Hearing sounds before I go to sleep?

I wasn't sure where to post this (so mods please feel free to change if needed). Normally before I go to bed I mess around on my phone, set my alarm, and then fall asleep (but also practicing MILD). But the past couple of nights while messing on my phone, I have been hearing strange noises. It's almost as if I was in SP. Two nights ago I heard two gun shots, a child's voice, and a guitar strum. Last night I heard a ghostly male's voice say "Caroline" and and female robotic voice saying "67". I wrote them down to see if any of those noises correlated to my dreams, but none have (and I have been having great recall lately).

This has happened plenty of times, but I guess I just didn't care enough (plus I hadn't even heard about lucid dreaming and how much our minds are capable of) so now I'm just getting curious. I'm sure it's nothing serious, but would this just be auditory hallucinations I'm hearing before I fall asleep? Could I use them to my advantage in any way to help me achieve a lucid dream (as I have not had one yet)?

**Moved thread to General Lucid Discussion**

I know you weren't lucid during the experience but you can use these signs of sleep to help you achieve lucidity. These are common descriptions of auditory hallucinations which occur when falling asleep and as long as you don't live in a really scary neighborhood I'm going to suggest that's what you experienced.

Attaining Lucidity is a good place to start. Attaining Lucidity

Oh, also Induction Techniques. Particularly the All Day Awareness tutorial. http://www.dreamviews.com/f49/all-da...gyoshi-113253/

Try reading up there and let me know if you have additional questions.

There is a scientific term for what you are experiencing. Its call schizophrenia (just kidding!!). It is referred to as Hypnagogia and involves sight and auditory hallucinations. This comes naturally during the 'falling asleep' process. The reason you are freaked out a little is that you are hyper-aware as you are trying to lucid dream. Most people never even become aware of these things. I simply 'go' with it and try to visualize. Good luck to you!

So when I am trying to visualize when these things are happening, should I try to visualize the dreamscape I want to be in or even a past dream?

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Originally Posted by lovesmusic2

So when I am trying to visualize when these things are happening, should I try to visualize the dreamscape I want to be in or even a past dream?

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Yep. Also, if the auditory hallucinations bother you, you can try morphing them into something else. I always have auditory hallucinations before bed (except when I'm swamped and fall asleep right away), and they're mostly scary stuff such as banging on the walls, chains dragging, children screaming and moaning, etc. I try to turn them into more pleasant noises by imagining them change. It helps me visualize better because it doesn't bother as much anymore. :)