You allways go through NREM when falling asleep. Byt the time you reach REM, you should be on the verge of falling asleep, just seconds away.

When I WILD, sometimes it gets tricky to know when you already fallen asleep. There are some signs, but they can be easily overlooked, because of our state of mind at that point.

1. I may see HH, that evolve into photographs and moving pictures - videos. That's my clue, that dream is ready for me and I can enter it and let go - fall asleep.

2. I may feel any sensation line vibrations, feeling of sinking into bed, falling backwards, flying head first at warp speed, rotating, waving, ... When this is happening, there is a good chance that you are alseep and you can try and either to a motionless RC, or just trust your instincts (and what you read here on DV) and roll out of your body or simply stand up).

3. I may start seein my room or any other place around me. As if I was still awake, on a sofa, with my eyes opened. Only I'm already asleep.. At this moment I just stand up and I'm in a dream.

As long as you know, that there may not be any clue that you are already asleep, or it will be so subtle, that it's easily missed, you will be ok. If you know this, you can start doing motionless RCs (trying to roll out without moving your muscles, trying to bring your hands in front of your face without moving muscles, trying to levitate up...), or just try and stand up or roll out.

Sometimes you will need a leap of faith. Even if you are 100% sure you are still awake, RC or stand up. Good luck