Sleep Paralysis: Victims of the Old Witch Syndrome. Evil attack or old witch syndrome

If you wake up at night with a feeling of suffocation, feel as if someone or something unusual is present in the room, it seems to you that some entity has fallen on you and is squeezing your chest, know that you have sleep paralysis or old witch syndrome.

Old witch syndrome - scientific explanation

The unpleasant state of sleep paralysis, a lucid dream, during which you feel suffocated and immobilized, is associated by scientists with the specifics of physiology.

As a rule, people complain that, in the so-called pre-sleep state, or in the stage of falling asleep, they suddenly find that they cannot move, shout, open their mouth to say a word. This state lasts only a few seconds, very rarely, a little longer, up to two minutes. Waking up, the person is frightened, feels panic. The question of how to get out of sleep paralysis usually does not arise, since this condition quickly passes by itself, but if you are aware of what is happening to you, you will not be so scared.

From the point of view of physiology, this condition is very similar to that harmless and natural paralysis that occurs during the fast phase and prevents actions and movements. However, if the brain is awakened in this phase, the paralysis of the body may persist for some time.

Sleep paralysis in Orthodoxy and other religions

In Russian folk tradition, which has pagan roots, the syndrome of the old witch is associated with a brownie, who in this way either indulges or wants to warn about important upcoming events. In Orthodoxy, there is a version that demons are to blame for this condition, and in the Muslim tradition this is associated with the tricks of genies. In the mythology of some countries there are special names for entities that allegedly cause this state.

Treating Old Witch Syndrome

Despite the panic that usually engulfs a person if he cannot move, this phenomenon is physiologically justified and safe. If you realize and accept it as, then there will be no panic. All that is required of you in this state is to relax and calmly wait for the sleep stupor to pass. You will learn how to easily fall asleep or finally wake up from this state if you give yourself such a mindset.

In order for this condition to bother you less often, sleep in suitable, comfortable conditions: in the dark, in silence, in clean linen, in a ventilated room, try to go to bed no later than 7-8 hours before the wake-up time. Such simple measures often solve the problem.

In the name of Allah, the Gracious and Merciful!

Probably, every person at least once woke up from suffocation, horror and in an immobilized state. Others experience it almost every night, which makes them afraid to go to bed. In any case, the phenomenon is quite familiar - according to statistics, it occurs in four out of ten people. So probably everyone has an idea about him - if not from their own experience, then from the stories of the "victims".

The stories are usually the same in plot, but may differ in detail. For example, one of my relatives said that at first he saw a black spot approaching, and only then he experienced paralysis and suffocation, as if the “stain” lay on him and choked him. Others note the accompanying auditory and visual hallucinations: “I woke up from children's laughter and I see that some terrible creature is knocking on the window. He screamed like crazy and tried to ask his brother to wake me up, but to no avail. Because I couldn't open my mouth and move."

In medicine, this phenomenon is referred to as sleep paralysis ... or old witch syndrome. “She comes at night, when a person is about ready to fall into a serene sleep, or in the early morning, immediately after waking up. They are afraid of her, she is invisible, but clearly felt, she is silent, but objects and furniture react to her movements with a creak and ringing, almost half of the inhabitants of the Earth are familiar with her. This is the old witch, or rather the syndrome of the old witch or, in the language of doctors, sleep paralysis.

From a medical point of view, sleep paralysis is not a sign of illness, it is a natural biological phenomenon, provided by nature for our comfort. When we sleep, our body sleeps with us - we can run, jump, fight in a dream, but the body remains in place, inactive. Doctors believe that sleep paralysis occurs due to "out of sync awakening." That is, the consciousness has already come to a waking state, and the body is still in a dream. In other words, sleep paralysis occurs when the body "did not have time" to return to reality in sync with consciousness. This is similar to how the computer sometimes freezes when you give it several different commands at the same time. In this way, for a fraction of a second (usually from a few seconds to two minutes, although it seems that it lasts about 10 minutes), our body also “freezes”, usually immobilized in the throat, abdomen and chest.

Sleep paralysis is associated with a disruption in REM sleep. This is the phase in which the extreme activity of the brain cells (dreaming) is accompanied by a lack of muscle tone. That is, the motor neurons in the spinal cord are turned off, causing a temporary paralysis that prevents movement during sleep. And if a person wakes up at this time, he cannot move or perform any actions.

