Thread: The shock of Lucidity... Waking me prematurely?

First of all you have had 4 lucid dreams not 1 and 3 unacceptables. Any progress is good. Assuming you reality check durring the day I have a tip. Once you RC expect that you will become lucid. Don't assume that you will still be awake. Take a little time to stabalize and think of dream goals also. Or make up a mantra about how you do not get shocked by lucid dreams.

don't feel bad about it - that's normal if you're just starting out. like Zebrah said, stabilize... you might try completely ignoring what's happening in the dream and just focusing on your self-control so that you can keep progressing.

This happens to a lot of people who are first starting out. Generally, it's not the "shock of being lucid" that wakes you up, though. It's the expectation that this will happen. If you think you are going to wake up, then you more than likely will.

As soon as you become lucid, take time to stabilize the dream. Rub your hands together, or focus on an object in the dream until your surroundings are clear and vivid. You can also do this at any point you feel the dream slipping away.

It sounds silly, but try practicing in real life. Imagine that you have just become lucid, but instead of running around or doing anything, stop, stabilize, look around, and make sure that everything is clear before determining what to do. It ingrains it in your mind.

yup making everything about the begining of a dream a habbit is good. RC, stabalize, think of your dreamgoals

Ah, thanks for the advice everyone.

But there is one problem. The 3 times I have become lucid without much success, there wasn't any time to stabilize. It's literally like I am being sucked into a dark vortex immediately after realizing that I am dreaming. Very, very strange stuff.

In fact, about a week ago, I seriously think I was dreaming that I was "asleep!"

When I "woke" in the dream, I found myself in an unknown room with every member of my family sleeping in separate beds. My mother jolted up as if she was having a bad dream.

At that moment, without my consent, the words, "Dreaming? So am I" came out of my mouth.

IMMEDIATELY after realizing what I just said, the world around me quickly swirled into a dark "vortex" of complete blackness and short, violent spurs of yellowish flare. It was unbelievably real. Shocking, actually.

After the vortex subsided, I opened my eyes to find myself in my "real" bed. Reality checks were proof that it was not a false awakening. (Which was the case when I had my successful lucid dream.)

I'm gonna try following everyone's advice.

Hoping for progress,

LD

Haha being shot out of control after realizing I'm dreaming has happened to me a few times. The first time I reality checked and saw that my hand was disfigured I scared myself awake.

The other night I did a finger count reality check and after I realized I was dreaming...the dream just continued and faded without me actually being able to take control.

Do you happen to be afraid of seeing scary things in your dreams?

No, not at all. I rarely have "nightmares," and when i do, they aren't that bad.

I'm thinking it's along the lines of what Hazel said. I expect to go into shock, so I do.

We'll see how my next lucid moment plays through. I'm hoping for stabilization. I want to try and get my next lucid as vivid as possible. Even if that's the entirety of the dream.

Thanks

LD