I used to be able to do this thing to where if I kept perfectly still, I'd "stare" (with eyes closed) into the nothingness---by that I mean I'd be staring into the backs of my eyelids---and there'd be a point in which my mind would start to create images. For instance, the shape would take the form of a fish, and then I'd see it become a radio, etc.
If I held on and tried this for as long as possible, I'd feel my body drift off to sleep. But it was hard, because there'd be something in me that would jerk and stop the imagery (like a hypnic jerk, just nowhere near as uncomfortable).
There was a bizarre situation where one evening I felt my body convulse (or perhaps I imagined it) and I'd actually fallen asleep. However, I was so freaked out by it that I shook my body awake, in my dream, and I woke up. I must've been out for less than a minute or so.
It's been 7-8 months since I was last able to stare into the nothingness and let sleep overtake me. Maybe it's my caffeine intake or something else, but I would like to experience it again.
> I used to be able to do this thing to where if I kept perfectly still, I'd "stare" (with eyes closed) into the nothingness---by that I mean I'd be staring into the backs of my eyelids---and there'd be a point in which my mind would start to create images. For instance, the shape would take the form of a fish, and then I'd see it become a radio, etc.
> If I held on and tried this for as long as possible, I'd feel my body drift off to sleep. But it was hard, because there'd be something in me that would jerk and stop the imagery (like a hypnic jerk, just nowhere near as uncomfortable).
I do the same thing, though the more mental effort put into creating the images makes it take longer before I'm able to fall asleep. There's a sweet spot of putting the smallest mental effort to go to sleep quickly.
I usually use it as a crutch when I can't just let my mind drift.
If I held on and tried this for as long as possible, I'd feel my body drift off to sleep. But it was hard, because there'd be something in me that would jerk and stop the imagery (like a hypnic jerk, just nowhere near as uncomfortable).
There was a bizarre situation where one evening I felt my body convulse (or perhaps I imagined it) and I'd actually fallen asleep. However, I was so freaked out by it that I shook my body awake, in my dream, and I woke up. I must've been out for less than a minute or so.
It's been 7-8 months since I was last able to stare into the nothingness and let sleep overtake me. Maybe it's my caffeine intake or something else, but I would like to experience it again.
Edit: I'm pretty sure they were hypnagogic hallucinations. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/how-sleep-works/hypnagogic-h...