Getting stuck in WILD

[Plexify]

Hi everyone, I thought I'd pop over here, explain my efforts so far, and see if anyone could offer some help. I've always been a very frequent and vivid dreamer, and it's very rare that I don't remember my dreams. My dream recall is very good, and I only ever really make one or two little notes about particularly complex dreams. My mother and I both suffer sleep paralysis (genuine paralysis, not mis-named REM Atonia ), with the full on hallucinations and absolute inability to move even a finger, even when panicking like crazy. My mum has somehow, seemingly accidentally managed to move from her SP episodes into LDs, using WILD. She explained how she moved past the frightening hallucinations into controllable dreams, and it sounds like in her efforts to calm herself while experiencing scary SP, she has unintentionally created a WILD. I am trying to achieve a LD using a combination of MILD and WILD. I have always had a habit of waking up after a dream, so I tend to wake up 3-4 times a night for a few minutes, so I'm also working on DILD. I am reality checking very frequently during the day, recalling dreams and making concious plans to experience them again, and also taking "relaxation" periods throughout the day. I started practising relaxation to help with the SP episodes, after it helped Mum, and now I can put myself into a numb, floaty, surreal place in about 10 minutes. The issues I'm having at the moment are: 1. I have no trouble relaxing and detaching from my real body, and I have been able to do it in the middle of a real SP episode to help me to move again, but about 50% of the time when I START with WILD this leads to a real SP episode, which I then have to snap out of and start all over. Does anyone else experience this, and can offer any advice on how to prevent it? With WILD, I go away from my body, but I have absolute confidence that I can move freely if needed, can scratch an itch, etc. but there comes a point where I am completely unable to move and am totally aware of my surroundings, and then I have to either try and go backwards into WILD again, or just try to snap out of the whole thing. Very frustrating! I think the SP is being caused by me remaining far too conscious during the WILD, does this make sense? Can anyone offer any advice? 2. I practise WILD regularly, and when SP isn't a problem I can go under very easily, but I get stuck. I go totally numb, but then I just seem to stay in that "mode". No matter how much visualization I do, I don't seem to be able to actually "plunge" into it and create an actual dream, or return to a previous one. I have spent very long periods stuck in that sort of "no-man's land", and could really use some advice on how to move from that point and begin creating the dream. 3. The few times I have gone a bit further during WILD, I have felt my "dream-body", but it is still laying on my bed. I have pretty clear tactile sensations, like rolling over and someone touching my feet, but I really struggle to make my dream-body actually take control and move freely. I my semi-awareness of my dream-body a step in the right direction, and can anyone offer any advice on how to take full control of it? These are my biggest problems at the moment. I am still working on DILD and MILD, but seem to be having frustrating issues with WILD. I'm getting a lot of helpful info on these forums, but I would appreciate any advice that can be offered here Sorry for the tl;dr! Plex

[Scionox]

You need to fall asleep to dream. For WILD to be successful you just need to fall asleep while being aware, and it sounds like you were not trying to fall asleep. As for the SP, just ignore it and fall asleep while still being aware. Also are you practicing WILD when you are going to sleep normally? If so, it's a bad idea as well, it's the worst time for WILD, you need to use WILD either after some time after waking up using WBTB, or you can use WILD during naps, if you do naps. Here's also great in-depth tutorial that explains the WILD process, check it out: WILD , as for the entry into dream, if you feel dream body, you can try visualizing yourself getting up or rolling over, there are also other types of entrances into WILD, you can get more info about that in this thread: http://www.dreamviews.com/wake-initi...ntry-wild.html

[paigeyemps]

Im sorry to hear about your frustrations D: Well one thing you have to remember is that SP is NOT a requirement for WILD. At best, it can guide you into knowing you're on the right track and that your body is falling asleep. This brings me to my most important point: don't focus on the physical aspect of anything. The more you think about anything physical, the more it will just ground you into it, and prevent you from transitioning into the mental aspect which is the dream. This is what I do sometimes: Just visualize. If you start getting sensations, it can be hard to not notice the physicals. So instead, incorporate the sensations into your visualization. For example you're getting heaviness on your chest. Adjust your visualization to maybe a scene where something is on your chest, etc. that way, you focus on the dream more and not hae to 'fight' against the physical sensations. Another tip I can give is to try to 'sink' into your bed using your mind. Idk if it'll work for you, but it works well for me, especially if nothing is happening. The thought of just sinking and falling back kinda triggers me to slip into the dream. This also works well (for me) when, like you mentioned, I feel as though I'm not in full control of my dream body. So uhm that's all I can think of. I highly recommend reading through the WILD lessons which Checker666 linked! Good luck, hope this helps

