Sleep paralysis is linked to a disrupted sleep cycle, particularly an inability to transition smoothly between sleep stages. For those with extreme trauma, like yourself, the brain remains semi-alert even in REM sleep, making it more likely to experience sleep paralysis. The sensation of being watched, of a presence creeping toward you, may not be an external force at all but rather the brain’s way of processing unresolved fear. The body is paralyzed in sleep, but the mind remains stuck in a hypervigilant state, creating the illusion of that dark figure approaching you—possibly shaped by your past terror.
As a certified clinical trauma specialist, I can tell you that one of the most significant trauma responses that occurs during narcissistic abuse and even after is the freeze response. When escape is impossible and fighting back is dangerous, the body shuts down, dissociates, and enters a state of immobility, or in clinical terms, dorsal vagal activation. This is why, when faced with confrontation, you feel incapable of reacting; you struggle to form words or even move. Sleep paralysis mimics this exact response. It is a moment when the body is trapped, unable to move, just as it was once in waking life under the control of that narcissist. The helplessness experienced during sleep paralysis mirrors the helplessness of being trapped in an abusive environment, which is why many survivors of narcissistic abuse report frequent episodes of sleep paralysis. They say, “My body carries the imprint of past trauma, and it finds its expression in terrifying ways.”
There is a famous book called Your Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk. It is an excellent resource if you want to understand how your body reacts to trauma.
Now, let’s come to the spiritual side, my favorite side. While science offers explanations for sleep paralysis rooted in psychology, many who have experienced it, including myself, believe there is something much darker involved. I have openly talked about the relationship between narcissists and demons in multiple episodes. I firmly believe that those shadowy figures, those entities—the oppressive presences encountered during episodes of sleep paralysis—are not just hallucinations, but rather evil entities surrounding the narcissist. These are not mere products of an overactive imagination; they are real.
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