Problem when trying to lucid dream

[samanesis]

Hello, I have been lucid dreaming a couple of times, but they came up randomly so I didn't force them. When I tried to lucid dream on purpose I had this problem, my heart started to beat really fast as I was trying to get into it. I was laying on my bed and I was pretty relaxed, and I whispered for myself ''I'm going to lucid dream'' for 1-2 minutes, and then I finally felt I was going into my dream. The problem was that as I was falling into my dream my heart started to beat faster and faster gradually. This is the first time it happened and it all started with when I tried to lucid dream as I mentioned. My heart started to beat so fast that I had to breath with my mouth so I cancelled the 'attempt' to lucid dream. What is the problem? *Note that it does not occur when I sleep normally, just when I try to induce the dream with the method to repeat the words ''I want to lucid dream''. Thanks. Edit: Forgot to mention that I trained myself to remember atleast 1 dream per night, so I should be able to handle the lucid dreaming.

[ExoByte]

Were you trying to WILD? If so, my suggestion would be attempt a WBTB first and then do a WILD right after and see if you have better luck.

[samanesis]

Were you trying to WILD? If so, my suggestion would be attempt a WBTB first and then do a WILD right after and see if you have better luck. Sorry for making a trouble here, but could you make a summary on a WILD and a WBTB? Not so good on this. Edit: Alright, now I read about them. I think I was going to make a WILD, since I was taking a nap at about 18:00. Before sleeping I told myself that I was going into lucid dreaming, and after a couple of minutes the 'black' thing your eyes see started to get blurry and they moved and such. I felt that I was going to lucid dream but then again, my heart beat stopped it. Hope I explained it better now.

[samanesis]

Any other suggestions please?

[ExoByte]

A WILD is called "Wake Initiated Lucid Dream." Its a method in which you attempt to transition into a lucid dream from a waking state. Basically, being awake and going straight into the dream as you go to sleep. WILDs rarely work unless accompanied by a WBTB. WBTB stands for Wake-Back To Bed. This is getting not quite a full nights sleep, utilizing your motor functions for 15 minutes to an hour (reading, walking etc.) and then going back to bed. The trick is causing a sort of REM rebound, and that you'll end up with an extra long, extra intense REM period. As well, since your body was just sleeping, it makes it easier to get back to sleep. With this, the WILD becomes easier and you'll transition straight into a deep REM sleep, with incredibly vivid dreams. Attempt a WBTB before your WILD, and you'll likely see better results.

[DeadDollKitty]

I believe WILDS are more for experienced people as they tend to be harder than WBTB or DILD. So people just starting out probably shouldn't use WILD, unless of course for some reason it works for ya

[samanesis]

A WILD is called "Wake Initiated Lucid Dream." Its a method in which you attempt to transition into a lucid dream from a waking state. Basically, being awake and going straight into the dream as you go to sleep. WILDs rarely work unless accompanied by a WBTB. WBTB stands for Wake-Back To Bed. This is getting not quite a full nights sleep, utilizing your motor functions for 15 minutes to an hour (reading, walking etc.) and then going back to bed. The trick is causing a sort of REM rebound, and that you'll end up with an extra long, extra intense REM period. As well, since your body was just sleeping, it makes it easier to get back to sleep. With this, the WILD becomes easier and you'll transition straight into a deep REM sleep, with incredibly vivid dreams. Attempt a WBTB before your WILD, and you'll likely see better results. That pretty much described what happened to me. I'll try the WBTB method sometime. Also to just add some question here, there are guides telling me to check for 'reality checks' in the dream. The problem is that I do infact remember what I have dreamt about, but I can never remember the dream. Only when I wake up. So doing these 'reality checks' does not work because I can't remember that I must do them and I can't remember that i'm in fact dreaming, I remember it all after I wake up. A bit hard to describe :/ Well, i'm off to bed. I hope you can take your time to help me out here, sorry if it was poorly written. Thanks in advance.

[samanesis]

I believe WILDS are more for experienced people as they tend to be harder than WBTB or DILD. So people just starting out probably shouldn't use WILD, unless of course for some reason it works for ya I see. But I believe that doesn't explain why my heart started to beat so fast, lol. Must be something odd about me, or have you experienced that too? Strange.

[ExoByte]

For reality checks just make a habit of doing them in real life and the habit will transition into the dream. Just be constantly aware of your surroundings. Take everything in and use all 5 senses. Pay attention to small details. Look for oddities, and finally question everything you see. Always ask yourself "Am I dreaming?" Physical reality checks can also help. Try poking your finger through your palm or plugging your nose and trying to breathe through it. If either succeeds, you're likely dreaming. Making a habit of these things will become a habit in your dreams, and you'll find yourself becoming lucid more often.

[DeadDollKitty]

Could it possibly be because you are getting excited thinking about LDing? My heart slows down because I use a different type of LDing. I slow down my breathing by tricking my body into thinking it's asleep, so my heart slows down. I'm not going to type down the entire method though. Maybe try breathing slowly? Try changing the words you think to "I'm going to lucid dream" instead of "I want.." or even just "lucid dream" in a slow steady rythm. Fast repitition even in your brain seems to speed up the heart and make one focused on repeating the mantra. Try saying "I'm going to lucid dream" say, every five breaths?

[samanesis]

For reality checks just make a habit of doing them in real life and the habit will transition into the dream. Just be constantly aware of your surroundings. Take everything in and use all 5 senses. Pay attention to small details. Look for oddities, and finally question everything you see. Always ask yourself "Am I dreaming?" Physical reality checks can also help. Try poking your finger through your palm or plugging your nose and trying to breathe through it. If either succeeds, you're likely dreaming. Making a habit of these things will become a habit in your dreams, and you'll find yourself becoming lucid more often. Those are some good advices, but I can't control my dreams if you understand. When I dream, I just dream without knowing anything, it just goes by without me even thinking about doing reality checks because I can't think in my dream.

[samanesis]

Could it possibly be because you are getting excited thinking about LDing? My heart slows down because I use a different type of LDing. I slow down my breathing by tricking my body into thinking it's asleep, so my heart slows down. I'm not going to type down the entire method though. Maybe try breathing slowly? Try changing the words you think to "I'm going to lucid dream" instead of "I want.." or even just "lucid dream" in a slow steady rythm. Fast repitition even in your brain seems to speed up the heart and make one focused on repeating the mantra. Try saying "I'm going to lucid dream" say, every five breaths? Yeah, that could be it. I'll try doing so next time!

[ExoByte]

Those are some good advices, but I can't control my dreams if you understand. When I dream, I just dream without knowing anything, it just goes by without me even thinking about doing reality checks because I can't think in my dream. The joy about habits is that you don't need to think about them! How many times have you caught yourself biting your nails and had no idea when you started or how long you'd be doing it?

[BohmaN]

ExoByte you bugger, you're still on this site! Nice to see you. You don't remember me, but I remember you. The problem was that as I was falling into my dream my heart started to beat faster and faster gradually. This is the first time it happened and it all started with when I tried to lucid dream as I mentioned. My heart started to beat so fast that I had to breath with my mouth so I cancelled the 'attempt' to lucid dream. What is the problem? The problem is you didn't realize those sensations are harmless and you didn't remain calm.

[ExoByte]

I had a period of diminished activity due to offsite reasons, but yeah I'm still kicking I remember your name, though sorry I can't remember from where. I'm sure I'll look through your posts and remember by tonight

[BohmaN]

I remember you had curly hair. AmIrite?? I'd been off this site for over a year but finally I got my ass (or rather, my mind) into lucid dreaming again!