Tantalizingly Close to a WILD

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06-20-2007, 01:06 PM
Asymptote

Tantalizingly Close to a WILD
Last night, I was trying the HILD (Hypnosis-Induced Lucid Dream) technique (kudos to its inventor, by the way, as it almost worked for me!) when something very peculiar happened. My hands and arms went "numb," or perhaps just got desensitized, and soon my whole body felt like that, and it seemed that my brain was no longer entirely connected to it. Then, I was tingling or vibrating. I got the sense that I was going through sleep paralysis, but it felt like I couldn't breathe, and I got too freaked out to continue, so I woke myself up.

It took me a few more minutes, but I eventually settled back into SP, but I was all nerves after the rather frightening experience of the previous SP, so my heart was pounding, which only made the "choking" sensation worse. I hovered in that numb phase of SP when you can sense that you are on the border of sleep, but once again, I woke myself up out of fear.

So, as an inexperienced LD'er, I have two questions:
1. Was this actually sleep paralysis?
2. If so, what do you do to get over the rather frightening feeelings SP causes?
P.S.: Anybody who can answer Question 2 will be my personal hero, since, if this was indeed SP, I was on the edge of the most vivid WILD I've ever had.
06-20-2007, 01:48 PM
AURON

SP is what your brain does every night to stop your body from doing movements while you dream. Lets say you're fighting someone in a dream...your real life body is still there doing nothing but sleeping...but of course in your dream you're throwing combos (and I bet it's in slow motion for the most part) It happens every night, but normally people are unaware of it.

Just try to relax the next time it happens is the only thing I can really say. You'll have to do some research on it for yourself, and make sure your cross reference it with lucid dreams. Once I found out that it was a normal everyday process that allowed me to slip into a LD it didn't seem so bad. Everytime I WILD I go into SP, and about 9 times out of 10 if I just have SP without anything else i'll go into a LD. All I can say is just learn more about it. Knowledge is always one of the best weapons.
06-20-2007, 03:29 PM
skysaw

I've only been hit with SP maybe 2 or 3 times in my life, and only once severely enough for it to be frightening. When you're in the moment, it can be easy to forget about anything else, such as reminding yourself that it can't really harm you.

It is a natural state for your body as Psylis mentioned, but you are rarely conscious for it. I think of it as very similar to a LD, but your mind is a little too attached to your body instead of your dream world.

Try to remind yourself that it can be expected and that it is ok. You are safe and will be fine when you wake up. It really is a matter of learning to trust yourself and relax. Easier said than done, but I think you will learn it soon enough.
06-20-2007, 10:05 PM
Asymptote

Is a strange tingling sensation and an odd feeling of "almost-numbness" a normal part of SP?
06-20-2007, 11:41 PM
Lordalmar

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asymptote

Is a strange tingling sensation and an odd feeling of "almost-numbness" a normal part of SP?

yes it is, ya just don't notice it usually.
06-22-2007, 10:54 PM
Asymptote

I tried the same technique again a few minutes ago, this time with the understanding that the feelings are normal and that they can't hurt me. Once again, using the HILD technique (by the way, kudos to Gothlark for coming up with HILD! Gothlark: you're my hero!) I donned my (improvised) sleep mask, and went through the HILD relaxation process. Eventually, I was startled to see a grayish-white light emanating from somewhere below my field of vision. At this point, my eyes (or it might have been my eyelids) started twitching like mad, which I immediately assumed to be the onset of REM. Sleep paralysis then set in, and wasn't nearly as frightening as the last time I went through it. I could feel the numbness, and the sensation of falling. I was so very close. Then, something went wrong, and I floated back up into the real world. I wasn't able to get back into SP again, no matter how hard I tried.

It seems I'm getting closer and closer to finally breaking my dry spell!
06-28-2007, 05:29 AM
yay

I just had a WILD today, and what happens to me is my head starts to tingle, or like fall asleep like a leg does. this is interesting because I feel like the rest of my body isnt asleep which may allow better perception of sensations of touching and other body sensations. once my head is asleep im able to look around at the dreamscape. to keep myself in the dream I have remembered to look at my hands, and to try to look at something very small, on the floor or something.

im sorry that I dont know how to get rid of those feelings when entering that state, ive never really had a problem with it. im used to my head feeling weird. heh. I feel myself getting closer to the border of waking life and dreaming, and consciously cross it.

one of the hardest parts to learn is to stay calm and let things happen, if you want them to happen I think it makes it harder. try to let yourself go, and feel and analyze what is happening.

You are getting close. All you need is practice, they will come sooner or later and you will get used to it. And with every practice you will get closer and closer to just knowing how it works and what to do.
07-01-2007, 05:35 PM
Asymptote

Quote:

Originally Posted by yay

I just had a WILD today, and what happens to me is my head starts to tingle, or like fall asleep like a leg does. this is interesting because I feel like the rest of my body isnt asleep which may allow better perception of sensations of touching and other body sensations. once my head is asleep im able to look around at the dreamscape. to keep myself in the dream I have remembered to look at my hands, and to try to look at something very small, on the floor or something.

im sorry that I dont know how to get rid of those feelings when entering that state, ive never really had a problem with it. im used to my head feeling weird. heh. I feel myself getting closer to the border of waking life and dreaming, and consciously cross it.

one of the hardest parts to learn is to stay calm and let things happen, if you want them to happen I think it makes it harder. try to let yourself go, and feel and analyze what is happening.

You are getting close. All you need is practice, they will come sooner or later and you will get used to it. And with every practice you will get closer and closer to just knowing how it works and what to do.

Thanks for the encouragement! I'm currengly using a MILD/WBTB combination for dreams, but I'll take your advice if I ever go back to HILD/WILD.