Hag Syndrome

[Jaxboo]

I have a recurring sleep problem that I have been told is called Hag Syndrome.  I will wake up to find someone grappling with me or sitting on me.  I can actually feel the weight of this person.  I try to fight back or scream, but I can't move or speak.  It's terrifying.  Eventually I manage to move and break the spell, but then I am too scared to go back to sleep.  What causes this, and what can I do to stop it?

[Suri123]

Hi Jaxbo, thanks again for your reply and have shared your thoughts. It is good to see you post your feedback regularly, which shows your interest in knowing more about your concerns. You are true, there might be many of others who also suffer from similar problems but do not openly communicate for whatsoever the reason, so posting ones experience may be helpful to some fellow sufferer. Yes try to make your bed room a comfortable place to sleep so that you need not face a sleep disturbance. Remove all the distracting items and keep room neat and tidy. You can observe for some more time to see if you can improve. If nothing is working then do consult the sleep specialist.  Take care and post your progress.

[Jaxboo]

Thanks for your comments Suri.  The other thing I have learnt to do is when it happens to mentally refuse to panic and will myself to wake up properly.  The music idea is a good one - I might try that.  Also I have chimes outside my window.  Maybe I should move them?  The main thing is its good to know that I am not alone in this and that there are people I can talk to who understand the problem.  I will let you know if I see a sleep specialist but not sure how to go about that or what the cost would be.

[Suri123]

Hi Jaxboo, hope you are doing better? Thanks for your reply and you are very right in your thought. Stress does play an important role in sleep disturbance. Try to do regular exercise or stretches, some gentle massage and have a warm shower before sleep. This can relax and make you fresh at bedtime, reading your favorite novels or listening to soft music can make you fell sleepy. Sometimes a noisy fan, tickling watch or crowded house can cause sleep disturbance. As you said it can occur only sometimes and not always, do not bother much and relax. It is good idea to see a sleep specialist or to take a sleep study. Do update on your visit and progress. Take care.

[Jaxboo]

Hi fellow hag sufferer.  Suri is so right to say that you have to just reassue yourself that nothing has happened and nothing will.  Its so weird though that not having suffered from this for some months, I experienced it only last night and today I see you and Suri have posted comments!   However, other than not drinking late or eating a heavy meal, there is nothing much you can do.  I try to avoid it by thinking about something totally different from my real life, like winning the lottery and imagining what I would spend it on.  And during that process I fall asleep and more often than not manage to avoid hag visits.  Keeping calm helps too, but otherwise there is no actual aid to stop it occuring.  I might consider a sleep specialist as Suri advises.  Keep calm and keep well.

[Suri123]

Hi, Relax! How are you doing? This kind of sleep disturbance does occur sometimes at the onset of sleep or on waking up from sleep. It is a temporary phenomenon where in you are incapable of moving your body or even part of it physically but keep trying to shout loudly or seek someone’s help. It may be lasting for a few seconds to minutes. It can repeat once again if you sleep and before waking up. There may not be any physical injury to body but you will be probably frightened with sweating and increased heart beat, one may feel a shortness of breath or air hunger. Night terrors can aggravate it further. You need to reassure yourself nothing has happened and nothing is going to happen. Few things like avoiding - alcohol at night with smoking, caffeine, too spicy bulky meal and going to bed late night can be helpful. If at all it becomes daily concern then consult a sleep specialist for a sleep study and evaluation. Take care.

[alicia_shute]

Hey! im having the same experience. Im 18 years old, iv moved to fort mcmurray from newfoundland and even since I was in Fort mcmurray night after night i would get the "old hag". Its never happened to me before. The first tim eit happened I was all alone, i was just waking up and I looked at the time, it was 3:30 A.M I rolled over on my stomach to go back t sleep, In about 10 mins i found a pressure on me like i was paralyzed. I tryed with all my might to move, i would slowly move my head off the pillow and i would fall back down again like some1 was pushing me down or over powering me. Then I felt someone/something behind me get up off the bed and then I just went crazy and broke the spell. ever sence then Iv been having these dreams. It would go away for a while, and it wouldnt happend to me if someone was sleeping with me. I was to the point where I thought I was going crazy. Is there anything I can do to stop this? is this a sleeping disorder I have?

[Jaxboo]

Hi, thanks for your feedback. Glad to know it's not uncommon.  I don't see the old lady (although my friend does) but I do have the sense of a weighty body sitting down on the bed, than climbing along side me and grabbing me in a tight grappling hold.  The fear comes from not being able to free myself or shout out.  

I will try the salt thanks.

[john4321]

hag syndrome is not uncommon . try sprinkling salt all around your bed and bedroom and say "no negative energy can stay in this place only positive energy can stay in this place"... go through this ritual. salt is famous to counteract negative emotions/energies. see if you get some relief...

hag syndrome is a mystery in itself...some even see an old lady pressing down on their chest. don't be afraid ok...keep me update

[Jaxboo]

I thought it was quite common to wake during cataplexy unable to move.  I'm not sure how I would explain the problem to a GP, which I would have to do to get to any type of consultant.  However, I think I will start the ball rolling.

[PettyOfficer]

Cataplexy is basically sleep paralysis. It is not normal to wake up unable to to move limbs or digits for any amount of time. The reason I said hallucinations is for the "feel the weight of this person." Hallucinations are not only vivid spectacles you can see. You can also feel hallucinations, contrary to mainstream media's representation. As with narcolepsy, people do not fall asleep as mainstream media has represented, making it difficult for people to understand what true narcolepsy is. Again, I would suggest talking to a neurologist at a consult about his experience with cataplexy and if in fact you do have that along with hallucinations for this sence of feeling that someone is in fact sitting on you.

[Jaxboo]

What is cataplexy?  I don't see or hear anything during this period of sleep, only feel.  I think this syndrome is a common thing that many people experience, but there must be something to stop it.  

[Jaxboo]

I don't have halluciantions as I don't see anything only feel and I'm not sure what cataplexy is.  However, don't my problems arise out of semi waking at the point of muscle paralysise that we all experience, but shouldn't wake up during that time.  So how can I stop this from happening.  Although I have many childhood issues that disturbe me I'm not sure this is the problem.  What can I do?

Haven't you heard of Hag Syndrome?  I understood it to be a common thing, but scary none the less.

[PettyOfficer]

While I wouldn't rule out psychological issues, I would be inclined to lean towards some sort of cataplexy along with hallucinations. I would recommend going to see both doctors and having them determine which, maybe both, are correct and your treatment options.

[Blessedsoulforever]

Hi
Sleep disorders could be due to many many reasons.Your problem seems to be more of a Psychiatric nature than any neurological problem.Visit the Psychiatrist as early as possible to identify some chronic or persistent fear which grips your unconsious mind,the unconsious mind surfaces during sleep and the fear deep down in your subconsious mind can disturb your sleep.
Meditation can help in calm your subconsious mind.