Nightmares and Nocturnal Demonic Attack
82Demons of the night
The Nightmare
Everyone has had at least one nightmare. Nightmares are terrifying dreams during which dreamers attempt to escape from horrible fates, or try to warn others of fearful and terrifying things. During such dreams, the dreamers try to escape, but discover their limbs feel extraordinarily heavy. They feel every movement requires enormous effort, as if they were walking through thick syrup or mud. Or they discover they cannot move at all, feeling as if they were pinned down to one place. They try to shout or scream, but little, or no sound issues from their mouths. Feelings of helpless despair and terror oppress and overwhelm them. The dreamers awaken, and remember the imagery of their dreams, as well as their emotions of overwhelming fear and helplessness. Such nightmares are as old as mankind. A Roman philosopher called Valentinus once described these same sensations more than eighteen hundred years ago in a Gnostic holy book called ‘The Gospel of Truth’. He wrote:
‘ ... as if they were sunk in sleep and found themselves in disturbing dreams. Either there is a place to which they are fleeing, or without strength they come from having chased after others, or they are involved in striking blows, or they are receiving blows themselves, or they have fallen from high places, or they take off into the air though they do not even have wings. Again, sometimes it is as if people were murdering them, though there is no-one even pursuing them, or they themselves are killing their neighbours, for they have been stained with their blood. When those who are going through all these things wake up, they see nothing, they who were in the midst of all these disturbances, for they are nothing.’
These experiences are actually all products of conscious perceptions of the paralysis that normally occurs during sleep. The muscle weakness and paralysis occurring during sleep arouses the same sensations and emotions as muscle weakness and paralysis due to all causes. Muscle weakness and paralysis arouse very characteristic sensations and emotions, and these sensations and emotions explain what people experience during their nightmares, as well as the other experiences people sometimes undergo during sleep.
- Muscle weakness and paralysis cause people to feel helpless, because the body no longer responds normally to mental commands. Each attempt to move a weakened body part requires intense mental effort, while even intense mental effort fails to move totally paralysed body parts.
- Muscle weakness and total paralysis arouse different sensations. Intense mental effort is needed to move weakened, or partially paralysed body parts, and these body parts feel as if they weigh much more than normal, as if they are ‘made of lead’, or ‘weighed down by stones’. Even so, weakened body parts will move, albeit sluggishly and abnormally, and affected people say they feel as if they are trying to move though thick syrup or mud. But a totally paralysed body part will not move at all, even when intense mental effort is used to try to get the affected body part to move. Furthermore, totally paralysed body parts do not feel heavy at all.
- Weakening and paralysis of speech muscles also affects speech. Weakening, or partial paralysis of the muscles generating speech means that intense mental effort is required to speak, shout, or scream, but very little sound issues from the mouth. Total paralysis of speech muscles means that even intense mental effort fails to generate sounds, and no sound issues from the mouth at all.
- Weakening, or partial paralysis of breathing muscles arouses feelings of anxiety, because people with weakened breathing muscles feel as if they are suffocating, or feel as if there is a ‘tight band around their chest’, or feel as if there is ‘a great weight pressing upon their chest’.
These are the sensations and emotions aroused by muscle weakness and muscle paralysis, and people whose muscles are weakened or paralysed sometimes translate these unpleasant and fearful sensations into experiences of fear, of terror, or of helpless despair.
Nocturnal demonic attack
Our ancestors believed in the reality of nocturnal attacks and visitations by malevolent demonic beings. Such visitations were once described in a passage written in 1834 CE:
‘ ... Imagination canot conceive the horrors it [the Nightmare] frequently gives rise to, or language to describe them in adequate terms ...
Everything horrible, disgusting or terrifying in the physical or moral world is brought before him in fearful array; he is hissed at by serpents, tortured by demons, stunned by the hollow voices and cold touch of apparitions ...
At one moment he may have the consciousness of a malignant demon being at his side; then to shun the sight of so appalling an object, he will close his eyes, but still the fearful being makes its presence known; for its icy breath is felt diffusing itself over his visage, and he knows that he is face to face with a fiend. Then if he looks up, he beholds horrid eyes glaring upon him, and an aspect of hell grinning at him with even more hellish malice. Or he may have the idea of a monstrous hag squatted upon his breast mute, motionless and malignant.’
People still report undergoing the same experiences, although they no longer express them in the same terms. So a woman who recently told of her experiences, wrote:
‘Hi, I am a 27 year old female and have been suffering from what I think is “sleep paralysis” for the past 12 or so years. It started just being unable to move, like someone was on top of me, pinning me down. And although I was trying with all my might to move or to scream, all I could do was barely wiggle my toes and faintly murmur. In the beginning it was very frightening and I would try with all my might to wake up. Upon waking I would be unable to resume sleep for at least a few hours. Now I have become somewhat used to them. Sometimes I even lie back and see how long I can take that awful, overpowering feeling. In the end, I always try to wake myself up. Over the years this “thing” (as I imagine it) has kind of metamorphisized into a dark being, something who is doing this deliberately to me for some reason. I guess this is something that I may have invented in my head to deal with it. I am not really sure. After I got used to it, I never really questioned it. It still occurs about every 2 months or so. Sometimes once a night, other times it can happen several times in one night.’
People with conscious sleep paralysis awaken to find they are unable to move, and they may clothe their unpleasant sensations of paralysis with visions of demonic attack. This is the origin of the stories of malignant entities or demons that attack people at night. But our ancestors believed in these stories. They believed in the reality of malevolent nocturnal entities, and even developed a demonology of the night based upon this belief. They recognised several forms of nocturnal demonic attack, such as nocturnal attack by hags, nightmares, incubi, and succubi. These terms are worth defining, because their definition, together with knowledge of the known effects of sleep paralysis, reveals the nature of such demonic attacks.
