Help With My Awareness.

[Adrenaline Junkie]

Right, i am trying hard at DEILDs and WILDS, but when i try a WILD, everytime i try i am too aware, this morning for example i was in bed since i woke, i was awake for about 15-20 minutes, i then began to start counting my breaths, i was doing this for about an hour, its rediculous, am i too aware, i just cannot get to sleep, i get in the most comfortable position, i'm capable of WILDs but i can never get to sleep and stay awake conciously, i don't even get anywhere near SP, any tips on how to stop this from happening, this kept happenening whenever i tried WBTB aswell, i really need help with this if i am to continue trying these techniques.

[Virtuozo]

Right, i am trying hard at DEILDs and WILDS, but when i try a WILD, everytime i try i am too aware, this morning for example i was in bed since i woke, i was awake for about 15-20 minutes, i then began to start counting my breaths, i was doing this for about an hour, its rediculous, am i too aware, i just cannot get to sleep, i get in the most comfortable position, i'm capable of WILDs but i can never get to sleep and stay awake conciously, i don't even get anywhere near SP, any tips on how to stop this from happening, this kept happenening whenever i tried WBTB aswell, i really need help with this if i am to continue trying these techniques.[/b] I'm not very sure because I'm not good at WILDing either but perhaps you're not tired enough, that's why you can't fall asleep quickly.

[Tornado Joe]

i was in bed since i woke, i was awake for about 15-20 minutes, i was doing this for about an hour, its rediculous, am i too aware,[/b] Don't be so sure you're "aware" all the time. Slipping into dreamstate from awareness is a very tricky thing. There's a point at which you are aware you're not in a dream, and a point to which you are aware you're in a dream. In between, our sense of time and reasoning go through changes. There is a point where you may find yourself completely convinced you're awake (because you know you're still lying there in bed) - The transition could be so smooth, that in fact you may be DREAMING of lying in bed, waiting to fall asleep so you can then become lucid. Make sure you do them reality checks - you may just suprise yourself! If that is not the case, it's definitely you trying so hard that's keeping you awake. Anxiety, excitement, stress - all anti-lucidity symptoms. Just know that you will eventually get there - it's only a matter of when. Take a few days off from trying, might help.

[Adrenaline Junkie]

Don't be so sure you're "aware" all the time. Slipping into dreamstate from awareness is a very tricky thing. There's a point at which you are aware you're not in a dream, and a point to which you are aware you're in a dream. In between, our sense of time and reasoning go through changes. There is a point where you may find yourself completely convinced you're awake (because you know you're still lying there in bed) - The transition could be so smooth, that in fact you may be DREAMING of lying in bed, waiting to fall asleep so you can then become lucid. Make sure you do them reality checks - you may just suprise yourself! If that is not the case, it's definitely you trying so hard that's keeping you awake. Anxiety, excitement, stress - all anti-lucidity symptoms. Just know that you will eventually get there - it's only a matter of when. Take a few days off from trying, might help.[/b] thanks, i had that feeling last night, i wasn't sure whether i was awake or sleeping, i didnt want to risk doing a RC because i thought i may be awake and become more aware, i'll see what i can do tonight, thanks for the help

[Adrenaline Junkie]

ok i got a question, can i do a WILD when i go to bed at night and go into a LD, isn't there a period of sleep before the REM period that you cannot dream in, i may be gettingit wrong but basically, can you enter a lucid state and enter a dream when you go to bed after the day, not waking up after 5-6 hours of sleep but the first time you go to bed, thanks

[Tornado Joe]

can you enter a lucid state and enter a dream when you go to bed after the day, not waking up after 5-6 hours of sleep but the first time you go to bed[/b] The normal procedure is as follows 1) initial rest (when you first lay down) 2) stage II - falling to sleep 3) stage III- deeper sleep, no dreams, body does some healing and self-maintenance at this stage 4) stage VI - deep sleep 5) REM - dreaming state. This cycle repeats throughout the night, which is why you have numerous dreams. You awaken after each cycle, then fall back asleep (even if you don't remember waking up). As the night goes on, your dreams become longer because the REM periods last longer. Technically you CAN try to WIILD right at the onset of bed, however, it's very difficult to achieve if you're not exhausted. You must first get through the first four stages of sleep. Then, even if you do, your dreaming time won't last very long anyway. That's why it's best to try it during the night after you've already gone through a couple sleep cycles. You'll fall asleep faster - skipping the first and sometimes second stage of sleep and zip right to REM.

[Adrenaline Junkie]

ok, that makes alot more sense now, thanks alot Tornado

[Adrenaline Junkie]

do you think its ok to use the time when i very first go to bed to practice going into SP? i need to practice doing it so i'm more familiar with it when trying in the later hours of the morning?

[Nutzilla]

Yup, nothing wrong with practicing, you can do that at any time you want, just work on walking that thin line between staying awake and losing consciousness. :)

[Adrenaline Junkie]

ok, i've read up on SP and i'm still not sure if i'm getting it, i tried it last night, i waited and i stayed surprisingly aware, my body was entirely numb except part of my head, my eyes were not heavy, i wasn't even tired at about 2 in the morning, i was free to open and close my eyes whilst remaining numb, i also knew that i could stop the numbness by moving which i did eventually but before openening my eyes i had been waiting for something else to happen, nothing did, was this SP? was i close? why was i waiting so long?

