by Wayne Leon Learmond

Created on: September 25, 2009   Last Updated: October 14, 2009

You suddenly awake from a deep sleep. There is something not quite right, but you can't put your finger on it. You try to move but suddenly find that you can't. In fact, it is virtually impossible to move any part of your body at all, even your little finger. You're frozen to the bed, not able to even scream. The very first time this happens some people actually believe that they are having a stroke. That their inability to move their body, or any part of their body is due to a stroke that they have suffered. But, of course they are wrong.

I have suffered from Sleep Paralysis for many years, and there is no cure. I would say that from the early 1980s onwards, my Sleep Paralysis has become progressively worse. It can actually stop a person from sleeping at all, as they then begin to fear sleep and the oncoming onslaught that is Sleep Paralysis. The symptoms of Sleep Paralysis are as follows: An inability to move your body, or any part of your body. Partial or full paralysis of the skeletal frame. Visions/hallucinations {which are very frequent} are associated with the hypnagogic stage of sleep. For victims, such as myself, who suffer with sleep paralysis, the visions can be terrifying. In fact, one of the visions is actually known as the 'Old Hag Syndrome'

The Old Hag Syndrome is a vision of a creature, normally in the shape of a very old-looking woman. who is unnaturally tall with a bent back. She wears black, or very dark grey clothing, and enters the room while the victim is paralysed and can do nothing at all about their situation. She nearly always stays in the line of vision of the hapless victim, and builds up the tension and fear within the victim even more by moving slowly then suddenly speeding up toward the victim. This is a terrifying vision, and seems very very real while it is occurring. During this time, the Sleep Paralysis has the victim bound to the bed, sweating profusely, as he or she watches the 'Old Hag' with an impending sense of doom.

The hag then sits on the victim's chest and then presses down on the person's chest with her palms to disappear completely within the body of the person. The 'Old Hag Syndrome' has been known for centuries around the world and in some countries she is known as a sort of demonic figure that accompanies in tandem the occurrence of Sleep Paralysis. The visions are some of the most fearful that one can experience. Around 15 per cent of the population who suffer with Sleep Paralysis, also suffer with the 'Old Hag

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