lumiina

I used to have very frightening hypnagogic images on a regular basis (along with hypnopompic hallucinations), but ever since minimizing my internet use last October, I've only had a few occurrences and it's not something I've really had to struggle with anymore.

And now that I've overcome that, I've realized, like my sleep paralysis, my HIs could actually be a blessing in disguise: a key to both falling asleep easily (when normally it takes me hours to fall asleep) and lucid dreaming. On Tuesday night after seeing a beautiful HI of a humongous whale inside an aquarium [not that I condone whales in aquariums], I slipped into a false awakening WILD. I was in bed and could see my cat and husband in bed with me, but the room was lighter. I realized it was a false awakening when I noticed I could see despite my eyes being closed, and then woke up.

If I work on this, I could turn seeing HIs and having lucid dreams as soon as I go to bed into a regular activity for me. At the very least, it could help me fall asleep more easily, even if they don't always lead to instant lucid dreams. Now that I no longer have to be afraid of my HIs, I can take full advantage of them.

7/5/14

Only slept four hours the night before since I couldn't sleep. Had to wake up the next morning early to watch my mom's dogs since she's on vacation. Took a nap on the couch, but didn't have much time since I had lunch planned with my grandpa.

Laid in supine position, knowing that it'd increase my chances of a WILD (Also, was more comfortable this way). Took a while to fall asleep.

11:30 a.m. WILD

I realized I was dreaming when I waved my hand in front of my face and couldn't see it (heard of this RC check in an article about False Awakenings, which used survey results from three different lucid dreaming websites, including DreamViews!). I heard a repetitive, slightly scary auditory hallucination, but couldn't change it, despite my attempt to change it to a pleasant song. I didn't mind the auditory hallucination, since I was too excited. I could feel my body lifting up (first time experiencing this sensation) like I was going to float and it felt really nice and pleasant.

I also at one point felt myself losing the ability to swallow, and remembered that's a sign of a WILD. I think this was before I did the RC.

Unfortunately, didn't last long and I woke up shortly after without getting the chance to explore my dream. Didn't leave the couch in my dream.

This was the first time experiencing a WILD without feeling fear. I feel my control of my emotions and rationalization is getting stronger in my lucid dreams.

3/11/14

WBTB 7:30am, Awake 8:30am

WILD

Swimming in bedroom, can breath out of nose (RC). However, I realize that I'm having a WILD, instead of the MILD I was aiming for and am afraid of the paralysis and other things I might experience during a WILD, so I jerk myself awake.

non-lucid

Seeing video game (graal) bar, go behind counter and transported to volcano island level (like in the real game). Expecting the baddies that throw rocks to come but they don't appear. Like a vivid stream of thought.

non-lucid

I see myself in my large bedroom mirror. Extremely realistic. The figure in the mirror looks exactly like me, but I don't feel like it's me because it's acting on its own. It is staring intensely at me and starts to pull her face off, but I wake up before it does.

non-lucid

Listening to a church sermon at my home church. I remember the sermon being really good, but I shortly forgot it when I woke up.

I jerk myself awake out of paralysis with each dream out of fear of sleep paralysis. I was too excited during MILD to lose consciousness while transitioning into a dream state.