From an Islamic point of view.

Sleep paralysis is familiar to most Muslims, but we have our own methods of dealing with and getting rid of it. “A creature that looked like smoke held me. I began to say, “I resort to Allah from the accursed shaitan,” and it let me go.” In Islam, this creature that "strangles, gets angry, whispers something in a disgusting voice and laughs" is known as Al-Jasum. According to Ibn al Manzur, “the qaboos (demon, evil spirit, nightmare) that comes to a person at night and attacks him while he is sleeping is called al-Jasum.” He was also mentioned in his medical book “al-Kanon”: “He is also called al-khaniq, and in Arabic they are called “al-jasum” and “al-naydalan”. Al-Qaboos is a disease that a person feels in a dream when he imagines that something heavy is pressing on him, squeezing him and blocking his breathing, so that the person cannot speak or move, and he almost suffocates, because his respiratory paths are blocked. When it goes away, the person immediately wakes up. It is a harbinger of one of the following: epilepsy, paralysis, or mania. This applies if it is for physical causes and there are no other non-physical causes.”

Professor Hassan Shamsi Basha divided qaboos into two categories: temporary and repetitive. Temporary - one that happens either due to "evaporations rising to the brain through the respiratory tract when you first go to bed, in such a way that the person feels panic", or due to the use of medications (arazrabin, antidepressants, beta-blocker, Lifod B, after cessation of tranquilizers). And recurrent - occurring as a result of the influence of evil spirits.

In the next part, in shaa Allah,1 we will talk about the precautions that can be taken to avoid the “visit of al-jathum”.

Sleep paralysis or "Old Witch Syndrome": mysticism or not?

Almost half of the world's population has experienced sleep paralysis at least once in their lives.

Have you ever experienced a panic fear: whether it be a phobia or an anxiety before a parachute jump? But imagine that the biggest horror of your life can be waiting for you in your own cozy bed.

Auditory and visual hallucinations, asthma attacks, complete immobility of the body and a clear realization that you are not sleeping are all signs of sleep paralysis, which, by the way, is quite common. In fact, about half of the people on the planet have experienced sleep stupor attacks at least once in their lives, and many experience this nightmare regularly.

Trying to figure out what it is, I found two points of view, each of which has the right to life. One of them is formed on exact scientific research, on the secrets that the human brain hides; the other is a mystical version of what is happening.

Let's take a closer look at what the side of scientists is hiding behind.

Sleep paralysis is a state of complete immobility of the body at the moment of awakening during REM sleep. The position when your brain is already awake, and the body is in a relaxed state: you can’t even move a finger, you can’t scream or open your eyes (but, despite this, you see your room). The most terrible thoughts come to mind when this happens for the first time: clinical death, coma. But all fears are, in fact, groundless. After 2 minutes, all signs of paralysis pass, and you actually wake up. According to modern experts, it is harmless, although unpleasant. Therefore, the fear of going crazy, falling into lethargy, or dying has no basis.

While sleeping on your back, sleep paralysis occurs several times more often than with other positions. The likelihood of sleep stupor when sleeping on your side, especially the right, is quite low. Personally, this is exactly what happens to me, I absolutely cannot sleep on my back!

The phenomenon of nocturnal paralysis, suffocation is popularly called the “old witch syndrome”. A person suddenly feels as if something heavy is falling on top of him, choking him, not letting him breathe. This is a condition in which a person lying on his back is in the so-called sleepy state. He suddenly realizes that he cannot move or scream. This state can last a few seconds, very rarely a little longer. Having come to their senses, these people often talk later about the feeling of the presence of something terrible, dangerous, evil. In such cases, panic and a sense of fear are quite common.

Sleep paralysis is possible only with natural awakening. If awakening occurs abruptly (under the influence of factors such as an alarm clock, a bright light in the eyes), sleep paralysis does not occur.

But the most unpleasant thing in a state of stupor is still hallucinations. I want to analyze this phenomenon from the side of mysticism and paranormality.

There are opinions that during a sleep stupor, you seem to find yourself in the astral (parallel world), where various entities live: ghosts, brownies, spirits and demons. During hallucinations, a person can hear music, noises, trampling, voices. And what does he see? There is no limit to diversity.