[Plexify]

Thanks for replying, very informative! I have been trying WILD during naps and then when i wake during the night. I have been falling asleep during naps but I dont believe I am making it to REM. I think now I can relax easily I will stop practising during naps, because that seems to be when the SP is mostly happening and I think it's unhelpful :/ I think you are right, I am paying too much attention to my body and having difficulty visualizing. I am going to try WBTB tonight and then when I WILD I will try the counting and visualizing the numbers to try to stop focusing on the physical stuff. Thanks for linking to the WILD info, I will get started now and leave it open to read during WBTB periods! Thanks again, I hope i have something fantastic to report in the morning

[gab]

SP is not required. But since you get it anyway, you can use it to your advantage. I would not give up on naps. Those are the best times to WILD. You should go straight to REM (well, after few minutes). You don't need to be able to move your physical body, so if you in SP, stay there. Try to get up or roll out or float out of your physical body into LD. It will be confusing at first, because you feel only one body and you think it's the physical one. But what you feeling is your dream body and just give it a try and roll out. You can practice this rolling out during day. Lay down on your back, and without sending signals to your muscles, try to move and wiggle your sleep body. Pretend, there is another body inside you (like russian matrioshka dolls). Try to pretend to do tiny movements. Same way, as when you on your back and you want to roll over on your bed to your left or right side. You can also practice raising up your dream hand. Again, lay down and pretend there is an object above your stomach. Visualize moving your hand and grabbing it. Then when you in SP, do the same. Either stand up or roll out. Once you do that, you realize you are dreaming. If you want to try and float out, just think "up" and imagine yourself hovering. You can even direct your dream body in any direction just by thinking of moving that way. Ask your mom to tell you in more details how she does it. Good luck. Please ask, if we didn't cover something.

[Plexify]

Good morning folks! So something did happen last night, not a proper LD but I think it is a good sign. I set my alarm for 4am, as I get up at 5 anyway. Practised WILD when going to bed (I know that is unlikely to work, but Ive been finding it very relaxing at least ) and had some brainwave entrainment loaded and that tutorial Checkers linked to. I woke up after two dreams, made a couple of notes, couldn't bring myself to get out of bed, oops! My alarm went off, so I got up and read some of the tutorial for about 30 minutes, went back to bed, put on the audio, and tried WILD. I went to sleep pretty quickly, and ended up exactly where I've been trying to go, a place I visited in a dream a few nights ago. The problem is that instead of being aware it was a dream and doing a RC, my dream self got all hung up about needing to do a RC and just couldnt figure out how! So I ended up running around, trying to find a strong light to see my hands (which were oddly elusive) and trying to get the coordination to pinch my nose! So I am remembering the concept of RCing in dreams, but aren't yet lucid enough to actually realize it's a dream, and that not being able to find my nose is a pretty clear indication that it is XD I think this might be a good thing? That is extremely good advice Gab, I will try it tonight!

[gab]

It's not really the RC that will give you lucidity. It's your awareness. Check out the self-aware part in WILD linked tutorial. And a mini awareness question for DILD Collection of techniques...

[Plexify]

Progress, I think I did WBTB with WILD last night, and still didn't LD, but think I got somewhere with WILD. I followed your advice and tried to do some tiny imaginary movements, and managed to put my dream hand on my face. I had some very interesting HHs as well, which hasn't happened before. Unfortunately, I fell asleep and had normal dreams after that. Thanks for the links Gab, I will have a look today

[gab]

... tried to do some tiny imaginary movements, and managed to put my dream hand on my face. I had some very interesting HHs as well, which hasn't happened before. Unfortunately, I fell asleep and had normal dreams after that. That's awesome, congrats! Remember that you can do that. Next time when you have HH, try and reach out to touch them. If the HH evolves into a movie, pick a spot in it and see yourself there. I say "I... am... there" And keep up with your mantra so you don't fall asleep before you enter dream lucidly.