My Intro and why I'm interested in LD

[NiecesPieces]

I've already been to the doctors, told my counsellor and had an EEG test done in order to understand my weird sleeping habits. I've seeked out this website inorder to take some of this into my own hands and maybe understand more about dreams and how to control them. I'm not quite sure if what i'm experiencing is a lucid dream or something close to it...but here's how it goes... Anytime I take a nap during the day or sometimes while i'm waking up in the morning, something quite odd keeps reoccuring (well odd to me anyways). First of all I know when this is happening everytime...not at first (ive had this for about a year now) but now I am always certain when i am in this state. I will be laying there in my bed seeing my body through my own eyes and I will be completely paralyzed...I will try time and time again to wake myself up...screaming at myself in panic to wake up. Sometimes i can feel myself whip the covers up and get up but then i will be in the exact same position i started in...still paralyzed...i can hear everything around me, see everything around me, just as it appears after i finally wake up...This is quite frightening for me and because i start panicing it gets harder and harder for me to breathe....Obviously i always manage to wake myself up in the end...but id love to know that maybe this is something other people experience too...and im not just some pyscho...anyone have any comments or suggestions??

[Gwendolyn]

Hey! Welcome to the forum. It sounds to me like you are experiencing Sleep Paralysisl This is a common condition..Actually, everyone experiences this to some degree every time they sleep, though some people do not report symptoms like these. Lots of people say that their SP is sometimes very harsh and frightening just like you. Don't worry. SP cannot hurt you in any way. When you realize that you are experiencing this, remain calm and relaxed. Also, SP can be a good thing. You can use it for the WILD technique. I hope you have a great time while you are with us. It is great to have you with us!!

[wombing]

yup, it sounds like intense sleep paralysis...it is only frightening if you allow it to be. used to scare the shite out of me until i educated myself about it. now i love when it happens, and actually enjoy the sensation of paralysis..it means i have one foot in the waking realm, and one in the dreaming...instead of fighting it (which usually just prolongs the experience), try surrendering calmly, and you'll likely find yourself in a dream world where you are in complete control of your destiny, as opposed to feeling confined and played with by some oppressive force.. welcome to the forum, and happy journeys

[Burns]

Welcome to the forum! I agree with what Gwen and wombing have suggested above - you're experiencing sleep paralysis. Wow, I bet you're glad you're not crazy! Seriously, everyone has sleep paralysis - it's the body's way of keeping your body from acting out your dreams. Sometimes when you wake up, your body is still in this state. No worries, stay calm and it passes. I'm surprised your doctors didn't suspect this.