Podcast Summary
Learn a new language effectively with Rosetta Stone: Rosetta Stone offers an immersive language learning experience with speech recognition and pronunciation feedback, available for 50% off for a limited time
Improving language skills, especially when traveling, can greatly enhance experiences and opportunities. Rosetta Stone is a trusted language learning program with a 30-year history and 25 languages offered, providing an immersive and effective way to learn through speech recognition and pronunciation feedback. For a limited time, listeners can get a lifetime membership for 50% off, allowing access to all 25 language courses. Skepticism and a scientific background are common, but experiences like the one Alec shares in this episode may challenge our understanding of reality and the unknown.
Encountering the unknown during childhood sleep paralysis: Childhood sleep paralysis episodes left the speaker feeling drawn to the unknown and unable to resist exploring, shaping their curiosity and sense of adventure
The speaker experienced sleep paralysis as a child, where they would enter an alternate state while still in their own body. During these episodes, they would explore their house, feeling drawn to the mysterious downstairs. Upon reaching the living room, they would encounter a figure that would freeze them in place with a malevolent presence. These experiences left the speaker feeling attracted to the unknown and unable to resist the allure of the unknown downstairs. The episodes were brief but left a lasting impact on the speaker, fueling their curiosity and sense of adventure.
Childhood nightmares with shadowy entities: Intense childhood nightmares left a lifelong fear of sleep, causing insomnia and avoidance behaviors.
The speaker experienced intense and recurring nightmares as a child, where they were confronted by shadowy entities that seemed to come alive and attempt to penetrate their body. These entities would start as 2D shadows on the ground but quickly become three-dimensional and stabbing, leaving the speaker feeling paralyzed and unable to escape. These experiences lasted for hours and left a lasting impact on the speaker's psyche, causing insomnia, fear of sleeping alone, and a lifelong aversion to sleep. The speaker's fear was so strong that they would intentionally wake up their family in the middle of the night to avoid being alone, and they couldn't sleep at sleepovers. The memories of these experiences are still vivid to the speaker, and they continue to affect their relationship with sleep to this day.
Childhood nightmares felt like eternal traps: As a child, the speaker endured terrifying nightmares that seemed endless and left them trapped, unable to move or speak, causing a deep fear of going to sleep.
The speaker experienced terrifying nightmares during their sleep as a child, which felt like they lasted forever and left them terrified of going to bed. They felt trapped in these dreams, unable to move or speak, and even sensed the passage of time outside their altered state. Despite their efforts to fight back, they were unable to escape. The dreams outlasted any amount of time spent upstairs in their house, and at one point, they believed they could feel dawn approaching. The speaker's interpretation was that they would be stuck in these nightmares for hours, even though real time continued to pass outside their experience. This fear of being trapped in nightmares made going to sleep a terrifying prospect for the speaker.
The Importance of Addressing Emotional Issues and Seeking Professional Help: Regular therapy sessions can help address emotional issues, BetterHelp offers convenience and affordability, and being fully honest can lead to personal growth.
It's important to address and work through emotional issues instead of bottling them up. Sofia, a podcast host, discusses the benefits of therapy in her solo episodes every Monday and group episodes every Thursday. BetterHelp, an online therapy platform, is mentioned as a convenient and affordable option. The text also touches on the importance of updating your wardrobe with affordable, high-quality pieces from Quince. Lastly, the speaker shares a personal story about growing up with sleep issues and the potential benefits of being fully honest and seeking professional help.
Childhood experiences of sleep paralysis can continue into adulthood: Sleep paralysis can be distressing during childhood and may persist into adulthood. Seeking medical help is important, but experiences may be dismissed and kept secret due to shame or lack of understanding.
Sleep paralysis experiences can be particularly intense and distressing during childhood, and these experiences may follow a person into adulthood, even if they become less frequent. The speaker describes how they had such experiences in two different houses, with one instance being more frequent and closer in proximity. Despite seeking medical help, their experiences were dismissed, leading them to keep it a secret throughout their life. The speaker suggests that as one grows older, these experiences may become less frequent due to increased biases and the ability to protect oneself. However, the exact reasons for this difference are unclear. Overall, the speaker's experiences highlight the importance of taking sleep paralysis seriously and seeking appropriate medical help if needed.
Childhood encounters with sleep paralysis and an entity intensified during adolescence and a difficult time in their life.: During childhood, the speaker experienced sleep paralysis and encounters with an entity. These experiences intensified during adolescence and a challenging period in their life, culminating in a traumatic encounter as a freshman in high school.
