That thing in the corner of your room isn't a ghost; it's sleep paralysis

India Today

09-07-2025

Ever felt this happen to you? You wake up at night with your eyes wide open, but your mind is screaming out. A feeling when your body is a stone statue; you feel trapped, pinned to the bed by an invisible force. There's a crushing weight on your chest, and from the darkest corner of the room, a figure appears. At this point, you're absolutely certain that you're not alone.advertisementFor millions, this isn't a scene from a thriller film. It's a real, recurring nightmare. And it's exactly what Bollywood star Sonakshi Sinha had (in the past) bravely opened up about.The 'Dabangg' actress confessed in an interview that she had felt an eerie presence around her room one day. Sharing this vivid experience, Sinha recalled her 4 am "encounter". 'I was at that stage where my eyes were shut, but my mind was completely alert. Suddenly, I felt this pressure, like someone was trying to wake me up..."
Her experience, seeing "someone" while frozen in fear, shines a spotlight on a phenomenon that has long been misinterpreted as a paranormal event, or a demonic attack. Modern medical science, however, has a different name for it: Sleep Paralysis (SP). That "someone" or "shadow" in the room also isn't a ghost. It's an intricate, terrifying trick being played on you by your own brain.THE WAKING NIGHTMAREAccording to sleep specialists, this paralysis is parasomnia, medically described as a disruptive sleep disorder that occurs in the space between wakefulness and sleep. Up to 40% of the population experiences it at least once, with many having recurring episodes.Anusha Tandon, a sleep specialist from Gurgaon, explains the phenomenon: During the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) stage of sleep, where your most vivid dreams occur, the brain releases chemicals that cause temporary muscle paralysis, a condition called REM atonia. This is a safety feature for the brain. "Simply put, SP is essentially a system glitch where your consciousness reboots and becomes aware before the atonia has worn off. "In this state, you are mentally awake, but your body is still in sleep mode — paralysed," Tandon says.THE SHADOW PERSON The sleep-awake state experience sometimes goes from being confusing to terrifying. Your mind, during this state, is fully awake, but your senses are still picking up dream-like signals. There's heightened fear and the brain's threat-detection system goes into overdrive.It scans the room for a cause and then projects a form onto the ambiguous shadows and shapes in your room. This is often perceived as a dark, human-like silhouette — the infamous "Shadow Person." Some people who have experienced this paralysis also believe they were woken up by an intruder, or an old hag.advertisementWhat is the explanation for the pressure felt on the chest? Tandon says suffocation is a hallmark of sleep paralysis."During REM sleep, your breathing is naturally more shallow and usually more rapid. When you suddenly become conscious and try to control your breathing, the lingering muscle paralysis makes it feel constricted and difficult, triggering panic," she explains. The amygdala (brain's fear centre) is active during this state. It floods your system with an intense feeling of dread and a "sensed presence," that unshakeable feeling of someone hostile being in the room with you, even if you can't see them.NOTHING NEWWhat Sonakshi experienced is not new.For centuries, different cultures around the world have created folklore to explain this exact medical event. While in Canadian Newfoundland, it's known as the "Old Hag" who sits on your chest at night. In Japanese culture, it's called "Kanashibari," meaning "to be bound by metal."advertisementIn medieval Europe, such hallucinations were often blamed on the Incubus and Succubus, malevolent demons who preyed on people who were asleep.These aren't spirits; they are different cultural interpretations of the same neurological glitch.CAN YOU FIGHT BACK?Sleep paralysis is not dangerous, and you can take steps to reduce its intensity. It's often triggered by disruptions to your sleep cycle, hence the solution lies in improving your sleep health. The first step is to master your sleep hygiene."Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. Do it even on weekends. Create a sleeping sanctuary; a room that is dark, quiet, and cool. Second, manage your stress level. It is often seen that anxiety is a major trigger for all kinds of sleep disruptions. Incorporate stress-reducing activities into your day, like meditation, light exercise, journaling, or simply reading a book before bed," advises Tandon. Watching the way you sleep also works. Many people have reported episodes when sleeping on their back (in the supine position). Try sleeping on your side.What must you do during an episode? If you find yourself in the grip of sleep paralysis, don't try to fight the condition itself. You can't win. "Focus all your mental energy on a small movement. Try wiggling a single toe or a finger to start with," Tandon tells us. She adds that often moving one small part of the body can send a signal to your brain to break the spell and wake your body fully.advertisementRemind yourself this: there's no ghost in your room. It's your brain, momentarily caught between two worlds. By taking control of your health, you can help ensure those worlds stay where they belong.- Ends