Thread: Old Hag Syndrom - Are night terrors caused by ghosts? I think so

Originally Posted by linz2d

lol, well I think I have had an encounter with what you could classify as a succubus in my early 20's so that was around 7 years ago. You get individuals who say that such encounters are DC's because humans by nature are sexually driven and having sex in dreams is very common thing. So why do I think I might have had an encountered with a succubus? Well firstly she appeared as being exceedingly beautiful and this goes beyond physical appearance, it sound stupid but its almost as if she was emitting beauty. Her body proportions where way too perfect and the most striking thing about her was that she had long green hair. Yeah, green hair sounds weird but its the only time in my life that I have had a dream about someone with coloured hair. The interesting part of the whole experience and what sets it apart from a normal DC is that she did all the work, I didn't do anything or rather I couldn't do anything, even in the dream I felt that I had limited movement. The last reason I think this was an altogether different experience is that I can still remember her after so long. I remember getting up that morning and thinking "what the hell was that all about?", it was only later after a few years when I started getting interested in myths and folklore that I found that the experience could be attributed to a succubus.

Thats what it sounds like allright. Interestingly I just watched "Scott Pilgrim vs The World" and the movie started off with him having a dream about a girl with green hair, and then meeting her in real life.
I tell you what linz2d,,,,,,I'll take the kind of interaction you took part in,,,,over the more nasty terror inspiring ones anyday.

Originally Posted by DarkoMarco

I would like to ask what "The Dine" are, I've never heard of them. They sound like they have read the Tibetan book of the dead.

The Dine are American Indians. Whites call them "Navajo".

Originally Posted by DarkoMarco

The beliefs you attribute to them in regards of ghosts being parasitic in nature I agree with absolutely. If you read some of my other posts in this thread, you will see those are my own beliefs.

I just have to say, that if what you are stating is true, people would be dropping like flies all the time.
Ghosts are everywhere, all the time, feeding on those who have been born without proper shielding.
Myself included in that group.

And yet people DO drop like flies. People become ill, they have bouts of depression, become confused or angry without "reason". The things that go on in the "spirit world" impact us here in this experience be they Ghosts, or curses or just simply evil Intent. That which is defined by "modern science" as "illness" is simply a reflection of the disturbances and imbalances manifest within our energy body. No one is born with protection from that. That's why we ALL look to Medicine People - be they preists, Doctors, or Wicasa Wakan - when we are "ill". They help us to restore the balance we need in our energy bodies. Some do this more effectively than others, but they all do this in some way.

Originally Posted by DarkoMarco

I could speculate as to why I don't have proper shielding, and others, but, I don't know for sure.
Am I inherintly broken? I don't think so.
My youth is no more traumatic than most and a lot less than many.
I personally think it is a purposefull configuration,,,a clause in the dynamics of reincarnation,,,,,,we all are born this way in one life time or another.
And I think it is just as likely that I have been a ghost at one point or another who fed on others with the same configuration I have now.
I think it's like we take turns operating the light house so to speak, to help guide folks to safety though thier ghost expierience

To go back to DarkoMarco's original question, I think you are potentially mixing up two phenomena here. The Old Hag syndrome and night terrors are two very different phenomena. The Old Hag syndrome is basically a hypnogogic hallucination, which can be experienced during sleep paralysis, so, as the name implies, you are paralysed during it. However, night terrors involve moving around the bed in the night, typically screaming and being frightened and not remembering the incident the next day. I think the latter occur during a deeper sleep stage, such as stage 3, when you are not paralysed. Sleep paralysis, however, occurs whilst waking up from REM and so you are still paralysed.

It would appear that nearly all incidents of hypnopompic hallucinations (including my own) are unrelated to ghosts or spirits. However, very occasionally, during my investigations of spontaneous phenomena, I have come across the odd case where an earthbound spirit entity does seem to be involved, where more blatantly paranormal phenomena were occurring when everyone was up and about as well as bed phenomena happening. I did get one case to investigate where a lady thought her daughter's night terrors were caused by something paranormal but, having looked into it, we were not convinced that that was the case. We got an investigator with trance abilities to sleep on the girl's bed overnight, during a vigil (the girl was, of course, staying with a neighbour that night) to see whether he would be taken over by any spirit entity - but that did not occur, so we didn't think the girl was being possessed.

Originally Posted by jessie1203

This is a VERY good thread!, I can't wait to hear more..

