Night Terrors and Sleep Paralysis: Nervous System Protection, Cultural Meaning, and Ancestral Memory
Many people experience terrifying nighttime events that feel supernatural, dangerous, or out of control. Night terrors and sleep paralysis can leave you:
Afraid to Fall Back Asleep, because the body anticipates another episode.
Confused and Disoriented, unsure whether what happened was a dream or reality.
Ashamed or Isolated, fearing others will not understand.
Worried Something Spiritual Is “After You”, especially when the experience includes a sensed presence.
Disconnected From Your Body, lingering in freeze or shock after waking.
Exhausted the Next Day, as the nervous system never fully rested.
These experiences are far more common among trauma survivors and BIPOC communities — not because of weakness, but because of nervous system sensitivity, ancestral memory, and sleep-pattern disruptions shaped by historical stress.
At Little River Psychological Services (LRPS), we explain these events through two intertwined truths:
The Neuroscience of a Dysregulated Nervous System, which clarifies what is happening in the brain and body.
Cultural, Ancestral, and Spiritual Frameworks, which give the experience context, dignity, and meaning.
Nighttime fear does not mean you are broken. It means your body is trying to protect you.
What Are Night Terrors?
Night terrors are episodes in which a person:
Screams or Cries Out, appearing terrified while still asleep.
Thrashes or Moves Abruptly, as if reacting to danger.
Looks Awake but Is Not Conscious, with eyes open yet unresponsive.
Has Little or No Memory of the Event, even though the fear felt intense.
Wakes Confused, Sweaty, or Panicked, with the body still in alarm.
Night terrors are not nightmares. Nightmares occur during REM sleep, when dreaming is vivid and recallable. Night terrors occur during deep non-REM sleep, often earlier in the night.
Why Night Terrors Happen
The Nervous System Remains Hyperaroused, even during sleep.
Trauma Disrupts Transitions Between Sleep Stages, creating instability.
The Brain Misfires Danger Signals during deep sleep.
Unresolved Survival Energy Erupts, bypassing conscious awareness.
Children experience night terrors more often, but adults with trauma histories are also at elevated risk. Night terrors are not spiritual attacks — they are the body releasing stored fear.
Sleep Paralysis: When the Mind Wakes Before the Body
Sleep paralysis is one of the most universally feared sleep experiences across cultures. It occurs when:
You Wake Up but Cannot Move, even though you are conscious.
Your Chest Feels Heavy, as if something is pressing down.
You Cannot Speak or Call for Help, intensifying panic.
You Sense a Presence in the Room, often watching or approaching.
You May See Shadow Figures, Ancestors, or Spirits, vividly and clearly.
You Feel Stuck Between Dreaming and Waking, unable to escape.
This happens because:
During REM Sleep, the Body Is Naturally Paralyzed to prevent acting out dreams.
Trauma and Chronic Stress Disrupt REM Boundaries, weakening transitions.
The Brain Wakes Before the Paralysis Lifts, creating a mismatch.
Dream Imagery Bleeds Into Waking Consciousness, making the experience feel real.
Sleep paralysis feels supernatural, but it is best understood as a biological disruption shaped by psychology and cultural memory.
Why Trauma Survivors Experience These More Often
Night terrors and sleep paralysis increase when the nervous system remains in chronic alert.
Trauma can create:
Hypervigilance, even during rest.
Fragmented or Shallow Sleep, with frequent awakenings.
Light, Unstable REM, prone to intrusion.
Difficulty Transitioning Between Sleep Stages.
Heightened Fear Responses at Night, when defenses lower.
Elevated Stress Hormones, especially cortisol.
As a result, survivors may experience:
More Frequent Sleep Paralysis Episodes.
More Night Terrors.
Vivid Nightmares and Dream Reenactments.
REM Intrusions Into Waking States.
In simple terms: your body stays alert at night because it learned long ago that nighttime was not safe.
Cultural Interpretations Across BIPOC Communities
While Western medicine labels these experiences “parasomnias,” many cultures interpret them with respect rather than pathology.