The most common myth is the belief that this state is the tricks of a domovik. It is said that he sits on his back or chest and begins to choke, thus he warns of impending trouble or joy.

Muslim folk tradition associates this phenomenon with jinn.

But seriously speaking, many people often experience a state of sleep paralysis, some even specifically seek to cause it, experiencing irrepressible interest. By the way, the practice of this phenomenon is called nothing more than “lucid dream”, and it is attributed to another completely unexplored ability of the human brain.

Ways to deal with this disease are individual. The general way is, first of all, the observance of a full-fledged sleep regimen. To cope with an attack, many are helped by movements of the eyes, the thumb of the right hand (for right-handed people) or the tongue. Others, on the contrary, are helped by calmness and the most complete relaxation of the muscles, thus weakening negative emotions, there is a mild exit from the state of sleepy stupor. Some begin to think or count something, actively developing brain activity (I begin to read a prayer). You can also try to make a moo from the nasopharynx, since it is impossible to open the mouth. It helps others, as it were, to raise their heads up (the angle between the plane of the back and the back of the head decreases).

Often bouts of sleep stupor disappear with age.

At-risk groups:

1. People with suggestible, non-standard or weak psyche.

2. Introverts (people oriented inwards).

3. People with a strong nervous system, who are in a state of extreme fatigue.

Fate often brings two lonely souls together and between them there can be, as is sometimes said, the chemistry of love. And if mutual attraction does not pass, then the logical conclusion of a romantic relationship is often a wedding. After all, a wedding or just registration of a union is the beginning of a new stage in relations. But you really want these relationships to be long and successful. You just want to be happy, so many of the fair sex take the preparation of the wedding very seriously. And it all starts with choosing a wedding date.

What is it, an auspicious day for a wedding? How important is the date of the wedding? What has more influence on an auspicious day for a wedding: numbers or stars?

Auspicious day for a wedding - numerology

special dates

Every year on some special dates there is a real wedding boom. There is a belief (I don’t know who invented it) that family life will be long and happy if the auspicious day for the wedding has three identical numbers.
The date of the wedding can be considered as the date of birth of the family. So, let's briefly analyze two options for analysis: let's reduce the date to one number, that is, determine the number of the couple's life path and build the so-called Vedic numerical horoscope.

The first horizontal row is subject or mental level.
The second horizontal row is subject to the energy of rajas (passion) or the material level
The third horizontal row is subject to the energy of tamas (ignorance) or the lowest level.
So let's start 2018.
Consider one of the popular dates: 08/08/2018 as an auspicious day for a wedding.
8+8+2+1+8=27=9
the couple will be ruled by the planet Mars. In astrology, Mars is a malefic planet and yet Mars can give both negative and positive results. If partners give each other warmth and care, without demanding or expecting anything in return, then if necessary, any of the partners will become a protector and support for the other. If at least one of the partners decides that he is the "navel of the earth", then the combat zone in the family is provided.
Now consider the Vedic square for the same date

And so, what happened. Three identical numbers of the date ended up in a line with the energy of tamas or ignorance, and only one number fell into satva or goodness. The number 1 is ruled by the royal Sun and, manifesting through the energy of goodness, will give the couple devotion, generosity and prosperity.
The material level (second row) has no numbers. This means that in material terms, the three planets will not exert their influence on the couple, but this does not mean that the couple will not earn. There will simply be no support from Mercury, Venus and Ketu.
The lowest level (third row) is rich in numbers: three eights and a two. Two is ruled by the Moon, but in this case, it will manifest itself through the energy of tamas or ignorance. The energy of the Moon can manifest itself through both tension in relationships and the presence of unhealthy habits.
The number eight, ruled by Saturn, will also manifest through the energy of tamas, but with tripled strength. Saturn is a planet that gives us life lessons, teaches us patience, foresight, directs our gaze to spiritual quests. So, 08/08/2018 is a favorable day for a wedding or not? And what will

Auspicious day for a wedding - the influence of nakshatras and the day of the week

When choosing an auspicious day for a wedding, it is advisable to pay attention to the nature of the nakshatra (constellation). For example, on 08/08/2018, the nakshatra Ardra had its influence. This star is good for action and has a sharp character. In general, the couple will not be bored, and if they are ready to conquer the peaks and do not stop there, while not losing love, then they will live a decent life together.
Wednesday is a great day to get married.
So, from the above it can be seen that each of the options for analyzing the date brings its own flavor to the forecast.
Oleg Torsunov in his book "On the astrological compatibility of spouses" concludes that

“According to our karma, we have a tendency to love that person who is the personification of either predominantly bad karma or predominantly good.”

