A few months ago, I had an experience that seemed related to Lucid Dreaming.
So, I was laying in bed and slowly, I felt my body going numb. I started hearing random noises and I felt pressure on my chest.
According to the research I’ve done so far on the subject, apparently that was called Sleep Paralysis.
Since I had some knowledge of LDs before, I figured that was basically the first step to Lucid Dreaming.
Unfortunately, it took a turn for the worse when I started hallucinating. I basically had a horrifying experience that I’d rather not talk about.
So, my question is: Is sleep paralysis really way of achieving Lucid Dreaming? How can I prevent those hallucinations?
Could those hallucinations actually be a very short and scary Lucid Dream that, for some reason, I couldn’t control?
According to what I’ve read, you can do all sorts of things in Lucid Dreams.
Let’s take flying for example. I’ve obviously never flew before in real life. If I do it in my Lucid Dream, my brain won’t know how to “translate” the feeling, since I’ve never experienced it before while awake.
Another simpler example: If, in a Lucid Dream, I eat a fruit that I’ve never tasted before, I won’t be able to know the taste since my brain doesn’t know it from real life. (I realise this may be a bad example, but bare with me. I am an amateur after all.)
So, basically, how does it work? Do you even feel stuff in Lucid Dreams?
There are plenty articles about preventing and using sleep paralysis. Some suggest wiggling toes and fingers to get out of it.
You have been on roller coasters, you have jumped and fallen before. What separates these from flying? If you have experienced any of these, your brain can fill in the blanks for flying. Same with food. You would be impressed with your minds ability to make it feel even more than real. Good Luck!
I don’t think sleep paralysis is really a way of achieving lucid dreaming. Though people who use WILD can kind of use sleep paralysis to tell how close they are to entering a dream. I wouldn’t rely on it too much though.
There isn’t necessarily a way to prevent hallucinations as far as I know. Rather than prevent them, you should try to manipulate them into something less frightening. The hallucinations are created by your mind, so it shouldn’t be too hard to change the boogeyman into a teddy bear. Expectations are also important. If you expect something scary it will probably be scary. So think happy thoughts.
It’s possible but I think it was most likely the effects of sleep paralysis. Also it technically wouldn’t be a lucid dream if you didn’t even know if you were dreaming.
Well I don’t really know the science of it, but it definitely does work. Although you have never flown before, your brain will borrow the sensations from something that it expects to be similar. For example, it might feel like it did the last time you were on some kind of amusement park ride or the last time you jumped off of something.
It would probably be similar in your fruit example. Your brain will probably expect it to taste like something fruity you’ve tasted before. The mystery fruit could end up tasting like apples with a little bit of orange flavor.
Yes, you feel stuff. All of your senses are capable of working in dreams. You can even turn some senses off (like pain) if you desire.
But the descriptions of WILD from other users seem very similar to Sleep Paralysis. (pressure on chest, body going numb, hearing noises and seeing “shapes”.
You asked if sleep paralysis was a way of achieving lucidity. When performing WILD, sleep paralysis is more like a potential side effect. The technique is what makes you lucid dream, not the sleep paralysis.
Oh, I see.
So, when I experienced that, I had accidentally succeeded in WILD? Without trying it?
Also, I now seem to recall that, I think, that actually happened while I was dreaming. I mean, the dream suddenly stopped and then I got Sleep Paralysis.
Maybe I’m just remembering it wrong though…
Lucidis already said this, but I’d just like to reiterate Sleep paralysis is indeed part of WILDing as are the hallucinations. So if you weren’t intending to WILD but ended up in sleep paralysis, then yea you could have let it happen and follow it to a dream.
You can’t really prevent the hallucinations; it’s where the dream scene usually forms. Just a quick question, are the hallucinations occurring with your eyes open (like the old hag thing), or is it definitely dream-like in a completely different place to the bedroom? I’m asking because I know some people who have hypnagogic imagery with their eyes open and it often ends up freaky, so they keep their eyes closed to avoid it. I don’t how their eyes stay open, mine are always naturally closed
Yes. Emotions, feelings, everything is possible in lucid dreams (well, maybe lol). As others have said, your brain will just relate it to something it’s familiar with. I fly a lot in my dreams, and each time it’s like being on a rollercoaster. You know, that adrenaline rush with a slight falling feeling. Very exhilirating
As for food, I’ve licked a seatbelt before. That wasn’t pleasant… it was just like licking freshly washed bed sheets; tasteless, ‘linty’, etc. Don’t ask how my brain put that together haha I guess as a baby I probably munched on seatbelts during car rides >.<
Sleep paralysis is indeed part of WILDing as are the hallucinations. So if you weren’t intending to WILD but ended up in sleep paralysis, then yea you could have let it happen and follow it to a dream.
