More questions

**Smudgefish** · 08-30-2015 08:07 AM

Been trying to WILD for about a week now. Trying before an afternoon nap. Before I go to sleep at night, and after I wake usually around 3am.

Firstly I know it's not suposed to be done on going to bed but I am getting the best results then as I am most relaxed and ready for sleep then, I'm not expecting a LD but hoping for an OBE, and think any practice can't be a bad thing.

I think I really have the hang of watching my body go to sleep and staying concious now (without needing a mantra), but I'm not getting any further:

First question: I have had falling sensations, these are getting better and I can keep them going. I have also had some very realistic auditory hallucinations. Last night I think I got close to sleep paralysis, and I entered a very odd state of feeling that I was asleep but concious and I couldn't feel my body. I panicked big time, despite constantly reassuring myself that I am not frightened of sleep paralysis, I think more because the whole thing felt so weird and I think I was worried about my breathing. I know that experiencing sleep paralysis is actually very unlikely, and I keep telling myself just to enjoy it rather than panic, but I still have the though that I could be in sleep paralysis but wouldn't know because I'm not trying to move, it's all very irrational. I still tried to deepen the state by concentrating on the feeling of falling asleep more but failed because I couldn't control the panic. It's as if I can't let go and take that final step. Any ideas how I get past this?

Second question: Should I try to leave my body as soon as I feel I'm asleep even though I'm not getting any vibrations or definite sleep paralysis (how do you check that if you want to stay totally still anyway?)

Third question: I think my 3am WILDs aren't very good. This is because I get full of adrenaline whenever I wake and when I try to relax into a WILD my body just wants to move. I'm doing a 15 minute WBTB. Lying still becomes very uncomfortable quite rapidly and this puts me off. The moment I allow myself to move I fall asleep quite quickly again. Should I just push through this?

I sound like a nervous wreck, I'm normally quite a calm person so it's not a general anxiety problem. I do feel a bit sleep deprived as I'm spending a lot of sleep time trying this but I feel I'm making such good progress I want to keep going, maybe a night or two off to catch up on sleep might not be a bad idea?

Thanks again

EDIT: this afternoon I did WILD again during a (long) afternoon nap, spent ages drifting in and out of sleep, lost count of how many times, each time started dreaming then snapped back into conciousness, several auditory hallucinations, tried to step into several dreams but they weren't fully formed enough, eventually fell asleep properly and had a long dream. Still no LDs.
Big difference between afternoon WILD and last night is the imagery, none at all last night on going to bed, constant today. Feels like totally different situations.

**Chewnie91** · 08-31-2015 04:16 PM

Hey Smudgefish!

First of all, don't beat yourself up too much if you're not getting the results you're looking for. If you've only been practicing WILD for a week, you've made some pretty great progress so far!

1) One of the only ways to get past, or should I say used to, the HI and HH you will hear during a transition is experience. After repeated exposure to these elements, you will eventually become calm and well acquainted with them. It was for this very reason that I had a hard time with WILD, I would get some really crazy auditory hallucinations that freaked me out!

2) If you were lying there and never felt any true kind of transitional stage, it's likely you weren't yet asleep. If you feel as though you might be, but haven't experienced any kind of HI or HH, just open your eyes. You have no idea how many times I've thought that I blew my chance and opened my eyes only to find that I was actually in the dream.

3) Performing a WBTB is different for everyone and takes trial and error. Don't focus too much on the not moving part, the important thing is getting into a position that is comfortable for you, and that will invite sleep. Once you lay back down just relax and passively allow your body to go through the stages of sleep while you anchor.

If you are experiencing any kind of sleep deprivation from your attempts, you should take a few days off. A tired, sleep deprived mind will only act to hinder your chances of success (in most cases but not all!). Also, the WILD attempt you made during your afternoon nap sounds like you got closer. Let the imagery form itself into a full dream scene before trying to integrate yourself into it. Once the scene is formed, let it envelop you, utilize each of your senses and PUT yourself into the scene.

**Smudgefish** · 08-31-2015 06:19 PM

Thanks Chewnie91. Not getting frustrated yet I know it will happen one day, just going to keep trying. Good advice about openingthe eyes.

I became aware the distinct feeling of being a few feet to the right of my body this afternoon as I woke, probably just imagining it, felt really strange I panicked and became fully concious. It could have been my first OBE for all of about 2 seconds, maybe, maybe not, probably not.