What is the fine line between dreaming and having a little demon visiting via sleep. Is it what people know as Sleep paralysis? Or is it a gateway to unknown beings like spirits?

Sleep paralysis is a temporary condition where a person is awake but is unable to move or speak, this occurs right before falling asleep or upon waking up. It happens when the body is caught between sleep stages, particularly Rem sleep, where the brain is active but the muscles remain relaxed. It is often caused by sleep deprivation or having irregular sleep schedules, high stress levels or anxiety, narcolepsy or other sleep disorders.
REM Sleep Explanation

REM Sleep refers to the repeating stages of sleep that include Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep. Symptoms like being unable to move or speak despite being conscious, pressure on the chest or having difficulty in breathing, and feelings of fear or panic during the episode, hallucinations (seeing or sensing a presence in the room). REM sleep cycles involve multiple stages and paralysis often happen when the body struggles to transition smoothly between stages.

Now when superstitious beliefs and folklore tells us a different story or well a different experience are they hallucinations or are they actually there in the room with you? Many people interpret sleep paralysis as a supernatural experience where it stems from beliefs of entities that most humans cannot see. The Philippines is no exception to this.
The Folklore behind it

The Nightmare Death Syndrome
The Bangungot is believed to be caused by malevolent spirits attacking a sleeping person, leading to suffocation or even deaths. Elders often say that when you eat heavy meals before bed, especially rice-based cuisine, it can trigger fatal episodes of Sudden Unexplained Nocturnal Death Syndrome (SUNDS). This folklore is known among Visayans and Tagalogs. The terms comes from the Tagalog words “bangon” which mean to rise and “ungol” which mean to moan, and it describes how victims appear to struggle before passing away
The Nightmare Demon
The Batibat is known to be a vengeful spirit that is said to inhabit old trees in Ilocano folklore. When trees are cut down and used for houses, the Batibat supposedly haunts the residents, sitting on their chest during sleep paralysis which prevents them from breathing. Like many others, some also believe that the Batibat encounters can lead to (SUNDS), making it a feared entity in Cebuano Folklore.

This makes a balanced blend made of supernatural entities and scientific research about sleep paralysis. Are they really just hallucinations of the minds? Or are they actually present there with you? Many have experiences that range over sleep paralysis while some encounter these entities and have even claimed to have seen them move and have felt their touch.