Demonology of sleep
Hundreds of years ago, the nightmare was defined as ‘a female monster supposed to settle upon people and animals in their sleep producing a feeling of suffocation’. The nightmare was also known by other names, such as hag, incubus, or succubus. The meaning of the term nightmare has changed with time, and now a nightmare is defined as ‘a feeling of suffocation or great distress felt during sleep, from which the sleeper vainly tries to free himself; a bad dream producing these or similar sensations’. And many newer dictionaries simply define a nightmare as a frightening or terrifying dream.
- A hag is ‘an evil spirit, demon, or infernal being, in female form’. A person tormented by a hag was said to be ‘hag-ridden’. They were ridden and oppressed by a hag in the same way as by a nightmare.
- A demon is defined as ‘a being of a nature intermediate between gods and men; an inferior divinity spirit (including the souls of deceased persons)’. A demon is supposedly superhumanly evil and malevolent. A fiend is another name for a demon.
- A ‘succubus’ is defined as ‘a demon in female form supposed to have carnal intercourse with men in their sleep’. The experience of a succubus is the same as that of an incubus.
- An ‘incubus’ is ‘a person, or thing that weighs upon and oppresses like a nightmare’. An incubus is also defined as ‘a feigned evil spirit or demon, supposed to descend upon persons in their sleep, and especially to seek carnal intercourse with women’. The incubus is the male form of the succubus. Incubi may descend upon sleeping women in the forms of demons or strangers. Sometimes incubi appear to women in the form of men they love, desire, or know. Muscle paralysis renders women helpless in the presence of the incubus, and helpless to resist the sexual attentions of the incubus. Sexual intercourse between an incubus and a woman can even cause pregnancy. This last belief was extensively explained and propagated as official truth in an infamous book written in 1483 CE, called the ‘Malleus Maleficarum’, which is Latin for ‘The Hammer of Evil’. Indeed, at the time this book was written, it was even an offence punishable by death to believe otherwise. The Malleus Malifecarum clearly expounded the belief that a demon could have sexual intercourse with a man in the form of a succubus, somehow contain and transport the semen of that man, subsequently transform into an incubus, and inject this semen into the next woman with which it had sexual intercourse, so inseminating and rendering this woman pregnant.
Sleep paralysis generates all these sensations of weakness, crushing weight, helplessness, and suffocation attributed to these demonic visitors. People perceiving these sensations of muscle weakness and paralysis during sleep may clothe these sensations with terrifying imagery, and fantastical entities arising from their own innermost fears and terrors. But no person lives alone. The thinking and the thought patterns of each person is determined and modified by their upbringing, other influences from the society in which they live, as well as other matters that occupy their individual minds. These factors all determine the nature of the imagery contained in individual nightmares and dreams of demonic attack.
Yet these are not the only factors determining the imagery contained in nightmares and dreams of demonic attack. Random movements occurring during sleep also determine the imagery contained in these dreams. Everyone has seen sleeping people make slight movements, twitch slightly, make sounds, or sometimes even speak. Indeed, it is quite normal to move during sleep. People are continuously paralysed during sleep, but this is not a total paralysis, otherwise people would stop breathing and die during sleep. This is why it is possible for people to move and to speak during sleep. Most people awaken about eight to fifteen times each night, but they never remember these short awakenings. In addition, most sleeping people change their position every fifteen to twenty minutes, make movements while changing from one level of sleep to another, and make movements while dreaming. So a sleeping person may not only experience sensations of paralysis and helplessness caused by sleep paralysis, but the sensory nerve signals generated by random movements occurring during sleep, may at times also arouse sensations of movements, of fighting and struggle, of walking and running, of wading through thick mud, of floating, and even of flying. Such sensations may generate dreams where people sense they are moving, flying, or floating at one part of a dream, or paralysed and helpless during another part of the same dream. These sensations are universal, even though the visual, auditory, and emotional content of such dreams differs from one person to another, as well as from one culture to another.
Conclusion
Nocturnal visitations by hags, incubi, succubi, and terrifying presences under the bed. Such stories of nocturnal attacks, visitations, and experiences have been reported throughout all known history. People reporting such nocturnal experiences are not insane or hysterical fantasts, instead they are reporting what for them are wondrous, often terrifying, yet real experiences. The Unholy Legacy of Abraham explains how these fascinating experiences are actually products of the functioning of the human body, misinterpreted for millennia as proofs for the reality of the many immaterial beings and entities proposed by nearly all religions.
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Comments
What you describe are repeated episodes of what is called "conscious sleep paralysis". About 1 in 20 people experience one or more episodes of this during their lives. So it is quite common.
However, the fact that is is quite a common experience does not mean it is any less unpleasant.The sensations you describe are those caused by paralysis of muscles which normally occurs during sleep, but is now present during consciousness.
Waiting, such as during prayer or some other mental activity, is a method of occupying yourself until it passes. Examples of more effective ways to break the paralysis are: having a pet dog jump on you to wake you, or a partner to shake you.
In any case, these episodes are not due to demonic attack, but are tricks played upon you by your body.
At first, looking at the title only, I was prepared to fight you tooth and nail about this hub, but I am pleased to see you explained these strange sleep problems with great knowledge and helped dispell some myths people spread about demons, etc. I believe no religion and have no place in my life for those who believe in demons, angels, etc.
Thanks for writing this excellent hub!
My sister calls the phenomena the Old Hag syndrome. She's had these attacks for years.
Great hub!
