Between wakefulness and sleep, there’s this unusual space where peculiar experiences happen. Some people find themselves gripped by an intense fear, plagued by visions of shadows or perceived intruders, along with a constricted feeling in their chest, and they often can’t move or speak—except for their eyes.
This experience is known as sleep paralysis.
Contemporary science attributes sleep paralysis to a brief brain malfunction at the juncture between sleep and waking, suggesting that while the brain is alert, the body’s natural muscle paralysis during REM sleep persists.
However, there’s a growing belief that sleep paralysis might be more than just a biological glitch, sometimes viewed as a psychological assault.
In a latest episode of “Strange Encounters,” Rick Burgess explored the ancient history behind what we now scientifically label as the innocuous state of sleep.
Rick mentions that while science might label it as merely a “hallucination,” the accompanying feelings of fear and tightness in the chest, coupled with shadowy figures, bear striking resemblance to tales of demonic encounters.
Interestingly, in various parts of the world, sleep paralysis is often associated with malevolent forces.
Referring to Vicki Joy Anderson’s book, *They Only Come Out at Night*, Rick emphasizes that eerie narratives about nighttime demons sitting upon those asleep have existed for centuries. Regardless of the name given to this nighttime entity across cultures, the essence of the distressing experience—immobility and a threatening presence—seems to be a common thread.
“Every culture has unique names reflecting something demonic, each symbolizing an experience of being pinned down, feeling trapped. Almost as if you’re the only one,” he articulates.
Drawing from anecdotes in Anderson’s book, he shares that Christians who have faced sleep paralysis and invoked the name of Jesus often found “instant relief.”
In addition to calling on “Lord Jesus,” Rick suggests that Christians who face this predicament regularly pray for assistance, confess their sins, avoid activities that may invite demonic influence, and connect with a “prayer partner” to recite Psalm 91 every night before sleeping.
For those who haven’t tapped into the power of Jesus, Rick has a message: “If you’re not saved, that should be your priority. You must submit to the authority of Jesus Christ, dwell in Him, and place your faith in His power, rather than relying on rituals.”
If you’re curious to dig deeper, you might want to check out the episode linked above.
