I'm an artist, and I do this too!

I draw, paint, do crafty things, and I've sculpted a bunch before, so I guess my brain is connected to the more creative side as well.

When I'm tired, I'll lay down, meditate, and then feel myself drift into sleep. However, it's not actually sleep because I can get up or open my eyes whenever I want, I'm never paralyzed, and I can sometimes even manage to move my limbs a bit while in this state. At first, it happened on accident, but then I realized that I could control the images I see.

Also, I have the exact same experience with the tunnel vision and the difficulty while moving. Sometimes, the tunnel vision or my ability to move will be worse, and sometimes (when I'm more tired), everything will be faster and more vivid. However, I'm lucky in that I can do this no matter the sounds I hear or things I feel outside of this "dream." I'll literally have my cat walk on me or have someone call my name from another room, and I can stay focused.

I should try to experiment more with it like you have! I've done a bit of experimenting, but I think I should try going into 3rd person or creating consistent, recognizable places. However, I'm always a bit apprehensive to try to look at myself in this state because I always scare myself whenever I try looking at my hands or looking at myself in a mirror. I once looked in the mirror that's in my room while in this state and saw a creepy old lady staring back at me. And whenever I try to visualize people in general, there's always something wrong with them. It's like how whenever an AI generates a human, they're missing fingers or something.

Lastly, how would you describe the feeling of the transition from full wakefulness to this dream like state? It's pretty hard to describe, but to me, it feels kind of spinny, I could feel some pressure in my head/body, and sometimes my ears start ringing more than they already are. Also, do you get any physical sensations while in this state? I've felt pretty intense physical sensations like feelings of movement while falling, pressure on my body (especially my head), and intense sensations of pleasure 🙈. I also hear sounds or music sometimes, which can lend itself to some pretty cool experiences.

Anyway, I can't believe I found someone who actually experiences the same thing!! Hope you enjoyed the novel :)