I have had sleep pralysis b4, but what happened to me last nite was out of the norm and i definately believe it to be demonic. i lie in bed waiting to fall asleep when i hear this voice in ma head saying lie on your back to prove something, i then lie on my back and then hear this screeching sireen starts from low pitch to gettin high pich then i was locked down rendered useless, this demon wot ever it was tried to kill me no doubt sleep paralysis has never hurt me b4 but this time round i felt as if someone put there hand inside my chest and was squeezing my hearth i struggled and struggled my eye lids cud not open when i tried i had two demonic eyes green bright inside my eye lids as if it was saying you want eyes i will give you eyes. this went on for a few minutes until i almost gave up cuz i was sure i was going to die. then i started rehersing palsm 21 the lord is my sheppered after gettin half way thru that i was then released only to find my chest in pain and my eyes runinnin tears and could not stop crying becuz i new this was not sleep paralysis this was something of the supernatural. i am guna ask my bishop to bless my house. my friend says its an out of body experience beczu demons can posses you n they will attempt to take over your body as it has happened in biblical days. so i do beleive in sleep paralysis and have experienced it and had no harm come to me. but this experience i had was real and it was not sleep paralysis and i was wide awake when the attack happened.
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my sister also gets these attack but there becomming more intense as each attach happens. its alway the same woman who comes to her and strangles her she feels that she is awake when this is happening. she also screams but nothing comes out and she cant move her body. iv any one can explain this better to me contact me at. johngallagher2k6@hotmail.co.uk
I have had these as well...funny at first they happened when I was fourteen. I thought that I was getting abducted by aliens...there was light all around and I heard sounds but could not make anything out. I couldnt controll my breathing it was as if the air itself was alive and going in and out of my lungs. I also could not move but could think quite clearly. I woke up to find my tv on...Then it happened again. Only I have found a way to wake my self up. I also played with seeing how long I could be there paralyzed without being overwhelmed by insecurity of not being able to move...Then it happed again but this time I was faced with a menacing creature with no head and its face secured to its chest. The face was always changing and always menacing. I was pretty good at painting and drawing but since it changed and contorted I could not for the life of me remember what it looked like when I was in art class the next day. I was 16 then. And yet again it happened when I was 26. I also thought it was demons. I spoke with a couple of wiccans and this is interesting...the being I described was known by the two wiccans and they both told me the same story. This is the funny part..the wiccans I asked were 3 years and 2200 miles apart! Weird. They said it was a spirit, the first one said that it wanted to give me a gift and was pretty excited about it she was European. The second was also a La Kota shaman and said that it was infact a spirit but sounded pretty concerned. Told me that it would give me a boon if I were to perform a task.
At 16 I was scared. I tried to move and kick and scream but couldnt. Then all of a sudden I just got extremely furious as if it was someone else in me. I told it to go away. I cannot for the life of me explain this. But I do know a couple things. For those who do not believe in God do know this ( I am on the fence with religoun by the way) praying DOES IN FACT work. Call it what you want, it is still very powerful and renders all weird crap like this void and powerless. Another thing I was 14 at my first experience and was watching on tv alot of shows about aliens. At 16 I was involved with friends who were into wicca and such. I personnaly was agnostic so I thought they were still being primitive even though they thought that anything other than Chritian was cool. Then I read the bible never ever went to church in my life, and I was an angry person just to be clear. After reading the bible I felt calm. But that was my experience.
I've have experienced sleep paralasis my entire life, however what happened last night has never happened before. I woke up around 3am and couldn't go back to sleep for awhile. Finally, I guess I started to fall asleep on my side and suddenly I saw a grandfather clock in my room and the minute hands started to swing back and forth in different directions rapidly. I tried to move and couldn't, then I started to feel as though I was being pulled down to the foot of my bed. Finally, after praying it stopped. The next eposide that same nite I felt like an evil presense was in the room but I couln't see anything and as usual could not move or scream for help. Suddenly, I felt like something was in bed next to me, it felt like a dog because it was fuzzy. Next it started to come out from under the covers and I tried to scream. Then I realized that it was a long serpeant type of creature that felt like it was coming out of my abdomen. I tried to move but as I felt a evil spirt it felt male in the room. I prayed and prayed and told this presence to go away and it did.
As I said this has never happended to me and I wish I knew what it all meant.
The sleep paralasis makes sense. But I am not convinced for my personal expereices. I haven't had anything happen for about three years, but before that I would wake up every couple of weeks (sometimes a coupl times a week) to find a dark figure standing at the end of my bed and I was unable to move, or to breath. I would try and scream out and found that I could not even do that. I would even try and call out to God in my head and had a difficult time doing that. I started to sleep with a bible under my pillow. Whenever the presence would come I would force my hand to move and touch the bible and as soon as I touched it, everything returned to normal.
Like I said, I haven't had anything happen in 3 years. But last night was something intirely different. Before when anything happened I was always lived alone.
I now live with my boyfriend. We were curled up sleeping on our sides, his arm wrapped around me just under my breast and his hand tucked up close to my head. His other arm under his head. I woke up to ringing or pressure in my ears, some kind of chanting, I couldn't move, it felt like my entire body was vibrating, and it felt like I was being pushed down onto the bed on my stomach and it felt like someones fists were digging into my hips.
It was so painful in fact that I checked my hips this morning for bruises. Again I tried calling out to God in my head and the first couple of times I was unable to, the chanting seemed to get louder and more forceful. when I was finally able to ask for Gods help, eveything stopped.
Can anyone explain what happened to me last night?
I liked your Hub. My brother in law had this experience but only once. He didn't dream or anything he said he was awake. At the time, people were saying the house he lived in was haunted. He is skeptical thats for sure but he said it was the most frighteneing thing he has ever felt in his life. He tried calling out to my sister and could not form words. He said it lasted a very long time. I always wondered if this was something our bodies did or if it was a supernatural thing.
Fantastic Hib by the way.
Hi, I have been having these episodes for years. I am 35 years old now, and haven't had one in a few years, but my first experience happened when I was 19 years old. It was in the day and I went to lay down for a quick nap. I was COMPLETELY awake and lying on my back when I felt my body become completely paralyzed, screaming in my ears were sounds of several demonic voices. I could not tell what they were saying, but I knew it was evil. I can't say how long this lasted, but when the demons finally released I was left with an intense fear of which I had never felt.