I attribute most of my fear to some presence that keeps bugging me at home.. I've always felt strong emotions.. fear, and sometimes images in my head.. scary images.. sometimes I don't even like to look at myself in the mirror... I feel like mirros can show certain things that we couldn't see normally (I've never actully seen anything, but still), I avoid them... I know its stupid and I'm not as obsessed about it as I may sound.. but I live alone now, (my dad just passed away) and the apt gets really dark, and I can't help these images in my head... I spend a LOT of time alone.. I don't go out.. don't have friends at the moment.. they're all back in my country

I went to a channeling a couple of months ago.. and the spirit talking through this man, was suppose to be a good spirit, like in the name of God.. he comes and takes over this guy to help people. you can share with him whatever problem or concern you have, and he will help you, advice you... I came to him with this 'concern' of mine.. told him how sometimes I have these sudden Emotions! running thru me... strong emotions, of sadness or helplessness.. like when you feel that something bad is going to happen... I sense fear, and darkness... its weird, and I'm tired of it...

He told me that was a long story.. complicated and it took much more time to explain, and our time was running out.. so he explained it in a very quick way... he said: in past lives, we sometimes do things to people.. we hurt them... bad... so these people, filled with anger and wanting to get revenge, they start following you around, after they die... they even follow you in following incarnations you may have, just to wait for you to be just a little depressed or whatever.. just a little window and BUM! they start trying to hurt you, and feeding off you misery.. (sort of... I mean these are my words, not the exact words he said),

They just want to make you "pay" for what you did to them...

So he said it wasn't me.. it wasn't in my head... which was kind of a relief for me!, I thought I had a heart of psycho!! cause sometimes I have these thoughts and images out of no where, that are just... weird, so weird I don't feel like sharing..

... After that, I've felt a little more confident, and the big emotions have been reduced.. I try to pray when I feel like this.. and I actually feel a little better... But sometimes my dreams!! man!!, i wake up all tired of dreaming sometimes really nasty stuff!! So if someone has an idea of how to keep these 'entities', 'ghosts' or 'demons' away, please let me or.. let us know!!...

Or at least, how can I bring good ghosts, or energies into my life, to scare away all these bad ones?... I know positive thinking is a way.. you attract what you think.. but if there is something to help a bit, that'd be great!

These kinds of experiences can really suck. I can empathize in some way with you and maybe what i have done will help because it helped me. I think you can bring good energies into your life. One way to do this i believe is to meditate on a person you are close to and intent them to be the destroyer/protector for you in the other world. Even a deceased person can be a protector and that tradition is very well known. This is a temporary remedy in my opinion. At some point we must all stand and face the void in order to live healthy lives. This is something I have come back to because of past events and it has to be overcome by embracing the feelings.
Also I have heard focusing in meditation on creating a white light growing from your center and focusing on your chakras will promote protection and positivity.
I hope these things work!

Originally Posted by Dronfieldman

To go back to DarkoMarco's original question, I think you are potentially mixing up two phenomena here. The Old Hag syndrome and night terrors are two very different phenomena. The Old Hag syndrome is basically a hypnogogic hallucination, which can be experienced during sleep paralysis, so, as the name implies, you are paralysed during it. However, night terrors involve moving around the bed in the night, typically screaming and being frightened and not remembering the incident the next day. I think the latter occur during a deeper sleep stage, such as stage 3, when you are not paralysed. Sleep paralysis, however, occurs whilst waking up from REM and so you are still paralysed.

It would appear that nearly all incidents of hypnopompic hallucinations (including my own) are unrelated to ghosts or spirits. However, very occasionally, during my investigations of spontaneous phenomena, I have come across the odd case where an earthbound spirit entity does seem to be involved, where more blatantly paranormal phenomena were occurring when everyone was up and about as well as bed phenomena happening. I did get one case to investigate where a lady thought her daughter's night terrors were caused by something paranormal but, having looked into it, we were not convinced that that was the case. We got an investigator with trance abilities to sleep on the girl's bed overnight, during a vigil (the girl was, of course, staying with a neighbour that night) to see whether he would be taken over by any spirit entity - but that did not occur, so we didn't think the girl was being possessed.

Dronfieldman, i have a couple comments. Even if most hypnogogic experiences dont involve ghosts or demons, my personal experience begs to differ as does the experience of my mother. She once had the 'old hag syndrome' experience except her personal archetype was a young white male with gang clothes on and a red bandanna around his face threatening to kill her as he approached her bed; she laying paralyzed.
I've had many SP experiences with imagery of ghosts or even stranger aberrations. One repeating experience went like this: I am lying still in bed staring at my door. The light is on in the hallway and so the room is part light, part dark. As I lay there, the wood patterns on the door panel turned into hundreds of tiny heads screaming in horror about being trapped. Once I got older I related it to Hades or Hell but at the time its identity was the feeling only. Perhaps those that dont experience ghosts in SP are just different than those that do. Not everyone has to have the same experience.
That is also what i would say about the investigation regarding the girl's bed. The investigator doesn't have to have the same experience because the entity could be able to choose whom they would like to affect. I don't think they are all chained to a location.

