HOW TO OVERCOME FEAR IN OBE STATES

©Copyright Alfred Ballabene, Vienna, 2000

In the last time e-mails very often were dominated by fear questions. This may cause a wrong sight of OBEing. Most of the persons who had fear problems did not have any OBE and for that reason did not know how to discern OBEs from vivid dreams, near-sleep states (hypnagogic states) and nightmares. Respectively nightmares are typically for such mistakes, because nightmares include awareness of sleep paralysis, but in this case in a semi-awake state, so that vivid dream visions are set in action by the upcoming fear. People then feel some presence of ghosts or demons and because they are close to a daylike consciousness they are convinced that all what they are aware is real.

I recommend to observe the hypnagogic pre-sleep states in order to get a feeling and understanding for the haluzinatory character of such dream filmlets, though in the hypnagogic state the filmlets are less emotional and for that reason less dramatic.

The Most Frequent Sources of OBE Fears

1] FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN

Very often OBE beginners have fear because of the unknown. The best receipt is to get used by constant trials and increasing practice by little experimenting steps. Further your fear of the unknown can be counteracted by reading OBE literature and OBE experiences as much as possible.

2] THE FEAR TO LOSE THE PHYSICAL BODY

Very often beginners report that they are afraid to loose contact with their physical body and as a consequence to get loss of their physical body. Intellectual knowledge that such coincidences never have been reported does not count to them at the moment when they feel lost alone in the situation. In this case I am of opinion that the best receipt to counter that kind of fear is to get used to the situation by experiencing the OBE starting point more often. By the way, it's curious - this fear is mostly felt when starting but is not existent when travelling.

3] SOURCES OF FEAR HIDDEN IN THE SUBCONSCIOUS

A further source of uncontrolled fear might be found in former horror trips. Your subconscious might remember this and alarm you, whenever you approach to a similar state. In this case it could be helpful to approach to a more positive adjustment of your subconsciousness by applying visions in the hypnagogic state ("half asleep state") - visions of landscapes, of colored light etc. You even can counteract such engraved old impressions by calming meditative imagination of lovely landscapes or other imagination of calming content.

These above mentioned techniques have autosuggestive qualities because of the very relaxed or even "half asleep" state. That's the reason why these techniques can influence as good your subconsciousness. What makes such suggestions work?:

4] GHOST INTRUDERS

Hypnagogic ghost impressions

Real ghost visitors

Doors can not be locked for astral beings - therefore every room is public, such as if you would be outside on street. In common life you are not used to have a sudden look at a strange person being present in your living room for instance, you would be afraid - as me too. However, for astral sight the situation has changed, - but you are still used to the laws of the physical plane - that makes you confused and afraid. But altogether it is a fact of habit.

Further don't be afraid of spirits! Spirits on astral plane, which you may meet, are spirits as you yourself, - regard moving with a subtle body or looking with "astral eyes" makes you a spirit for yourself. Concerning other spirits around you, they are of human origin and as it is usual for humans there are good hearted or they are bad people. They are for nothing more powerful than you are, perhaps they are more convenient to the plane. If they are bad minded perhaps they try to impress you by being tricky - but that's all they can do.

5] FEAR BASED ON SLEEP PARALYSIS

To a great part sleep paralysis is explained in OBE-paralysis.

Here some additional aspects:

Of course the fact of paralysis in its own is terrifying, if you are not used to. Some times, however, breathing is hindered too, which is an additional source of fear.

General Hints on How to Handle Fear

Text taken of: The Anxiety Panic Internet Resource

TEN RULES FOR COPING WITH PANIC

1. The feelings are normal bodily reactions - exaggerated.
2. They are not harmful - just unpleasant.
3. Do not add frightening thoughts - negative, unpleasant consequences
4. Describe what is happening - notice what IS not what you fear MIGHT.
5. Wait for fear to pass - Do not fight or run away - accept it.
6. Notice when it fades - when you stop adding frightening thoughts, it fades by itself.
7. It is an opportunity for progress - use it to learn coping - learn to grow!
8. Think about progress to date despite the difficulties - think how pleased you'll be when you succeed this time.
9. When you begin to feel better, look around you, and start to plan what to do next.
10. When you are ready to go on, start off in an easy, relaxed way. There is no need for effort or hurry.

15 COPING TIPS

1. Change "What If's" to "So What".
2. Stay in the present.
3. Don't judge your feelings.
4. Thoughts and feeling are NOT actions.
5. What am I telling myself that is scaring me?
6. I am what I tell myself.
7. The more I do, the more I can do.
8. I've done it before, I CAN do it again!
9. I am the same person, here or in my safe place.
10. I can handle it, nothing terrible will happen.
11. The feeling are distressing, NOT dangerous.
12. In reality, there is nothing that can hurt me here.
13. The anxiety can only go so high and then it comes down.
14. SLOW DOWN
15. Take slow, deep breaths.

DON'T PANIC

1. Accept the feeling, it can't hurt you.
2. Give yourself permission to feel anxious.
3. Calm yourself with positive self-talk.
4. Breathe slowly through your nose.
5. Let go, float, and flow.
6. Distract yourself, it is only anxiety.
7. Use the adrenaline in a positive pursuit.
8. Don't let a bad day scare you.
9. Give yourself credit for how far you've come.
10. Let time pass, IT WILL GO AWAY!

(original text from A.I.M., no link known)

©Alfred Ballabene, Vienna, Austria, Europe, 2000
This article was originally published by Alfred Ballabene here.
Used with permission from the author.