A shadow person is a figure commonly known by paranormal experts. This being is normally characterized as patch of shadow appearing as humanoid figure. Some people who have been taking prohibited drugs claimed to have seen such creature while under influence.
ORIGINS OF SHADOW PERSON
There are a number of stories regarding shadowy spiritual beings or supernatural entities. They are sometimes called shades of the underworld and have been associated with certain folklore or ghost stories.
Shadow people gained more popularity through the late-night radio talk show, Coast to Coast AM. The topic was discussed by the host Art Bell and his guest, the Native American elder Thunder Strikes of Harley “SwiftDeer” Reagan. Aside from the interview, listeners were also asked to send drawings of shadow people that they encountered. The images were posted on radio show’s website. Not long after the interview, Heidi Hollis published a book about shadow people. It was not long until she became a regular guest on the radio talk show.
According to Hollis, shadow people are dark silhouettes taking on a human form. These creatures seem to be flickering in and out of people’s peripheral vision. Hollis says that some of these shadow people attacked humans by jumping on their chest and trying to choke them. Moreover, Hollis greatly thinks that these beings are aliens that are not impossible to get rid of, especially through the name of Jesus.
Though a number of paranormal believers would claim that shadow people are nothing but menacing creatures, others seem to think otherwise. Similar with Hollis, there are also some people who believe that shadow people are extra-terrestrial beings. Meanwhile, some individuals reported to have documented in video sightings of shadow people.
CAUSES OF SIGHTINGS
Only a few physiological and psychological conditions are associated with encounter with shadow people that indicate that such creatures are filled with life. For people who suffer from sleep paralysis, they sometimes sense a shadowy shape coming toward them when they are bodies are unable to move. Meanwhile, for those who have heightened emotions or senses, they may incorrectly think a patch of shadow to be an attacker.
On the other hand, metamphetamine users may also see shadow people after long periods of sleep deprivation. Using the drug contributes to hallucination caused by lack of sleep. Such type of hallucinations are compared with paranormal creatures in supernatural folklore.
SHADOW PEOPLE AND POPULAR CREATURE
The novel John Dies at the End features shadow men, which are called “Shadow Men” in the story. These creatures supposedly kill people, who after being killed, are removed from history.
In the 2013 movie Shadow People, the story revolves in a sleep study, wherein participants claim seeing shadowy intruders before dying in sleep.
The online game serues Deep Sleep indicate existence of shadow people during the advents of humans. These creatures are found in lucid dreams. In the games, the characters of the game are may be paralyzed and possessed when they realize that they are in slumber. In that case, the dream self of the game character transforms into a shadow person.
Twilight Zone (1985) also featured an episode about “The Shadow Man.” In the story, a teenage boy realizes that a shadow person is lurking under his bed. The episode also explores that belief that shadow people can kill people but will not harm those who own the beds under which they live.
One documentary, The Nightmare, includes interviews on people suffering from sleep paralysis. Accounts of people experiences included encounters with shadow people.