How to ease sleep paralysis?

[Wisardi]

First off, I know the hallucinations are only in my head, but still I am afraid of them and want to try WILDing. Could a blindfold and earplugs help? I think that, I could propably relax better, when I heard the possible mumblings clearly and realized that It's not real, because I'm wearing earplugs and hearing everything clearly... Any advice or experience?

[OneiroMoon]

You don't have to experience hallucinations when WILDing. I've had six WILDs so far, and I've never had any scary hallucinations. Don't worry about having them! Don't think of them anymore, or do you really want to miss out on WILDs just because you're afraid of hallucinations that you're not even going to have?

[Erii]

OneiroMoon said it right, not everyone experiences creepy things in SP. If you are scared when you attempt to WILD, then scary things probably will happen. Be positive and just know that nothing scary will happen. Even if something odd does happen, it's a natural road block that you have to overcome if you want to WILD.

[Wisardi]

Guess you both are right, if I expect something bad, it's propably going to happen... I just can't believe I am afraid of something that is not real Any ideas, what I could think about or focus on during SP, so I could relax more? I mean if I just think, "Nothing's there, nothing's there..", I clearly am worried. Could I for example think that there is somebody I know, and feel safe with? I've also heard that I should focus on my body, and how it feels, does this help?

[silver2k]

Don't think about not thinking about it or thinking about something good because you don't want to keep yourself from thinking about something bad.

[OneiroMoon]

Any ideas, what I could think about or focus on during SP, so I could relax more? I mean if I just think, "Nothing's there, nothing's there..", I clearly am worried. Your goal should be not to think about anything, but when you're in sleep paralysis for the first time it's very likely that it will disappear after just a few seconds (speaking from my own experience here). This happens because you get too excited and/or anxious. So, if you aren't relaxed enough, you will quickly wake up from the paralysis. The key to successful WILDs is to get used to the sleep paralysis, and this means that you'll have to practise. Sleep paralysis is awesome, and nothing to be worried about! Could I for example think that there is somebody I know, and feel safe with? If you happen to see something frightening, you should absolutely try that. I think I've read somewhere that it's possible to change the hallucinations. I've also heard that I should focus on my body, and how it feels, does this help? You shouldn't focus on your body during sleep paralysis, because that will stop you from transitioning into a lucid dream. Forget about your physical body. To do this, you can either try to visualize a dream scenario (I haven't done this, but it works for others) or just keep an empty mind (like I do). You'll quickly end up in a lucid dream from sleep paralysis. For me, it takes less than ten seconds. When you feel that the sleep paralysis has stopped, do a reality check. After the transition you're still in you bed, but in a dream (this is how all of my WILDs have begun). Like I said, once you're familiar with sleep paralysis, you'll be able to have WILDs. And remember to only attempt WILDs after at least 4-6 hours of sleep, and not in the beginning of the night. And get rid of your thoughts about having hallucinations!

[Dark_Merlin]

Just like a dream scene, you can change the hallucinations you see and hear. If you hear a scary voice - ignore it - that voice is now puppies! I think the key for you will be to just get past the stage of hallucinations without being scared enough to wake yourself up. The hallucinations you're getting in SP mean you're very close to transitioning, all you have to do is ride it through To me, I've never really had scary hallucinations or been worried about it because of the understanding I have of the WILD technique. Learn what sleep paralysis is in relation to your body and your sleep cycles - the purpose it serves and truly try to understand that everything you hear are temporary hallucinations of your own mind signalling that you're about to finish your WILD

[Wisardi]

Can the transition (from the start of the SP to the dream) actually only last 10 seconds? What would be the average for a beginner WILDer? If it is only 10 secs, then I'll have no problems with relaxing! I have experienced SP once IRL and once in a dream (which was before the RL one, but felt just like the real one), so I think I have a bit of experience too, which could also help a lot. Also, many thanks to everyone for your help

[fOrceez]

