Thread: I HATE(HATE HATE) not being able to run

feels kind of like you're trying to run through waist-deep water right? yes, that's very common, and happens often in a crisis (when you're trying to run away from, or run to something). basically it has to do with our own fears running amok in our dreams. i've had that happen many times, but not for quite sometime for some reason.

I HATE that too. It usually is associated with fear in my dreams. Like if I were to be running from something. I, like icedawg have not had any experiances with that for some time now.
I wonder what causes this???? Dream paralysis

I don't think I've ever had that problem, but I've experienced trying to shout for someone, and only being able to produce a hoarse whisper. I have a feeling it's the same kind of thing.

Mostly that only happened to me when I was young, although it did happen once within the past year, and it triggered lucidity because I remembered that it had always happened during nightmares when I was a kid.

Yeah my most recent incident was that I was late for lunch and had to go across a field to the cafeteria, but it was so annoying not being able to run, I can't belive I didnt become lucid after that, it is so obvious

Yah...that happens to me a lot. And I don't notice that it's just a dream. I never notice. >_>. Just...keep on running....if you turn LD, then...um...FLY!

It does seem to go hand in hand with worries, anxieties and being paranoid.
I have not heard of an accont of someone having this typeof dream and it being a good dream.

I dont think my dream was a negative dream but it wasnt really a cool dream either, it was just sortof random stuff going on

I don't think I've ever had that problem, but I've experienced trying to shout for someone, and only being able to produce a hoarse whisper. I have a feeling it's the same kind of thing. [/b]

same here! i always go lucid after those nightmares... because i cant scream at the top of my lungs... its like my subconscious is playing a movie for me, but wants me to shut up so it can get some sleep or something...

Yeah i have had both those problems, the shouting and running, exactly as you described.

Yep, I used to have it a lot as a child - especially when having to defend myself (Throwing a punch feels like you're underwater)

As discussed, I think it's all to do with negative emotion, just like most other nightmares.

I used to have that problem as well but it hasn't happened for about a year. For me I would try to run but my legs would feel like they were bogged down in mud and my upper body would lean really far forward and I have to look up to see ahead of me. I would lean so far that I should not be able to keep my balance but for some reason I didn't fall. Unlike everyone else that's posted so far I've ran slow even when not afraid of something. For example I had a dream a girl that challenged me to a race but I couldn't run fast so she beat me horribly.

lol. I have that problem too! but i just kept on running...in slow-motion. Sometimes i get kinda pissed, sometimes i dont notice that. flying is much faster....i guess...

most of my non lucid dreams have been about escaping from various things and many times I cant run. But since I've been having these dreams for years now I've come up with a substitute. In my dreams, instead of running, I've taken to jumping. For some reason its much easier for me to jump high and long distances. This has become the way my dreams always help me escape. It is also my most used dream sign. Even though my dreams now do it naturally, you may find that it could help you too. Anyways thats the way I overcome not being able to run in my dreams.
P.S. if you happen to have dreams often where you cant run... maybe try making that one of your dream signs. Just keep telling yourself in the waking world "If I cant run, this must be a dream." Catch ya on the flip side.

I used to have the running problem all the time, but something primal in me kicked in one night. I was trying to run, and started leaning forward, like Dagonis did, when I just put my hands down. I can run like an ape now, on all fours, faster than I can drive in my dreams! I just feel myself pulling the ground underneath me, and it's like "oh yeah, THAT'S how I'm supposed to run!" Maybe it's an evolutionary throwback or something. Try it, it's more fun than you can imagine! :yumdumdoodledum:

I don't have problems really with running, but in association with that- whenver I'm in a regular dream I can't fight! I've been in alot of fights in real life (certified ass kicker right here ) and whenever i have a dream where I'm in danger or someone is attacking me I just can NOT seem to fight back. It's like I'm gumby and my fists just mush against them doing no harm. It's sooo annoying, I hate it! A few friends of mine have the same problem, anybody here?

Any altercations in my dreams tend to take the form of a sword fight, and I can certainly hold my own in such a case. It's interesting -- I usualy find myself in a first-person perspective in my dreams, but when I sword fight, it is even more so, like I'm more inside myself.

I ended up sword fighting with my boss as well... haha. quite fun actually.
But after the fight, the swords were just plastic..

Yeah, I've had times where, in the dream world, all my best shots seemed like I was just hitting a pillow. Also not being able to put much effort behind the punch, like I was under water. The problem happens because while we are dreaming, our bodies are in sleep paralysis. So our dream bodies have problems moving because our real bodies cant move. Hope that helps.

Sometimes my punches in dreams are funny. Delayed reaction punch like I hit them then they sit there looking all surprized then a shockwave forms and sends them flying. Sort of looks like the wierd waves that show up during bullettime in the matrix. When it happens it's always a one-hitter-quitter too.

Your not alone on both topics, I have problems sometimes with running and punching.

The whole "punching underwater" explanation that someone said before is a perfect description of what is happening. It is so frustrating, you start to question your own strangth in reality! And the running thing, im not even going to get into because its so damn annoying.

I had this dream once where i couldnt even run fowards. let alone run at all! I was doing like a Michael Jackson moonwalk and I couldnt even go fast! what was worse was people were chasing me....thankfully they were only walking to catch me....I remember always saying...slowly but surely! Im going to beat them to my destination! MJ style!

*yelps out like MJ* oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh!

LOL!

Anyways, the thing about punching...it's different for me. it's not the fact that I can't do the actual motions of punching...I can punch just fine and dandy, the problem is- it seems to have no effect on the DC at all!

Well for me whenever It seems like Im running in water I do one of two things...just kind of force myself forward like your on skates without moving your legs...the dream scape always changes on me though...or the second thing is I dont realise its a dream and I just keep getting angrier untill I wake up

As far as I know, the off-the-shelf answer to all these experiences is that you're struggling (often internally) with something, and you are finding it incredibly stubborn/difficult to resolve.

yes this happens alot to me. when i had a nightmare (i was running away from a werewolf and a ghost) i couldnt run. It is annoying and scary at the same time. Everytime i try to run i fall down right away. Then the pressure builds up and i cant even move, then i wake up.

Its normal. Don't worry about it.


Just remember that if that happens to u again, REMEMBER ITS JUST A DREAM.