Auditory Sleep Starts: More commonly referred to as exploding head syndrome. Again, usually caused by stress or fatigue. The victim may hear a loud noise (an explosion, waves, or ringing) that may emanate from within the head. The causes are unknown, but this syndrome is not thought to be harmful or detrimental to personal health.
What is a Dream?Many definitions to choose from:
A person's subconscious and their imagination play integral roles in determining how dreams work, and what images are used. All in all, dreams are a unique aspect of humanity that are difficult to grasp an understanding of, but are essential to not only being human, but to learning more about yourself; to help get your bearings on this crazy existence called life (Not intended in a bad way mind you).
What causes a Dream to occur?Nobody knows. However, it's theorized by some scientists (and the common people) that dreams help the brain make sense of all the information it collected; converting artificial problems into natural ones (via awkward symbols and other representations). There are many other theories, but this one is the most hailed and most logical. It's also theorized the brain uses dreams not only to make sense of information, but to help build and maintain it's connections in memory for optimal performance.
Dream PhenomenaThere are some events that seem prevalent among the population that need to be covered:
Dream within a dream: As the name implies, you'll have a dream in the middle of a dream. Sometimes this can go overboard and a person may have a dream in a dream in a dream IN a dream. The cause may be biological in nature and not harmful to your health. Also, this doesn't hold any meaningful interpretations as far as I have seen.
False Awakenings: Essentially, you wake up...in a dream. Sometimes the dreamer will not notice anything is wrong, and their surroundings seems normal. However, sometimes a relative or friend may come to the dreamer with a problem that seems unworldly ("The toaster won't fit in the tiger."), or the character will act out of character ("Hey son! Here's a thousand dollars!"). It's possible the figure is the person's subconscious trying to maintain the dream's stability (make sure the person isn't lucid, but it's speculation). It's possible that if you're in a false awakening, and use a reality check (later), you can become lucid.
Lucid Dreams: In this dream, you become aware you are dreaming (Your conscious is awake while you're asleep). With much practice and meditation, people can attain the ability to become lucid, but it takes practice. Reality checks are key to helping one become lucid. By recognizing a flaw in a dream with logic, the conscious 'turns on' and starts working.
Falling: Sometimes, an individual will suddenly fall in a dream, and wake up flailing like a fish; similar to hypnic jerks. There's nothing wrong when this happens. This is simply "the conscious feeling a bit disoriented turning itself off."
Sometimes, dreams have common themes around them, and may repeat. Repeating dream are important because they convey a message that's so important, it has to be stated several times. Remember, dreams depend on context, so even though there's many signs, they don't necessarily point to one issue; dream context and theme is much more important than the symbols, and emotions are more accurate than the signs in the dream.
Naked Dreams: This kind of dream usually indicates some kind of vulnerability you are feeling. While that necessarily isn't the case, it's the usual, common interpretation to this kind of dream: where you are naked and everyone laughs at you, or you feel ashamed. This could also mean you aren't afraid to hide yourself, and have a strong affiliation to truth. This is all barring any loveual undertones going on of course.
Losing your teeth Dreams: This usually indicates the same thing as naked dreams, except this kind of dream deals more with appearance and status. It could also mean you're afraid of losing your teeth because you don't brush them.
Test Dreams: It could be the obvious, and mean you're worried about a test. It could also refer to a situation you're in, and how you feel under pressure; it can be loosely translated.
Remember: Dream theme and context are the most important aspects of dreams, not the signs themselves (though they do help a little).
Do dreams have any meaning or purpose to them?Yes and no. It depends on the dream. If you're conscious didn't have (or take) the time necessary to properly order the information for the day, you can get some very nonsensical dream, even moreso than usual. However, therapists and psychiatrists have definitely made use of dreams in their sessions, especially since the subconscious usually tells the truth (aside from hiding past traumas). Most people tend to give dreams far too little credit, they tell you more about your life than your conscious could ever conclude. This is why dream journals are definitely recommended. Dreams are an integral role in helping your development and self-improvement in your lifetime.
Lucid Dreaming - Sleep ParalysisWhat is sleep paralysis?There are two different kinds of sleep paralysis. One occurs naturally, and one occurs as a byproduct of lucid dreaming, and you should know what you're getting into.
Sleep paralysis as REM atoniaWhen you fall asleep you first go into non-REM sleep stages. In these sleep stages the tone (tension) of your skeletal muscles is reduced, that is, you become physically relaxed. You can still move, even though movements may be sluggish. For example, you can turn around in your sleep.
When you enter the REM stage, the skeletal muscles (except for the eye muscles and the diaphragm) become paralyzed. Since there is practically no muscle tone at all, this is called
REM atonia. When you exit the REM stage, the muscles go back to the reduced muscle tone of non-REM sleep.
There are two ways that REM atonia could go wrong: it could be activated outside of REM sleep, or it could fail to be activated during REM sleep. The former is the kind of sleep paralysis that affects lucid dreamers, and the latter is signs of a severe mental defect that you should go to a doctor for, because it makes people act out their dreams physically (which, obviously, is bad.)