Fast-forward to age 27. Since that first episode I never had another one until I started dating a new guy. Until recently it never occurred to me that he may have been the reason why these demons started to torture me again. One night we were in my kitchen and he said he saw something out of the corner of his eye and said it was probably a ghost. He then began to tell me stories of how he could "go to the other side" meaning he can go to hell. Lying in bed that night he told me there was a demon sitting in the corner of my room just staring at us, he proceeded to describe to me what this thing looked like. This kind of scared me, but I just went to sleep anyway and blew it off as if he were just trying to scare me. The next day, my boyfriend went into my room, I went to try to find him and the door was locked. I knocked on the door but he wouldn't answer, I started to get worried and started pounding on the door and yelling for him to open it. After about 10 minutes of me pounding on the door and screaming for him to open it, he finally opened the door and had a bloody nose. I asked him what was going on and he told me he "went to the other side" Well, that was it for me, I knew this guy was evil and broke up with him. Don't ask me why I didn't break up with him sooner; I was just at a very vulnerable time in my life.
After our relationship ended is when the terrors began. Demons and I say DEMONS because I KNOW they were evil presences that started to paralyze me at night. I can't count how many times these occurrences happened because it got to a point where I knew the demons were in my room and then a few minutes later it would take over my body. I was always fully awake and conscious when these attacks would take place, but it was always when I was lying down and relaxed. I would know something was in my room because I felt several times something jumping onto the foot of my bed and then walking around on my bed. At first I thought it was my cat, but my cat was nowhere in the room as soon as I would feel the demon walking on my bed it would take over my body and paralyze me, I could feel my skin in my arms rippling as if it was physically entering into my body. I would get a feeling of extreme terror. I had other nights where I felt as if the demon would pick me up out of my bed and throw me on the floor or throw me against the wall. I had another night where I felt the demon’s breath in my ear and it made a loud chewing sound. You can think I'm crazy, but this is all real, I know it wasn’t a dream. I didn't know what was going on during all of this, but I knew it was something evil.
I started doing my research and found several similar stories. I am a Christian, but during these times of attack, I was not living as a Christian should live, this is why I think that I was fair game to these demons. I do not believe for one minute that these episodes can be chalked up as "sleep paralysis" or "night terrors" NO, there is a real spiritual world out there that we cannot see, and it is everywhere and it is very real. I finally got the nerve up to tell my mother, who is also a Christian, she told me to start praying or call out to Jesus the next time this happens. Sure enough a few days later I had another attack, at first I tried to call out the name of Jesus, but it was hard, I just kept trying to say it, but could not move my lips, so I just started to think it. Suddenly I heard in a demonic voice of someone saying "Jesus" in an evil dark voice as if they were mocking me, suddenly the paralysis stopped and I felt the evil no more. I started to pray and felt peace. It happened again a few more times, but each time I knew that I had the power of Jesus now to get me through it, when I would feel the attacks starting to come on, and for some reason, I knew they were coming because I could feel their presence in my room, I would just start to pray or praise Jesus' name. Someone please tell me that if these aren't demons, why is the name of Jesus so powerful over this? I think calling these demon possessions “sleep paralysis” or “night terror” are just scientist’s and non-believer’s way of explaining this away. There is no way that ANYONE could ever convince me that these attacks were by none other than from Satan himself. Please wake up; this is a call and a battle for your soul. Please repent to Jesus and call for his name or these demons will have your soul for eternity and I'm sure in hell it feels a lot worse than this. I'm proud and thrilled to say since I've started to live a more Godly life and got out of the sin I was living in, these demonic possessions have stopped all together, no I am not perfect and do not claim to be, but I am choosing to put Jesus first in my life now.. I just wanted to give my story because I believe that JESUS is the only way out of this. Through Jesus you do have the power over these demons, they cannot stand the sound of his precious name. Even if you don't believe just try saying Jesus' name in your head or praying to Jesus, these demons don't stand a chance and you will be free from it, what do you have to lose?
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,”
—Ephesians 6:10-18
I too agree with what Shell has said. I have been suffering from these demonic attacks for years. At first I was terrified, howvever now, I know that I am covered by the blood of Christ. Alot of people may not know this, but God has given us the authority over these types of attacks. The devil will try everything in his power to instill fear and pain. The first place he tends to attack is our mind. You MUST realize that when this happens, you are to cast these evil demons out. The only way is through our Lord and Savior, JESUS CHRIST. In his name we are able to tell the enmy to flee. Do not be scared, do not give it the power to take over your life. we are children of God and because of His mighty power all evel must give way to the light of HIM. It works trust me. Even I f you just call on His name, or recite a Bible verse, The enemy has no other chice but to leave! Isn't it great to know we have that kinda power! Thank you jesus!
i believe whole heartedly the truth in the last 2 posts...i am 27 and have had what i believe to be sleep paralysis before, i couldnt move or talk even though i am trying my absolute hardest to. one time i was walking up a hill and as i climbed to the top it became harder and harder to walk, it got to the point where i was just laying on the ground completly unable to move...other times i would be in fights but i wouldnt be able to fight back, like my arms were tied to my body and i was just being beat up...but last night was completly different, it was 2:08am and my girlfriend had just brought our 1 yr old daughter to sleep with us cause she had woken up crying, she got her a sippy cup of milk and she fell back to sleep between us...i know i was awake through all of that...a little bit after she fell back to sleep i rolled over on my stomach and tried to go back to sleep, that was when i felt that there was something standing at the foot of our bed staring at me, i KNEW it was evil, i could feel it, i was petrified and couldnt move....it continued for what seemed like at least five minutes, whatever it was it didnt move, it didnt do anything to my physicaly, it was just there, i KNOW it was real. during that time i felt as though i was slowly becoming unable to breath and it seemed like the presence was causing it, i vividly remember forcing myself to breath, i remember looking at the wall next to our bed thinking that my breathing was going to wake up my girlfriend and our baby girl...it really really felt like there was a weight on my back and i had to lift that weight up to allow myself to breath....i dont know how or why it went away but it did, i didnt pray or anything but it left and i was able to roll over on my back...i layed awake for at least 30mins not knowing what had happened but still scared and remembering the intense fear i had just experienced...i believe now that it was a demon, but when it was happening i thought it was the actual devil...like Shell in the previous post i am a christian but havent been living the way a christian should, i now believe it is cause of my falling away that i was vulnerable to a demons attack......i now know that all i have to do is pray and it will end, i hope i never have to experience anything like that again though....
