Miya Pearson
Sleep paralysis is a common sleep disorder that occurs when an individual wakes up during the REM stage of sleep but is unable to move or speak. It is often accompanied by hallucinations and a feeling of heaviness on the chest, as though something or someone is sitting on top of them. In Newfoundland, Canada, this phenomenon is commonly referred to as Old Hag syndrome, where it is believed that a witch-like creature creeps up from the foot of the bed and perches on the sleeper's chest, making it difficult to breathe and causing terror. This belief has been prevalent in local folklore for centuries and is the subject of a TV series called Hag. Similar folklore exists in other parts of the world, including the United States, Mexico, and Scandinavia, where sleep paralysis is associated with supernatural beings such as incubi, succubi, and ghosts. While the experience of sleep paralysis can be frightening, it is generally considered harmless and short-lived.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Colloquial Name | Old Hag Syndrome |
| Phenomenon | Sleeper feels the presence of a supernatural, malevolent being |
| Common Symptoms | Inability to move, speak, or call out; hallucinations; tightening in the throat; anxiety; panic; fear; sense of helplessness |
| Duration | Seconds or a few minutes |
| Treatment | Medication; CBT; healthy sleeping habits |
| Folkloric References | Night Hag, Mara, Mare, Nightmare, Incubus, Shadow People, Witches, Ghosts, Dead People, Old Hag |
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What You'll Learn
- Sleep paralysis is a common sleep disorder, also known as 'old hag' syndrome
- It occurs when the mind wakes up before the body, during the REM stage of sleep
- Sleep paralysis can cause hallucinations, such as the old hag sitting on your chest
- It can be a terrifying experience, causing anxiety and a sense of helplessness
- Treatment options include medication and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
Sleep paralysis is a common sleep disorder, also known as 'old hag' syndrome
Sleep paralysis is a common sleep disorder, also known as old hag syndrome. It occurs when the line between sleep and wakefulness is blurred, and an individual may find themselves unable to move, speak, or call out. This temporary paralysis is a result of the brain reactivating from sleep, while the body remains in a state of REM sleep. During REM sleep, the body is typically paralysed, a state known as "atonia", to prevent injury from occurring due to movement during a dream. However, in the case of sleep paralysis, this paralysis continues even as the individual wakes up.
The old hag syndrome is a term that originates from Newfoundland, Canada, where it is believed that a witch-like creature, known as the "old hag", creeps up from the foot of the bed and sits on the sleeper's chest, causing a feeling of heaviness and terror. This belief is also found in Scandinavian folklore, where the creature is known as a "mara", and in Southern United States, where it is simply called a "hag". The old hag is often described as a wrinkled and withered old woman with long hair, and her visit is sometimes believed to portend an approaching tragedy or accident.
In addition to the physical paralysis, sleep paralysis can also induce hallucinations, with some individuals reporting visual and auditory elements from their dreams continuing into their waking state. This combination of paralysis and hallucinations can lead to a sense of fear, anxiety, and panic, as well as a feeling of a malevolent or sinister presence in the room. It is important to note that sleep paralysis episodes are typically short, lasting only seconds or a few minutes, and are usually harmless.
While the old hag syndrome is a colloquial term for sleep paralysis, it is important to recognise that sleep paralysis is a real sleep disorder that can affect individuals' daily functioning and cause anxiety. If sleep paralysis is occurring frequently or causing significant distress, it is recommended to seek help from a healthcare professional. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and certain medications have been found to be effective treatments for sleep paralysis.
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It occurs when the mind wakes up before the body, during the REM stage of sleep
Sleep paralysis, or "old hag" syndrome, occurs when an individual's mind wakes up before their body during the REM stage of sleep. During REM sleep, the body is typically in a state of temporary paralysis, known as "atonia," which prevents individuals from acting out their dreams. However, in sleep paralysis, this paralysis persists as the individual wakes up, resulting in a terrifying inability to move.
The phenomenon of "old hag" syndrome has been recognized and described in various cultures and folklore around the world. In Scandinavian folklore, for example, sleep paralysis is caused by a "mara," a supernatural creature related to incubi and succubi. Similarly, in Southern United States, the phenomenon is attributed to a hag who leaves her physical body at night and sits on the chest of her victim, causing them to experience paralysis and difficulty breathing.
The experience of sleep paralysis can be extremely distressing, often leaving individuals with intense anxiety and fear. It is characterized by the inability to move or speak, and it may be accompanied by hallucinations. These hallucinations can include visual and auditory elements from dreams that continue to play out even as the individual wakes up.
While occasional sleep paralysis is not considered a medical problem, frequent episodes can significantly impact an individual's daily functioning and quality of sleep. In such cases, it is recommended to seek help from a healthcare professional. Treatments such as low-dose sedative antidepressants and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) have been found to be effective in relieving sleep disturbances and providing a sense of control over the unpleasant emotions and physical sensations associated with sleep paralysis.
Understanding the underlying causes of sleep paralysis can also help individuals reduce their risk of experiencing it. Factors such as sleep deprivation, high levels of stress, and anxiety in daily life have been linked to an increased likelihood of sleep disturbances, including sleep paralysis. By improving sleep hygiene and addressing underlying stress and anxiety, individuals may be able to reduce the frequency and impact of sleep paralysis episodes.
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Sleep paralysis can cause hallucinations, such as the old hag sitting on your chest
Sleep paralysis is a common sleep disorder that occurs when the line between sleep and wakefulness is blurred. During the REM stage of sleep, the body is typically paralysed as a safety mechanism to prevent us from acting out our dreams. Sleep paralysis occurs when this paralysis continues as one wakes up, or when one falls into REM sleep before the mind has shut down for the night.