Sleep paralysis as Hypnagogic HallucinationsHypnagogic states occur in the transition from wakefulness to sleep. This is the stage in which hypnic jerks occur. I'll explain that more later.
In hypnagogic states people may experience hallucinations. Hallucinations, including hypnagogic ones, are experienced as if you had actually perceived them through your senses, and they may involve any and all of your senses. The most common ones are:
- Visual HH, also known as hypnagogic imagery (HI), are typically faces, landscapes, geometric shapes.
- Auditory HH are typically roaring sounds, explosions, people shouting.
- Kinesthetic, vestibular, tactile HH are typically vibrations, the feeling of being electrocuted (minus the pain), and a sense of extreme acceleration.
Why would I want to induce sleep paralysis?The main reason a lucid dreamer would want to induce SP is because one of the methods used to achieve lucidity requires sleep paralysis. (More on that later.) However, generally sleep paralysis isn't a
desired effect, more of an unfortunate, inescapable outcome of an awesome event.
What can I expect from sleep paralysis?It's not enjoyable in the slightest. Because the main SP you'll be exposed to occurs after you wake up, it's almost all going to be hypnagogic hallucinations, and they're stuff-your-pants scary. You're completely paralyzed and your brain is still in dream mode, which leads to some very forgeted up experiences.
How can I get out of it?Very appropriate question. There aren't very many ways to get out of it, unfortunately. The best way to escape it is to focus all your brainpower on wiggling your toes. No, that is not a Kill Bill reference. Once you can wiggle a toe, you should be out of it.
Otherwise, it only lasts ten minutes. Just hang in there and remember nothing you're seeing is real.
HypnagogiaJust a brief mention here, since it's not really too relevant. Hypnagogia is the transition period between waking and sleeping, and everyone experiences it. If you've ever been falling asleep and your leg suddenly jerked, waking you up, you experienced what's referred to as a 'hypnic jerk'. It's caused by irregular sleep schedules, so if it's happening a lot, fix your sleep pattern.
Lucid Dreaming - The Fun StuffOh boy. This is probably why most of you are here. :neckbeard:
What is lucid dreaming?A lucid dream is a dream in which the sleeper is aware that he or she is dreaming. When the dreamer is lucid, he or she can actively participate in and often manipulate the imaginary experiences in the dream environment. Lucid dreams can seem extremely real and vivid depending on a person's level of self-awareness during the lucid dream.~ld4all.com
Basically, it's dreaming while you're aware you're in a dream, which lets you do whatever you want. Literally.
Why do I want to Lucid Dream?See above. You can do
anything you want. There are literally no boundaries. Fly to Mars. Have love with Phillip Seymour Hoffman with an enormous rack. Grow a unicorn horn and invade Poland with your army of penguins with faces like Morgan Freeman. Whatever your forgeted up mind can imagine, you can do.
Required before Lucid DreamingReality ChecksBefore you can Lucid Dream, there are a couple things you need to be good and consistent at before you attempt achieving lucidity. The first is something called a 'reality check', and this will come in handy for achieving lucidity within a dream.
Basically, it involves getting into the habit of doing a certain activity that makes you reinforce that you are, in fact, not dreaming. Popular ones involve flipping every lightswitch you see (lightswitches in dreams do not do anything), pushing your tongue against your teeth (in dreams, your teeth won't stop your tongue), or simply asking yourself "Am I dreaming?" and forming a logical answer as to why you are not. (In dreams, obviously, this will not work.) Get into the habit of doing this repeatedly, and eventually you'll do it inside your dream. When it can't be reinforced, you will gain lucidity.
Dream Recall There's no point having a lucid dream if you can't remember having it, now is there? Dream Recall is incredibly important because it allows you to remember your dreams.
There are two things required to develop dream recall:
- A pencil and notebook
- Patience
Before you go to sleep, tell yourself "I will remember my dreams." When you wake up, lie in bed without moving and try to remember everything you dreamt about. Then, when you're sure, write it down. It doesn't necessarily have to be full sentences, no one will read it but you. Phrases, pictures, whatever will jog your memory. The idea is to get adequate recall so when you ARE lucid, you'll remember your shenanigans in the morning.
Lucid Dreaming MethodsThere are several methods to induce a lucid dream, but these are the two most popular, for good reason.
MILD The first method is called MILD, or 'Mnemonic Induced Lucid Dreaming'. This technique combines focus of your intention with the power of reality checks to induce lucid dreams.
How to MILD, Step 1
MILD only really requires one thing in order to work correctly: a mnemonic, or mantra.
A mantra is any word, phrase, or sentence that you repeat to yourself to help you focus on and meet your goal. There are many good mantras for MILD. You should choose one that you think will work for you. You can always create your own or change one of these suggestions. Some ideas for MILD mantras include:
- I will notice my dream signs and I will realize I am dreaming.
- Then next time I dream I will realize I am dreaming
- I will notice dream signs and do RCs in my dream.
- I will recognize the next dream sign I see.
