Paralyzed by the Unknown: Lived Experiences of Sleep Paralysis, the Role of Anxiety, and its Supernatural Interpretation
Arora Pearl
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) June 15, 2026 preprint DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.21295132 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 15 |
| Population | Young adults aged 18-25 years |
| Interventions | psychoeducation cognitive reframing |
| Topics | Anxiety |
| Keywords | Sleep paralysis Cognitive reframing Preconscious Meaning existential Thematic analysis Coping psychology Distress Embodied cognition Lived experience Qualitative research Phenomenon Interpretation philosophy Developmental psychology Cognitive psychology Mental health Consciousness Interpretative phenomenological analysis Psychotherapist Subconscious |
| Key findings | Supernatural explanations were the most common interpretation of sleep paralysis and were strongly associated with fear and anxiety, but psychoeducation and cognitive reframing helped reduce distress and promote adaptive coping. |
Abstract
The present qualitative study aims to explore the lived experiences of sleep paralysis, a complex phenomenon which caters to physiological, psychological and cultural dimension in a human. Using a qualitative research design, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 participants to gather an insight on the role of anxiety and supernatural interpretations among young adults aged between 18-25 years. Data was analysed using inductive thematic analysis to identify patterns of meaning across narratives. The analysis unfolded 6 core themes: embodied paralysis experience, perceived threatening presence, acute emotional distress, supernatural meaning-making, cognitive meaning reconstruction, and psychological integration and adaptation. Overall findings not only showcase sleep paralysis as a neurophysiological but also depicts the state of a deep embodiment of emotional distress shaped by culture, interpretations of fear and meaning making processes. Supernatural explanation was the most common among other interventions. It held the most speculated connotation with fear and anxiety. However, psychoeducation and cognitive reframing enabled participants to reconstruct meaning, reduce distress, and develop adaptive coping strategies.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on anxiety, most cited first.