When Shadows Sit on Your Chest: The Unsettling Link Between Sleep Paralysis and Demonic Entities

The Nightmare by Henry Fuseli (1781)

You wake up in the middle of the night. You can see the room, hear the hum of the fan, maybe even sense the warmth of your blanket… but you can’t move. No matter how hard you try, your body is frozen. And then—sometimes—you feel it. A presence. Something watching. Something closing in.

For centuries, this experience has been described as more than just a medical quirk. Many cultures have linked it to dark, spiritual forces—most famously, demonic entities. But how did this connection come about, and why does sleep paralysis carry such a sinister reputation? Let’s dig in.

What Exactly Is Sleep Paralysis?

From a scientific standpoint, sleep paralysis occurs when your brain wakes up before your body fully transitions out of the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep cycle. In REM, your body is naturally immobilized to prevent you from acting out your dreams. If you become conscious too soon, you’re awake in a body that hasn’t yet “rebooted” its motor functions.

But science doesn’t account for everything people actually experience during these episodes—especially the hallucinations that often accompany them: shadow figures, whispers, footsteps, cold hands, and oppressive pressure on the chest.

The Ancient “Demon Sitting on Your Chest” Belief

Long before sleep labs and brainwave studies, people had their own explanation: something was attacking them in their sleep. In medieval Europe, this was often blamed on a demon or witch known as the “Mare” (from which we get the word nightmare). The Mare was said to sit on the chest of its victim, crushing their breath and filling their mind with fear.

Across different cultures, you’ll find eerily similar legends:

• The Old Hag (Newfoundland) – A hideous crone who pins her victims to the bed.

• Kanashibari (Japan) – An immobilizing spirit attack, often seen as punishment from the dead.

• Pisadeira (Brazil) – A long-nailed old woman who walks on the chests of sleeping people.

• Djinn (Middle East) – Supernatural beings that can hold a person down and whisper in their ear.

These traditions span continents, suggesting a universal human connection between sleep paralysis and the sense of a malevolent presence.

Why Demonic Entities?

From a spiritual perspective, some believe sleep paralysis isn’t just a brain glitch—it’s a vulnerable spiritual state. In this liminal space between sleeping and waking, the veil between the physical and spiritual worlds is said to thin.

Those who lean into this interpretation often describe:

• Shadow Figures – Tall, dark shapes with no discernible face, often standing in doorways or at the foot of the bed.

• Chest Pressure – Interpreted as a demon “feeding” on fear or draining energy.

• Auditory Manifestations – Growls, footsteps, three deliberate knocks, or voices calling one’s name.

Many spiritual traditions see these encounters as attempts by dark forces to intimidate, oppress, or spiritually weaken the sleeper.

Never Give In to It

One thing is certain: fear is the enemy’s favorite weapon. The more terror you feel in these moments, the more powerless you will seem. Spiritually speaking, fear is an invitation—and you do not have to accept it.

If you ever experience sleep paralysis:

• Do not mentally surrender. The moment you accept the fear as truth, you give it power.

• Do not attempt to “negotiate” or reason with the presence.

• Do not call out to it—direct your focus to protective forces, not the entity.

Think of it like a trespasser: you don’t open the door to talk—you firmly shut it in their face.

How to Spiritually Protect Yourself

Here are approaches from multiple traditions and practices—both faith-based and non-religious—to keep yourself spiritually and energetically safe:

Christian & Biblical Methods

• Call on the Name of Jesus – Even in thought, declare: “In the name of Jesus Christ, leave me.”

• Pray Before Sleep – Ask for God’s protection over your mind, body, and spirit.

• Scripture as a Shield – Recite verses like Psalm 91 or Psalm 4:8 for peace and safety.

• Anoint Your Space – Use oil while praying over your home.

"alternative" Spiritual Practices

• Energy Cleansing – Burn sage, palo santo, or incense to clear stagnant or heavy energy.

• Protective Crystals – Keep black tourmaline, obsidian, or amethyst near your bed to create a protective energetic barrier.

• Visualization Techniques – Imagine yourself surrounded by a sphere of brilliant white or golden light that repels anything negative.

• Protective Symbols – Place symbols meaningful to your path—like the Hamsa hand, Eye of Horus, pentacle, or Om—near sleeping areas.

Universal Lifestyle & Mindset Practices

• Keep Your Sleep Space Calm – Avoid violent, fearful, or chaotic media before bed.

• Affirmations Before Sleep – Declare: “I am safe. I am protected. I am in control of my energy.”

• Breath & Focus – During an episode, focus on slow breathing and moving a small muscle like your toes until you break free.

The Takeaway

Whether you see sleep paralysis as a neurological hiccup or a brush with something darker, one thing is certain: you are not powerless. The shadowy presence that sometimes comes with these episodes may be ancient, but so is the human ability to resist it.

Fear feeds it. Protection—spiritual, energetic, and mental—starves it. No matter your path, remember this: you have more authority in that moment than the thing standing in the shadows.

And when you refuse to give in, the darkness loses every time.