Thread: Maybe I'm border-line epileptic

After attempting WILD and also when laying with my eyes closed, after waking during the night, I often experience a sensation of flickering, almost as if my eyes are moving under my eyelids...but I've tried physically doing that and that sensation was a bit more pronounced.

When I used to play video war games regularly just before bedtime I experienced a slightly similar sensation. I'd lay with closed eyes and I seemed to be moving forward under my eyelids...not a clear image of a war scene, just the sensation of movement...which lasted for hours, and that similarity, plus the vivid HI's I had then, seem to further highlight the similar way the brain is affected by both games and LD attempts.

A few years ago, I was into 3D pictures (the ones with hidden images inside lots of coloured dots) and I found that, rather than focus ON the pics, I had to somehow look through them...a similar type of "detached" focus that's used on WILD, and suddenly, the picture would emerge from the background. I had to stop looking at them because I became "clumsy"...I'd be doing repetitive everyday actions without focussing on them...as we all do probably, when I seemed to "trip-out" for a fraction of a second (I once dropped an electric kettle I was filling, into the sink) I had to train myself to fully-focus on any repetitive action that involved fragile or potentially dangerous things. After a few weeks, the "clumsiness" wore off.

It returned when I played TV games intensively and faded-off again when I stopped (although I still don't take chances and focus fully when handling fragile things) All actions that clearly have an effect on the brain. So far, since trying LD, I haven't tripped-out...I'd be mortified if my LD attempts had that effect on me. I wonder if I am borderline epileptic? Anyone out there with experience of epilepsy?

It sounds like attention deficit to me, at least the way you've explained it.

What? Lol A 69 yo suddenly develops attention deficit disorder? You should have gone for alzheimers perhaps...Now that IS possible!

Actually, that sounds pretty normal to me. You might have become more aware of your eyes, especially if you are doing techniques such as SSILD. I have recently noticed a slight bit of tinnitus in my right ear for this reason.

The after-effects of the games you used to play are probably a variation of the Tetris effect, if you are familiar with that. It's just the brain continuing the pattern it has become used to. I have had it literally with Tetris (blocks falling in front of me while I was awake and away from the Gameboy) and also with adventure games. I once played Day of the Tentacle for a couple of days in a row, and while going for a potty break, I passed my cat and thought, "Hmmm... perhaps if I prod it, it will give me information." That's when I decided I needed to take some time off from the game.

Originally Posted by LukeSid

After attempting WILD and also when laying with my eyes closed, after waking during the night, I often experience a sensation of flickering, almost as if my eyes are moving under my eyelids...but I've tried physically doing that and that sensation was a bit more pronounced.

I have just read someplace, that our eyes may start moving as we falling asleep, even before REM period. They don't do Rapid eye movement, they just move around a bit. This is what you perhaps experienced?

Found it: How Much Sleep Do You Need? Sleep Cycles & Stages, Lack of Sleep, and How to Get the Hours You Need

Stage N1 (Transition to sleep) – This stage lasts about five minutes. Your eyes move slowly under the eyelids, muscle activity slows down, and you are easily awakened.

Originally Posted by Sibyline

... I once played Day of the Tentacle for a couple of days in a row, and while going for a potty break, I passed my cat and thought, "Hmmm... perhaps if I prod it, it will give me information." That's when I decided I needed to take some time off from the game.

Lol, I had this after playing Grand Theft Auto - was looking at cars on streets VERY different way, like which one would be better to steal, the best escape routs... And after playing skateboarding game - which place would be best to skate on. This happened of subcon level, I couldn't help it.

I've got tinnitus anyway Sybiline so I probably wouldn't notice a bit more. I've been caning WILD pretty heavily during the past few days and feeling a bit frayed and twitchy-eyed but no trip-outs thank goodness, so hopefully LDing doesn't affect me in that way. Interestingly, I've been getting lots of "rushes" in my WILD attempts, then suddenly this afternoon...nothing happened. The sci-fi writer in me wonders if I've burned-out my "zond resonator" a small fleshy protuberance, unnoticed by surgeons and implanted in all humans aeons ago by an alien race...to enable the human species develop the means to ultimately dream-warp to other galaxies...well it's just a thought.

You need not worry, LukeSid, it's just something that happens to us to a lesser or greater degree. Try not to worry.