Thread: Questions About My Experiences Attempting to WILD

I have found out about this website about 4 days ago and so far had one lucid dream in which I woke up and then immediately fell back to sleep and that is when I had the dream. During which I was only lucid for perhaps a second because I woke up right after realizing I was lucid. I'm not sure what type of LD this was but I'm guessing DEILD but if someone could correct me or confirm this that would be great.

I think I fall into the group of beginners that try to WILD. So far I have only tried to WILD during my normal bedtime and a nap, however I will make an attempt to do it 5 hours after sleeping when I am most likely close to a REM phase. My dream recall has never really been good but ever since I found out about the website about 4 days ago, my dream recall has greatly improved, remembering dreams almost every night so far. I have read many threads on this website about lucid dreaming and WILDs but if anyone can give me some tips they are always appreciated.

The following are things I have experienced when I have been attempting to WILD. One of my attempts consisted with an Ipod but I couldn't even fall asleep. I'm thinking of my next attempt to listen to some relaxing music BEFORE attempting to WILD to already have my body relaxed.

I had once felt a swirling sensation in my head while counting. Like if you are going down a spiral.
I feel that my eyes are vibrating or flickering although my eyelids are closed.
My eyelids slowly try to open themselves.
I feel my limbs getting heavier and I know that if i were to try I could move them but they feel so heavy that I don't even bother trying. I think this is a stage before the onset of sleep paralysis.
I see some images on my eyelids similar to if you put your hands in a fist and cover your eyes with them, at first random images but then I start seeing a face or an object.
And finally, what was probably my closest experience to a WILD was when my body was flipped with my back facing the ceiling but my head slightly tilted to the side and I noticed that as I was counting my breaths, every time I counted I felt my head being pushed into the mattress. This persisted for about 20 breaths and then I fell asleep.

To help improve my technique I will list it here. I know that it is easier to WILD after a few hours of sleep but for this technique it is when I am going to sleep at night.

1. Stretch my arms and legs a bit.

2. Listen to some relaxing music on ipod laying in bed. Not concentrated on sleeping or anything but just enjoying the music and relaxing.

3. Take off the ipod and lay down on my bed with my chest, toes,and face facing up. Commence relaxing.

4. I extend my neck just a bit, this seems to help reduce the urge to swallow.

5. Count breaths, I don't really think about it just do it and sometimes I forget that I'm even counting but continue to do so and find myself at 30 60 or 80 breaths.

6. My body begins to feel heavy and I may see some things in my eyelids or my eyelids or eyes will feel like they are moving a lot.

That's as far as I get and the thing that is probably the most irritating to me is that when I swallow I can't really take a good breath so that interrupts my breathing pattern because then I have to take one large breath to regulate my breathing again. When this happens, I usually mess up my counting and come back to 1. If anyone has any tips to prevent this please feel free to share.

I also have 2 additional questions. The first pertains to your sleeping position and the second to itches.

Should you be laying normally on the bed facing up or can it be sideways or however is comfortable to you? I've tried facing down and up and when I was facing up was when I saw some of the images in my eyelids. Also if you were to lay in your most comfortable position, is that fine if your most comfortable position is sideways?

During one of my attempts I felt itching but ignored it and it went away. For the most part I don't really experience itching but when I do should I scratch it or leave it there like it has been?

Thanks for taking your time to read this.