My WILD (#1) Student Workbook

**Rush2112** · 07-26-2010 08:16 PM

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Assignment #1 - Introduction - Complete

Originally Posted by Assignment

Each student must start a mandatory workbook and post every single WILD attempt they make. Each attempt will include:

-The date of their WILD attempt and the approximate time
-Whether they set an alarm to wake up, woke naturally, or attempted during a nap.
-A detailed description of their WILD attempt

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WILD Attempt # 1 - Failed

Date: July 27th
Approximate Time (To Sleep): 1:00-1:30
Approximate Time (To Wake): 6:50
Type: Alarm Wakeup
Description: I woke up at 6:50 to my alarm. The only recall I had was a fragment of a bikini or something. I got out of bed and went to the restroom. I came back and started to WILD. I laid on my left side with my left arm under the pillow and began to watch the "blackness". After a while when that didn't work I began to count numbers, and by 131 I just had the feeling that it wasn't going to work this time. I was not in sleep paralysis. The farthest I got was seeing a few flash dots and a bit of involuntary daydreams and stuff. I think I was too awake - going for the earlier REM period (5ish) will make a difference.

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Assignment #2 - Science of Sleep - Complete

Originally Posted by Assignment

Students will analyze their own sleep schedules and sleep habits. From this they will decide on the best days and times they should make their WILD attempts.

I find that most days I've slept approximately 10 hours. On an average night I go to bed at about 11:30-12:00 and it takes me probably 10 minutes to get into N1 sleep (as that stage is the light stage in which you have minimal awareness and don't recall having been asleep if awoken during it). Therefore, assuming I go to bed at 11:50 and begin N1 at midnight, the following would be an average (REM) sleep schedule:

1:30 - My first, short REM period begins. I find it unlikely that I'll remember a dream from this period unless I'm awoken from it. Won't last but a few minutes.

Between 2:55 & 3:00 - My second REM period. Might last like five minutes. I may remember a dream from this if I awake in the middle of the night.

Between 4:20 & 4:30 - My third REM period, we've reached a time where I might remember a vivid dream considering that this one would be about 10 minutes. *Possible time for a successful WILD, could be too early

Between 5:40 & 6:00 - My fourth REM period, reaching a longer length of approximately 20 minutes. I'd remember a dream from here and many times naturally wake up after it. *Ideal time for a successful WILD

Between 7:00 & 7:30 - My fifth REM period. Could be up to 30 minutes long - likely the source of my most vivid dreams. *Ideal time for a successful WILD

Between 8:30 & 9:00 - My sixth and final REM period. Could be longer than 30 minutes - likely the source of my most vivid dreams. *Possible time for a successful WILD, could be too late

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**Rush2112** · 07-27-2010 02:02 PM

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WILD Attempt # 2 - Success!

Date: July 27th
Approximate Time (To Sleep): 7:20-7:35
Approximate Time (To Wake): 7:50
Type: Accidental
Description: I had just tried to WILD beforehand, in attempt #1. It had failed around... 7:20. So I was just laying in bed, on my right side, trying to get to sleep. I was much more relaxed and groggier than the first attempt, which made a difference. Anyways, I'm dozing off and I feel vibrations. Intense ones. So I get excited. Before the vibrations I had been daydreaming that I was in Just Cause 2, an action game. So I daydreamed that the vibrations were the plane's propellers that this dude was trying to grab on to. Well, that went away quickly. But then came a dreamscene - I was soaring over this field of like weird video game flowers and they made a pattern in the middle of the field that looked like a sunflower. I could see in this weird way - there was a small circle in the middle of my vision that was clear, and the rest was darker and less vivid. Once I got down "into" the field it kind of faded and then I was in my bed again. I knew it was an FA, because I could feel my legs floating upwards. So I reality checked with my nose and I was lucid dreaming! I felt like I was in a bunch of sticky jello, it was so hard to move. My vision was all foggy like I'd just woken up. I tried rubbing my hands, which helped me step out of bed, but I walk over to my door and I find myself in a weird posture. I feel like I'm bent over or something and I can't stand straight. I tell myself that I'll be standing normally, it doesn't work. So I test my control by telling myself that the door will open, and it did. Sadly I woke up at this point, but at least I successfully WILD'd! The sad thing is, I don't know how! It was unintentional, I was just trying to go back to sleep after a failed attempt.

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**Naiya** · 07-27-2010 09:25 PM

Nice job on the second assignment.

CONGRATS on your WILD!

I bet I can guess why it succeeded. It seems that counting is a popular method of WILDing. I have never had a successful WILD by counting--I either get too bored and I'm not very aware, so I fall asleep, or the counting requires too much work for my brain and I am too awake.

The way I usually WILD is doing exactly what you did--I daydream or visualize myself in a lucid dream and wait for myself to actually be there (which I'll cover in detail in the lectures). I think you should try this method next time and see if you WILD again.