This is an unofficial archive of PsychonautWiki as of 2025-08-11T15:14:44Z. Content on this page may be outdated, incomplete, or inaccurate. Please refer to the original page for the most up-to-date information.
[[File:John Henry Fuseli - The Nightmare.JPG|250px|thumbnail|''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Nightmare The Nightmare]'', by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Fuseli Henry Fuseli] (1781) is thought to be one of the classic depictions of sleep paralysis perceived as a demonic visitation.]]
[[File:John Henry Fuseli - The Nightmare.JPG|250px|thumbnail|''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Nightmare The Nightmare]'', by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Fuseli Henry Fuseli] (1781) is thought to be one of the classic depictions of sleep paralysis perceived as a demonic visitation.]]
Sleep paralysis is a phenomenon that is distinctively separate from that of normal dreams. It can be defined as a state in which people, either when falling asleep or wakening, temporarily experience an inability to move which is often accompanied by hallucinations. More formally, it is a transition state between wakefulness and rest characterized by complete muscle atonia (muscle weakness). It can occur at sleep onset or upon awakening, and it is often associated with terrifying visions and [[external hallucinations]] (e.g., an intruder in the room or a demon sitting on one's chest), to which one is unable to react due to paralysis. It is believed a result of disrupted REM sleep, which is normally characterized by a complete loss of muscle control that prevents individuals from acting out their dreams.
'''Sleep paralysis''' is a naturally occurring transition state of the body, in which, either when falling asleep or awakening, the skeletal musculature is temporarily paralyzed. This happens in order to prevent the sleeper's body from moving during dreams. This process can be accompanied by hallucinations. Usually, the paralysis disappears once the dreamer is awakening.
It can occur at sleep onset ([[Hypnagogia]]) or upon awakening ([[Hypnopompia]]), and it is often associated with terrifying visions and [[external hallucinations]] (e.g., an intruder in the room or a demon sitting on one's chest) to which one is unable to react due to paralysis. It is believed to be a result of disrupted REM sleep, which is normally characterized by a complete loss of muscle control that prevents individuals from acting out their dreams.
Many people find sleep paralysis to be a horrific and negative experience due to the hallucinations to which they cannot react, but it can usually be escaped by simply changing the rhythm of one's breathing. When one changes their breathing pattern, such as holding one's breath or breathing much more deeply for roughly 15 seconds or more, the body will likely notice the change and exit sleep paralysis. One can also attempt to escape sleep paralysis by moving minor limbs such as fingers or toes. Some anecdotal evidence suggests that trying to move your head/neck is the easiest route out.{{citation needed}}
In the isolated cases of experience lucid dreams with very good dream recall, some claim to be able to manipulate their sleep paralysis, creating characters and landscapes much like they could in a dream. This could potentially be due to the fact you are still partially in a dream during sleep paralysis, which causes the hallucinations.
==Effects==
{{effects/base
|{{effects/physical|
*'''[[Effect::Muscle tension]]'''
*'''[[Effect::Perception of bodily heaviness]]'''
*'''[[Effect::Increased heart rate]]'''
*'''[[Effect::Tactile enhancement]]'''
*'''[[Effect::Tactile hallucination]]'''
}}
{{effects/visual|
*'''[[Effect::Geometry]]''' - At the early stages of sleep paralysis, ill-defined geometry and shapes may show up before later transisting into internal hallucinations and [[dreams]]. This associated with sleep paralysis before falling asleep. This happens more frequently in users which have experience with [[hallucinogens]].
====Suppression====
*'''[[Effect::Acuity suppression]]'''
====Distortions====
*'''[[Effect::Depth perception distortions]]'''
*'''[[Effect::Perspective distortions]]'''
*'''[[Effect::Peripheral information misinterpretation]]'''
*'''[[Effect::Visual haze]]'''
====Hallucinatory states====
*'''[[Effect::Transformations]]'''
*'''[[Effect::Internal hallucination]]''' (''[[effect::shadow people]]''; ''[[effect::settings, sceneries, and landscapes]]''; ''[[effect::perspective hallucinations]]'' and ''[[effect::scenarios and plots]]'') - . Hallucinations begin to be automated and one may not be able to interact with them. Later they transform into a dream. One can technically enter dreams whilst in sleep paralysis. The [[WILD]] method consists of entering a dream this way.
*'''[[Effect::External hallucination]]''' (''[[effect::shadow people]]''; ''[[effect::settings, sceneries, and landscapes]]''; ''[[effect::perspective hallucinations]]'' and ''[[effect::scenarios and plots]]'') - These almost always consist of a painful and horrifying experience and are typically very delirious and believable.
Many people find sleep paralysis to be a horrific and negative experience but it can be escaped by simply changing the rhythm of one's breathing. When one changes their breathing pattern, such as holding one's breath or breathing much more deeply, if this is done for roughly 15 seconds or more the body will notice the change and automatically exit sleep paralysis.
The Nightmare, by Henry Fuseli (1781) is thought to be one of the classic depictions of sleep paralysis perceived as a demonic visitation.
Sleep paralysis is a naturally occurring transition state of the body, in which, either when falling asleep or awakening, the skeletal musculature is temporarily paralyzed. This happens in order to prevent the sleeper's body from moving during dreams. This process can be accompanied by hallucinations. Usually, the paralysis disappears once the dreamer is awakening.
It can occur at sleep onset (Hypnagogia) or upon awakening (Hypnopompia), and it is often associated with terrifying visions and external hallucinations (e.g., an intruder in the room or a demon sitting on one's chest) to which one is unable to react due to paralysis. It is believed to be a result of disrupted REM sleep, which is normally characterized by a complete loss of muscle control that prevents individuals from acting out their dreams.
Many people find sleep paralysis to be a horrific and negative experience due to the hallucinations to which they cannot react, but it can usually be escaped by simply changing the rhythm of one's breathing. When one changes their breathing pattern, such as holding one's breath or breathing much more deeply for roughly 15 seconds or more, the body will likely notice the change and exit sleep paralysis. One can also attempt to escape sleep paralysis by moving minor limbs such as fingers or toes. Some anecdotal evidence suggests that trying to move your head/neck is the easiest route out.[citation needed]
In the isolated cases of experience lucid dreams with very good dream recall, some claim to be able to manipulate their sleep paralysis, creating characters and landscapes much like they could in a dream. This could potentially be due to the fact you are still partially in a dream during sleep paralysis, which causes the hallucinations.
Geometry - At the early stages of sleep paralysis, ill-defined geometry and shapes may show up before later transisting into internal hallucinations and dreams. This associated with sleep paralysis before falling asleep. This happens more frequently in users which have experience with hallucinogens.
