# Not sure if I'm possessed by satan **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 24, 2016, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-sure-if-im-possessed-by-satan/760776 "2016-07-24T15:26:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-sure-if-im-possessed-by-satan/760776/1 "2016-07-24T15:26:18Z")
It happened again a couple nights ago. This has happened maybe four or five times in my life. And leaving my quite scared shitless each time, tbh… I sleep probably 95% of the time on my side, but once in a while I’ll be on my back (drunk?), and as I’m drifting off - this happens when I’m right on the very cusp of sleep - my entire body freezes. I’m laying (lieing?) there, paralyzed, and actually start feeling like there’s some force _pushing my whole body down_, further into the bed, and I’m like ok wtf and try to summon the nerve to open my eyes, but managing to not really see anything in the dark - meanwhile one’s fertile imagination starts to envision some weird, dark force passing over. I start thinking about Mia Farrow’s “This is really happening!” or thinking about the Fuseli painting “The Nightmare”. After a brief eternity it passes, but not a moment too soon. Luckily I’ve been solo each time this has occurred, if that has any relevance. Feels weird opening up about it like this, but there it is. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-sure-if-im-possessed-by-satan/760776/2 "2016-07-24T15:31:02Z")
It’s called [sleep paralysis,](http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/sleep-paralysis#3) hypnagogic or hypnopompic. No demons need be summoned or exorcised. > **[Sleep paralysis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_paralysis)** > > Sleep paralysis is a state, during waking up or falling asleep, in which one is conscious but is unable to move or speak. During an episode, one may hallucinate (hear, feel, or see things that are not there), which often results in fear. Episodes generally last no more than a couple of minutes. It can recur or occur as a single episode. > The condition may occur in those who are otherwise healthy or those with narcolepsy, or it may run in families as a result of specific genetic changes. The condi... ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-sure-if-im-possessed-by-satan/760776/3 "2016-07-24T15:35:38Z")
> [@Eddie The Horrible](#): > > . . . I’m laying (lieing?) there . . . It’s “lying.” ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-sure-if-im-possessed-by-satan/760776/4 "2016-07-24T15:48:07Z")
Happens to me every few months. I wonder what causes the fear. Even if I realize that it’s happening and that nothing bad will happen, I still feel fear. ---
**Author:** ![Me\_Billy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Me\_Billy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Me_Billy)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-sure-if-im-possessed-by-satan/760776/5 "2016-07-24T15:48:33Z")
Do your spit up green vomit? Like this… If yes, get an exorcism by the Catholic Church. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-sure-if-im-possessed-by-satan/760776/6 "2016-07-24T15:56:37Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > It’s called [sleep paralysis,](http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/sleep-paralysis#3) hypnagogic or hypnopompic. No demons need be summoned or exorcised. > > [Sleep paralysis - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_paralysis) Yes - EXACTLY - thank-you! It even has the fucking Fuseli painting. Good. A little bit more reassuring. > [@Me\_Billy](#): > > Do your spit up green vomit? Like this… > > > If yes, get an exorcism by the Catholic Church. I’ve never been quite _that_ hungover, actually. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-sure-if-im-possessed-by-satan/760776/7 "2016-07-24T15:57:24Z")
Trust me. You’re not possessed by Satan. If in doubt, cut a cross out of cardboard and take it to bed with you. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-sure-if-im-possessed-by-satan/760776/8 "2016-07-24T16:40:11Z")
If you aren’t sure…you’re doing it wrong son… I had those a few times in mid 20’s. Scary as shit. ---
**Author:** ![Memnon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Memnon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Memnon)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-sure-if-im-possessed-by-satan/760776/9 "2016-07-24T16:49:32Z")
Sleep paralysis is very scary, but also pretty common. I’ve read that most people experience it at least once or twice in their life, and some people experience it fairly frequently. It’s frightening, but it can’t hurt you. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-sure-if-im-possessed-by-satan/760776/10 "2016-07-24T17:02:00Z")
