Help needed with strange forces in dreams

[Thegrip]

Hi there, newbie here but looking for a bit of help...basically, once or twice a week I have strange experiences in my dreams....most nights I go to sleep and don't remember falling asleep...sometimes though, whilst fully awake but trying to sleep, I feel myself sinking into a dream really quickly, with reality/sound etc disappearing..it's feels a bit like taking a really strong sleeping tablet, that sort of feeling...this is quite a nice feeling and I'm used to it now, but what it leads to can be quite disturbing.... Sometimes, I hear what sounds like a radio tuning in...I hear a voice, well spoken, and it's like he's telling me a story or something...when it's happening, I can make out the words and listen intently, but when I wake up I cannot remember what was said...getting the picture..??!! Anyway, the main aspect of this thread is the other stuff...I will explain as best as I can...it's like some sort of force is circling my body...imagine the feeling you get in a jacuzzi if you push the palm of your hand directly onto the water jet...? It's like that...and it feels like a power struggle..I push, it pushes harder, so it becomes a bit of a battle...it's strength feels immense...this is not limited to my hands..it also pushes down on my back, and tickles me, which is not nice and is what usually makes me wake up, or force myself to wake up...it's weird, sometimes I actually enjoy these little power struggles as I feel like I'm getting the upper edge, but "it" always wins in the end.. but it does take a bit of a dark turn sometimes when it feels like an octopus leg is wrapped around my upper legs and little digs to my body are made...it's like it's playing with me...this is not nice when you can't wake up, it's a bit like being put in a submission move..!! Sometimes, I'm completely immobilised..!! When I wake up I'm often a bit shakey and I'm not afraid to say I put the light on afterwards..!!! Can anyone shed any light on this...??

[Queen Zukin]

It sounds like you're experiencing some really strong hypnagogic hallucinations. I get a moderate version of this a lot, for example, I usually hear a piano playing right before I sleep. A few times I've experienced what you're talking about. It's normal not to remember exactly what happened, since it is sort of like a dream. You could try to WILD from this, it would be interesting to hear back from you about your results!

[DreamRealEyes]

Are you familiar with the hypnagogia or hpynagogic state? It is the intermediate state between waking and sleeping. If you're experiencing hypnagogia it means your body has entered sleep but your conscious mind is still awake. In this state you can be half aware of dream states and half aware of your physical body and physical environment. There is a switch in your brain that when sleeping turns off your mind's ability to move your body (except your eyes) and for this reason you may feel paralyzed. It's not unusual to feel alot of other sensations too and vivid visual and auditory "hallucinations". Sometimes I seem to be able to see the room I'm in through my closed eyes in this state, and sometimes I have seen beings in the room or felt the physical touch of something next to me. I don't necessarily consider these things to be "unreal" but also I see them as harmless enough if you can keep your wits about you. I think like Queen Zukin said it's a great opportunity to move into a lucid dream from this state. You're halfway there at this point, mind awake, body asleep. You don't seem to have a lot of fear around it except as you said when it takes a dark turn. I think that is the key for you to move beyond this. My suggestion would be to try something different. You seem to have a fair amount of awareness during these experiences. Perhaps you could turn the tides on this thing if instead of fighting it you relaxed into it. I don't mean to submit to it, but to be aloof to it, knowing it can not harm you. See it as energy and watch it with interest but detachment. Focus on it as energy, with no labels. Perhaps then instead of waking up you can move past this and further into sleep (while still conscious) and enter a lucid dream. If you're not familiar with it read up on the WILD technique. Here http://www.dreamviews.com/induction-...cid-dream.html

[Sivason]

Are you familiar with the hypnagogia or hpynagogic state? It is the intermediate state between waking and sleeping. If you're experiencing hypnagogia it means your body has entered sleep but your conscious mind is still awake. In this state you can be half aware of dream states and half aware of your physical body and physical environment. There is a switch in your brain that when sleeping turns off your mind's ability to move your body (except your eyes) and for this reason you may feel paralyzed. It's not unusual to feel alot of other sensations too and vivid visual and auditory "hallucinations". Sometimes I seem to be able to see the room I'm in through my closed eyes in this state, and sometimes I have seen beings in the room or felt the physical touch of something next to me. I don't necessarily consider these things to be "unreal" but also I see them as harmless enough if you can keep your wits about you. I think like Queen Zukin said it's a great opportunity to move into a lucid dream from this state. You're halfway there at this point, mind awake, body asleep. You don't seem to have a lot of fear around it except as you said when it takes a dark turn. I think that is the key for you to move beyond this. My suggestion would be to try something different. You seem to have a fair amount of awareness during these experiences. Perhaps you could turn the tides on this thing if instead of fighting it you relaxed into it. I don't mean to submit to it, but to be aloof to it, knowing it can not harm you. See it as energy and watch it with interest but detachment. Focus on it as energy, with no labels. Perhaps then instead of waking up you can move past this and further into sleep (while still conscious) and enter a lucid dream. If you're not familiar with it read up on the WILD technique. Here http://www.dreamviews.com/induction-...cid-dream.html Great post. Very good advice. I agree that the best approach would be to not fight against it. Perhaps when you feel a push you could imagine this like a wind and you a like a sail, and let it push you in a good way, towards a lucid dream.