Black American and Afro-Caribbean Traditions
Sleep paralysis may be described as:
“The Witch Riding You”
“The Haint Sitting on Your Chest”
An Ancestor Trying to Get Your Attention
Your Spirit Traveling Ahead of Your Body
These interpretations reflect spiritual worldview, historical memory, and survival cosmologies.
West and Central African Traditions
These experiences may be understood as:
Spiritual Visitation
Ancestor Contact
Protective Intervention
A Boundary Between Worlds Thinning
Indigenous Traditions
Night terrors and paralysis may be viewed as:
Soul Travel or Dream-Walking
Encounters With Spirits or Land Beings
Initiation Experiences
Latin American Traditions
Common interpretations include:
“El Muerto Se Subió” (“The Dead Climbed on Me”)
Visits From Ancestors or Spirits
Spiritual Warnings
Clinical Truth at LRPS None of these frameworks are “wrong.” They are cultural languages for experiences that science alone cannot fully explain. At LRPS, we hold both science and culture together.
Shadow Figures and the Sense of “Presence”
Many people report seeing or sensing:
Black Silhouettes or Tall Shadow Figures
Ancestors or Deceased Loved Ones
Beings Sitting on the Chest
Figures Standing in Corners
Glowing Eyes or Dark Forms
Someone Entering the Room
Clinically, this is known as hypnopompic hallucination — a bridge state between dreaming and waking.
At LRPS, we hold three interpretations simultaneously:
Neurological, where dream imagery intrudes into waking perception.
Psychological, where images symbolize fear, grief, or memory.
Cultural and Ancestral, where the presence is understood spiritually.
We do not dismiss any of these layers.
What These Experiences Are Protecting You From
Night terrors and sleep paralysis often reflect the body trying to:
Discharge Trapped Survival Energy.
Process Deep, Unspoken Fear.
Rehearse Protection and Escape.
Alert You to Unresolved Trauma.
Prevent Unsafe Movement During Sleep.
Maintain Vigilance When Safety Feels Uncertain.
Sleep paralysis may even prevent:
Sleepwalking Into Danger.
Acting Out Violent Dreams.
Unintentional Self-Harm.
Your body is not failing you — it is responding to the history it carries.
How LRPS Helps Clients Heal Night Terrors and Sleep Paralysis
At Little River Psychological Services, we approach these experiences with care, context, and respect.
Nervous System Regulation, so the body no longer has to guard at night.
Sleep Restoration Through CBT-I, stabilizing sleep cycles and reducing episodes.
Cultural and Ancestral Integration, honoring meaning through the client’s worldview.
Trauma Processing, addressing root causes so symptoms soften naturally.
Somatic Techniques, safely releasing stored survival energy.
Rewriting Nocturnal Fear Patterns, including breathwork, body scanning, and grounding.
Spiritual Safety Practices (Client-Led), such as prayer, ancestor acknowledgment, water by the bed, sacred objects, or cleansing rituals.
Healing restores agency. Safety returns to the body first.
If You Need Support Right Now
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline — Call or text 988
Black and African American Support — Text STEVE to 741-741
BlackLine — Call or text 1-800-604-5841
Native-Focused Support — Text NATIVE to 741-741
IHS Suicide Prevention — https://www.ihs.gov/suicideprevention
Your nighttime fear is not a sign of weakness — it is a sign that your nervous system remembers too much and is finally trying to let go.
References
Denis, D., & Poerio, G. L. (2017). Terror and bliss? Commonalities and distinctions between sleep paralysis, lucid dreaming, and REM sleep. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 38, 28–38.
Germain, A. (2013). Sleep disturbances as the hallmark of PTSD: Where are we now? American Journal of Psychiatry, 170(4), 372–382.
Hinton, D., & Good, B. (2016). Culture and PTSD: Trauma in global and historical perspective. University of Pennsylvania Press.
Sharpless, B. A., & Barber, J. P. (2011). Lifetime prevalence rates of sleep paralysis: A systematic review. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 15(5), 311–315.
Yehuda, R., Daskalakis, N. P., Lehrner, A., et al. (2016). Intergenerational transmission of trauma effects on stress response: Epigenetic mechanisms. Biological Psychiatry, 80(5), 356–365.