Alien Abductions: A Case of Sleep Paralysis

Abstract

Sleep paralysis (SP) is a benign, transient episode of immobility lasting a few seconds to a few minutes that can occur while falling asleep or on awakening. It is a condition of unknown etiology. During the episode, all the skeletal muscles are virtually 'paralyzed', resulting in an inability to move or speak but individual remains conscious. Because it occurs in a clear sensorium, the individual is able to describe the experience vividly. It is associated with extreme anxiety, phobia, and nervousness, restless and, sometime, hallucinations. We present a case of 35 year old male personal driver, who had recurrent episode of sleep paralysis, we must rule out physical, psychological or social suffering and the subject must be examined by sleep clinicians or psychiatrist. "Supernatural" experiences associated to SP have been interpreted as pathological. We must enrich the knowledge about these experiences of SP and their psychological and cultural aspects. SP may be misdiagnosed as being due to depression and psychosis (e.g. schizophrenia) and alternatively depending on how they construe these experiences.

Is gnetke a sleep paralysis? The un­ usual between folkloristic and medical classifications

“…(как это произошло -через посредство медицинского дискурса -со «старой ведьмой») и из массовой культуры -так, влияние уфологических представлений видится в частом присутствии образов пришельцев, инопланетян в современных рассказах [Siddiqui et al 2018].…”

Perceived awareness of sleep paralysis phenomenon (old hag syndrome) and its most common risk factors among people from Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia

“…[15][16][17] In Saudi Arabia, SP is described as Al-Jathoum, and a case study in which a Saudi patient, who at first complained of sleep disruption due to driving long distances and nightmares, described it as a type of alien power, likely to be jin that squeezed his chest for a period of time. 18 There is an ultimate need to conduct this study due to the significance of the prevalence of SP worldwide, and the importance of identifying SP as a medical condition rather than cultural misconceptions. Despite the progress of studies regarding SP in Saudi Arabia, no study has reported the attitudes of Saudi people with respect to SP.…”

“… 15 - 17 In Saudi Arabia, SP is described as Al-Jathoum, and a case study in which a Saudi patient, who at first complained of sleep disruption due to driving long distances and nightmares, described it as a type of alien power, likely to be jin that squeezed his chest for a period of time. 18 …”