During an episode of sleep paralysis, one is unable to move, and may also be unable to speak or call out. Sleep paralysis can be a terrifying experience, often causing feelings of intense anxiety, panic, and fear. It is sometimes accompanied by hallucinations, which occur when visual and auditory elements of dreams continue into wakefulness. In 20% of cases, sleep paralysis involves a component of hallucination.
In many cultures, sleep paralysis has been explained using supernatural terms, such as the phenomenon of the 'old hag'. The old hag is a common hallucination experienced during sleep paralysis, in which a person feels the presence of a malevolent, supernatural being sitting on their chest, rendering them unable to breathe or move. This phenomenon is known as 'old hag syndrome', particularly in Newfoundland, Canada, where the old hag is described as a witch-like creature. The experience of the old hag during sleep paralysis has been reported in various forms across different cultures, with different names such as the ''night hag', 'night-mare', and 'mara'.
While the experience of the old hag during sleep paralysis can be terrifying, it is important to remember that it is a benign physiological event and the episode will end soon. If sleep paralysis is affecting your daily functioning or causing severe anxiety, it is recommended to seek help from a healthcare professional, who may prescribe sedative antidepressants or recommend cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to manage the condition.
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It can be a terrifying experience, causing anxiety and a sense of helplessness
Sleep paralysis is a common sleep disorder that can be a terrifying experience, causing anxiety and a sense of helplessness. It occurs when the line between sleep and wakefulness is blurred, resulting in a feeling of paralysis as if an unseen weight is upon you. This often leaves people feeling anxious and helpless, with a sense of a malevolent presence.
The experience of sleep paralysis can vary, but it often involves the sensation of an evil, witch-like old hag sitting on your chest, making it difficult to breathe or move. This “old hag syndrome” is a term commonly used in Newfoundland, Canada, to describe symptoms of sleep paralysis. The hag is described as a wrinkled, withered old woman with long hair, creeping in from the foot of the bed to perch on the sleeper's chest. This belief has persisted through folklore and legends, with similar descriptions found in Scandinavian folklore and other European cultures.
The physiological explanation for sleep paralysis is a timing misstep in the sleep cycle. It happens when the mind wakes up while the body is still in the temporary paralysis of REM sleep, or when the body enters REM sleep before the mind has fully shut down for the night. This can be caused by insufficient or irregular sleep and is often associated with stress and anxiety in daily life. While it can be a terrifying experience, it is typically a benign and harmless event that usually lasts for seconds or a few minutes.
For those who experience frequent episodes of sleep paralysis, it can affect their ability to function during the day and cause significant anxiety. In such cases, it is recommended to seek help from a healthcare professional, who may prescribe sedative antidepressants or suggest cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to help manage the condition. Understanding the phenomenon of sleep paralysis and knowing that it is a normal and temporary state can also help reduce the fear and anxiety associated with the experience.
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Treatment options include medication and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
Sleep paralysis is a temporary inability to move or speak that occurs directly after falling asleep or waking up. It is a common sleep disorder that is classified as a "parasomnia". Episodes can cause you to feel intense anxiety. While occasional sleep paralysis isn't considered a medical problem, frequent episodes can affect your ability to function during the day. If you experience frequent sleep paralysis, it's important to seek help from a healthcare professional. Treatment options include medication and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
Medications such as sedative antidepressants can be prescribed at low doses to help relieve sleep disturbances. These medications are typically used to treat depression and anxiety, which are conditions that can increase the risk of sleep paralysis episodes. It is recommended that these drugs be used alongside CBT for optimal results.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based treatment approach that can help individuals manage sleep paralysis. CBT for insomnia (CBT-I) focuses on changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviours around sleep, promoting more restful and consistent sleep patterns. By addressing poor sleep habits and stress, which are often linked to sleep paralysis, CBT can indirectly reduce the frequency of episodes. Most people who try this approach work with a therapist to develop strategies such as maintaining a sleep journal and educating themselves about sleep paralysis and hallucinations.
In addition to medication and CBT, there are several self-care strategies that can help improve sleep habits and reduce the likelihood of experiencing sleep paralysis. These include establishing a consistent sleep schedule, creating a soothing pre-bed routine, optimising your sleep environment, reducing substance use, limiting screen time before bed, and practising daily stress management techniques such as mindfulness, journaling, therapy, or deep breathing exercises.
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Frequently asked questions
Old Hag Syndrome is a colloquial term for sleep paralysis, a common sleep disorder. It involves a person waking up during the REM stage of sleep but their body remains temporarily paralysed. It can be a terrifying experience, with people reporting hallucinations, a sense of a sinister presence, and difficulty breathing.
The term Old Hag Syndrome originates from Newfoundland, Canada, where people traditionally associate sleep paralysis with a witch-like creature or old hag sitting on their chest. Other cultures have their own names and explanations for the phenomenon, often involving supernatural beings.
People who experience old hag sleep paralysis report feeling trapped, with a heavy weight on their chest, and unable to move or speak. It can evoke intense fear, anxiety, and a sense of helplessness. Some also experience hallucinations, seeing or hearing things that are not there.
While occasional sleep paralysis is not considered a medical problem, frequent episodes can be distressing. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and improving sleep hygiene may help reduce the likelihood of experiencing sleep paralysis. It is recommended to speak to a healthcare professional if sleep paralysis episodes are causing anxiety.
