Having Troubles Sustaining Lucidity...

[JenMarie]

Only once have I ever been completely lucid. My theory is I was VERY deeply asleep, as I had about 3 False Awakenings before I even became lucid, and 2 before more before I actually woke up . Makes sense to me really. But even then, I got up and walked around, and the world started ... turning sort of, like as if someone was turning a cylinder around, and I was on the inside. Except the other half of the inside of the cylinder was black . But, every other time that I have actually become lucid, I woke up immediatly after. It's always been right before I actually fall asleep, when my thoughts are drifting away from reality. I can't really do any of the serious techniques for becoming lucid, like minerals or teas or anything, I've tried waking up in the middle of the night, and attempting a WILD, but usually I can't keep my concentration long enough to become lucid and just fall asleep anyways. I think I may have described much more than was necessary here, but I was wondering if anyone could help me . My main problem is waking up immediatly after realizing that I am, indeed, dreaming.

[Never]

Practice is really all you need. When trying to WILD, staying awake is the first obstacle. What I generally do is keep a little "compartment" in my subconscious mind in which I place a piece of my conscious mind; that is, I imagine my mind emptying completely, and in this process I picture my consciousness in a small bubble in the back of my mind; then I just forget about it. This works in my case to keep my consciousness present while allowing me to not think about it. Basically what I have done here is convinced myself that my consciousness cannot be lost by imagining that it is protected from being drowned out. Create you own illusion such as this and it should help a great deal. As you get better, it will also allow you to WILD in under a minute. On the topic of waking up: this really just demands a reprogramming of your expectations. You are at the point now that as soon as you become lucid, you are afraid you will lose it, and of course such a thought (because you are convinced) causes it to happen. Instead when you become lucid, know that you will not wake up, and you will not. Forget there is a problem, and there will be none.

[pokilty]

Basically what I have done here is convinced myself that my consciousness cannot be lost by imagining that it is protected from being drowned out. Create you own illusion such as this and it should help a great deal. That's a great idea, I wonder why I never read it anywhere else! I'll certainly try it too, thanks for sharing your advice.

[JenMarie]

Ok Thanks for the help. I will try that out, and see what happens!

[zobey]

The bubble idea is interesting. Worth a try. Also, just try to keep as calm as possible. It's the excitement from the fear and the realization of lucidity that wake you up.