I've never heard of someone falling into sleep paralysis, other than doing something like WILD. Usually, you awaken to being paralyzed.
Anyways, Old Hag Syndrome occurs from sleep paralysis. Not all sleep paralysis induces it, but it can. O-Nieronaut, I'm not really sure what you're referring to as the old hag, but Old Hag Syndrome is when you awake to find yourself paralyzed though you can see, feel, and hear. Typically it is accompanied by auditory hallucinations, strange smells, weird apparitions, feelings of a sinister presence, glowing eyes, shadowy figures, etc [you know all things evil] and quite often a feeling of a heavy weight on the chest. This is where the name comes from, the old superstition that it is a witch (or old hag) that is sitting on your chest and rendering you paralyzed while all these evil things take place.
I've had this happen to me two or three times now. Don't make the same mistake I did and try to sit up; it makes it worse. The best thing when awakening to this is to just close your eyes, calm down, and tell yourself it is just a dream.
I've also experienced sleep paralysis that does not result in a old hag happening, and it was quite a different experience.
O-Nieronaut, your one experience sounds interesting and scary but I don't think it's Old Hag Syndrome, as the cause for Old Hag is most commonly attributed to sleep paralysis (though not all SP triggers the Old Hag).
PS. apologies for un-burying an old thread. I know that makes some people crazy, but it is 4:30 am and I need something to do, so just try to get through the anger un-burying the dead brings up and tomorrow will be a better day. I promise.
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