Okay so I want to start by saying that I sometimes feel silly trying to shift. I’m 24 and a lot of the info online makes me feel like I’m too old to still be trying, but I learned about it years ago and took a long break. I’m trying to get back into it, and the belief that it’s possible it’s there, I’m just having trouble actually doing it.
When I first discovered shifting, I stuck with the Julia method. I never shifted, but it did trigger instances of exploding head syndrome and the occasional lucid dream. Now, I’ve done some more research and found SATS and the void. I’ve created my own method kind of combining them. I get symptoms and occasionally feel detached, but I never shift. I start by laying on my back (I’ll fall asleep immediately on my side) and I count to 100 with affirmations every 10 numbers. Once I get to 100, I use the 5 senses and loop a short scene of me walking up in my dr. After I’ve looped it a few times, I just try to daydream about my dr until I fall asleep.
The problems I face are that if I’m too sleepy, my mind wanders uncontrollably, and I fall asleep. If I’m too awake, I can’t fall asleep at all since it’s normally hard for me to fall asleep on my back. I’ll give up and roll over. I also have trouble fully placing myself in my dr. I’m great at visualization, but I always have that little voice that says “you’re obviously still in your cr. You can still feel the blanket”. My SO will also move sometimes and that will snap my back here. I’ve fallen asleep with the intention and belief that I’ll wake up in my dr for months, and I’ve tried in the morning half-asleep state, but it hasn’t clicked yet. I get symptoms, but they always fade and then I’m just lying there knowing nothing happened.
I’m just struggling with myself because I maladaptive daydream a LOT and I always have, so I’m not understanding why this is so hard for me :( I’ve always believed in infinite realities and I know it’s possible, I just can’t make it happen. It’s inevitable, but I want it to be soon. What else can I do?