Could a blindfold and earplugs help? If it helps your mentality, sure! As OneiroMoon stated, not all WILDs entice sleep paralysis, infact, 70% of mine haven't! You've stated everything yourself, you know the hallucinations are in your head, your mind creates and receives your nerve responses, creating your dream senses which are oh-so-real. Look at it this way; hallucinations are the beginning stage of dreams, you're that close to entering a lucid dream. The best advice I have heard is "relax and ride the SP rollercoaster" Can the transition (from the start of the SP to the dream) actually only last 10 seconds? What would be the average for a beginner WILDer? If it is only 10 secs, then I'll have no problems with relaxing! I have experienced SP once IRL and once in a dream (which was before the RL one, but felt just like the real one), so I think I have a bit of experience too, which could also help a lot. Also, many thanks to everyone for your help Yes, it absolutely can. Some of my WILDs have a WBTB that have only 10 seconds. I wake up, roll over, and WILD straight into the lucid dream

[OneiroMoon]

Can the transition (from the start of the SP to the dream) actually only last 10 seconds? What would be the average for a beginner WILDer? If it is only 10 secs, then I'll have no problems with relaxing! I didn't even experience any sleep paralysis for the first two WILDs. I just woke up in my bed, and I knew from the start that I was dreaming (because I remembered that I was trying to WILD). I can't recall any transition into those dreams. Anyway, since then I always get sleep paralysis before the transitions, and all of them happen really fast! I still consider myself to be a beginner WILDer, and I've never ever been in SP for more than 10 seconds. So yes, 10 seconds is all it takes! Once you know what to do, it's really easy to use sleep paralysis to enter a lucid dream. I have experienced SP once IRL and once in a dream (which was before the RL one, but felt just like the real one), so I think I have a bit of experience too, which could also help a lot. It definetly helps with experience, and it's great that you already know the feeling of sleep paralysis. The next step is to get used to the paralysis, so that you can be completely relaxed when you're in it. Also, many thanks to everyone for your help You're welcome!

[Wisardi]

Got a succesful WILD this morning, all thanks to you people! :bravo: It was so beautiful and vivid! And the transition only took about 10 seconds and I only felt the warm buzz, no paralysis! It feels so great, when you start to see the dreamworld, and you realize how easy it is to get there! I found myself inside a village with a lot of little cottages and trees, I just wandered around talking to people and trying to control the excitement and it lasted for more than 20 minutes! Funny thing is that I got a FA after that, and spent an hour trying to find my DJ xD Again, thanks to everyone for your help and support! I'm so happy now Now I will start practising DEILDs and dream chaining!

[Zestorum]

Congratulations, I actually want to attempt to WILD, but having never experienced sleep paralysis I'm worry myself half to death about what it will feel like. It's especially true when I'm trying to WILD.

[Wisardi]

Congratulations, I actually want to attempt to WILD, but having never experienced sleep paralysis I'm worry myself half to death about what it will feel like. It's especially true when I'm trying to WILD. Thanks As you can propably tell, I am quite a bit scared of SP too, but I found out, that visualizing the dream scene, and thinking about what I would do in the dream is critical for forgetting about my body, and last night when I forgot my body, I barely realized that I am transitioning to the dream. All I felt was a warm wave going through me, and it took a bit less than 10 seconds. Then I was in a lucid dream If you are worried about hallucinations, (you may have heard this before ) just keep your eyes closed, and if you hear something so scary, that you cant take it anymore, just start twiching your fingers and remind yourself, that it's all in your head! But if you really want to not get weeeird hallucinations and the feeling of terror, you just need to sort of practise the thought of being paralyzed. When you get SP for the first time, your brain propably goes "HOLY CRAP WHY CANT I MOVE?!" If your brains start to feel really vulnerable because of that, your subconcious will propably start to "summon" scary stuff there in your room. Maybe try to "act" being paralyzed in your bed? Try keeping yourself stiff while tensing all your muscles as if you tried to move, if this works, maybe your brains wont get so intimidated when you get SP? Just a little theory

[Zestorum]

It's not so much the hallucinations, although they play a role in the fear, but the idea of not being able to move at all. Somehow I find that way more frightening then I should.

[Wisardi]

It's not so much the hallucinations, although they play a role in the fear, but the idea of not being able to move at all. Somehow I find that way more frightening then I should. Well, it's really short when you are falling asleep, but if you are in SP when you wake up, it will not propably last longer than 30-90 secs, and it happens less often after sleep than before. Just don't worry about it and if it ever happens, remind yourself about the facts and keep cool