I have been lucid dreaming regularly since 2007 and have never had any problems with dream control until now.

For the past few months, I've been having frequent "lucid" nightmares that seem to last forever, where I'm aware that I'm dreaming but I have zero control.
There's not a recurring theme, but the way it happens is always the same – there's a bad event/situation/person, and I try desperately to wake myself up, but nothing works.

Finally, I am relieved to wake up safe in my bed... only to realize that it's a false awakening and the nightmare is starting all over again.
This happens over and over – false awakening after false awakening – for what seems like an eternity.
After a while, I become convinced that I am not actually dreaming, but trapped in hallucinatory world, or I've that died and gone to hell and will continue to live this nightmare over and over again forever.

Do you know if this is a common problem?
How can I stop/control these nightmares, or at least wake myself up when they happen?

If anyone has any ideas about the source or solution, your thoughts would be VERY much appreciated!!
Thanks guys,
x Amity