Printable View
The few times I've attempted a WILD, something weird keeps happening. I'll feel my body going to sleep and then my mind will wander. Well, suddenly my body will kind of twitch and I'll become aware again and my heart will be racing. It feels like I'm walking on a rooftop and I trip and almost fall off the roof. Anybody got any insight?
Another question: Are WILDs really that much more effective when you WBTB?
I haven't successfully WILDed yet so I won't be much help, but I think you need to WBTB first because when you first go to sleep you don't enter an REM period for a long time, but after a WBTB you enter almost right away.
I also get those twitches occasionally. Well once I did. It happened 3 times in a row while I was trying to WILD so I just gave up, because each time I moved involuntarily the numbness feeling would go away and I'd have to start all over again. My other 3 attempts to WILD I didn't get this though, so keep trying.
They are called hypnic jerks. They are perfectly natural, and thus have no affect on the success of a WILD (unless, as with Hiros's experience, he didn't know that the twitches don't jeopardize WILD). They occur most often during Alpha waves (relaxed, drowsy, but not too deep), and they also occur more often in someone who is physically fit than a person who isn't.
As for the accompanying scenes, yeah, those can startle! I mean, sometimes you just twitch, other times you think of turning a doorknob, other times you trip! Many times these scenes are only flickers, lasting only a fraction of a second.
When you feel hypnic jerks, rejoice! It means your body is in the perfect relaxation and comfort for WILDing (if you don't feel them, it's O.K., because it usually doesn't happen every night).
@other question: It depends on the person. If you have trouble staying aware without waking (waking=at least getting out of bed), then you should WBTB. If you have trouble getting back to sleep after waking, you should either lessen the time you are awake during WBTB, or if that doesn't work (and you still can't fall back asleep), don't WBTB at all.
While this happens to you, Do not question it!. Go with the flow till you eventually enter a dream Lucid!:D That weird sensation you feel is just a sign that your mind is ready to shift into a dream.:D