Episode 46: Sleep Paralysis and the Hat Man

From the dawn of time, sleep was meant to bring rest and rejuvenation. Time for your body to take a break, to heal, to grow. But for centuries, millions of people around the world have had their sleep disturbed by something terrifying and possibly otherworldly. Imagine waking up with the inability to move, to speak, to scream out for help. And while you’re there laying in bed, in the dark, trapped within your own body you sense a presence and possibly even see the shadow, the silhouette of a man standing in your room or in your doorway with no distinguishable features other than his round brimmed hat. Otherwise known as the Hat Man, this being or as some would call, sleep paralysis demon, has visited the homes of millions throughout history. Gaining traction online in the last two decades, so many people around the world were able to connect with their shared experiences. But who is the Hat Man? Where does he come from? Is he some evil entity that appears to terrify his victims, is he some type of silent watch dog coming to watch over you if you’re going through a heartbreak or stressful time in your life, or is the Hat Man a figure that lies in the collective unconscious? An image passed down through generations, across cultures and across time. What do you think?

 

Sources:

The Week – Who is the Hat Man? ‘Shadow People’ and Sleep Paralysis - Who is the Hat Man? 'Shadow people' and sleep paralysis | The Week

The Nightmare – Amazon Prime

Stranger Dimensions – The Hat Man: A Shared Shadow Phenomenon – October 28, 2011 – Updated August 16, 2024 – Rob Schwarz - The Hat Man: A Shared Shadow Phenomenon - Stranger Dimensions

Ripleys Believe it or Not – Who is the Hat Man? A Nightmare Shared by Dreamers Around the World – March 22, 2023 – Diana Bocco - Who is the Hat Man? The Nightmare Shared By Dreamers Around The World | Ripley's Believe It or Not! | Aquariums, Attractions, Museums

Sleep Paralysis – Cleveland Clinic - Sleep Paralysis: What It Is, Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Parasomnias – Cleveland Clinic -  Parasomnias: What They Are, Symptoms, Treatment & Types

The Hat Man Project - - The Hatman Project