Chimpertainment: whilst accepting that occasionally, 'bed phenomena' can be attributed to spirit action, e.g. being physically dragged out of bed (which happened with one of my cases and which can not be explained as a hypnopompic hallucination), to be honest, although frightening, I can't see anything in your personal examples which can not be explained as a HH. HHs are usually reported as being frightening, although, speaking from experience, they can, on occasion, be extremely pleasurable.

Originally Posted by Dronfieldman

To go back to DarkoMarco's original question, I think you are potentially mixing up two phenomena here. The Old Hag syndrome and night terrors are two very different phenomena. The Old Hag syndrome is basically a hypnogogic hallucination, which can be experienced during sleep paralysis, so, as the name implies, you are paralysed during it. However, night terrors involve moving around the bed in the night, typically screaming and being frightened and not remembering the incident the next day. I think the latter occur during a deeper sleep stage, such as stage 3, when you are not paralysed. Sleep paralysis, however, occurs whilst waking up from REM and so you are still paralysed.

It would appear that nearly all incidents of hypnopompic hallucinations (including my own) are unrelated to ghosts or spirits. However, very occasionally, during my investigations of spontaneous phenomena, I have come across the odd case where an earthbound spirit entity does seem to be involved, where more blatantly paranormal phenomena were occurring when everyone was up and about as well as bed phenomena happening. I did get one case to investigate where a lady thought her daughter's night terrors were caused by something paranormal but, having looked into it, we were not convinced that that was the case. We got an investigator with trance abilities to sleep on the girl's bed overnight, during a vigil (the girl was, of course, staying with a neighbour that night) to see whether he would be taken over by any spirit entity - but that did not occur, so we didn't think the girl was being possessed.

I think you and I see the world a little bit differently.
And that is fine.
For you life is a text book, a explainable phenomenon with little mystery.
For me, life is incredibly complex, and the things I explain here are just a very small taste of the immense phenomenon that occur everyday in almost all of our lives.
Perceiving this phenomenon doesn't mean one knows the complexities one is experiencing, but, it does lend one insight into the silliness of textbooks.

IF all you read is the text in books, you will miss everything in between the lines.

Originally Posted by linz2d

lol, well I think I have had an encounter with what you could classify as a succubus in my early 20's so that was around 7 years ago. You get individuals who say that such encounters are DC's because humans by nature are sexually driven and having sex in dreams is very common thing. So why do I think I might have had an encountered with a succubus? Well firstly she appeared as being exceedingly beautiful and this goes beyond physical appearance, it sound stupid but its almost as if she was emitting beauty. Her body proportions where way too perfect and the most striking thing about her was that she had long green hair. Yeah, green hair sounds weird but its the only time in my life that I have had a dream about someone with coloured hair. The interesting part of the whole experience and what sets it apart from a normal DC is that she did all the work, I didn't do anything or rather I couldn't do anything, even in the dream I felt that I had limited movement. The last reason I think this was an altogether different experience is that I can still remember her after so long. I remember getting up that morning and thinking "what the hell was that all about?", it was only later after a few years when I started getting interested in myths and folklore that I found that the experience could be attributed to a succubus.

What you experienced sounds like a hypnopompic hallucination to me. I have had a similar experience with a woman, who was very obliging, so to speak.

I agree, Chimpertainment, it's much better to have actual experiences. I have had several experiences of LDs and of HHs. Unless you have the actual experiences, you can't really know which of the various explanations is likely to be the correct one.

Although I am not entirely sure if this applies to this thread I'll tell you a story.

What I'm about to tell you has happened three times in my life. Twice in my own house, but once when I was on vacation in Florida (not sure if this matters). Basically I start the night of just like any night, but then I wake up screaming and I feel like their is something surrounding me. I curl up into a ball and continue to scream while blocking my ears. The fear I feel is the greatest fear I have ever felt and after about 5-10 seconds I just stop and everything seems normal. It's a terrible experience that leaves me shaken. I have never really thought about whats surrounding me, but after thinking about it for a while it almost feels like fear is surrounding me. It's as if the emotion manifests itself as a presence in my room.

Edit: It also should be noted that I don't remember if the dream I had before waking up was a nightmare or not.

Assuming that you don't really remember the experience the next morning (but somebody has told you what happened), then what you are experiencing sounds like night terrors.

Originally Posted by DarkoMarco

Let me start by saying, ghosts can not acutally hurt you. Ghosts can not effect physical matter.

In my experience, some relatively minor ghost-like entities can do things like cause glitches in electronic equipment, even if they can't do something large like move an object. Maybe those aren't quite ghosts in your nomenclature, but I don't think these definitions and delineations should be taken too seriously. As I experience it, some of those 'less easy to define' entities you speak of can act through ghosts, as if they are garments or minor portions of their own bodies. And this seems consistent with your statements about them also.

