Thread: LD is becoming an unpleasant experience for me...help needed

I've been lucid dreaming for a long time, and it's kind of natural for me. My LDs have also always been very pleasant, sometimes even blissful (flying, hearing angelic music, feeling the presence of God etc).But lately, since I've been forcing WILDs, I'm beginning to experience some very bad SP and having nightmarish LDs in which I can't control what's happening. As a result, I haven't been sleeping properly for three nights in a row and I'm actually becoming very frightened of the idea of going to bed at all. Is it possible I'm putting too much pressure on myself? How to make LD a pleasant experience again? Thanks a lot for your replies, I really need some help here.

Don't force WILD
Why should you if you are a natural?

Originally Posted by Luanne

Don't force WILD
Why should you if you are a natural?

Exactly....

Practicing WILDS can really mess up your natural sleep patterns, leading to insomnia.
I went through the same experience.
I had to quit my WILD attempts because of it.

Perhaps forget about WILDing, regain your normal sleep habits again, and then once you're comfortable find a new technique.

Originally Posted by HonerableMoUsE

Practicing WILDS can really mess up your natural sleep patterns, leading to insomnia.
I went through the same experience.
I had to quit my WILD attempts because of it.

Perhaps forget about WILDing, regain your normal sleep habits again, and then once you're comfortable find a new technique.

I don't think you need to sacrifice anything to WILD, taking 5 minutes after you climb into bed to clear your head and focus entirely on saying to yourself "I will wake up in X hours" (However many hours works best for you to WILD after) almost always wakes me up when I ask, whether I don't get lazy and just go back to bed is another story

Originally Posted by Epona

I've been lucid dreaming for a long time, and it's kind of natural for me. My LDs have also always been very pleasant, sometimes even blissful (flying, hearing angelic music, feeling the presence of God etc).But lately, since I've been forcing WILDs, I'm beginning to experience some very bad SP and having nightmarish LDs in which I can't control what's happening. As a result, I haven't been sleeping properly for three nights in a row and I'm actually becoming very frightened of the idea of going to bed at all. Is it possible I'm putting too much pressure on myself? How to make LD a pleasant experience again? Thanks a lot for your replies, I really need some help here.

Sleep Paralysis can be a scary thing for alot of people initially, but after that its only as bad as you make it. It's like a child getting really scared on a house of horrors ride at the park, but when he comes back with his kids years later, it's not scary at all because he knows none of it is real and it can't effect him.

To end the nightmares, I'd advise maybe taking a break from WILD till they stop. Or like I do (For different reasons) meditate/relax to some nice peaceful music as you go to bed, I do it and I don't remember the last nightmare I had.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IQ5dA7uY5M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVpj-evVHxs

Finally, maybe you should do a reality check whenever you get any sense of fear at all, that way you'll do it in your nightmares and become lucid. Just a thought.

Thanks to all for your advice. I didn't say I was a natural for WILDs, I meant that DILDS happened naturally. But WILDs are either really amazing or really depressing and scary for me - there is no middle. It seems like it depends on my mood - if I'm happy and relaxed the dream is beautiful and if I'm tired and feeling mellow, the dream is dark and scary.
But anyway, I am a total beginner when it comes to WILDing. It seems to me that the best solution would be to just pause from WILDing attempts for a while.

@Exdream - thanks for your help, I really appreciate it I've been meditating for the past two years, and you're right, it really helps

Originally Posted by HonerableMoUsE

Practicing WILDS can really mess up your natural sleep patterns, leading to insomnia.
I went through the same experience.
I had to quit my WILD attempts because of it.

Perhaps forget about WILDing, regain your normal sleep habits again, and then once you're comfortable find a new technique.

Oh shit, good to know.

Originally Posted by HonerableMoUsE

Practicing WILDS can really mess up your natural sleep patterns, leading to insomnia.
I went through the same experience.
I had to quit my WILD attempts because of it.

Perhaps forget about WILDing, regain your normal sleep habits again, and then once you're comfortable find a new technique.

Haha, my sleep pattern is fucked up enough anyway... I think I can handle a little bit of WILD.

Nah but seriously, I'm still gunna keep trying, even if that is true.

my mistake was in attempting WILDs when I first get into bed for the night.
Its a lot more natural (and probably proper) to attempt WILDs after waking up from a deep sleep I think.