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myfirstLove
Member



Joined: 2005/11/26
Posts: 496


 Re:

Paul, I'm not really understanding what your saying.

Are you saying you believe that it is demonic and that you should use pshycology to snap out of it? Or are you saying its a disorder and that you should use psycology to snap out of it?

I am not trying to be insisitive to others by calling this sleep thing demonic. I am just calling it for what it is and not what America wants to call it.

America got so many names to replace demonic activity and then we wonder why we don't see miracles while other countries will call it for what it is and many miracles are happening.


_________________
Lisa

 2007/4/25 16:24Profile
RobertW
Member



Joined: 2004/2/12
Posts: 4636
St. Joseph, Missouri

 Re:

Quote:
Like I mentioned before, this state is supposedly ideal for astral projection and other ungodly, metaphysical activities, but for those who fight against the sensation, it can be a terrifying, asphyxiating battle.



Thanks for sharing Paul. When I was a teen I suffered from this and it was more of a nuisance than anything- though it did have a notion of panic, etc. However as time has gone on it seems my experience has become increasingly 'violent'. I would know I was in the state as you mentioned and even that I was 'stuck' there. Yet last year I suffered an attack that was a little more difficult to explain. I didn't feel particularly spiritual or worthy of a beating from the devil or anything. It just seemed that somehow the enemy took notice of my state and somehow attacked. I can't explain it, but just in case others have suffered something similar.


_________________
Robert Wurtz II

 2007/4/25 16:54Profile
myfirstLove
Member



Joined: 2005/11/26
Posts: 496


 Re:

I want to make it clear with my last post that I do not think those who are believers if they are experiencing Sleep Paralysis they are possess. I don't believe that christians can be possess by demons. They can be attacked or influenced by them only.


_________________
Lisa

 2007/4/25 17:39Profile
PaulWest
Member



Joined: 2006/6/28
Posts: 3405
Dallas, Texas

 Re:

If you want to believe this is demonic, fine. I won't rain on anyone's parade. Technically, I suppose one can attribute all sickness and disorders and nightmares somehow to demons. But you need to understand that our bodies are defective, and things like stress and bad eating habits can often trigger symptoms. Everything bad that happens isn't always demonic. You eat poorly, you expose yourself to heart disease. Satan didn't do it. You eat heavily before you go to sleep, you increase the chances of having a nightmare. Demons aren't necessarily standing over your bed sprinkling spooky dust on your head each time you have a bad dream.

There are quirks in our bodies. I don't know why our minds sometimes wake up before our skeletal muscle system does - just like I don't know why some kids are born with autism and can recite an entire phone book. But understand that I am presenting nothing new here; Doctors have already observed the phenomenon of sleep paralysis in clinical observations and have noticed changes in brain waves and neuron patterns. There is a wealth of information out there.

I repeat: This isn't to say [i]every sinlge account of sleep paralysis cannot be demonic[/i]. All that I am saying is there is a [i]physiological[/i] explanation. Just like there is one for cancer and Hansen's disease (leperosy) and MS. When we became Christians, we didn't discard medical science and become cookie-cutting ranters of old wives tales and folklore junkies.

At least I hope we didn't. Demons are real, demonic activity is real. Please understand that I've seen demonic manifestations both in the church building and on the streets while preaching. I've seen instant healing take place, and I am in no way discrediting the supernatural. I am, after all, a Pentecostal Christian. But I am also not so foolish as to give Satan instant credit for everything seemingly inexplicable and disquieting.

My method of escaping sleep paralysis works for me; if you feel you need to call on Jesus to rebuke the paralysis demons, by all means - do it! I would only ask that you not get apprehensive at the possibility of someone shooting down the fantastic theory of the supposed demon and witch culprits behind all cases of sleep paralysis.

Brother Paul


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Paul Frederick West

 2007/4/25 17:47Profile
PaulWest
Member



Joined: 2006/6/28
Posts: 3405
Dallas, Texas

 Re: A Good Link

For anyone that's interested, here is pretty good page from Stanford with a bunch of links to sleep paralysis:


What is sleep paralysis?

Sleep paralysis consists of a period of inability to perform voluntary movements either at sleep onset (called hypnogogic or predormital form) or upon awakening (called hypnopompic or postdormtal form).

Sleep paralysis may also be referred to as isolated sleep paralysis, familial sleep paralysis, hynogogic or hypnopompic paralysis, predormital or postdormital paralysis

What are the symptoms?


A complaint of inability to move the trunk or limbs at sleep onset or upon awakening
Presence of brief episodes of partial or complete skeletal muscle paralysis
Episodes can be associated with hypnagogic hallucinations or dream-like mentation (act or use of the brain)
Polysomnography (a sleep recording) shows at least one of the following:


suppression of skeletal muscle tone
a sleep onset REM period
dissociated REM sleep
Is it harmful?

Sleep paralysis is most often associated with narcolepsy, a neurological condition in which the person has uncontrollable naps. However, there are many people who experience sleep paralysis without having signs of narcolepsy. Sometimes it runs in families. There is no known explanation why some people experience this paralysis. It is not harmful, although most people report feeling very afraid because they do not know what is happening, and within minutes they gradually or abruptly are able to move again; the episode is often terminated by a sound or a touch on the body.

In some cases, when hypnogogic hallucinations are present, people feel that someone is in the room with them, some experience the feeling that someone or something is sitting on their chest and they feel impending death and suffocation. That has been called the “Hag Phenomena” and has been happening to people over the centuries. These things cause people much anxiety and terror, but there is no physical harm.

What else can you tell me about sleep paralysis?


