First Attempt At Lucid Dreaming

[Hellfire]

Alright, so I've read up on Lucid Dreaming, the quick-start tutorial, basic and advanced methods, and the forums. Throughout the day I've been constantly doing Reality Checks to get myself in the habit. So last night, I tried to do it. It was a nightmare. I went to bed at 8:30, trying to get the maximum time possible. Normally I sleep on my stomach, but it said you should be completely relaxed, so I tried sleeping on my back. After 45 minutes my legs, feet, arms, and hands were numb but I still wasn't tired. I tried all positions, back, front, and sides, but I couldn't get to sleep. I think it's because I was too excited about this. I kept reminding myself "I am going to dream" but I just couldn't get to sleep. What am I doing wrong? How can I get to sleep faster? So finally I fall asleep, probably around midnight, then wake up at 5 with tiny fragments of my dream. I keep my eyes closed and try to remember, having my journal right beside my bed, but I fail and fall asleep again forgetting it forever. I wake up again at 8, knowing I had dreamt again, but have no recall about it. I decide to screw it and get up for the day, feeling tired and crappy. So what should I try doing for tonight? Close my window to block outside noise? Leave a light on? Try this method? (I have a 100 minute track that repeats -- starts at 3Hz then at 90 minutes climbs to 10Hz, then is back to 3Hz at 100 minutes then repeats)

[TygrHawk]

Hey there Hellfire, glad to have you aboard! I tried all positions, back, front, and sides, but I couldn't get to sleep. I think it's because I was too excited about this. I kept reminding myself "I am going to dream" but I just couldn't get to sleep. What am I doing wrong? How can I get to sleep faster? [/b] I'd say it's very likely that your excitement, combined with making your mind concentrate on things that you are not used to, that could have kept you from falling asleep. Also, very few people get good results the first time they try any method; just keep at it -- if you get in the habit of doing this stuff for a week or two (or at the very least a few days), then it won't seem quite so different, and you should see some progress. So what should I try doing for tonight? Close my window to block outside noise? [/b] If you feel that outside noise is disturbing you, I highly recommend those little foam earplugs. They don't completely block loud sounds, but they muffle them enough so that they shouldn't bother you. Other than that, my recommendation would be to just continue to do what you have started, and understand that it will likely take some time and practice before you see results. I can see that you are attempting to improve your dream recall; do you plan on starting a dream journal? That is the single most effective method to improve your recall. Of course, you have to remember something before you can write it down, but make sure that you have a notepad handy near your bed so that you can write down anything you can remember from your dreams as soon as you wake up. Good luck, try not to get frustrated (stress is a recall-killer), and let us know how it goes!

[ilovefrootloopz]

Believe me, once you have your first LD you will have the motivation to write in your journal (or at least point form) in the middle of the morning. For now, don't be so sad. It's only been one night. My first night I had zippo recall (not even fragments like you had). It will probably be anywhere from a week to 3 months for your first lucid.... I was lucky and had one my second night, but that's another story.... EDIT: Also, don't try to fall asleep so early. It might of been the excitment that kept you awake, but likewise it could've also been the fact that you had gone to bed so early. If you're going to try and expand your sleeping time, try going to bed 10 minutes earlier than the day before until you reach your desired time.

[Hellfire]

Thanks for the help both of you If you feel that outside noise is disturbing you, I highly recommend those little foam earplugs. They don't completely block loud sounds, but they muffle them enough so that they shouldn't bother you. Other than that, my recommendation would be to just continue to do what you have started, and understand that it will likely take some time and practice before you see results.[/b] I'll look into earplugs, especially at only 9 PM everyone in my house is still up watching TV and talking also I hear trucks go by, people talking outside, two guys blasting their car horns at each other -- so yeah I'll try that I can see that you are attempting to improve your dream recall; do you plan on starting a dream journal? That is the single most effective method to improve your recall. Of course, you have to remember something before you can write it down, but make sure that you have a notepad handy near your bed so that you can write down anything you can remember from your dreams as soon as you wake up. Good luck, try not to get frustrated (stress is a recall-killer), and let us know how it goes! [/b] Yes I have a small notebook beside my bed, I guess I woke up thinking those small dream fragments weren't even worth writing down so now I forgot them, all I can remember is that it involved a totaled SUV... heh... So tonight I'll try to remember my dreams more, and write down anything I can think of EDIT: This afternoon, I recalled a large fragment of one of my dreams This starts my dream journal which I'll try to write in every night now Believe me, once you have your first LD you will have the motivation to write in your journal (or at least point form) in the middle of the morning. For now, don't be so sad. It's only been one night. My first night I had zippo recall (not even fragments like you had). It will probably be anywhere from a week to 3 months for your first lucid....[/b] I know, I can't wait, I hope I'll be able to do this often, I'm thinking of some fun stuff to do I guess I really didn't expect to do anything on the first night, guess I'll have to work on my dream recall more I was lucky and had one my second night, but that's another story....[/b] Psh. Lucky. We'll see how I do tonight Also, don't try to fall asleep so early. It might of been the excitment that kept you awake, but likewise it could've also been the fact that you had gone to bed so early. If you're going to try and expand your sleeping time, try going to bed 10 minutes earlier than the day before until you reach your desired time. [/b] Yeah good advice thanks