I wasn't even trying to have a lucid dream, and almost had one?

I felt compelled to register here and post this, just because I'm not entirely sure what just happened.

I was really tired a little bit ago, and decided to take a nap. I'm sure you guys are familiar with that wonderful sensation you get when you are laying there. Kind of feels like you're falling (you feel it right in your head), happens over and over. I usually get this when I reeeeally need a nap.

Usually when I get that falling feeling I toss and turn because it's startling and is strange. Though this time I just went with it and decided to fall. I wasn't trying to lucid dream or anything, just wanted a quick nap and I got more than I bargained for.

I let the falling happen and I started to notice the fan in my room get louder and louder. I shook it off for a moment and the sound of my fan returned to normal. After another moment the fan got louder again, and I felt my body go completely numb. After another moment my breathing started to slow involuntary and it felt like a giant weight was pushing down on my whole body. At this point I freaked out and completely woke up and Googled what just happened.

That's when I found this forum. Now, I'm asking you guys. Did I just experience sleep paralysis? If this was sleep paralysis, what kind of awesome fun did I regrettably miss after it?

That's interesting, I'm relatively inexperienced to this, but I have experienced sleep paralysis before, but it didn't simply go away the moment I woke up, I still couldn't move. It is possible that there are multiple types of sleep paralysis. You could have been right before having an eventful dream. Lol just my best guesses. Sorry I'm not too much help.

Welcome to Dreamviews!

What happend, was exactly what is happening to everybody everytime we fall asleep. The only difference is, that you (and other lucid dramers) stayed aware during the later part of the process, which we are normally not aware of, because by then we are asleep.

The falling sensation and the loud noise is happening just before the dreams start to form. Goal for a lucid dreamer is to stay awake when that happens, so you can witness formation of a dream and then enter it lucidly. This method is called WILD - Wake induced lucid dream.

Another method is called DILD - Dream induced lucid dream. With this method, you go to sleep normally and during regular dream you realize you are dreaming. For this to happen, you need to practice.

But with both of these main induction methods you get to Lucid dream, which is incredibly awesome experience. And for me personally, the sensations you get WILDing are just the same awesome, as the lucid dream. The more you read about them, the more you'll know what to expect, so you stay calm.

This Beginners guide will help you learn more about these methods and maybe help you decide which one you would like to start with. Then check out DV Wiki for more details, and of course, post your questions and read threads. Happy dreams:alien: