Sleep Paralysis Or. . .?

So, normally, when I go to sleep, it takes me a bit to nod off.

My normal routine is to lay there, focus on slowing my breathing, and to individually relax each muscle (toes, fingers, palms, calves, thighs, shoulders, etc, etc.) I learned how to do this in yoga, and I've found that with a relaxed body, it's much easier to nod off.

Last night, I decided to try something different. I love dreaming, but lucidity has always been a bit of a problem. So I did this, and I noticed a strange. . . Warmth, I guess you could say. I didn't actively try to move, but it felt like it would require a great deal of energy. I was starting to get closer to that place where my brain just flips a switch, and off to sleep I go.

But with this warmth came a weird feeling of. . . oh, I dunno. Best way to describe it wold be cotton-y.

Granted, last night wasn't the best night for me. I woke up hundreds of times, thought to myself when I woke up, "I'm still dreaming? Woah, this is weir-" (enter nodding back off there).

I even woke up five times and had nasty coughing fits each time, so my recall last night was absolutely terrible.

But would this be sleep paralysis? And if not, if SO, what would be the next step to lucidity? Every night I always tell myself, "You're lucid, you're dreaming, you're lucid dreaming, etc, etc."

Maybe it's because I'm sick. . .

Im not very good at Sleep Paralysises, but yeah, sounds like one. Do you got fever? That can give crazy dreams

From what I can tell, I don't think it's SP.. SP is usually accompanied by total paralysis (that's what the P in SP is for ;) ), meaning you can't move, at all. It doesn't feel like it'll take a lot of energy. You don't know until you try to move a limb and can't. It's also usually accompanied by waves of vibrations and sometimes other sensations like visuals, sounds, etc.

It's a very distinct feeling. Basically the rule I apply is: if I'm not sure, it's not SP.

I have had that happen to me twice. I naturally wake up a few ones during the night. So I have been trying just completely laying still and thinking I will be dreaming. And both times I have felt this hot rush. The first time it was really shocking. Last night though was more like " oh I must be getting close" and i felt really light, almost like I was floating (it wasn't as intense as it sounds) I fell asleep both times because I don't remember anything after.

It sounds like trance state.

I would venture a guess and say you were going into a Theta brainwave state... which is akin to self-hypnosis or deep meditation. Next time try visualizing something relaxing while in this state. The brain visualizes and dreams in the same area - the secondary visual cortices.

It's possible, just keep trying. but are you trying this as you go to sleep initially at the beginning of the night? If so, try doing it during the middle of the night, subsequent to sleep.