The old hag

No, not me. A few posts ago I asked about readers' dream habits and asked if anyone had experienced the phenomenon known as "The Old Hag." Alethea described a dream she had that involved the moon turning into the face of an old hag, but that's not quite what I meant. I was referring to the physiological phenomenon of sleep paralysis, specifically, hypnopompic paralysis.

I have had two experiences. Both happened when I woke up from a nap on the couch (or chesterfield for the Canucks in the audience). I don't remember much about the first incident except that I woke up and couldn't move for a few minutes. But I remember the second episode in detail. It happened in the house in which I still live, about 12 years ago, when I was still married. I fell asleep while watching TV with my husband. When I woke up, I was laying flat on my back on the couch and raised my arm to put my hand on the back of the couch, intending to sit up. And that's where I stayed, unable to speak, open my eyes or move another muscle for the better part of half an hour. I know it was that long, as the TV series, "Friday the 13th" was on the television. I could hear and comprehend every word of the story and was able to recount what happened in the show to my husband when I could finally speak again. I didn't experience any fear or panic or the sensation of someone sitting on my chest, as is often described in these episodes. It was more just a feeling of annoyance that I couldn't move.

Our good friends at Wikipedia, as always, have a few words to say on the subject.