[Tornado Joe]

Usually Sleep Paralysis will be accompanied by other things, such as hypnogoggia or hypnopompia (hallucinations, both visual and audible). Many times (if not all) people seem to panic, specially if they've never experienced the feeling before or really don't understand it. If you where "aware" the entire time and just kicking back, relaxing (with no hallucinations or anything) it's likely you were awake. Probably numb from stayin still for so long without moving. Did you try to move at all? SP shouldn't really last that long - maybe seconds. The brain will "reconnect" your motor and give you voluntary actions again once it's recognized that you're awake. Overall, SP is usually a frightening experience. I've learned to look forward to it and embrace it - unfortunately it's been a while since I've WILDed You're much more likely to catch yourself in SP coming OUT of a dream rather than slipping IN.

[Blueman18]

You're much more likely to catch yourself in SP coming OUT of a dream rather than slipping IN.[/b] I've heard of this, but I've never had SP exiting a dream

[Blueman18]

I've heard of this, but I've never had SP exiting a dream[/b] Ironically I just had SP this morning while exiting a dream, but it's because I forcibly woke myself out of a nightmare

[Blueman18]

Right, i am trying hard at DEILDs and WILDS, but when i try a WILD, everytime i try i am too aware, this morning for example i was in bed since i woke, i was awake for about 15-20 minutes, i then began to start counting my breaths, i was doing this for about an hour, its rediculous, am i too aware, i just cannot get to sleep, i get in the most comfortable position, i'm capable of WILDs but i can never get to sleep and stay awake conciously, i don't even get anywhere near SP, any tips on how to stop this from happening, this kept happenening whenever i tried WBTB aswell, i really need help with this if i am to continue trying these techniques.[/b] Sounds like you're not tired enough. Try getting up after 4-5 hours of sleep, then staying awake the whole day. Then get up after 4-5 hours of sleep the next day and try it. You should be tired enough by then. Also you should have a counting goal. Mine is 500 and I usually never reach it. My mind tends to wander off and I have to start counting over again. Try doing that.

[Wasted24]

Also you should have a counting goal. Mine is 500 and I usually never reach it. My mind tends to wander off and I have to start counting over again. Try doing that.[/b] Same thing happens to me when im counting, but this usually happens at like 30 or 40, its really hard for me to stay concentrated on counting. I usually have to start over 5-6 times. I think this may be why ive never been able to WILD everytime i need to start over counting i become aware. Should i just let my mind wonder or try to stay focused on counting?

[Blueman18]

Same thing happens to me when im counting, but this usually happens at like 30 or 40, its really hard for me to stay concentrated on counting. I usually have to start over 5-6 times. I think this may be why ive never been able to WILD everytime i need to start over counting i become aware. Should i just let my mind wonder or try to stay focused on counting?[/b] Are you saying you've never been able to WILD because you lose consciousness or you can't fall asleep?

[Wasted24]

Are you saying you've never been able to WILD because you lose consciousness or you can't fall asleep?[/b] I can fall asleep fine but i cant fall asleep while concentrating on doing the WILD. In other words, the WILD keeps me from falling asleep.

[Blueman18]

I can fall asleep fine but i cant fall asleep while concentrating on doing the WILD. In other words, the WILD keeps me from falling asleep.[/b] you should wake up earlier or try a relaxation / awareness technique that requires less focus

[Richter]

I dunno if this works for everybody, but try listening to some binaural beats. PM me if you don't know what they are; I can send you the tracks that work for me, if you like. Focusing on the sounds and speech of the audio really helps to remove my awareness. You know how some people are visual learners, and yet some are auditory and kinesthetic? Well, I think the same concepts applies towards "catching" one's attention. Sometimes listening to music/sounds is the best way to remove that restless feeling. For what Tornado Joe said, I definitely experience thinking I'm awake when I'm actually asleep, albeit lightly. I have gotten kinda-sorta decent at inducing SP, and a trick that's worked for me is to not think of it as a WILD attempt. Just try to think of it as a "relaxation" session. Kinda like meditation, without the "anti-focus". Hope that helped!

[person-person]

I have the exact same problem as you lucid_seeker. I too don't feel much and haven't had ANY any visualisations. Only once did I have an audible halucination. (kinda cool) - just people talking in background. If I don't move for ages, I think - this might be SP!!! but then I wiggle my fingers and im fine . Another example would be when I can't really feel the blanket on my legs, yet if I move them slightly it all comes back straight away. I have sometimes had 'voluntary movements' (jerking hand motion/leg motion for no reason. Not actually 'thinking' to move part of my body) - is that a part of coming out of SP? Maybe i've had SP but not even realised it. All in all, the closest I think I have gotten is when my arms feel light and are 'crossing' over my body when they are really by my side. That, and feeling like my whole body is 'rotating' slightly with my head still on the pillow... ANY HELP AT ALL would be very very greatly appreciated. I really want to WILD. Also, counting is the same as Blueman. I don't get very far maybe 100, then my mind wanders and I forget where I'm up to. Is it worth a try to just let my thoughts carry me until I SNAP back to being awake fully.

[Wasted24]

I think that it may be that you are too excited or anxious because this was a problem for me for a while. But last night counting my breaths really relaxed me. Although it didn't result in a successful WILD i could still really feel it relaxing me and only got to about 50 before i fell asleep. Maybe i was just really tired, but this seemed to have worked pretty well. I think its just a matter of practice.