Yet another "Problems with SP" thread!

Yes, I realize this is another thread in a sea of closely related topics, but I just feel like receiving some direct advice this time rather than searching endlessly! (Maybe my laziness has stunted my WILDing success...)

Anywho, here we go.

Last night was the first night in 4 years that I had a WILD (not as vivid as the first but still exciting nonetheless). No, this doesn't mean that I've been trying for four years without success. I go through phases of interest in lucid dreaming and I'm starting back in it.

When I want to have a WILD I almost always have HH in the form of "auditory rushes" (sounds like an airplane taking off underwater). I know from that moment that I'm very close to entering the dream. Two problems: My heart rate increases like mad and sometimes I'll have difficulty breathing and feel the need to focus on it (no, I do not have sleep apnea or anything of that sort).

I'm always quite amazed at how many failed attempts I'll have in one evening. Last night, for example, I found myself having the auditory HH about five separate times, often right after the other. My heart rate will increase, the HH will wash away and then in no less than ten seconds, it will come back. This cycle is repeated each time.

As I said, last night was the first time in a while that I actually entered the dream (I lost lucidity in a short time). I remember trying to tell myself that it was nothing to worry about and soon I'll be in the dream. It worked alright, but this is a rare occurrence.

Does anyone have any tips/suggestions for me? Anything to calm the heart and the breathing? Perhaps I answered my question above, but I'd love some other tips.

Thanks everyone!!

Yea this is a natural occurrence and happens most every time you go to sleep. Usually your unconscious for it when normally sleeping. But WILD obviously is an exception, the only thing that will help this simply Is repitition.

Well, I've certainly got the repetition down as I've gone through the HH hundreds of times with minimal success due to my accelerating heart rate and rapidity of breathing. I appreciate the reply! Any other tips?

I would say since you've got the process down and you've isolated the problem then just be aware that it IS going to happen and if you haven't a proper technique for relaxation then I would look into that some. Other than that good luck

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Originally Posted by MurphysLwa

When I want to have a WILD I almost always have HH in the form of "auditory rushes" (sounds like an airplane taking off underwater). I know from that moment that I'm very close to entering the dream. Two problems: My heart rate increases like mad and sometimes I'll have difficulty breathing and feel the need to focus on it (no, I do not have sleep apnea or anything of that sort).

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This is a very common and misunderstood issue. Tests have shown that when you sleep your heart rate automatically slows down. When you feel an accelerated heart rate during SP it is a hallucination. When you reach SP you probably get a little excited even if you feel perfectly calm. You know you've succeeded and that creates anticipation, which is a form of excitement. Your mind knows that when you get excited your heart rate should quicken. But since you're asleep and your real heart rate has slowed, your mind creates the illusion of a quickened heart rate to fit your expectations. And because the heart rate is a hallucination, and thus not bound by any biological rules, it can feel as if it's beating faster and faster until it becomes unbearable and wakes you up. So you need to eliminate this hallucination before it gets a chance to amplify. The only way to do this, that I know of, is to replace it with another hallucination, one that is easier to manage. Try to encourage visual hallucinations when you reach SP. Maybe try to match some visuals to the auditory hallucinations you're hearing. This will take your focus away from your own body.

The slowed breathing can be harder to deal with because it is not a hallucination. It will always slow down to an uncomfortable level. As uncomfortable as it may feel you are not being starved of oxygen. You can survive with that slowed rate just fine. Your body knows what it's doing, so trust it, relax, go along with it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MurphysLwa

I'm always quite amazed at how many failed attempts I'll have in one evening. Last night, for example, I found myself having the auditory HH about five separate times, often right after the other. My heart rate will increase, the HH will wash away and then in no less than ten seconds, it will come back. This cycle is repeated each time.

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Did you do a reality check after any of these supposed failed attempts? It's possible to enter SP and pass into a dream without realizing it. So the reason it was so easy to re-enter SP after your initial failed attempt might be because you didn't fail and were actually dreaming!

DMS, can't thank you enough! That is exactly the information that I needed to help me out. The two times I had a successful WILD, I just let myself go and trusted my brain/body to do what it knows and it worked out. What you wrote will certainly help calm me during this process.

I usually do reality checks (not always) when I have a "failed attempt." Perhaps some possible WILD's slipped away from me for not remembering to do a RC right away. I will remember to do this every time now.

Thanks for that!

Glad I could help!