What Are the Spiritual & Biblical Meanings of Sleep Paralysis?

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Plus, how to overcome sleep paralysis demons

Co-authored by Nicole Moshfegh, PsyD and Dev Murphy, MA

Last Updated: December 13, 2025 Fact Checked

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• Spiritual Meaning
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• What does the Bible say?
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• Other Cultural Beliefs
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• Overcoming Sleep Paralysis
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• The Science of Sleep Paralysis
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• Video

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Sleep paralysis is a fairly common phenomenon, yet scientists still don't know exactly what causes it. But some people believe sleep paralysis—and the visual or aural hallucinations that sometimes accompany it—may be a spiritual or supernatural phenomenon. There's no evidence to prove this, but then again, spiritual experiences rarely adhere to the logic of this mortal coil, right? In this article, we'll explain the possible spiritual meanings of experiencing sleep paralysis, what the Bible has to say about it, and spiritual and medical advice for overcoming sleep paralysis. Keep reading for everything you need to know!

What is the spiritual significance of sleep paralysis?

Some people believe sleep paralysis may be a symptom of spiritual warfare. Symptoms of sleep paralysis—including fear, sensing evil nearby, and "seeing" a demon or other creature sitting on your chest—have been interpreted by some people as signs of demonic presence.

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Section 1 of 5:

Spiritual Meaning of Sleep Paralysis

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1. 
   Sleep paralysis is sometimes interpreted as a sign of spiritual warfare. Sleep paralysis is often accompanied by panic and terror, as well as a sense of evil in the vicinity. Many people even report seeing shadowy, demonic figures in the room or just sensing their presence. For this reason, some people believe that when you experience sleep paralysis, it's a sign of a demonic presence in your room. This demonic presence is typically interpreted in one of two ways:

   • The demons believe you are a threat. Some people believe demons may attack you if your faith is powerful, because they feel you're a threat to the forces of evil.
   • You're in need of spiritual protection and guidance. On the other hand, some people believe seeing demons during sleep paralysis is a sign your faith is weak and that you should take steps to strengthen your belief in God or the divine universe.
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Section 2 of 5:

What does the Bible say about sleep paralysis?

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   There aren't specific verses on sleep paralysis in the Bible. While many people believe sleep paralysis, nightmares, and night terrors are signs of spiritual warfare and the presence of Satan, the Bible itself doesn't actually say anything to substantiate this. However, there are verses that speak to God's ability to communicate with people through dreams:

   • Genesis 20: God speaks to Abimelech in a dream, warning him not to touch Abraham's wife, Sarah.
   • Genesis 28: Jacob dreams of a ladder ascending to heaven.
   • Genesis 37: Joseph dreams that his brothers will serve him; his sharing this dream leads them to sell him into captivity in Egypt (a saga which ultimately ends with him ruling over his brothers).
   • Genesis 40–41: Joseph interprets Pharaoh's dreams and becomes his righthand man.
   • The Lord or angels appear to many Biblical figures in their dreams, including Solomon (1 Kings 3), Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 2), Joseph (Matthew 2), and Pilate's wife (Matthew 27).

Section 3 of 5:

Other Cultural Beliefs about Sleep Paralysis

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   Historically, sleep paralysis was associated with witches and folklore. Many people who experience sleep paralysis report feeling as if someone were sitting on their chest—or even seeing someone sitting on their chest, like an ogre, demon, or hairy creature. They may also report seeing intruders, ghosts, "shadow people," witches, or doppelgangers lurking in their bedrooms!

   • From the Middle Ages in Europe up to the 17th century in the United States, women believed to be witches were killed for being connected with such creatures, while other women were killed because men reported having erotic sleep paralysis visions about them.
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   Sleep paralysis is sometimes associated with alien encounters. People who claim to have been abducted by aliens often report sensations similar to the symptoms of sleep paralysis: being unable to move, feeling extreme fear, hearing buzzing or humming noises, and sensing an evil presence in their room. This has led some people to speculate that some alien abductions are really just incidents of sleep paralysis. However, other people have wondered if sleep paralysis could be linked to aliens.
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Section 4 of 5:

Spiritual Tools for Overcoming Sleep Paralysis

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   Pray or meditate. As Philippians 4:6–7 says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Some people believe that praying to God or the universe for protection against evil forces may help you overcome sleep paralysis.

   • Even if you're unable to speak during sleep paralysis (many people can't), pray in your heart.
   • Praying or meditating regularly may also help decrease incidents of sleep paralysis.
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   Record your dreams. Remembering and understanding your dreams—including hallucinations that accompany sleep paralysis—may help you to overcome sleep paralysis, hallucinations, or spiritual unease. "Start to keep a dream journal," advises licensed clinical psychologist Nicole Moshfegh, PsyD. "When you wake up in the morning, write down some notes, or if you wake up from the nightmare, write down…what you remember…so you can have a better sense of what exactly is happening there."

   • Not sure how to interpret your dreams? Input your dream into our dream interpreter, and we'll tell you what it means.
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   Regularly purify your aura. You may experience sleep paralysis as a result of the energies you pick up throughout the day, so be sure to cleanse your energy at the end of each day, before lying down for bed. "Connect to the earth, and then imagine that you have a waterfall of light washing over you, cleansing away any energy that you picked up through the day," intuitive counselor and happiness coach Kari Samuels says. "Any energy that doesn't belong to you, any energy that doesn't serve you, any lower thought forms…vibrations, emotion, all that stuff, you want to just wash it away with a waterfall of light."
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Section 5 of 5:

The Science of Sleep Paralysis

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   During sleep paralysis, the brain is "awake" while the body is "asleep." There are two types of sleep a person's body cycles through all night: rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. REM sleep is characterized by heightened activity in the brain and increased breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate. It's during REM sleep that we tend to have our richest and most detailed dreams and nightmares—but during REM sleep, the body enters temporary paralysis (called muscle atonia), likely a natural mechanism to prevent us from acting out our dreams. Sleep paralysis typically occurs when a person is just waking up or just falling asleep, and the lines between sleep and wakefulness blur: the body is still paralyzed, while the brain is awake.

   • Sleep paralysis is often accompanied by fear and panic, and some people have reported experiencing the sensation of someone sitting on their chest.
   • Some people have also reported experiencing night terrors during sleep paralysis. This may involve seeing or hearing things, including intruders or shadowy figures in their room—or just sensing an evil presence.
   • Seeing vivid and terrifying hallucinations during sleep paralysis is so common that they're commonly medically referred to as "sleep demons."
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   Sleep paralysis is common—and very treatable. Sleep paralysis affects an estimated 30% of people at some point in their lives, and it's typically treatable—though experts are still unsure of what exactly causes it. Treating sleep paralysis via spiritual channels may help you overcome this troubling condition, but it might also be worth it to consider the advice of sleep professionals and medical experts:

   • Improve your sleep hygiene. Your sleep hygiene refers to the habits, behaviors, and environmental factors you take control of to help you get good sleep. This may include:
     • Going to sleep and rising at the same times every day.
     • Winding down an hour before you fall asleep (by doing calming activities, like reading or bathing, or following a self-care ritual, like brushing your teeth or washing your face).
     • Lower the lighting, and avoid screens (yes, that includes your phone!).
   • Work to improve your mental health. Poor mental health can instigate sleep troubles, including sleep paralysis. Addressing stress, depression, anxiety, and any other mental health condition afflicting your sleep may help to decrease instances of sleep paralysis.
   • Speak to a healthcare provider for more information. A doctor may recommend overnight testing if they suspect you have a sleep disorder, such as narcolepsy.
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