Hey guys, I’ve had sleep paralysis a few times…maybe 4-5 times in life that I can remember. I’ve been reading about lucid dreaming and find it really really interesting but I have anxiety so I’m not sure if it’s best for me to experiment with this stuff.
Last night after reading this lucid dreaming stuff for a few days I found it very uncomfortable trying to get asleep and it took longer. Sometimes when I was about to doze off I would catch myself and wake myself up because it was like I was kind of afraid that I would go into sleep paralysis or maybe have a weird dream.
So just a few questions…
Before learning about lucid dreaming have you had sleep paralysis before, if so how often?
After trying to lucid dream with or without success and reading about lucid dreaming it have you had sleep paralysis, if so how often now?
Have you guys had anxiety before going to sleep kinda like I had last night once reading about this stuff?
Do you think someone like me who has some anxiety and has had panic disorder should not explore lucid dreaming?
We all have sleep paralysis every night… but how many we remember is another thing… Before I start to practice LD I don’t remember to have SP but of course I had them
After being here I’ve experienced only one SP… And it was awesome for me…
Never
I think everybody should explore their dreams… Of course if they want… I like to explore my dream world, first of all because it’s a lot of fun… And one day maybe that will help me to understand some things better…
1) Before learning about lucid dreaming have you had sleep paralysis before, if so how often?
I guess I did when I was very young, probably about 2-3 times a week at one stage. It was a bit frightening but I got used to it.
2) After trying to lucid dream with or without success and reading about lucid dreaming it have you had sleep paralysis, if so how often now?
I havn’t had sleep paralysis ever since I learnt about lucid dreaming. But many many people do I think.
3) Have you guys had anxiety before going to sleep kinda like I had last night once reading about this stuff?
Nope, but I have had insomnia a few times because when I first started off I was extremely exited about having a lucid dream. That stage has passed now.
4) Do you think someone like me who has some anxiety and has had panic disorder should not explore lucid dreaming?
I never had SP but there is on thing I can tell you…
What are you afraid of ? sleep is sleep, dreams are dreams, you did them all your life !
Do not be afraid, when you go to bed, remember that there is nothing to be afraid of because you can always wake up, right ? You look at lucid dreams like it was a scary thing, but it’s not, it’s an adventure ! It’s all in your head so you can’t be harmed
It’s healthy to be feared sometimes… But it’s not something that should restrict you in achieving LD’s, or anything you want in your life… so just keep going toward your goal…
Thanks guys, definitely keep the answers to my question coming…I think it has helped me be less anxious about it already.
I’m wondering what are some techniques to get out of that scary sleep paralysis state? I just hate it it’s so scary and I think this is what is making me scared about this whole thing.
Well, you can always get out of sleep paralysis, it doesn’t last forever and ever. Just struggling really hard to get out of it, or telling yourself something like. “Get out of this.” Would do the job. I think anyways, any more suggestions are welcome.
Nope. But I actually like SP. I like the HI that goes along with it, it can be really amusing. It’s only scary if you expect it to be.
I have it only when I try to WILD, even then I’ve only had it once or twice.
I have, but that was before I started LDing. And I was just afraid of sleeping for like, a week. Terrible insomia, but I got over it. If anything I got better about it after learning about LDing.
I don’t see why not, but that’s not my area of expertise. If anything, you should judge that for yourself.
To get out of SP you can just focus really hard on waking up. That should do the trick.
So lucid dreams is during REM sleep right? and sleep paralysis happens before REM sleep or during? If before then how do we not act out dreams while in a lucid dream if we are not also in sleep paralysis?
Like can I go from a lucid dream into sleep paralysis?
1) Before learning about lucid dreaming have you had sleep paralysis before, if so how often?
That I know of or remember, I haven’t had sleep paralysis but I probably have at sometime during my life. (I have a bad memory)
2) After trying to lucid dream with or without success and reading about lucid dreaming it have you had sleep paralysis, if so how often now?
I haven’t had sleep paralysis.
3) Have you guys had anxiety before going to sleep kinda like I had last night once reading about this stuff?
Yes, I have. Mostly after having a nightmare or a bad dream. Or the first time I felt what it was like trying to put myself in sleep paralysis. (I’ve only tried it three or four times after and developed my own control over any state that shocks my system where I ca n “throw it off”)
4) Do you think someone like me who has some anxiety and has had panic disorder should not explore lucid dreaming?
Yes. I think you should definitely explore lucid dreaming. I have both of these and I find that exploring my dreams helps me to discover ways to cope with them and discover what they stem from.
If you really feel anxiety about sleep paralysis then you should try other lucid dreaming methods such as MILD, WILD and WBTB. The guides section has valuable information on all different methods and you shouldn’t limit yourself to just one. If you feel anxiety about one you should try another. There’s no need to stick with something that’s scaring you. Don’t fear sleep paralysis because most of the time you won’t even realise when you’re in it. I’m sure you will find what you seek.
I can tell you from my experience that combination between WBTB and MILD, can give some great results…
And about sleep paralysis: Sleep paralysis occurs either when falling asleep, or when awakening. When it occurs upon falling asleep, the person remains aware while the body shuts down for REM sleep, when it occurs upon awakening, the person becomes aware before the REM cycle is complete. And sleep paralysis is a natural part of REM sleep.
Why sleep paralysis?
During rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep, the muscles of the body are paralyzed, presumably to prevent the dreamer from physically acting out the dream.
Meaning that everyone experiences it weather they intend it or not. Though there are some rare people that don’t and most of them are either sleep walkers, have sleep epilepsy or end up waking with bruises from hitting stuff in their sleep. So trust me, you’d notice if you didn’t have it more than if you did have it.
I’ve had SP a couple of times back when I was younger and didn’t know about lucid dreaming. I never had hallucinations though, so the SP wasn’t really scary to me.
Yes I actually had one SP like a day or two after I read about it on the site. I was afraid of having an SP just like you because it could be accompanied with hallucinations, but luckily, my SP was without hallucinatons. I remember it was early morning and my room was lit up because of the sun shining through the window, but I couldn’t move my body. I immediatley realized that it was SP and didn’t fear it at all. I was just amazed that it would happen only a day after I read about it, and even though I feared it so much, it still happened. It wasn’t scary at all when I realized what it was and it only lasted for like 10-20 seconds. Immediatley when I heard my alarm go off I was able to move again.
Yes of course. Dreaming is like a scary movie to me. It’s veeeeeeery interesting but it could scare you sometimes. I was very afraid of getting hallucinations while having an SP.
I don’t know. It is only dreams, it is not real. Try to remember that and you won’t have a problem. It can be scary at the moment but sometimes you have wonderful dreams too right? Times when you don’t wanna wake up, and when you do wake up, you’re pissed off because you wanted to stay in that dream world.
:
sleep is sleep, dreams are dreams, you did them all your life ! 
