Why People Worldwide Report the Same Sleep Paralysis Creatures

Sleep paralysis has one common thread running through accounts from different cultures – this is the disturbing presence of shadowy figures or “creatures”—often referred to as night hags—that immobilize and frighten their victims. These nightmarish entities, described as grotesque figures, demons, or shadowy beings, sit on the chest of the paralyzed individual, making it difficult to breathe and inducing a feeling of dread. But why do people from different parts of the world, with distinct cultural backgrounds, report such eerily similar experiences? Is there a scientific explanation for this phenomenon, or could the stories hint at something more paranormal, rooted…