The speaker's experiences with sleep paralysis and encounters with an entity began during childhood and were intensified during adolescence, particularly during a difficult time in their life when their parents divorced and they were dealing with coming out as queer. The final encounter occurred when they were a freshman in high school, and they were unable to move or speak as the entity interacted with them, taunting and attacking them. The entity's appearance was terrifying, with a cracked, white face and black shadowy robes that moved like tentacles. This encounter was more intense than previous ones, and the speaker recognized it as a significant and serious event.
Childhood experiences of sleep paralysis and astral projection resurface after watching 'Insidious': Seeing a movie can bring back repressed memories and help individuals understand and label their experiences, providing validation and connection to others.
The speaker's experience of sleep paralysis and astral projection as a child, which they had suppressed, resurfaced when they saw the movie "Insidious." This experience left them feeling overwhelmed and connected the dots between their past and the movie's depiction of a dark entity following a character into the spirit realm. The speaker's panic attack brought back repressed memories and helped them understand and label their experiences with sleep paralysis and astral projection. Despite feeling frightened, the speaker decided to share their story to validate their experiences and connect with others who may have had similar encounters.
A movie validated the speaker's experiences with the supernatural: Encountering validating experiences can help us make sense of our own lives and give us the courage to embrace our unique qualities and experiences
The experiences described in a movie or other media can resonate deeply with us and help us make sense of our own lives. For the speaker, a movie brought to light their own experiences with being an empath and being stalked by a malevolent entity. These experiences were validated when they met a coworker whose mother was a medium and accepted their story without doubt. The speaker's belief in the supernatural and their ability to sense other people's emotions helped them filter their relationships. The medium confirmed the reality of their experiences, providing explanations and reassurance that they were not alone or crazy. The speaker's encounters with the supernatural continued to follow them throughout their life, and they learned to embrace these experiences rather than fear them.
Encountering the Night Hag: A Test of Human Spirit: The human spirit's strength and resilience can overcome fear and the unknown, even during encounters with spiritual entities like the night hag.
The speaker's encounter with a spiritual entity, which they refer to as the "night hag" or "old hag," was a significant experience that they believe highlights the strength of the human spirit. Despite the fear and power of the entity, the speaker was able to successfully cast it off, demonstrating the resilience and superiority of humans who possess both physical and spiritual selves. The speaker also emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and engaging with such experiences, rather than suppressing them. The night hag is a common entity reported in sleep paralysis experiences across various cultures and throughout history. While there may be scientific explanations for some aspects of these experiences, the speaker maintains that there is more to be explored and understood beyond current scientific understanding.
Experiences of sleep paralysis and encounters with entities: Sleep paralysis and encounters with entities during this state have been reported for centuries, ranging from feeling trapped to encountering beings. These experiences are valid and significant, even if their scientific explanation remains elusive.
Sleep paralysis and encounters with the "night hag" or other entities during this state are a real and significant experience for many people throughout history and across cultures. These experiences, which can range from feeling like one is unable to move or breathe to encountering entities, have been reported for centuries and have even resulted in deaths, although the scientific explanation for these phenomena remains elusive. Some people intentionally seek out these experiences through practices like lucid dreaming or sleep paralysis, but it's important to note that these experiences can be distressing and potentially dangerous. If you have experienced sleep paralysis or encounters with entities during this state, you are not alone, and it's important to remember that these experiences are valid and significant, even if they defy our current scientific understanding. If you're curious to learn more, check out the "Night Hag" episode on the Otherworld Patreon for a deeper dive into the topic.
Exploring paranormal stories and answering intriguing questions: Independent podcast investigates paranormal tales, aims to answer questions, and welcomes listener stories. Support through subscriptions, reviews, and sharing.
Learning from this episode of Otherworld is that the show explores intriguing paranormal stories and aims to answer intriguing questions. This was episode 31, featuring the tale of the night hag. The show is hosted, executive produced, and scored by Jack Wagner, with theme music by Coberman, soundtrack by Juice Jackal, editing and engineering by Theo Schafer, and artwork by cul de sac studios. As an independent production, support is appreciated through subscriptions, 5-star reviews, and sharing with friends. For additional content and exclusive episodes, visit patreon.com/otherworld. Connect with Otherworld on social media at @otherworldpod on Instagram and Twitter. If you or someone you know has experienced something paranormal, supernatural, or unexplained, share your story at stories@otherworldpod.com.