Lately, I’ve had several episodes of vertigo in bed that were pretty scarey. I wake up at night, and when I turn my head to the side, suddenly it feels like the whole bed is rotating up 90⁰ on it side and I feel like am going to get pitched onto the floor. Holding on to the side of the bed for dear life is the only thing that keeps me from falling out of bed. Then it passes, and everything is normal. Satan, I tells ya. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-sure-if-im-possessed-by-satan/760776/11 "2016-07-24T17:02:03Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > It’s “lying.” I dunno, I believe him. mmm ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-sure-if-im-possessed-by-satan/760776/12 "2016-07-24T17:08:11Z")
[The Master speaks](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/596/what-causes-sleep-paralysis): ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-sure-if-im-possessed-by-satan/760776/13 "2016-07-24T18:21:35Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Lately, I’ve had several episodes of vertigo in bed that were pretty scarey. I wake up at night, and when I turn my head to the side, suddenly it feels like the whole bed is rotating up 90⁰ on it side and I feel like am going to get pitched onto the floor. Holding on to the side of the bed for dear life is the only thing that keeps me from falling out of bed. Then it passes, and everything is normal. Satan, I tells ya. Ear wax, more likely, or an inner ear infection. Or Satan. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-sure-if-im-possessed-by-satan/760776/14 "2016-07-24T18:30:39Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Ear wax, more likely, or an inner ear infection. Or Satan. I mentioned it to my doctor, he said it was because I’m old. Hmpf. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-sure-if-im-possessed-by-satan/760776/15 "2016-07-24T18:34:46Z")
I’m pretty sure Satan has possessed my knees. They never use to hurt like this. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-sure-if-im-possessed-by-satan/760776/16 "2016-07-24T18:40:19Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > I mentioned it to my doctor, he said it was because I’m old. Hmpf. Weird, I distinctly remember it (sleep vertigo) happening to me when I was very YOUNG. Like 4. I also swear I remember waking up on the floor at the foot of my bed once, even. But I did have chronic ear infections as a kid so I guess that explains that. ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-sure-if-im-possessed-by-satan/760776/17 "2016-07-24T21:34:38Z")
I had one (and only one thank heavens) about 30 years ago. I partially woke up at 3 am, in my real bedroom, at the time sleeping on a futon on the floor. I couldn’t move but my room was full of men in black hooded robes chanting. The noise volume itself was incredible and kneeling beside me one of the figures was talking into my ear giving me a play-by-play of what was apparently a black mass. I was convinced that Satan was about to appear through my window. I did manage to completely wake up but holy crap I was terrified. I had no clue as to what happened until a couple of months later when I listened to an interview of the author of a book about hypnogogic and hypnopompic dreams. I also, IRL, had a wack-job point a loaded 7.62 mm rifle at me. The dream was much scarier. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-sure-if-im-possessed-by-satan/760776/18 "2016-07-24T22:54:01Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > I mentioned it to my doctor, he said it was because I’m old. Hmpf. I’d suggest a new doctor. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-sure-if-im-possessed-by-satan/760776/19 "2016-07-24T23:31:41Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > It’s called [sleep paralysis,](http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/sleep-paralysis#3) hypnagogic or hypnopompic. No demons need be summoned or exorcised. > > [Sleep paralysis - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_paralysis) For some reason, this happens to me fairly often if a take a nap in the afternoon, but rarely during regular, nightly sleep. ---
**Author:** ![Lydia\_Phalfav](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a6a055/32.png) [@Lydia\_Phalfav](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lydia_Phalfav)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2016, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-sure-if-im-possessed-by-satan/760776/20 "2016-07-25T01:55:12Z")
I’ve woken up a couple times during sleep paralysis but I didn’t have nightmares at the time. It felt like a completely numb arm or leg but over my whole body & I instinctively knew that’s what had happened & I told myself “go back to sleep; it’s not time to wake up yet”. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-sure-if-im-possessed-by-satan/760776.md?page=2)