Why are HH so scary?

[Luanne]

Hi, everyone! I was wondering why are HH scary. Why can't HH be all flowers and glitter?? I'm aware of the exceptions, for some of you it isn't negative... but speaking in general... why is our mind working in that way? I'm new here, but have had DILD experience. Now I'm going for the WILD, tried it, but ended up scared as hell of what might be! So, I'm trying to find a logical explanation, thinking it might keep me calm during SP. Why do you think this is?

[gameover]

The unknown is frightening I guess, but I personally love it. It's an amazing feeling and one that's shocking at first. I don't know if that's the answer you're looking for.

[beachgirl]

hi luanne, i am a newbie, sort of, but here is my take: i think of HH as a transitional state. i am (you are) going "out of control" from daily waking life. here's what i do/say: i understand that my ego's job is to maintain control and it fears loss of control. so when it sells me the "story" that i should be afraid, i say, thank you, ego. i have to take another perspective. what might that be? are there any other references in life where one goes out of control and has fun and/or demonstates capability? well... let's see... of course... there's meditation... and sex and orgasm (possibly) ... and flow states of all kinds... skiing, tennis, brain surgery...studying for exams... you let go of the narrow focus to surrender into another type of "you". relax... trust in the bigger you as you continue to surrender... perhaps if you found some other experiences where you did this and enjoyed it, you might realize that you have the skills to apply to surrendering into and through HH. relaxation and trust that you already know how are very helpful. you most likely do know how based on other life experiences. you can draw upon them. also i think reframing the word may help. HH sounds a little foreign. many have "prejudices" against "hallicinations". but they are what they are. events in your own body mind. lots of people wind up really enjoying them. warmly, bg~~~

[Muggler]

Alright, the answer I will say is from past information I have recieved. You can control what HH you witness in SP by visualizing things before you enter SP. So you should try to visualize some things you would like to see in SP while you are laying there, trying to get into SP. Good luck

[Hukif]

I always thought it had to do with people being unable to move and thus relating to scary thoughts forming scary HH <.< In fact, has heard some changed that to funny HH. I personally like the scary one, much more fun lol

[Dream scientist]

Walms, you took the words right out of my mouth. (GIVE THEM BACK!)

[mini0991]

HH is scary oftentimes because they're percieved as scary. One with little knowlege of the nature of sleep and lots of "knowledge" of things they read like demons and ghosts and such can create the perfect storm for a frightening experience during SP. Especially if you don't know what SP is and believe in things like demons. However, given a greater understanding of how sleep works, HH doesn't end up scary. You expect, more and more, just random images of anything instead of random images of scary things. And once you realize you can change it, you find yourself changing that ghastly voice saying "I'm gonna stick a hot screwdriver in your skull!" to something like the tourettes guy saying any of his hilarious nonsensical lines. One of my favorite things to do in the times I get to SP is think of a song, and change the words. Your brain can amazingly make it sound like they're actually singing the words you make up in the song you thought of.

[MrFantasy]

very profound beachgirl...

[Luanne]

Thank you guys! Seeing you're so positive about this, makes me wanna try it right now. Beachgirl, I liked what you said about loss of control, it really makes sense. And as for the meditation, I do meditate, and it's extremely helpful in retaining awareness in this case. Also, I agree that it is always individually led by subconscious beliefs; that's actually why I started this topic....I knew you'll be cherfull about this!

[beachgirl]

thanks, Luanne. I have a question for others here. with HH... my instinct is more to ignore them than to try to change them. I understand that in dream time this would be good but that HH is different and that too much engagement in the hypnagogic zone might take you out of your SP. And leave you awake again. Is this correct? this is why i'd rather just "pass through" in whatever time it takes, relaxing and enjoying the experience - even if i am challenged - so i can go on with the dream. warmly, bg~~~

[MrFantasy]

When you're first learning, I recommend just sort of passively watching the Hypnagogic imagery as if watching clouds in the sky, not too focused, but don't "ignore" it per se... When you get more advanced, it is possible to teach yourself how to engage the hypnagogic imagery directly and interact with it to some degree, which can lead you directly into a WILD.

[beachgirl]

thanks for that, Mr. Fantasy! i've had some HH sounds and images where they have tried to wake me up, distract me, etc... and so in that case ignoring was good. this is a weird pattern of mine... i don't want to react emotionally too soon... or I get upset and blow out. but other HH's are wonderful! the rushes, the vibrations, the golden buzzing, most of it is great. love your perspective about being able to interact at a more advanced stage. i thought HH was sort of more like N1 or Non-REM sleep so it was not worth it to bother. But like i said, i am kind of new at this. how would you know when it was okay to engage with your HH? i would love to interact with my HH at the right moment and go into WILD. warmly, bg~~~

[Moonlit_Jade]

Most HH isn't scary. The scary stuff is just given more attention because it can be very alarming. So we warn people about it, but forget to mention other things. I think a lot of people experience scary HH because they expect it as well - that's all you ever hear about. As a kid I used to doze off until I started noticing images, usually creatures. I called it "critter hunting." A lot of them actually looked pretty cute.

[Gemetria]

Hi, everyone! I was wondering why are HH scary? I don't know, I gave up on WILDing a while ago, I get freaked out too easily. Once I was in SP and this old lady came out through my door floating 2ft of the ground and then her eyes rolled back and she flew through my window. I'm not sure why they're scary, One of my relatives were very religious, and one night she was lying in bed and she saw "Satan" at the end of her bed, fire, horns, the usual stuff and it said "If you don't change your ways, you're going to be with me." and it spat on the wall 3 times. In the morning she told other people about what happened, and everyone said there were 3 burn marks on the wall.. I sleep with my pillow covering my face when I sleep, and the blanket over my head because sometimes I get scary HH, and i'm in SP.

[Naiya]

Hallucinations don't have to be scary at all! You can change them, if you want to. I used to hear creepy whispering voices when I was close to falling asleep. I would always be snapping awake, then realizing I was half asleep, pay back down and then the cycle would repeat. Eventually I tried to imagine the voices turning into music. To my surpise, it worked. So now I imagine the creepy things changing into things I want to hear. Try it for yourself sometime.

[x knight]

men , its amazing how seeing crazy stuff like old ladys, demonds,and stuff like gemetria's avatar (JK) dont bother some people. id crack the heck up

[Dream scientist]

men , its amazing how seeing crazy stuff like old ladys, demonds,and stuff like gemetria's avatar (JK) dont bother some people. id crack the heck up I would simply love it if people made any attempt to be grammatically correct on the internet...

[gameover]

I would simply love it if people made any attempt to be grammatically correct on the internet... We are witnessing the destruction of the english language and western culture in general. It's happening frighteningly fast. It's amazing how much more in depth conversation can get when you have a good vocabulary and understanding of the language. Of course I spent years letting my head fill with slang and other shortcuts which set me back a few years. I'll just have to keep reading good books!

[x knight]

Didn't know I was getting a grade, but thanks for the reality check

[WakataDreamer]

I never get scary HH... I just get stuff like dancing lights, colored glowing strings, fractals, spinning cubes, that sort of thing. Never scary. I just don't think about scary stuff, and so my brain has no scary thought to latch onto and to create scary HH with (as a result of me thinking about it). I just let my pineal gland do its thing