The Incubus and Succubus

These two types of ghosts are sexual in nature. An incubus is a male ghost and a succubus is a female ghost. When the living encounter this kind of spirit they often report a feeling that they have been caressed or even violated for the purpose of sexual gratification.

Today many associate this kind of encounter with ‘Old Hag Syndrome” which I wrote about in another post here. 

These kind of encounters have been associated with Old Hag because people often report feeling a pressure weighing down on them and they sometimes state that these encounters seem to happen in a dreamlike state. These descriptions sound similar to “Old Hag” hence the association. 

But many incubus or succubus descriptions go way beyond what we associate with this syndrome. 

Are the people who report this phenomena truly being attacked by an unseen pressure or is it imagined or psychological in nature? Regardless, it must be admitted that some of these encounters are something other than sleep paralysis.

As more people openly share what they have experienced it is becoming more acceptable to consider the possibility that some negative ghosts abuse the living in this way. 

Since many people believe that ghosts exist—then should we also accept that incubus and succubus attacks occur? If we can hear ghosts' footsteps their voices, and if they can move objects and touch the living, then it should be conceivable that disturbed or negative ghosts could attack in this manner.

As I have mentioned in past posts many feel that ghosts reflect their personalities while they were living. 

If they were good and kind while alive they most often will be mild ghosts. But if they were angry and violent while alive they will have these same attributes as ghosts. Therefore, it could be a distinct possibility that some ghosts sexually abuse the living.

Old Hag Syndrome

You wake up, and you can’t move, you feel an immense amount of pressure on your chest that makes it difficult to breathe, and you sense or see someone is in the room with you. It can be a frightening experience. 

This syndrome happens to about 15% of people during their life, it happens, at most, once or twice a month.

For years people have mistaken this experience as a physical encounter with a ghost because when it happens, you are fully awake, you can see, hear, smell and feel, so it is understandable why it feels like someone or something is holding you down. In essence, you are paralyzed. 

Today we know the real explanation for this phenomenon is called “sleep paralysis.”

Sleep paralysis happens when we come out of a deep sleep quickly. In a night of deep sleep, our bodies naturally put us into a state of paralysis so when we dream we don’t thrash about and hurt ourselves. 

During Old Hag Syndrome this is why people feel as if something is preventing them from moving—it is our bodies own paralysis mechanism still at work. 

Also when a person wakes to quickly, hallucinations can occur. This explains the smaller percentage of people who report seeing spirits.

I watched a ghost show recently where they were interviewing a witness who used to work on a remote lighthouse. 

His ghost story revolved around the fact that he would often in the evening be sitting on a comfortable couch watching television and would nod off-- then he would be startled by the sensation that something powerful was pinning him to the sofa.

I would have questioned him further about his experiences before pronouncing them paranormal in nature.

Happy Ghost Hunting!