Some people with disrupted sleep schedules or circadian rhythm disturbances experience sleep paralysis
A study found that 35% of subjects with isolated sleep paralysis also reported a history of wake panic attacks unrelated to the experience of paralysis
Sixteen percent of these persons with isolated sleep paralysis met the criteria for panic disorder
How can I stop the sleep paralysis?

In severe cases, where episodes take place at least once a week for 6 months, medication may be used.

You may be able to minimize the episodes by following good sleep hygiene:


getting enough sleep
reduce stress
exercise regularly (but not too close to bedtime)
keep a regular sleep schedule

http://www.stanford.edu/~dement/paralysis.html


_________________
Paul Frederick West

 2007/4/25 18:15Profile
myfirstLove
Member



Joined: 2005/11/26
Posts: 496


 Re:

Paul, I understand that our bodies are defective. Things like heart disease and stuff that bad eating can cause, I do believe it is from our eating habits and its not demonic. But things that you can't
really explain are more likely demonic. The doctors will want to try to explain it, and of corse they will say its somethings that has to do with your body because man, especially America have to have an answer to everything.

Only America will and maybe Europe will call sleep paralysis something else besides demonic.

Many christians will say thats demonic if it is making the person acting pschyo, but when it comes to everything else, it has a medical name.

I believe their are more demonic activity and possession going on a lot more than any other generation. Look at our society, the music, violence in music and t.v., fashion, pornography, video games, the many false churches. Many children are being raised in this and we wonder why theres shootings in schools!

Paul, please know I am not trying to get you upset. I really didn't understand what you were saying in that post. You use quite a few words I didn't understand. You have to dumb it down for this asian :)

God bless


_________________
Lisa

 2007/4/25 18:32Profile
PaulWest
Member



Joined: 2006/6/28
Posts: 3405
Dallas, Texas

 Re:

Quote:
It just seemed that somehow the enemy took notice of my state and somehow attacked. I can't explain it, but just in case others have suffered something similar.



Absolutely, I understand this. I believe that being stuck in this state would give great advantage for a wicked spirit to launch an attack. And maybe the spirit was able to even induce the state of paralysis. All I am saying is that sleep paralysis, in general, is considered a neuroligal sleeping disorder. The same idea could be said if a person is given to sleep walking. I suppose this again would be prime occasion for an opportunistic wicked spirit to strike, though sleep walking in itself is not demonic, per se. It is a neurological disorder that the Lord can heal.


_________________
Paul Frederick West

 2007/4/25 18:37Profile
PaulWest
Member



Joined: 2006/6/28
Posts: 3405
Dallas, Texas

 Re:

Hi Lisa!

Quote:
I believe their are more demonic activity and possession going on a lot more than any other generation. Look at our society, the music, violence in music and t.v., fashion, pornography, video games, the many false churches. Many children are being raised in this and we wonder why theres shootings in schools!



Yes and amen. The prince of this world is Satan.


Quote:
Paul, please know I am not trying to get you upset.



I know this, sister, and I hope I have not upset you. I really believe that sleep paralysis can be a doorway through which a wicked spirit can torment. All I was trying to say was that the etiology (the cause) for the skeletal muscle paralysis has been pin-pointed to a certain neurological disorder occuring during various stages of REM sleep, and this has been clinically observed. Most everybody who suffers from sleep paralysis - saved or unsaved - exhibits the same global symptoms. But this in no way inplies that the disorder [i]cannot[/i] be demonically induced or used as a doorway through which a spirit can torment. We know, for example, that people are able to astral project through this doorway. It therefore certainly appears to be a gateway of some sort leading into an ethereal, supernatural realm.

Quote:
You use quite a few words I didn't understand



I apologize, sister! I am now looking over this post with a scrutinizing eye. I guess I'm just so used to dealing with science and all the terminlogy that goes along with it, that sometimes I forget that not everyone here has taken college microbiology and pathology and chemistry. I had all that stuff ruthlessly drilled into me in mortuary science school - and it sticks with you! You should hear my wife talk, you think I'm bad. She's an RN and uses terms and talks about diseases I've never even heard of. Alas, I'm just a lowly mortician. If anyone should have stories of demon activity and be quick to relegate everything to the macabre and fantastically wicked, it should be me! All alone in the morgue, working long nights, etc.

Quote:
You have to dumb it down for this asian



No way, sister! I've read your posts and you articulate yourself just fine. I'll certainly try to be more conscientious when it comes to scientific terminology, though.

With love and respect to my sister,

Brother Paul


_________________
Paul Frederick West

 2007/4/25 18:52Profile
letsgetbusy
Member



Joined: 2004/9/28
Posts: 957
Cleveland, Georgia

 Re:

I have had some more of these type of experiences lately. While I am a sinner, saved by grace, I would say that I am more conservative than my Christian friends as far as what movies I watch, games I play, etc. While years back I felt I had a lot of things In my life that could have been causing the episodes, it doesn't seem to be the case now. I have prayed for restful sleep before dozing off, but telling God, "nevertheless, whatever Your will be."

Not to freak anyone out or make myself seem like someone I'm not, I just want to tell what has happened to me recently so if one of you experience something similar, you will know you're not the only one. The other night I woke up during sleep paralysis, and it still felt like a force was trying to choke me. Honestly, I was thinking, "you've got to be kidding me." But I just prayed and trusted The Lord and it eventually went away. I have had a couple more episodes of less interest, so I just woke up and did prayer and Bible study. So I figure, the enemy is getting the worst of it whether it's just a medical condition, or an attack of darkness.

I like to think about when Wigglesworth woke up and saw Satan manifest next to him, but just remarked something like, "oh, it's just you", then rolled over and went to sleep. Awesome!


_________________
Hal Bachman

 2012/12/13 17:45Profile





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