Sleep Paralysis - How do I know I'm in it?

The trouble I have is that I don't know what full Sleep Paralysis is like as I've never got fully there before. I always get to the point where my body goes numb but I don't know how to get further. I get a very heavy feeling on different parts of my body and then my heart rate increases and I can feel the tension in my chest which makes me think about my body lying in my bed. I also get distracted by cars driving past and the occasional aeroplane flying overhead.
I know the problem of getting into SP is me getting distracted by the physical world but even if I didn't, how would I know when I am fully in SP and ready to get into a dream somehow? I constantly think about LDing while I'm lying there and sometimes get these images that just come to me but I never seem to get these visual or audio hallucinations. Just the heavy feeling and sometimes kind of shockwaves going through my body. Oh and sometimes a feeling that I'm sinking into my bed. I try to let these ideas take me but it doesn't seem to work... Any advice?

You will know when you get there. Sounds like you are in one though when your heart rate increases, atleast when i go into SP it does.

I think you're focusing too much on the stages of SP to enter the dreamstate. You might be concentrating on your physical body too much but it sounds like you're thinking too much about the SP. Try and let your mind wander.

I have the same problem. Ill wake up, go back to bed and lay there. I will concentrate on my breathing and i will get to a point where i dont feel my body. Sometimes there will be an extreme itch but when i get past it i feel as numb as i was before. Nothing happens after this, the longest i layed in this spot was 2 hours.

Oh yeah, if i let my mind wander i lose consciousness and fall asleep. I know this because everytime i attempt to WILD i give up and let my mind wander and i just fall asleep.

I do not think during the time im laying there. I just observe. I dont expect anything to happen, im just laying there and observing. I feel like i can be in this state for the whole 8 hours and just get up in the morning.

pointless Are You WBTBing?

yes i am. i wake 4 hours after sleeping, sit up for about 5 minutes then i go back to lying down. My regular sleep schedule has been 3 am till 10 or 11am.

Do you have problems staying awake or relaxing?

Hmmmm, kind of both. I tried letting my mind wander so then i fell asleep. I tried to concentrate on my breath and that keeps me awake. Is there some middle ground im not gettin here or somethin?

I also get to this point, and have no idea what to do next.

The other night I got to the same exact point in WILD and just sat there with a numb body for an hour until I gave up. Does anyone know how to enter a dream from there? This is the 3rd time I've gotten stuck in sleep paralysis :/

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Originally Posted by Espacio

The other night I got to the same exact point in WILD and just sat there with a numb body for an hour until I gave up. Does anyone know how to enter a dream from there? This is the 3rd time I've gotten stuck in sleep paralysis :/

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Have you seen this WILD tutorial? It explains it pretty well and I think it will help you.

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Originally Posted by Mancon

Have you seen this WILD tutorial? It explains it pretty well and I think it will help you.

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No I'll take a look at it right now. Thanks :D

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Originally Posted by Caretaker

I think you're focusing too much on the stages of SP to enter the dreamstate. You might be concentrating on your physical body too much but it sounds like you're thinking too much about the SP. Try and let your mind wander.

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Definitely this.