Thread: Possible to unintentionally get SP..?

I'm a complete newbie, but been searching around this forum for a few days. I'm working on just recalling dreams right now, and wrote down 2 dreams from last night. I have lucid dreaming on my mind constantly now, and kinda associate it with fear of sleep paralysis. So whenever I lay down to sleep, I keep worrying i'll get to sleep in a way that'll cause SP. Is that possible? I know it takes a lot to get SP before falling asleep, but what about partial SP before falling asleep? Will that increase chances of waking up with paralysis?

Originally Posted by Marc11

I have lucid dreaming on my mind constantly now, and kinda associate it with fear of sleep paralysis.

I know it takes a lot to get SP before falling asleep, but what about partial SP before falling asleep? Will that increase chances of waking up with paralysis?

First of all welcome to DV, and I hope that you end up meeting your LD goals. sleep paralysis isn't something you should be worrying about upon going to sleep. It's very rare to experience while initially going to sleep for the first time at night. It's also rare to experience it upon waking up. Unless you have the sleeping "disorder" where you experience it a lot. The average person only experiences it a couple of times in there lives.

If you're using a wake back to bed technique, or anything else related to a wake induced lucid dream, then there's a possibility you may encounter it. But there's absolutely nothing to fear about it. I suggest you browse the tutorials found in the research area, and gain some knowledge on it. The more you learn about it, the more you'll realize that it's nothing to be worried about.

So I shouldn't freak out when my legs start falling asleep first? lol
What about WBTB technique makes SP more likely? Also, I got that "jerk" feeling when I was about to fall asleep once, really small just enough to wake me up. Maybe it was from worrying about falling asleep a certain way, but barely any of my body was asleep and the small jerk happened as my mind was going to sleep, so I guess that's a good sign? lol

Not to scare you, but it is very possible to get unintentional sleep paralysis. Fortunately for you though, Since you know what SP is you might be a little more prepared for it. I was waking up to unintentional sleep paralysis for years before I found out what it was.

Just dont be scared of it. If you aren't scared you can use it to your advantage and turn it into a lucid dream. and Psylis is right. There is nothing to fear about SP. It can be scary at first but you'll get over it. Ask anyone on here who uses the WILD technique.

Yeah I suppose I'll be more prepared if it actually does happen, but I can't even watch scary movies without losing sleep. lol I'm trying to stick to DILDs and go to sleep normally, any tips on...falling asleep normally?

any tips on...falling asleep normally?

step 1: turn off any lights in the room.
step 2: approach the designated bed.
step 3: lay down on the mattress, position yourself comfortably, and rest your head on a pillow. You may use a blanket if necessary.
step 4: close your eyes, try not to move too much, and let about twenty minutes pass.

Congratulations! If you were successful you should now be asleep.

*You may have the memory of a dream upon waking up, but that is completely normal.

Originally Posted by Marc11

What about WBTB technique makes SP more likely?

the fact that you're going directly from a waking state into a dream state. SP is what keeps person from kicking and punching and running in bed, and all that good stuff. Since you're going to going directly to that dream state, there's an increased chance that you may experience it.

Every DIELD I've encountered was on accident, which means I went through SP for those times I did. It was due to me unintentionally having an active mind as soon as I started going back to sleep, after waking up. Definitely possible to get SPs by accident.

I'd guess about 99% of people who get SP get it unintentionally. Keep in mind that that is the norm. Only very few of us actively try to induce SP to WILD.