Originally Posted by Chrysalis

Your question is based on the assumption that it's a hallucination, so here goes.

As far as the entities are concerned, I think it's neither a dream or hallucination plus there's an account of a wide awake person who saw it. If it were a hallucination, then it'd be a mass hallucination experienced on the individual level one at a time which I think wouldn't qualify it as a mass hallucination.

If it were generated from our mind then it begs the question of why would anyone strangle themself? Seems to go against the instinct for survival. Also, why the same entity? Why not different like dreams are different? I can't even begin with that as there's no common denominator that can be found in all the cultures and beliefs that span time. They're still looking for answers on that.

This line of thinking raises more questions. If one considers that the entities truly exist in another dimension or plane then it seems to me that the questions get answered. Either way, the thinking is based on assumptions. One assumption wants a scientific explanation and the other is based on a spiritual basis. If you like, you can replace the word assumption with belief.

As for being paralyzed while awake one could still be paralyzed even though the dream just finished and you're still in the process of fully waking up. Or in other words, the body hasn't fully disconnected from the dreaming state.

If you get attacked by an entity, and I hope no one does, it brings on the paralysis and that experience is different as it is very violent. It's the level of violence against you that I think is the difference between normal paralysis and the attack.

It's the level of violence which leads me to believe that the two are different.

If you want, you can research sleep walking as studies have been done on it. One documentary I saw on tv years ago explained how the body is paralyzed while dreaming.

So the mystery continues.