Thread: A few ideas about a "Shut down" Technique

I'm sure this technique exists already, but I don't know what it is called. Perhaps some people cna help me with these ideas and explain ways to complete them.

While laying in bed I have tried a few times to physically shut my body down, as in disconnect myself from my body. I do it by shutting off functionality to each of my limbs. I usually start with a hand and arm that I have laying on my chest. I don't know how to explain it any better then a slow feeling of heaviness and numbness taking over my limb until I can't hardly tell (at some points, not able to tell at all) where my torso ends and my arm begins.

I do this by telling myself that I am not longer going to be able to use my arm, I try to ignore any feeling in my arm and lay really still. I then try to focus all of my energy (feeling, moving, anything like that) to a few select portions of my body. Usually, in stages, I start with focusing on a final point of just having movement in my head (neck, head, brain - lol). And work toward that point.

I move onto my other arm which is lying flat along my body and soon I am not longer able to feel either of my arms. MY torso and upper limbs are one piece that I can't move or sense. The only real feeling I have is the sensation of dead weight, so sort of residual pressure on my body from the weight of the unconnected limbs lying on and next to me.

I move onto my legs next. I tried to originally do one leg at a time, but I found more success starting at both feet at once and first making my toes numb, then my whole foot, then my entire leg up to the knee. I continue up my upper thighs until I again reach my torso. During this time, I focus in my mind that the only thing that is part of me is my remaining leg portion and my torso and head. I know that my limbs are still connected, it is just that in my mind I can't feel them. They are "shut down" to me.

When I reach this point, I am usually able to move my head still and lift my neck, but I try not to move at all as to assist in falling asleep. This is where I start to run into issues.

At times, my body's weight (the pressure on my body) will start to build in my mind. While I can't feel my limbs anymore or move them, I at times, start feeling excess weight on one side of me. As if I am going to flip over from the pushing pressure. Spin in my bed if you mind. At first, this can be overwhelming, and if I don't pay attention to handling it, I lose my control and have to move my body.

This seems to be tied into my mind trying to shut off or turn over. I got this idea to try to "shut down" my body because at times when I am really really tired and on the edge of falling asleep, I can feel my mind trying to tumble into darkness and sleep. Almost turning over in my mind. Flipping off. The only issue is I was keeping myself from "nodding off". I'm a light sleeper so this may be one cause so disconnecting my mind from my body helped me to get to that point sooner and stronger.

The shutting down of my body puts me one step closer to "flipping over" to a dream state but I cant seem to keep my body completely shut down. Something happens that causes my mind to "unblock" a limb and I end up moving or something.

Does anyone know what this technique is and if there is any tips on getting past this stage so I can try to "fall" into a sleep state? It really seems to put my right on the edge of falling into a controlled sleep, so I am hoping I can perfect this technique.

Most lucid dreams that I have are just times when am dreaming normally and suddenly have an epiphany that I am dreaming and all of it isn't real. At that point, my mind starts to take over and I start changing things to a set reality that I want. If I'm not careful, I can get side tracked and lose my attention, thus losing some control. If not though, I have great lucid dreams, most are short as I wake up eventually or lose control again, but very vivid and enjoyable while they last.

Anyone get this way to work for them? Hopefully some of you guys can help me with getting this technique under control so I can have some great dreams.