How to MILD, Step 2- Relax. Use whatever relaxation technique you have found works for you. Do it for 5-10 minutes, or longer if you need it.
- Once you are relaxed repeat the mantra you have chosen for your intention over and over to yourself in your head. Keep your mind focused on your goal while you do this. You should repeat this mantra as long as you can, but you don't want it to keep you awake. Try to make your last thought before falling asleep be about lucid dreaming.
- If you wake up during the night lay still and try to remember any dreams you have had. Write down some notes about them immediately. If you haven't had a lucid dream yet you may repeat the MILD technique if you wish.
- If you sleep through the night try to remember any dreams you had before you get out of bed. Hopefully you had a MILD during the night and will remember it now.
That's really all there is to it. MILDs are good because they require no preperation, and they're much easier than WILDs. They do rely heavily on reality checks, however, and if you forget to do them, you'll most likely miss your chance.
WILD WILD stands for 'Wake Initiated Lucid Dream' because you lapse into a dream directly from consciousness. In other words, you stay awake while your body goes to sleep, and you transition directly to dream control.
The trick is to recognize the hypnagogic state and stay conscious while it develops in dream images. You will then be able to literally step into your own dream world.
The hypnagogic state occurs on the border between waking and sleeping. It can be anything from colored dots to flashes of color or complete images. As you keep paying attention to it they will develop into more detailed images and if you stay aware you will find yourself inside your dream.
WILD in 3 easy stepsThe below steps are interwoven. I separated them to make the process clearer.
Step 1: RelaxThe hypnagogic stage occurs when you are relaxed. So first you do a relaxation exercise.
Feel yourself breathing in and out. Breathe in and tense the muscles of your feet. Breathe out and relax the muscles of your feet. Breathe in and tense the muscles in your lower legs. Breathe out and relax them again. Go on until you have come to your head.
Step 2: Stay ConsciousThe next step is staying conscious, and not drifting off. The best way to do that is to imagine yourself walking down stairs, counting each stair. Also, it helps to not focus on any specific hypnagogic imagery you see.
Step 3: Entering your dreamIf you succeed in staying aware your hypnagogic images will become clearer. You will suddenly have a feeling you can now step into your dream. It's hard to describe the feeling, but you'll know it when you feel it. Once you have this feeling, you can grab an object you see before you or zoom in on an image. This will pull you into the dream. Other people have reported feelings like a black room with a door, and within the door is your "dreamscape" - the location of your dream. It ultimately depends on how you prefer to visualize it.
Keep PracticingThe hardest thing is to stay aware and not drifting off to sleep. If you don't succeed, keep trying. WILD can take some time to master but it is worth it.
Experienced WILDers can reach this state without the counting - they just relax, keep paying attention to the hypnagogic images and then consciously enter the dreaming state. (I can do this. :v:)
Increasing Chances of LucidityThis only consists of one tip, until I can remember others. But one way to greatly increase your chances of attaining lucidity is this tasty creation.
Peanut butter banana toast. Taste the deliciousness.(For those of you that are wondering, the Vitamin B12 in the Toast greatly increase metabolic [and therefore brain] activity, the vitamin B6 is famous for improving Dream Recall [go figure], and the peanut butter is there because it is delicious and ties the food together.)
Eat one or two slices a night, and it'll greatly improve your chances.
Lucid Dreaming General/Advanced Tips
You want to talk to someone/something: Put yourself in a fairly empty setting. I suggest your neighborhood, or a park or field or something. Maybe a parking lot. Just make sure there's no one else there. (Just don't visualize them. If they won't go away, focus on them not being there, close your eyes, and spin 360 degrees and open your eyes. They're gone.) Now, to talk to said person. Visualize them behind you, close/open your eyes, and turn around. Voila.
While you can generally do anything in dreams, your brain can't handle making people disappear. You can, however, make a stuffload of people appear/disappear. More on that later.
If you're ready, you can summon your subconscious. You can have long talks with yourself, but it's usually very scary and will probably wake you up.
DO NOT ASK IT WHAT YOUR BIGGEST FEAR IS. You won't sleep for days, I stuff you not.
So you want to fly, eh? Don't try this early on, it's a bad idea. First, make sure you're dreaming. (You should always do this, goes with the reality check idea.) Practice jumping really high, and get your brain to realize there are no laws of physics. Then, just start flying. Your brain won't let you at first, but if you work at it, you will.
forget physics, it's my brain. If you've run out of fun things to do, here's a list of my dreaming shenanigans.
- Full-scale reenactment of World War II, except all the soldiers look like Obama and the generals all look like Mister Feeney. With me leading the charge dressed in samurai armor riding a flaming unicorn.
- Put myself on a runway in an airport. Ran so fast I outran the Earth's curve and ran to Mars. Populated Mars.
- Inserted myself into x-amount of TV shows.
Be careful dreaming about love. If you're not disciplined, you'll get excited and wake yourself up. It's very hard to do it, I don't recommend it.
Also, you will probably fail a LOT attempting this.
On average, it takes about three to four weeks to achieve lucidity.{Acknowledgements, etc.}Facepunch megathread
