Rawracookie the pseudonym has arrived.

A week or two ago, I started seriously trying to lucid dream. Previously, I had known about it for a few years. No success, yet. I started my dream journal a couple days ago. Last night, I attempted to go to sleep. I procured a copy of the book "The Ultimate Lucid Dreaming Manual: Basics and Beyond" by Marc VanDeKeere and read through some of the tips. One was the counting method (1, I'm dreaming, 2, I'm dreaming...). I had a strange trip to limboland and I wrote it down in my dream journal. This is what prompted me to join. I am at college right now, my class let out really early due to no instructor. As such, I don't have my dream journal. Once I'm home, I'll type it up and post it. It was a really weird not quite asleep experience. The ending is I had to get up, eat some cereal, and go back to bed normally.

EDIT: Below is what I've written in my dream journal. It is not a dream. Also, I would like to hear some comments and what you make of it. I had to mess with the formatting some. My journal is double column.

Title: Paralysis Adventures... Feb 22, 2011.

(Just past midnight. When I go to sleep.) Not a dream. I am doing some counting method. "1, I'm dreaming, 2, I'm dreaming." Holding relaxed and still. My left ear, pressed against the pillow is thumping with blood. I have a few waves of sensation. Starting at my feet. My arms, hands, and chest. First prickling. I try to relax. It's hard for me to keep counting. Then warmth. Then numbness. (This is more stimulation than I am used to. I found it hard to feel detatched that itch was molesting my face. I HAD to get rid of it. It was terrible.) I realize this must be sleep paralysis coming in. Occasionally, I twitch. This causes localized loss of warmth and numbness and more thumping. I keep developing itches. I battle the urge by trying to keep calm and telling myself that I can't move due to paralysis. I try to take my mind off my body. I fail to create visuals. Itchiness and warm numbness is all I have. I keep swallowing. (My throat is dry.) Maybe this undermines facial paralysis and numbness. (I hear my stomach a few times.) I eventually scratch my face with my right arm. I find my left arm and legs to be floppy. I stretch a bit and eventually write this down. I'm hungry. Some quick cereal and back to bed.



EDIT: I forgot something. What prompted me to learn to lucid dream is because I have trouble falling asleep. It's terrible. I want to yell at the manifestation of my subconscious to fix sleeping. Well, maybe not yell. More or less converse. Other experiences are compelling me to redouble my efforts. Hopefully I'll be able to soon.

Maybe I was trying too hard to sleep? Should I try to count "gentler" and slower to allow myself to fall asleep normally? Should I rely on other DILD techniques that I've been trying rather than trying to focus in hypnagogia?