Indeed, we ourselves make a choice in favor of one or another partner. How we live in a couple will depend only on ourselves, on our ability to love, understand, forgive, etc. Will planets influence marriage? Yes, but how good or bad this influence will be will depend not only on the personal horoscopes of the couple, but also on the mode of material nature in which the couple will live their life together.
In principle, any day can be considered an auspicious day for a wedding, because your choice of day will still not be random.

Many do not know what sleep paralysis or “old witch syndrome” is, although quite a few people have experienced this state at least once between sleep and wakefulness.

Often, sleep paralysis (sleep stupor) is accompanied by terrible hallucinations, but a person is unable to do anything due to atony (weakness) of the muscles, which can lead to panic.

Because, due to ignorance and fears of people, due to auditory and visual frightening hallucinations, sleep paralysis was associated with mysticism (brownie, kikimora, witch ...), hence the name “old witch syndrome” arose.

Sleep paralysis - causes

Sleep muscle paralysis occurs at the time of paradoxical sleep (REM-phase, REM sleep), lasts a short time (usually a few seconds) and manifests itself in two forms: 1) at the time of falling asleep and 2) at the moment of awakening

Muscle paralysis during sleep is a normal physiological phenomenon that prevents a person from making unnecessary body movements during sleep (for example, walking, as in somnambulism (“sleepwalking”). When a person falls asleep normally, he usually does not remember the very moment of falling asleep and, accordingly, is not aware normal, natural paralysis of the muscles, because the brain turns off wakefulness before that.

During sleep paralysis (old witch syndrome), at the moment of entering the REM sleep phase (in this phase, the brain is alert, almost more than during wakefulness), a person is still somewhat aware of falling into a paradoxical dream and understands that he cannot to make any movements - hence the fear.

When waking up - and this is the most common moment when sleep paralysis occurs - auditory and visual hallucinations occur, if it is impossible to move, leading a person to horror and panic.

The main causes of sleep paralysis or old witch syndrome are:

• Irregular sleep and lack of sleep;
• Frequent stress, increased anxiety, emotional and physical overstrain;
• Neuroses and personality disorders (Panic attacks, post-traumatic stress syndrome, VSD, etc.
• Alcohol and drug intoxication;
• Lack of potassium in the blood (hypokalemia)
• Narcolepsy disease (attacks of torpor, irresistible daytime sleepiness, sudden loss of muscle tone with clear consciousness ...).

Symptoms and signs of sleep paralysis

Old witch syndrome or sleep paralysis (stupor) has the following signs and symptoms:

• pressure on the chest;
• Feeling as if someone is nearby, visual and auditory hallucinations, fear, up to horror;
• There may be "strange" bodily sensations - the perception of oneself, as if out of one's own body (a feeling of soaring, flying, a feeling of abduction, for example, by alien beings) ...;
• Choking and shortness of breath;
• heartbeat

Should sleep paralysis be treated?

Sleep paralysis is not included in the ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases) and in most cases is considered harmless. Some people, for example, shamans, sorcerers, can deliberately induce the old witch syndrome in themselves, to feel themselves out of the body, floating and, as it were, seeing, due to hallucinations, any mystical mysteries.

There is no special treatment for the old witch syndrome (concomitant and provoking psychiatric diseases and emotional and psychological personality disorders are treated), but in order to get rid of sleep paralysis and strengthen overall physical and mental health, you just need to start a healthy lifestyle.

What you need to get rid of sleep paralysis in the first place:

• Proper nutrition;
• Normal and healthy sleep;
• Do not abuse alcohol and drugs (psychotropics and narcotic substances);
• Avoid stressful situations;
• Do not overload yourself emotionally, mentally and physically
• Walking before going to bed in the fresh air, breathing exercise and the ability to quickly relieve stress help very well.
• For many who suffer from sleep paralysis, the evening (before going to bed) relaxing psycho-training Silva helps to get rid of it well.

For those people who have emotional and personality disorders that provoke sleep paralysis or old witch syndrome, you should seek help from a psychologist online (or in person, whichever is more convenient for you)