , apart from the Citadel, the Will.

We see this very well in areas such as the imagination where the devil can project bad images, as though on a blank screen to tempt and oppress us, or our memories where he can do the same.

At night time we are particularly vulnerable to these attacks as since we are asleep we are something of a blank screen on which the demons can paint as he likes. We are an open book. Hence the Church has very strongly underlined the importance of protective prayer before sleep and the use of Sacramentals with prayer to our Guardian angel being especially urgent.

As to sleep paralysis....I think this is pretty rare. Last week for example I had two separate night mares. In the first I dreamed I was dragged along on my bed and then dropped slowly into boiling oil, a bit like a French fry. But as soon as the pain started I woke up at once, though in something of a sweat.

In the second dream I dreamt that dead babies were being dropped on me from overhead. Again I woke up in a sweat but at once.

Why then are sometimes people not able to wake up at once? Well I have my own theory on this which well may be nonsense but I'll put it out there for what its worth.

There is a tiny almond shaped part of the brain called the Amygdala. In the architecture of the brain it is very ancient and important. It is sometimes called the fight of flight point. So when we are in danger it signals us to release hormones that alert the body to either go into fight or run away mode. In sleep paralysis , I believe the devil silences the Amygdala.

This is very rare , but it does happen. A good example is in the case of attacks by impure demons such as incubus and succubus, demons of impurity.

So the Amygdala is the body's alarm system which the devil can sometimes switch right off. So we stay in the nightmare. Whereas if the amygdala worked we would wake up right away as we are supposed to.

The stress of a nightmare should trigger the amygdala but in this case it does not. the devil has temporarily knocked it out.

 

The devil is a creature, pure spirit a fallen angelic being -

He cannot be omnipresent - then how is he able to attack so many people?

Just something I have been thinking about - is he constrained by time the same way that we are?

 

There is a very good article on the power of the devil here:

https://www.catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/what-the-devil

I would say that the devil can enter into time but , as a Spirit is not a part of it. Whilst he is not omnipresent in so far as there is a Fallen Angelic Hierarchy he displays some of the attributes of apparent omnipresence.

 

Spirit is such a terribly difficult concept for us to grasp especially when we think of space, time, place etc. A help to our imagination and mind is to know that a spirit IS where it ACTS. Look at our own mode of existence. We can physically be located in a specific place but also our minds can be bent on many different objects at the same time. Hope that is some help.

 

In but not off.

 

I believe that specific areas of the human brain are targets of fallen angels to promote different sensations and psychic conditions, such as the emotion of false spiritual ecstasy, hallucinations, outbursts of anger that generate conflicts, deep depression, temptation to suicide, etc. I remember reading many years ago about how the Nazis would give speeches on high platforms to create an effect where people would somehow lose their perfect mind and follow them like a fanatic herd. In the case of sleep paralysis, even though it is a spiritual attack, it is a way to exalt the power of the Name of Christ to drive away all evil.

 

I’m convinced there can be a demonic element. One of my daughters was awakened by something in her room growling and thumping her. As she was in bed with covers over her it didn’t hurt but she felt the hatred and malevolence. She was unable to move as it insulted and cursed her. She tried praying the Lord’s Prayer but evil and obscene words came into her mind unbidden. Finally she groaned “ help me” and the thing went. She said that she was certain her guardian angel had chased it off. This was shortly before her confirmation and she was a student living away from home. One of my other daughters has reported waking up feeling as if she couldn’t breathe, something nasty was trying to choke her.

Both daughters are now grown with children of their own, my youngest especially isn’t prone to supernatural experiences and has had a very good legal career. I trust her account completely

 

My thoughts on my own experience is because of my constant prayer of spiritual, physical and emotional healing for my husband.
Due to his mental instability ( brain injured and bipolar, childhood traumas) he has been fighting demons all throughout his life.

Because of this I feel that I was and am being targeted for putting God into his life.

 

I believe most are demonic as well. Perhaps, some sleep paralysis….. but the spiritual warfare is increasing significantly for those who pray. They can have a profound effect on the spiritual life. Humility and greater trust in God when spiritual help comes amidst them.

 

I dreamed a few years ago that Mary appeared in the sky, but then a TV showing various world disasters and news reporters trying to instill fear in people appeared and moved over to block our view of Mary. Tears were coming down her face.

 

This does happen to me once in a while. I cannot talk during it but only the name of Jesus, in my brain stops it