New - almost doing it without knowing it...

[jetstream]

I'm not sure how I came across lucid dreaming today, but I stumbled across it on the internet. This post may ramble, but comments would be received with great interest. I've always 'suffered' with jerks when I fall asleep - most nights in fact. A friend who (medically) specialises in sleep told me that these were hypnagogic myoclonic jerks - I thought nothing more of it. About 6 years ago whilst at university, I noticed that sometimes I was 'aware' of falling asleep, in that my thoughts became quite abstracted and I often felt very dizzy. I realsed that I could speed the process of falling asleep by letting go of my thoughts and simply observing them as they jumped from one image or idea to another. I found that I could sometimes prolong this and that it was often quite good fun to really let my thoughts go and 'cling to consciousness' whilst watching them. I then found that I could give them a nudge in any desired direction and see what my mind came up with! I would sometimes have conversations with people and conjour up fantastic scenes that seemed very real. I remember once evening having a full sentient conversation with sombody at the end of my bed, and was acually quite scared when I 'came around' and realised that the person wasn't there. I thought I was going mad! As the whole idea was to hasten sleep, I realised that the 'dizziness' happened when I was close to sleep and if I could induce this, I might get to sleep quicker. I found that if I concentrated very hard on imaging my body levitating a few feet above the bed and then rotating to face the matress, I could very quickly place myself in a semi-conscious state and then the step into sleep was easy. I use this technique to this day if I'm suffering frmo insomnia, or need to get to sleep quickly (i.e. on a night shift where I need to grab 15 minutes sleep). How interesting to find then that this is not too far removed from 'wake initiated lucid dreaming'. I've almost been there for years!! I've seen my exact experience described on the net as 'hypnagogic imagery'. What if I could put myself in that state and then not fall asleep, but remain lucid? Of course, I am completely new to the concept, but I was really struck by how much the 'W.I.L.D' tutorial on this site resembled what I've been doing for years. I'm amazed to find that there are a large number of people discussing that I've been doing myself (unknowingly) for ages. Perhaps I should turn my technique on it's head and instead of using it to become conscious, use it to remain conscious. Where should I go from here? What might I expect?

[Kromoh]

First of all, welcome to Dreamviews!! Man, you are definitely on the right way of making a WILD. Actually, you are most probably just one step away from it. WILD requires a right mindset, and for what you've described, you can make it. I cannot recommend you much apart from the tutorials, and best of luck on your lucidity journey The hypnagogic sensations you feel are sleep-onset sensations. Keep beign aware through them, and once you feel you're hallucinatious enough to dislace your dream body (just like when you talked to someone on the end of your bed - if that wasn't a lucid dream, it was pretty close). If yo uhave anything else in mind, shoot ;P

[Oneironaught]

Welcome to Dreamviews, jetstream. You are definitely on the right track to some amazing experiences. Often, the only barrier between what you already do and an LD is knowing the LD's are possible. You now know of their existence so, with a little reading around the forum and a slight redirection of your efforts you'll be a force to be reckoned with. I'm glad you found us. Hopefully we can help you enjoy your bedtime even more.

[jetstream]

A quick question. I went to bed last night thinking about what I've read here, and having put some paper and a pen by the bed to write down anything I dreamed. The first thing to say is that I was not trying to do the whole lucid thing - I just wanted to experiment a bit with the hypnagogic imagery and see if I could remain conscious whilst going 'a little deeper'. I'm not sure if I managed it or not, but I had an extreemely vivid dream and saw something in it which I knew 'wasn't right' but couldn't put my finger on why. It's obvious now I'm awake. I never worked out that I was dreaming. I awoke at 4am - very groggy - and went downstairs for a drink. I was MASSIVELY paranoid - was I awake or asleep, who is in the house, what's that noise, etc. I'm sure I was awake - tried things like running my hands together and there's evidence of my nocturnal movements this morning! I then wen't to bed and had another very vivid dream. Is waking up with paranoia common? I didn't like that at all!!

[Oneironaught]

Is waking up with paranoia common? I didn't like that at all!! I'd have to say no But, it's not too uncommon in a false awakening (FA) and is often what helps people become lucid. You really should be more familiar with reality checks (RCs), such as trying to levitate, counting your fingers, holding your nose and seeing if you can breathe through it, trying to put a finger through your palm, reading text multiple times, examining a digital clock, etc... RCs can really help you determine if you are dreaming or not. Though I sometimes forget them in dreams too. Even when I suspect that I may be dreaming.

[lag]

I've always 'suffered' with jerks when I fall asleep Ah, so you've been with my ex-girlfriend too eh? Ha ha ha. No but seriously, it sounds like you and I started the same way. I stumbled across this site by pure happen stance and was like "hey, I get these sometimes. I didn't know they had a name!" Now I've been trying to get more So far, no LDs (but I've been sick) but the techniques for dream recall have really helped me get into it again Is waking up with paranoia common? I was having extreme paranoia issues when I was taking too much B12 one time, oh I must share this story somewhere on the board. I don't necessarily think that's the cause but who knows, someone else could be having that problem