Falling asleep waaaay to soon!

[sprada]

Need some help here guys. My English sucks. Sorry for that. I've been trying to WILD since I started this journey with no success. I think I've got pretty close the first tries. However it seems like I've hit a stone wall. The thing is.. I fall asleep way too soon. Really, way to soon. Even when I'm not completely tired it takes only a couple of minutes to fall asleep. I've tried several mantras, counting, white noise, several binaural beats stuff, etc., etc.. nothing seems to work. So usually it goes like this. After a WBTB or during a nap, I lay on my back (usually sleep with my stomach down) relax and start counting or repeating a mantra (like "I'm aware" or even "I'm awake" ) and one or two minutes after I'm asleep like a baby. Usually I wake up like 30/40/50 minutes later. If I decide to take a second shoot I can stay awake. But then nothing happens. There I am, Laying really still, repeating my mantra as long patience allows but nothing happens. Today I tried this mentioned by VagalTone in another thread. It seems like a good idea. Woke up at 12h/12:30. and decide to try a WBTB during a nap at 17:00. Laid down on my back with my right forearm held vertically upright. Only a couple of minutes later was drifting away and felt my forearm tilting down. Hey this thing works So I just stood there for 2 hours!! and nothing happened. Nothing. Not even close. I do know I should not search for HI or SP or something like that. But there's nothing.. Some months ago, when I started there was always a lot of stuff happening. now... nada, niente. Am I missing something here? Cheers.

[JasmineDreams]

What is HI? And you say you wake up 30 mins later, ok, well you should try again after that, keep an alarm clock set at 1 hour intervals for just in case you go to sleep and once you wake up, try a WBTB. Im not completely sure, but I always was under the impression that mantras were for when you were READY to go to sleep. Even if that isn't the case its obviously not working for you so stop doing it until you are ready. I asked a question about this and have yet to get an answer, but it is my understanding that if you are in NREM, you will fall asleep before hypnagogia really kicks in. I think you just need to focus on staying up until that point. Have you tried staring at the swirlies on the back of your eyelids? With your eyesclosed stare sstraight ahead. I would even go so far as to saying to do all the things they tell you not to do, I.e swallow, scratch an itch, maybe even lay in a position that isn't too comfortable. Your stomach is definitely not that position. Continue to try laying on your back, but be aware that this is how SP kicks in.

[JasmineDreams]

I really think you are having the same problem I am having and we are just not timing the WILD for our sleep cycles correctly. You said that some months ago, you were getting close. Same with me. I think we are both attempting WILD while in NREM, or something other than REM. Let me do a little research on said topic.

[JasmineDreams]

Do you have Android or iPhone ?

[sprada]

And you say you wake up 30 mins later, ok, well you should try again after that I am trying after that. That's when nothing happens. but it is my understanding that if you are in NREM, you will fall asleep before hypnagogia really kicks in That would explain something but I always thought that SP, HI etc is always there. Even if you're drifting into NREM sleep. I could be wrong. I'm an Android user.

[Validus]

Hey, Sprada. I'm happy that you were able to gain some success when you had first started practicing your WILDing, so great job! I do believe that one possible cause to your new found problem could be a lack of a good sleeping schedule. For, if you have a good schedule, then that allows everything to synchronize to the schedule, or the schedule to everything. Everything being; Sensations upon sleep (Drowsiness), indicating the body/mind is in need of rest and repair. Following this, or even before, a meditation to allow for a new and relaxed mind set to take with you into the WILD attempt. Sleep Cycles, which will allow you to then try and track down your best REM Cycles through out the night to give you your best chance at attaining Lucidity through a WBTB. If you are able to synchronize your dream cycles, and sensations that follow sleep and all it's wonders, then you'll be almost setting your body/mind into new thought process. That being; SLEEP, LUCIDITY, AWARNESS, Etc. Why is that? Well, because you are only following this routine because it will better help you understand your mind and body, and how that understanding these things will in turn, allow you to succeed at the goals you have set in place. Thus, putting you into that mind state, and everything that follows. Also, thanks to an addition of a slight routine that you have given the body/mind. It will allow you to be better suited for success. Well, IMO, anyways . Hope i have helped a little! Kinda rambled on haha. Happy Dreaming!

[LucidBrot]

Yes, SP is always there while you dream, but that doesn't mean you'll experience it. If you're still falling asleep too fast, even after finding a better time to wild, try to meditate to 'strengthen' your awareness - it's like with anything else: the more you practize, the easier it becomes