Shell...youn hit the nail on the head. I have had these episodes before but recently they have been more frequent. My grandma taught me to say "I rebuke you demon in the name of Jesus! Get behind me Satan". IT WORKS! Also, get some virgin olive oil and pray over it and ask God to annoint it for you (this is if you do not know someone that can get you holy oil). Annoint your bed, any door ways, windows or other openings in your home. Evil cannot pass thru this holy annointing. I have the kind that sprays and i use it. Sounds crazy but if you don't believe me, try it. i hope this helps someone else out. God does give us reign over evil so do not fear God is always with you.
Most of the time when this attacks happen your lips are immobile, your thoughts now become a powerful weapon. You must realize that you are also a spirit and that thinking is the major form of communication in the supernatural realm. Human beings not demons has the dominion through the Lord Jesus Christ in the earthly realm. First you need to give your life to Jesus, So whenever the attacks happens bind the demons. Just say I BIND YOU FOUL SPIRIT AND I CAST YOU OUT IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS. Some may prove stubborn, invoke the blood of Jesus, by saying SATAN THE BLOOD OF JESUS IS AGAINST YOU, GO IN JESUS NAME. if you can't speak say it in your thoughts.
Secondly, after the attacks have gone you need to confess your sins to God because there may be a legal hold that gives them a right to continue their attacks against you ask the Holy spirit to reveal them to you. Then close the doors of further attacks against you. by saying I CLOSE EVERY SPIRITUAL LOOP HOLE AND I SEAL THEM WITH THE BLOOD OF JESUS.
After this you should be back to a normal life free from demonic intimidation or harassment because JESUS DIED TO SET YOU FREE.
It's funny how some of you say your attacks are at night. I don't have them as frequently at night instead, I have them around nap time around 12 pm - 3 pm One day a Spirit whispered my actual name and told me to "get up get up it's time to get up" on top of that I've had attacks on me where I woke up and nothing can move. It felt as if someone was lying ontop of me. There have been other dreams as well which have to do with me being pulled into the mattress more than once. It's scary, but once I realize whats happening, I immediately rebuke the devil in my mind and everthing starts coming back to normal. :) I thought I was the only one have these dreams.
What a fascinating series of reactions to this hub. They reveal the truth of the study showing that about 1 in 20 persons has one or more such experiences during their life. However, contrary to the opinions expressed in the reactions above, these experiences have nothing to do with actual demonic attack. Instead, they are due to the normal paralysis of sleep continuing after a person awakes. Ansd this pralysis gives all the sensations of a weight upon the chest, someone lying upon you, feelings of helplessness, inability to speak, feelings of being suffocated, even of sensed presences. Such episodes usually only last a short time before they pass away. Their passing can be speeded up by asking someone to shake your shoulder, a loud alarm clock, or any other sudden disturbance. Some people even have trained their dogs to jump upon the bed to shake them and so break the paralysis. However, if prayer or other forms of religious superstion do it for you, then these are also very accptable methods.
It's strange how athiests aren't visited by demons. Though I do hear athiests experience paralysis in sleep which ends instantly when they focus on something else, like Chuck Noris for example. In dreams its easy to be certain of anything with nothing at all to cause us to be certain, thats why even the most bizzare dreams make some kind of weird sense at the time and this is no different. So forgive me for scoffing when you say you KNOW that you were attacked by a demon. I beleive faith makes for happier people but I also believe it makes for people more inclined to interpret their experiences to suit themselves. I'd rather be open minded and unhappy.
Demons don't need to visit atheists because demons already know they belong to Satan, there is no point in fighting over something that already belongs to Satan. These are spiritual battles that are going on, and yes they are real. I have experienced it several times and they are NOT dreams. They don't happen when I am asleep, therefore they are not dreams. These episodes usually come after I start really reading my bible, or praying a lot or after my eyes are opened about to some evil in the world. Satan doesn't like it when you find out the truth, so he tries to torment you. Like I said before, satan already knows he has the atheists fooled, so no need to torment them. I'm so sad for them that they will not know everlasting life, but everlasting torment.
What Jay is talking about is a classic case of what is called "cataplexy", which is conscious paralysis induced by strong emotion. The emotion arousing such paralysis can be positive such as love or religious fervor, or negative such as anger or rage. Dogs and cats also experience cataplexy. Moreover, by brain surgery in cats and dogs, these animals can also develop cataplexy. What Jay describes is no more than a medical condition which is also experienced by hellbound atheists, as well as the countless billions of people who have never ever had the chance to hear of Jesus. And to think that Jesus with his boundless compassion, also condemns these unknowing people to everlasting torment in hell...
If Jesus and God exist, and are compassionate, I am sure they will be merciful and treat all creatures with compassion and mercy.
So let us recognize these conditions of awake paralysis for what they are - medical conditions.
