What is behind the hallucinations in sleep paralysis?

Sleep is one of our most important resources. While we rest, the body repairs and regenerates, the brain processes impressions, memories, and emotions, and we gather strength for the coming day. Normally, we experience this nightly recovery undisturbed – but sometimes we find ourselves in a state that is anything but relaxing: the Sleep paralysis.

Those affected report suddenly being awake but unable to move or speak. As if that weren't eerie enough, frightening hallucinations often occur at this moment. Dark figures, demons, or so-called "shadow entities" appear to stand in the room or sit directly on the chest. A feeling of helplessness, combined with the conviction that the apparition is real, makes the experience one of the most intense and frightening that people can experience while sleeping. But what is really behind it?

Table of contents

1. Why do we concern ourselves with shadow entities in sleep paralysis?
2. Historical Perspective – Demons, Nightmares and Ghosts
3. What science knows about hallucinations in sleep paralysis
4. Typical phenomena and their effects
5. Methods to deal with shadow creatures & Co. to deal with
6. A look into the future: Research on sleep paralysis and perception

7. Conclusion

1. Why do we deal with shadow entities in sleep paralysis?

Even though sleep paralysis isn't medically dangerous, many sufferers experience it as extremely frightening. The feeling of being completely paralyzed while simultaneously seeing a sinister figure in the room is so intense that it lingers long afterward. Some people even develop a fear of falling asleep, fearing they'll find themselves in this situation again.

We are concerned with this phenomenon because:

• Health: Repeated sleep paralysis can significantly disrupt nighttime regeneration.

• Psychological effect: The hallucinations trigger panic, stress and sometimes even depressive moods.

• Cultural significance: For centuries, stories about demons, nightmares and evil spirits have surrounded this experience.

2. Historical Perspective – Demons, Nightmares and Ghosts

Long before sleep research provided scientific explanations, people were looking for answers to this strange phenomenon.

• Antiquity & Middle Ages: Sleep paralysis was considered a demonic phenomenon. In Europe, people spoke of the "Nightmare" or "Alp," a creature that would sit on the chest of a sleeping person and steal their breath.

• Early Modern Period: With the rise of witch hunts, these nighttime experiences were often attributed to witches or evil spirits. People believed they were visited or attacked by supernatural forces at night.

• Art && Culture: The famous painting “The Nightmare” by Johann Heinrich Füssli from the 18th century shows a sleeping woman with a demon on her chest – a symbol of the experience of paralysis.

• Today: These images live on in modern media, especially in pop culture. Horror films take up the theme, and on social networks like TikTok, young people share their experiences, often with humor, fascination, and horror.

3. What science knows about hallucinations in sleep paralysis

Today’s sleep research considers sleep paralysis as a Overlap between dream and waking states.

During the REM sleep phase Our dreams are particularly intense. To avoid injury, the brain consciously blocks muscle movements—a kind of built-in defense mechanism. However, when we wake up during this exact phase, our consciousness is active, but our body remains paralyzed.

The brain then enters a mixed state: It's still processing dream content, while at the same time we're already perceiving sensory impressions from the real world. This overlap gives rise to typical hallucinations: voices, footsteps, feelings of pressure, or the famous shadowy creatures.

From an evolutionary perspective, this actually makes sense: In ambiguous situations—such as darkness or when we're half-awake—our brain tends to "see inside" potential dangers. A dark shadow quickly becomes a human figure.

4. Typical phenomena and their effects

Common hallucinations during sleep paralysis include:

• the feeling of a dark figure in the room, often at the edge of the bed or on the chest

• Feelings of pressure and tightness, combined with the impression of not being able to breathe properly

• acoustic perceptions such as footsteps, whispers or voices

Effects on those affected:

• Strong feelings of anxiety, even panic attacks

• Uncertainty or fear of sleep about the next night

• In some cases, however, there is also fascination: some people find the experiences exciting despite their uncanny nature or actively seek ways to understand and use them

5. Methods to deal with shadow creatures & Co. to deal with

Although paralysis itself is harmless, strategies can help to manage it better:

• Keep Calm: Realize that this is a natural process that will end on its own.

• Control breathing: Slow, steady breathing can reduce feelings of panic.

• Prevention: Regular sleep, stress reduction and sleeping on your side reduce the likelihood of sleep paralysis.

• Positive use: Some people use paralysis as an introduction to lucid dreaming – a technique that allows you to consciously control your dreams.

6. A look into the future: research on sleep paralysis and perception

For researchers, sleep paralysis is an exciting phenomenon that reveals a lot about the interaction between the brain, sleep, and consciousness.

• Neuroscience: fMRI studies show that brain regions responsible for wakefulness and self-awareness are active during paralysis, while motor areas remain blocked.

• Psychology: Shadow entities and demons are considered misinterpretations of the brain. The more fearful one experiences the situation, the more intense the hallucinations seem. Initial approaches using mindfulness training and cognitive behavioral therapy show that the fear can be significantly reduced.

• Technology: New wearables could measure sleep phases more precisely and stabilize the transition from REM sleep to wakefulness. Experiments with targeted light or sound stimuli suggest that they could even prevent sleep paralysis.

• Vision: Some researchers see sleep paralysis not only as a disorder, but also as an opportunity – for example, as a gateway to lucid dreaming or as a way to better understand our consciousness.

7. Conclusion

• Shadow creatures and demons are not supernatural phenomena, but products of our brain.

• Even though the experiences seem frightening, they are not dangerous.

• With education, good sleep hygiene, and rest, sleep paralysis can be more easily managed.

• The research opens up exciting perspectives and shows that the boundary between dream and reality is much more fluid than we think.