Some newbie WILD questions!

[NuParalysis]

I'm a newbie, I've tried to have a WILD a couple times now so that I could have an LD, and I keep getting closer every night. Last night I tried it, and I accidently fell asleep for an hour, I woke up, and continued not to move, I let all my thoughts pass though, none were forced, I wasn't swallowing, and I was very comfortable! I got to the point I couldn't feel my arms and legs (I could still move them if I tried, but I didn't.) and I suddenly got that buzzing/ringing sound in my ears (like a static TV, but more high pitched.), so I thought "I must be getting close" so I laid there for another half hour and still nothing was happening! Eventually I didn't want to do it anymore, so I gave up since it was 5:00, and I had to get up early. This happens almost every night now, as soon as I start feeling like i'm getting close, nothing happens. I've never had any problems with my mind, its always clear, and thoughts always pass through on their own, swallowing isn't a problem for me either, but occasionally when I hear something, my eyes freak out, but thats the only problem I have. Am I doing something wrong? So, here are my questions: -Can some people just NOT be able to have a WILD? (even if you do everything correctly) -I've got to a point I couldn't feel my legs or arms, but I feel I could still move them, is this normal? -Once you're in sleep paralysis, do you fall asleep, and you'll have a LD? Or do you stay awake the whole time?! Sorry, I'm sure these questions have been answered somewhere else. But I just wanted some direct answers.

[Puffin]

Hi, welcome to Dreamviews! You were definitely close; the ringing/buzzing sound is common when transitioning into sleep paralysis but from what you described (still being able to move your limbs) you weren't in full SP yet. Try relaxing and imagining sensations such as touch, smell, and sight, which will help you transition into SP and then the dream. Passively observe any hypagogic imagery or sounds, and don't focus too much on them. As for your questions... -Can some people just NOT be able to have a WILD? (even if you do everything correctly) Some people find it more difficult to WILD, but I don't believe it's impossible for anyone. Some medications (such as antidepressants) may have an effect on how often one can get into sleep paralysis, though. Narcoleptics have a higher chance of getting sleep paralysis even if they don't purposefully induce it. -I've got to a point I couldn't feel my legs or arms, but I feel I could still move them, is this normal? I think that was just your body going numb; when I've been lying still for half an hour or so, I can't feel mine either. That isn't necessarily sleep paralysis, but might be the onset. It's best to just not move. -Once you're in sleep paralysis, do you fall asleep, and you'll have a LD? Or do you stay awake the whole time?! Once you're in sleep paralysis, you don't "fall asleep" in the traditional sense! Or, that's how I think of it. You're basically lying there in SP, your eyes closed, and then images and sensations start to form around you; you're basically pulled into a dream while your physical body simply falls asleep. It's a 100% conscious transition.

[Robot_Butler]

Try to let yourself drift a little closer to sleep. You should be right on the edge. If you find yourself falling asleep during your WILDs, you are doing the right thing. If you are lying awake all night, you are doing something wrong. You need to fall asleep, while keeping a small part of your consciousness aware. When you gave up at 5:00, did you get out of bed and start your day? Or give up and go to sleep? If you gave up and went to sleep, think about what you did differently. How do you normally fall asleep, compared to what you were doing during your WILD? You must have been doing something during your WILD to keep you awake. Scale that back, or get rid of it altogether. You need to fall asleep during your WILD.

[onironot]

You need to fall asleep, while keeping a small part of your consciousness aware. When you gave up at 5:00, did you get out of bed and start your day? Or give up and go to sleep? If you gave up and went to sleep, think about what you did differently. How do you normally fall asleep, compared to what you were doing during your WILD? Think about that.... I find that letting my "thoughts pass" doesnt cut it for me every night. I mean, yeah it works but I focus on all random thoughts and narrate in my head some nights. See my post http://www.dreamviews.com/f49/wild-twist-105566/ This helps me to kind of "force" the imagery to become more vivid. Once it's vivid and clear I can "break into the dream" or kind of thrust my body into it. I'm not really wrapped up in monitoring when I go into SP. That keeps me up.