I know what cataplexy is and no where does it say anything about the symptoms of cataplexy being, a feeling of someone sitting on your head, a feeling of being strangled, seeing demonic beings, a feeling of an evil presence, feelings of a snake coming out of your abdomen, hearing screaming and demonic voices in your ear, or feelings of demons on your bed. All of these things are what the users above have said they experienced, the only symptom of cataplexy that was experienced was an inability to move, having only one symptom does not prove that cataplexy is what they experienced. And if you read most of the posts above almost all of them got rid of these DEMONS simply by calling out Jesus’ name and praying. So if this is truly cataplexy then it should be known that there is a cure, and that the cure for it is Jesus. As far as the atheist comment, I was responding to the post above mine where he asked why atheists don’t experience this. Of course I have no idea who or who doesn’t experience this in the world, but Atheists have already made the choice to reject Jesus, an Atheist is not someone who doesn’t know about God or Jesus, it is someone who has chose to reject that God even exists, you cannot reject something that you have no knowledge of. People who have never heard of Jesus will not be bound to hell as YOU stated; you can only go to hell if you have made a conscious decision to reject Jesus. God is merciful, and part of the beauty of God is that he gives us our own free will to either accept him or reject him. I think that when we pray or call out Jesus’ name during these attacks, Jesus is proving himself, it is one of the ways he proves to us he is real. Nothing that anyone can say can make me believe otherwise, but everyone is entitled to their own opinion. May God bless you.
My first experience with this was as a young child. I could see and smell very frightening skinless person like images staring at me while I would sleep. I was about 9 yrs old. I could also see spirits walking around my room and even short hairy creatures at my bedside. As I grew older I found myself awakened in the middle of the night and could not move or talk. I could see and hear everything though. I sleep on my stomach so I could not see what others claim to see, but I could feel presure on my entire body leaving me unable to move. I started to hear chanting in the form of whispering in my ears during my worst attacks. I could not understand what was said, but I do remember fighting so hard to get away that when I would finally break free, I would pass out instantly. I would also have several attacks each night for a short period of time. My, what I thought was my last attack, happened at my church during an overnight sleep over. I suffered and finally was able to whisper "in the name of Jesus Christ, I command you to leave!" In an instant I could feel whatever was holding me down lift away and I could once again move freely. After nearly 18 years, I was again attacked and found the attack to be just as brutally draining and multiple times at night. I sense something in the room and can hear movement, but can not see what it is. I was told by a person that they could see something watching me sleep that resembles an older man dressed in black with balding white hair. I also find the attacks to come when I reach to God. My terror continues and I wonder if I am alone when I sleep? Do I have an attacker and a watcher? Is this all in my head? Is this real?
Angels and Demons are most definitely real. We would all be alot better off if we recognize the Angels, becuase our guardian angels are eager to assist us. I am posting to say those of you who have suffered are not alone. So never fear these attacks. I remember being very young and having my mother and grandmother pray over me for a very long time before school one morning because the devil was in my thoughts...speaking horrible things and doing anything he could to instill fear in me. It didnt happen again until I was about 15, but that experience was so traumatic that i knew i would surely die. I have entirely blocked out that experience so i cant really even describe to you exactly what happened. I guess the attacks started happening again these past few years. Always the paralyzing....but right before it i hear this ear buzzing/ popping sensation. I can hear the tv and can tell you word for word what the tv says, so i know im awake. The first time the paralysis thing happened i heard growling and the most EVIL laughter you can imagine. I do not watch scary movies...i have no memories of things like this. THIS IS REAL! But this happens to us to bring us closer to God. Because if anything this proves his existance to us. We can feel the healing power of prayer and expecially in the most glorious and beautiful name of Jesus. I have found the daily use of the saint michael prayer also extremely helpful as well as blessing the house or myself with holy water. That is of course when i can manage to get the prayers out. But i know the demons cant stand to be around me for long. And their attempts to shake my faith are in vain. I am 21 now and I had an attackonly two nights ago sometime around 3 in the afternoon. I wanted to pray the divine mercy chaplet because 3pm is the hour that Jesus died, but i found it impossible to reach for my rosary beads. I found that to be the worst part. More so than the taunting or the pain and pressure that i was feeling. But before the hour was over i finally could pray the chaplet. I have taken philosophy and i am very learned in science and i think that the sleep paralysis bullshit is a design of the evil one. I wish you....Non believers could experience this...not for the physical and emotional torture but for you to believe. Of ocourse it would not happen to you because why torture the ones he has already. Im not saying you are damned, because JESUS's MERCY is infinite and unimaginable, but the devil doesnt torment those souls he thinks he can steal.
Jim: It is most definitely not in your head.
I will start a prayer list of all those who suffer from satan's relentless attacks. I have let these attacks lead me away from God out of fear before and i know better now. The power of prayer can defeat him. Especially if we are all praying for one another.
I think people that have never had these do not understand. I started having these at a very young age. I got to the point that I was so afraid to fall asleep I would be up for hours on end until it was almost light out and I had a hour to sleep before I had to get ready for school. Every single attack I had has been vivid. I would have horrible dreams or awaken with a dark figure at the foot of my bed or in the doorway. I would wake up, not able to move or scream, totally frickin awake and then it would go. This was when I was younger. As I got older I stopped having these happenings but still do see and hear things in certain places. Most recently about a year and half ago I believe I had the worst of all of these night terrors. I was sleeping with my girlfriend in the bed and our son was in the other room (this was before our other son was born). I dreamed I woke up in an empty room and the thing was there. It was dark, and then I actually dreamed that I woke up next to my girlfriend and when I went back to bed it started again except the thing had a face. The face was white, its body was lean, and it had black slits for eyes and that was its. I started having back problems shortly after and experienced horrible nerve problems in my legs and hips. I read a story where a girl had a similar experience. I believe they are there, watching us. Watching the few of us it chooses to and leaving the others it doesnt want to be with alone. They are lucky.
gunnyoc@yahoo.com
I would have to add, that I have not had an episode since that last one. My girlfriend said I was making a horrible noise and she started to pray and it went away. I am a trained anthropologist, everything is supposed to have a measurable reason. Quantum physics shows us that a lot of what we know isn't jack compared to what we dont know and cant measure. Some things cant be explained or measured and many good scientists know this as well. Prayer has great power.
