Half-dreams?

When I'm in bed and pretty tired I usually experience what can best be described as "half-dreams".

It's not like daydreaming or a regular dream, but something in-between. I daydream about something, and then (again: this pretty much only happens when I'm tired) it turns into a "deeper" form of daydream that I cannot control (it works by itself, kinda like a regular dream).

I can, however, end the half-dream (instantly) by opening my eyes, or start thinking about something.
From what I can remember I'm not really self-aware during these, so it's not like watching a movie, it's more like your mind being lost in a daydream (but it's more than just a daydream).
It's mostly when I suddenly realize something (it can be pretty much anything) that I become self-aware and can choose to end the half-dream or let it contine (if I choose the latter my mind "gets lost" again rather quickly).

It feels like these "half-dreams" are a stage between daydreaming and actual dreaming, so I was wondering: do you guys think I can use them to achieve lucidity?

These are called hypnagogic hallucinations, are are indeed little dream hallucination snippets between the transition from wakefulness to sleep.
The Hypnagogic Imagery Technique uses HH to enter a lucid dream :)

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Originally Posted by Shift

These are called hypnagogic hallucinations, are are indeed little dream hallucination snippets between the transition from wakefulness to sleep.
The Hypnagogic Imagery Technique uses HH to enter a lucid dream :)

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I had the thought that they might be hh's, but aren't those supposed to happen during/after SP, when you are entering REM?

No, while HH can occur during SP, they are really going to happen whether or not your body is paralyzed (and these cases are rare, while HH itself is incredibly frequent and common), every time you are falling asleep. They can also occur after sleep (in which case they are called hypnopompic hallucinations).

These are actually not really leading into REM, but just into sleep itself. They occur during sleep stage one, which is way earlier in the sleep cycle than a REM stage.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Shift

No, while HH can occur during SP, they are really going to happen whether or not your body is paralyzed (and these cases are rare, while HH itself is incredibly frequent and common), every time you are falling asleep. They can also occur after sleep (in which case they are called hypnopompic hallucinations).

These are actually not really leading into REM, but just into sleep itself. They occur during sleep stage one, which is way earlier in the sleep cycle than a REM stage.

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So, I can use these hh's - or "half-dreams" as I call them - to become lucid as I enter a dream?
Will this work best with a WBTB, or can it work directly when I go to bed?

oh thank you! i asked a similar question and never got a clear answer of whether or not it was hypnagogic imagery or not.

anyway i believe (if i heard correctly) that these images never actually create a dream. unless you attempt a WILD, these images will probably never form a dream.

WILD (Wake Initiated Lucid Dream) would involve focusing your attention on something in the dream that requires detail (ex.candle flame) and keep your attention, while not trying too hard, and at the same time trying not to move your real body (the trick is, is to let your body fall asleep and keep your mind awake). if patient enough, youll end up seeing rather than imagining and dreaming.

people ofcourse have their own methods of this technique but thats how ave entered one and some will take a small dose of caffiene (ex.sip of coke) before sleep to remain somewhat alert.

REM usually occurs about every 1.5hrs. so finding your REM pattern would be more useful instead of waiting 1.5hrs without falling asleep or itching.

I would recommend WBTB with wild but on probably a later REM cycle since your first REM period only lasts about 5-10 mins.