SP induced panic attack

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03-25-2008, 05:56 AM
Viridian

SP induced panic attack

When I was 10 or 11 (not too long ago..) I had a panic attack every night I went to bed for a year and a half, so I guess I wasn't surprised that when I tried WILDing, the weird feeling of sleep paralysis set me off hyperventilating.

I didn't think about it when I started. I lied on my back, counted up to... 150 or so, and my body went numb, I was fine for a few seconds but then my heart started pounding. Obviously, any weird feeling while falling asleep makes me nervous because I think I'm having another panic attack, which makes me even more nervous. I knew it was just SP, but I couldnt stop. Eventually I got up, went to the bathroom, drank some water, but when I got back to bed I couldnt fall asleep for 2 hours because I was still hyperventilating.

I really want to be able to WILD, since apparently I can atleast get to SP, but I'm scared to try again because I dont want to be up for hours breathing into a paper bag. Any tips for calming down during SP?? Or am I just too neurotic to be able to do it, considering my circumstance?

Thanks
03-25-2008, 01:21 PM
Terrorhawker

I think that another Lucid Dreaming technique is a good idea.
Try a WBTB or MILD.

You can find tutorials here.
03-25-2008, 03:20 PM
ninja9578

SP can be pretty scary at times. I usually tell people that it can't hurt them, but in your case I would recommend another technique that doesn't have conscious SP.
03-25-2008, 04:56 PM
Marvo

Quote:

Originally Posted by Viridian

When I was 10 or 11 (not too long ago..) I had a panic attack every night I went to bed for a year and a half, so I guess I wasn't surprised that when I tried WILDing, the weird feeling of sleep paralysis set me off hyperventilating.

I didn't think about it when I started. I lied on my back, counted up to... 150 or so, and my body went numb, I was fine for a few seconds but then my heart started pounding.

That is perfectly normal, and it will happen most of the first times you try to enter SP.

Quote:

Obviously, any weird feeling while falling asleep makes me nervous because I think I'm having another panic attack, which makes me even more nervous. I knew it was just SP, but I couldnt stop. Eventually I got up, went to the bathroom, drank some water, but when I got back to bed I couldnt fall asleep for 2 hours because I was still hyperventilating.

That is a bit extreme though. You should drinking some warm milk when you get these panic attacks. It will ease you alot.

Quote:

I really want to be able to WILD, since apparently I can atleast get to SP, but I'm scared to try again because I dont want to be up for hours breathing into a paper bag. Any tips for calming down during SP?? Or am I just too neurotic to be able to do it, considering my circumstance?

Thanks

The best way to remain calm when entering SP, is to train SP. By that I mean, defeat your fear by entering SP - consciously - as often as you can.

I hope that helps a wee bit.
03-25-2008, 11:19 PM
Viridian

Thank you!

I am determined to try again. I tried lying on my stomach last night instead, and when I went into sleep paralysis, it felt different, I just felt... dull. I think that maybe what I was feeling were vibrations the first time? I'm not sure, but thank you all for your advice!
03-25-2008, 11:51 PM
Marvo

Definitely good steps, keep going :)