Can Sleep Paralysis be Attributed to the Paranormal?

Can sleep paralysis be attributed to the paranormal? In Ghostly’s forty-second episode, Pat and Rebecca explore the frightening world of sleep paralysis. They interview friend of the podcast Amanda Davila (Have Camera Will Travel) about her personal experience with it. Six to eight percent of people experience some sort of sleep paralysis at least once in their lives. What is like and what causes it? And why is it so completely terrifying?

Questions Explored in this Episode

What happens during sleep paralysis? What are the common things people claim happen to them during an episode? How long has this been happening to people? What do people say they see? What do scientists say causes sleep paralysis, and what paranormal explanations do those that have it believe? Why is it so scary?

Fritz Schwimbeck – My Dream, My Bad Dream. 1915Vote on the EpisodeListener Mail and Questions

Listener mail is the part two of a very scary haunted house story from an anonymous listener, MJ. Have a story (of a ghost or of a paranormal mystery solved) or question of your own (or someone you know)? Send your story or question to [email protected] or leave a voicemail at 630-448-2138 and we might read it on the podcast. You could be on a future episode of Ghostly!

The Nightmare Johann Heinrich FüssliGhost Story – Sleep Paralysis

Listen to Rebecca tell the story of a common, but nonetheless terrifying, episode of sleep paralysis.

History of Sleep Paralysis

Pat tells the history of sleep paralysis. He covers its long, strange history and explains the three most common types of sleep paralysis events.

Le Cauchemar (The Nightmare), by Eugène Thivier (1894)Time for the Debate

Rebecca tells stories of those who have experienced sleep paralysis, and they all have paranormal as a part of them. Pat dives into the scientific explanation of what happens to victims. Listen to the debate and decide what you think is true.

Poll Results

Find out what listeners said for the Jack the Ripper episode – is paranormal activity sometimes just microclimates? Still need to listen to our previous episode? Check it out here.

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Sources for this Week’s Episode

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_paralysis
Lucid Dream Society: https://www.luciddreamsociety.com/sleep-paralysis-stories/
LiveScience: https://www.livescience.com/50876-sleep-paralysis.html
GlobalNews: https://globalnews.ca/news/5177498/sleep-paralysis-demon-science/
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/creepy/comments/4jbipp/sleep_paralysis_experiences/d35j6xy/
BuzzFeed: https://www.buzzfeed.com/danieldalton/wake-up-wake-up-wake-up
Ranker: https://www.ranker.com/list/sleep-paralysis-stories/christopher-shultz

Music for this episode was performed by Michael Rivers
Intro: “III. Allegro moderato from Gargoyles” by Lowell Liebermann
Outro: “Dream Images (Love-Death Music)” by George Crumb
Bumper: “Ghost Waltz” by Lowell Liebermann

Deepest thanks to our Special Guest Amanda Davila. Find her amazing photography on Facebook @havecamerawilltravel and on Instagram @hcwtphoto and hear and see her in Memoriam Development podcasts and productions.