The more you feed something, the more attached it gets to you and the harder it is to shake off. If you consider the long term, many decades or longer, why do you think that a tendency to attract and harbor psychic parasites doesn't hurt you? And what happens to you after you're dead, when you have become as weak as the ghosts? Can you easily free yourself from them and move on? And do you expect to never encounter ghost-like spirits that are stronger than the first ones you encounter, that move in once you've made yourself a regular host for such things? How will you protect yourself then? Make use of stronger magic? It seems to me like swallowing a spider to catch a fly.

This subject reminds me of a Catholic priest I heard on the radio once talking about casting out demons. He said that whenever a demon leaves it takes a part of the exorcist with it, and that he often encounters the same demon more than once. He was presented on the radio show as a hero fighting forces of darkness, a characterization that he did not object to. And yet, according to his own description, he's personally responsible for feeding and expanding that darkness. If your belief is true, that ghosts are somehow outside of the norm of after death experience, hanging around trying to avoid moving on, what sane motivation could there be for wanting to feed that? I agree that ghosts aren't something to be afraid of. I'm not afraid of wild animals. But I think its worth using some common sense.

I don't expect to change your mind about anything, I'm just presenting an opposing view, since you're advocating yours.

Originally Posted by shadowofwind

In my experience, some relatively minor ghost-like entities can do things like cause glitches in electronic equipment, even if they can't do something large like move an object. Maybe those aren't quite ghosts in your nomenclature, but I don't think these definitions and delineations should be taken too seriously. As I experience it, some of those 'less easy to define' entities you speak of can act through ghosts, as if they are garments or minor portions of their own bodies. And this seems consistent with your statements about them also.

The more you feed something, the more attached it gets to you and the harder it is to shake off. If you consider the long term, many decades or longer, why do you think that a tendency to attract and harbor psychic parasites doesn't hurt you? And what happens to you after you're dead, when you have become as weak as the ghosts? Can you easily free yourself from them and move on? And do you expect to never encounter ghost-like spirits that are stronger than the first ones you encounter, that move in once you've made yourself a regular host for such things? How will you protect yourself then? Make use of stronger magic? It seems to me like swallowing a spider to catch a fly.

This subject reminds me of a Catholic priest I heard on the radio once talking about casting out demons. He said that whenever a demon leaves it takes a part of the exorcist with it, and that he often encounters the same demon more than once. He was presented on the radio show as a hero fighting forces of darkness, a characterization that he did not object to. And yet, according to his own description, he's personally responsible for feeding and expanding that darkness. If your belief is true, that ghosts are somehow outside of the norm of after death experience, hanging around trying to avoid moving on, what sane motivation could there be for wanting to feed that? I agree that ghosts aren't something to be afraid of. I'm not afraid of wild animals. But I think its worth using some common sense.

I don't expect to change your mind about anything, I'm just presenting an opposing view, since you're advocating yours.

Maybe advocate is a strong word, or maybe not. I'm just sharing what I have experienced. And in the spirit of furthering knowledge what is so bad about that?
The phrase "you can't make an omellete without breaking a few eggs" comes to mind.
Folks do bad everyday in all kinds of socially accepted ways that perpetuate this activity.

People can read books, listen to lectures and ponder ove EVP stuff, but bottom line, nothing really satisfies like first hand experience.
Nothing teaches like first hand experience.
I appreciate your opinion on the matter.

This has been an interesting read for me as I have been having 'Old Hag' experiences on and off over the last several years...sometimes more than once a night. I found it occurs more often when my stress levels are elevated and more recently after doing a Tarrot card reading on myslef (I hadn't touched them in almost 20 years and came across them a few shot months ago). After the reading, my room felt different, I was almost afraid to go to sleep at night, then the 'Old Hag' dreams started, so I did a, for lack of a better word, clensing (?). To digress a little, I have always had something around me, for a couple of years I had an invisible friend, very playful, poke me in different places on my body, pull at my clothing, and sometimes I thought I saw something out of the corner of my eye, but of course there was nothing there. Almost every night, in my children's room, I would hear foot steps or a banging on the floor. THinking it was my children I would get frustrated and go into their room ready to tell them to get to bed, but they were out cold. On quite a few occassions I would have company over and they would hear the same noises, and describe it as sounding like children (or a child) running across the floor. I was NEVER frightened of her (I always thought it felt like a little girl) and welcomed the company (lol). Sadly after performing the 'cleansing' on my home, she was gone. I don't really feel afraid anymore but I still get the dreams/nightmares where I'm being held down and can't move or scream (never experienced the part where it's hard to breath...phew!), and I know it's the same entity that keeps coming back. Now that I think about it, I did have a dream that it raped me once and I woke up crying.

Hopefully it stops soon, I really hate the feeling. Especially when I'm trying to get up, i feel dizzy, almost drugged.