Paranormal Attack when asleep

People experience what they feel are Paranormal Attacks in their sleep. These attacks have been believed to be perpetrated by "Ghosts", "Spirits" and "Demonic Entities".  Admittedly "UFO Abductions" also falls in here, but as we are ghost hunters and not UFO hunters that is for someone else to discuss. 

Paranormal Attack

For the purpose of this article we will say a Paranormal Attack is "An unknown force or entity acting in a hostile manner toward a person or place."

Sleep Paralysis

Wikipedia states Sleep Paralysis is, " Physiologically, it is closely related to the paralysis that occurs as a natural part of REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, which is known as REM atonia. Sleep paralysis occurs when the brain awakes from a REM state, but the body paralysis persists. This leaves the person fully conscious, but unable to move. In addition, the state may be accompanied by terrifying hallucinations (hypnopompic or hypnagogic) and an acute sense of danger."

Now we have a condition that can cause paralysis and hallucinations, in a conscious person. Hollywood movies provide all the evidence that the human mind is more than capable of imaging/creating some really intense and strange things.  This makes sense then that Sleep Paralysis is often mistaken for Paranormal Attacks.  A person under sleep paralysis wakes up is unable to move, this alone can cause disorientation.  Then add in a hallucination that maybe perceived as a "Ghost" or "Demon" this adds to the belief of it being an attack. 

Someone who is open minded to paranormal possibilities, can make the mistake of jumping to this as a Paranormal Attack.  This could be the person this occurred to, or an investigator.  This is the point we need to apply Occam's Razor.  The simplest  explanation is generally right.  In this case if someone believes they have been the victim of a Paranormal Attack, as an investigator it is our job to look at the entire possibilities, and operate under a scientific approach. I am recommending the following steps.

1. Determine what the individual was doing the 24 hours prior to the incident. In particular I look for the possibility of an individual having taken a drug or hallucinogenic compound.
2. Determine if any chance of a "Data Rape" drug was possibly given to the individual, in particular if the person is a woman. There is a chance of a false memory due to the unconscious mind suppressing a negative memory. 
3. Break-in scenario, check the windows/doors to determine if there was any chance of a break-in, that the intruder could have used a gas or other form of a drug the person.  Various forms of anesthesia have been known to leave a person conscious but unable to move.
4. Now we examine Sleep Paralysis. Unless you are a licensed Sleep Specialist, or Doctor, we can not diagnose Sleep Paralysis.  The individual should always be recommended to discuss if they have "Sleep Paralysis" with their doctor. Now their are things we can do to show them there is a greater likely hood this is the cause.
   1. If attacks are happening regularly, then plan an investigation of this person's sleep.  An infrared video camcorder taping the room where the person sleeps and a voice recorder place near the individual at night. If your successful in capturing an attack on video.
      1. Is the individual awake? or could it be a nightmare?
      2. Where any EVP's captured around the time of the attack?
      3. Any manifestations in the video? 
      4. Any abnormalities appear in the audio or video recordings?
   2. A sleep diary, documenting when "attacks" occur, the details of the attack.  Recording their daily activities, and stress level before going to bed nightly.
   3. Finally they need to see a Sleep Specialist or their doctor to rule out Sleep Paralysis.
5. Mental Illness, touchy subject but it is something we need to rule out. 
   1. Take a family history do they have anyone in their family that has been diagnosed with a mental illness?
   2. Anyone in the immediate family a victim of abuse?  It may be possible that the individual has suppressed a memory from early childhood.
6. Electromagnetic Sensitivity? Conduct a complete EMF sweep of the room the attack occurred in for any strong EMFs.  If the person is sensitive to EMF this could be the cause.
7. If Sleep Paralysis has been ruled out,  drug/date rape drugs have been ruled out, and mental illness then we can begin looking closer at this as a Paranormal Attack.

At this point we have ruled out the simplest of explanations.  This now gives more credibility this should be investigated as a possible "Paranormal Attack".  Steps 4.1 and 4.2 hopefully will help give credibility to this being "Paranormal".   So now we have a possible "Paranormal Attack". 

1. Investigate the site for other paranormal activity. If an attack occurred additional paranormal evidence should be present.
2. Have the client maintain a diary.
3. Closely examine the site and the client for any additional non-paranormal explanations.

 The end result is we can never say with 100% certainty that something is or was a Paranormal Attack.  We can however say that we have a Suspected Paranormal Attack.  A Suspected Paranormal Attack demands further investigation to continue to try to find evidence of the cause.

"Sleep paralysis -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 19 Feb. 2009 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_paralysis.