Of late, I've encountered some of the most strangest nocturnal attacks. The intensity of each has varied however it is now more frequent than when I'd initially been experiencing such. I am aware of sleep paralysis and hypnagogic myoclonic encounters- the symptoms are applicable but there are some that appear almost supernatural. A few weeks ago, i woke up roaring, I felt my face tighten as I also felt viciously monstrous. I was conscious throughout this but I could not control myself. During this period I was physically ill. My blood pressure was low, I'd been weak and confused. Following that, I find myself suddenly falling into a deep dream (the funny part about it is, I absoloutely cannot sleep and this suddenly happens)
During this dream I am facing something horrible but before the dream ends (the part where I am about to die or burn)I find myself feeling like I am moving in different positions. I feel like I'm being swung in various ways. It became evident that there was a supernatural force due to one encounter involving my wrists being held to the bed and precedent to my waking up, I found them red and a little hurt. In this or if it is a dream (it seems far too real)I find myself screaming and running to other rooms but I actually am not moving. Furthermore, my faith is little as a mustard seed. I am confused about my convictions - there are no absoloute to it, so there I cannot understand why I am screaming ''The blood of jesus'' is on me throughout these experiences.
During this dream I am facing something horrible but before the dream ends (the part where I am about to die or burn)I find myself feeling like I am moving in different positions. I feel like I'm being swung in various ways. It became evident that there was a supernatural force due to one encounter involving my wrists being held to the bed and precedent to my waking up, I found them red and a little hurt. In this or if it is a dream (it seems far too real)I find myself screaming and running to other rooms but I actually am not moving. Furthermore, my faith is little as a mustard seed. I am confused about my convictions - there are no absoloute to it, so there I cannot understand why I am screaming ''The blood of jesus'' is on me throughout these experiences.
I dont have a sleep problem,rarely do I get paralysis while Im sleeping. I was sleeping at my boyfriends house a couple of days ago. At 5am he woke up and left for work- this woke me and I slept light after that. I dont know if I was lucid dreaming or traveling outside of my body, but I somehow hit another dimension- I heard a noise only to be "awaken" to a man walking out of the master bathroom, I was upset- I asked him who he was and who let him in- then I screamed for my boyfriend- he jumped on top of me as 3 others walked out of the master bathroom just staring at me with a creapy gaze. I asked the man on top of me again, "who are you"- he said that he was whom ever I wanted him to be, then his face changed into different male faces ( I didnt recognize any of them) he asked me which one I would rather see while he is "********" me. I just said Stacy wake up!!! And he told me I wasnt sleeping- I kept hitting myself but It was so vivid, I believed I wasnt sleeping. Then I recited the our father prayer to him, he got off of me and told me my god wont help me, and the other three hissed at me- I thought, wtf??? I told them to leave- continuously trying to wake myself up, I finally did. Anyone know what the fuck happened to me then??? I finally was able to wake up and I was sweating, I searched the house, the closets, everywhere- my heart was racing. So any explanation for my experience is appreciated, please dont tell me Im going crazy!!!!!!
my boyfriend has similar attacks. one night he fell asleep on the phone and i was listening and i could hear him asking for help. really faintly, but he was still asking. it was as if someone was choking him and he could not speak. not even a whisper. just the slightest sound that sounded like he was saying help me. i screamed and yelled for him to wake up. he didn't. i called his room mate to wake him up, no answer. so finally i wrote all this down and he woke up. i told him what happened and he told me he had a nightmare. its the same nightmare every time. i dont know exactly what it is because he won't tell me. he came over to my house after that and he couldn't sleep. he had red marks and bruises on his neck as if someone had strangled him. and i think someone did. or something. this demon has been haunting him for years. i need someone to talk to about it. can anyone help?
FOR ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE EXPERIENCE THESE SO CALLED SLEEP PARALYSIS THE TRUTH TO IT IS THAT ALL THE OLD BELIEFS WERE REALLY TRUE!AN EVIL SPIRIT DID COME TO YOU THAT NIGHT BECAUSE I KNOW ALL THE UNIVERSAL SECRETS AND TRUTH ABOUT GOD AND DEVILS.YOU MAY NOT BELIEVE ME BUT I TELL YOU THIS....I WAS SENT HERE BY GOD IN THE LAST DAYS OF THIS WORLD AND ONE TRUTH IM GOING TO TELL IS THAT THERE ARE ANGELS SENT ALSO AND LIVED AS HUMANS BUT THEIR MEMORY WERE ERASED TO FULFILL THEIR MISSION,ALSO THE SAME GOES FOR THE DEVILS WHO ARE NOW LIVING AS HUMANS BUT NO MEMORY OF THEIR TRUE IDENTITY....WE ARE ALMOST AT THE PEAK OF THE END IM JUST WAITNG FOR IT TO HAPPEN..IF YOUR CATHOLIC I SAY THIS TO YOU IN THE FIRST STAGE GOD SAVE THE HUMANS WHEN HE TALK TO NOAH THE SECOND STAGE IS THE SON OF GOD WHO IS JESUS SAVE MANKIND AGAIN WHEN HE SACRIFICE HIS HUMAN LIFE AND NOW THE LAST DAYS THE 3RD GOD WAS SENT IN THIS PRESENT DAY GUESS WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE 3RD GOD TO GOD AND THE SECOND GOD JESUS?I BET NONE OF THE PRIESTS KNOW BECAUSE ITS ONE OF THE SECRETS OF HEAVEN AND EARTH BUT I WILL TELL YOU...THE 3RD GOD WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE SON OF JESUS WHO WILL SAVE MANKIND IN THE END OF THE WORLD....
Oh dear, how a simple discussion of the basic and provable physiology behind the relatively common experience of sleep paralysis can degenerate into superstitious ravings about demons, Satan, Jesus, etc. These experiences are no more than conscious, or semi-conscious experiences of sleep paralysis. No more than that. The visual and emotional emagery and interpretations are products of individual belief systems.
So Christians will have a Christian interpretation, while Muslims will have their own interpretations. But the reality has nothing to do with Gods, God, Jesus, Satan, or whatever juju, spirit or god one happens to believe in.
