34 What is "Old Hag"? (Folklore / Ghost Stories)
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This article is from the Ghost Stories FAQ, by obiwan obiwan@best.com with numerous contributions by others.
34 What is "Old Hag"? (Folklore / Ghost Stories)
From the alt.dreams FAQ, maintained by Olaf Titz (olaf@bigred.ka.
sub.org):
"3.1. What causes sleep paralysis?
"A. Conventional wisdom: REM atonia is a normal function of the body.
The muscles that move the body are "turned off" during REM sleep,
which prevents you from acting out dreamed actions in rea- lity.
Non-REM sleep paralysis after waking up ("old hag") is caused by a
failure to re-activate the muscles immediately. Nor- mally this
condition lasts only a few seconds, but sometimes it can go for a
minute, which causes a very scary feeling. You are damn sure you're
awake now but you can't move. This is extremely unpleasant but at
least not dangerous." <end quote from alt.dreams FAQ>
Symptoms of old hag include hearing footsteps, seeing a presence
(often an old woman, from which the name derives), and a feeling of
not being able to breathe or move.
Here is a typical Old Hag experience. This was posted on a.f.g-s.
From: bwallace@epix.net (Penny)
"... I turned out the light and settled down to go to sleep. As I
was lying in bed thinking, I became aware of a rustling sound emanat-
ing from the turret. I focused on the sound, trying to determine its
origins. A breeze over papers? A mouse? As soon as I dismissed
these possibilities the rustling sound stopped and was replaced by
the sound of stealthy, shuffling footsteps that were headed in my
direction. The sense of a presence was suddenly so strong that it
filled the room. I was terrified. The critical detail here is that I
clearly remember pulling the blanket over my head (I was lying on my
back.) The next thing I knew I was paralyzed--I couldn't move a fin-
ger. The footsteps continued their approach and the next thing I
knew, a tremendous weight settled on my chest, forcing me into the
mattress. I felt that there was a menacing presence. [...] It was
nasty! The intense, dreadful weight continued to press down on me,
almost like a large animal settling itself on my body. I thought I
would go through the mattress. I knew that I was awake, I was not
dreaming, and that something evil was in the room with me. Somehow,
my childhood years of Sunday School paid off and I prayed to be re-
leased. In that instant, it was over."
Next time you read a book of true ghostly accounts, keep the old hag
phenomenon in mind. Most likely you will find a few classic old hag
experiences (especially by authors who are unaware of the phenomenon)
which the victim assumed were paranormal.
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