As regards Christianity and Islam - these are cults, and their holy books are simply cult manifesto's of very dubious moral and ethical worth (see proof in discussion at: http://www.unholylegacy.woerlee.org/cult.php ).
The experience of sleep paralysis is fascinating, and well worth discussing. So please try to discuss the experience of sleep paralysis in all its wondrous facets, instead of engaging in religous zealotry, or superstition.
I've had enough episodes of sleep paralysis to be familiar with it. one thing i haven't found in my research though is regarding pain in dreams
I've had a few instances of lucid dreaming where randomly there would be this crushing pain in my body usually accompanied by imagery, this I cannot seem to find an explanation for, to my knowledge people aren't suppose to experience pain in dreams. And it's not like I'd wake up and find that i'd been sleeping on my arm or something When i wake up the pain is just a memory, an unpleasant memory. So I'm assuming the pain isn't caused by me bumping my head against the headboard or something but rather is originating in the dream itself which to my knowledge isn't suppose to happen. Any ideas?
these same tings happens to me....they say i am very sensitive that my spirit power is high n they try to attack me but my mom was very ill n it used to tel me they gonna try n take her away n well...i used to have dreams for wen tings used to really com true a day or a week n wen my mother passed away she told me she's goin n to dnt follow her or else i wont be able to com bak n dat wen they announced her death n first time i didnt dream anyting for about 3 days until my mom came talkin to me tellin me all whose sick n wat made her died n wat to be carefull of n it realy does com true in two to three days n for a wile i havent had any attack but now its started bak n well...its jus prayers n believing that there is a way with god n not praying wit negative thoughts
My grandfather was a great chief and back in the day he was also responsible for both physical and spiritual safety of his people. This meant that he was also a shaman for his people,( a mythical serpent was an especially potent healer to them). He received Christ only a few months before his death. Although my parents are believers in Christ it was really tough to shake off the spirituallism influence of my heritage. All my life I have always been very sensitive towards the spiritual world, I was particularly atuned to the auditory aspects of it i.e I hear things. Despite my parent's efforts I never learnt to pray and was especially rebellious when it came to someone imposing their religion on me. When I do experience such encounters I used to wait for the nasty feeling to subside by itself. It got so bad that I became anxious whenever it was time to go to bed. This persisted until my senior year in high school when I discovered Frank Peretti's book "this present darkness" and boy did my life change! Although it's just fiction it revealed to me the ongoing spiritual warfare and the power of praying in Jesus' name. All my fears were gone when I truly received Jesus and started calling out in His name. Four years back ( I had just graduated from college) while staying at a friends' house I had a vivid experience the likes of which i have never had before probably due to the state of spiritual low point I was in at time. It must have been between 3-4 a.m.when I heard a sniffing sound that gradually got louder as it got closer to my bed. As I turned to look down I saw a greyish feline being about the size of a leopard with constantly shifting blacks stripes that never really settles. Suddenly it saw me looking down and snarled at me baring it's fangs. Shocked, I backed away and that's when it jumped on my chest and tried to bite my throat. I tried to say "In the name of Jesus I rebuke you "but was struggling to form the words at first. Meanwhile the thing got angrier and angrier and even started clawing my chest. Finally I manage to blurt out "in the name of Jesus.." and that's when the creature growled and jumped out of the window which was right above my bed. I sat up instantly and began to ask the Lord's forgiveness for having been in such a state. Now I know some of you may laugh and say it's all physiological but let me remind you that there is nothing natural about it when you have actually experienced it in such lucidity. The sheer effectiveness of Jesus' name never ceases to amaze me and can never be explained scientifically. I hope this witness will help some of you who are looking for help. The power is in the Blood.
I was sixteen or seventeen and a dracula or a vampire was chasing me. He was going like three thousand miles per hour running after me and I couldn't get going to save my soul! He was just about ready to grab me and I sat straight up in bed. I opened my eyes and it was pitch dark. I got up and went and turned the light on for about five seconds and then shut it off and went back to bed. I don't even try to remember dreams anymore. I wake up and know I was dreaming and erase it right then. Dreams are for movie makers. If the movie maker had not made a movie about Dracula or vampires I would not have had that particular dream. Of course I don't know what people in the past were running from without TV scary movies to watch unless they spent too much time at the local beheadings or stonings. I seriously doubt if they said Dracula was chasing me again last night. But I am sure they had similar sleep dreams. Most of my dreams now are when I'm awake and thinking about hitting the lottery!
Dreams and Nightmares affect you for a few hours or a day at most and I do get those from time to time, it doesn't really bother me. But when it comes to demonic attacks that stuff stays with you for a long time, and I doubt any one can be dismissive about it and say it was only a dream or a nightmare. I have never seen a movie nor read a book with a description of the beast i encountered and the things it did. One would have to encounter it to know what its all about and how different it is from a nightmare.
Nilda Cruz says:
8 months ago
It is 4:03 in the morning and i just woke up because I also have these horrible night attacks. This sounds silly but I actually felt someone jump and sit on my head, I actually thought that someone had broken in the house and was going to harm me. I lied there quietly for a little because I could not move as I also was paralyzed. I was able to move my right hand and began digging my finger its leg, it felt as if the person had a thick fabric. I prayed and the weight on my head just left as suddenly as it had come. These attacks have happened to me many, many times and I notice most of the time when I do not pray or read my Bible or listen to Gods word or christian music it happens more often. I am no longer afraid but get angry because I personally believe that it is a demonic attack and so I try to plead the blood of Jesus even though I cannot speak that evil power cannot stop my mind from praying. The prayer and reading the word when I awake always works. I don't know why it happens to me because other christians I know do not have these things happen to them. My family was involved in Santaria and I believe that these are familiar spirits that cannot give up because they believe that they have some sort of claim or possibly certain people are more sensative to the spiritual world, in any case prayer and Gods word works wonders.