How do you know that you are dreaming?

[flippish2014]

How do you know that you are dreaming? I know I am dreaming if I realized the situation around me is not happening in real life or not familiar. Maybe I have this kind of alertness about my surroundings because I make sure where I am when I am awake. Sometimes I know that I am dreaming without reality check.

[Row]

Well, for me it just comes to mind that "this is a dream" when I'm dreaming. Mostly because of MILD:ing.

[AstroFlyer]

You know your dreaming when dont accept your current situation as reailty and become aware that your dreaming. This at least when you start LDing should be an overwhelming feeling. You also become aware that your actions have no consequences ( my favorite) and you are not bound by physics. Regarding RC's they are just a confirmation of you becoming aware that your dreaming however its a good practice to make a habit of using them. I have had many LDs without RCs ( i log them in my DJ as "no RC") but but the ones where I do RC tends to be higher quality.

[CoffinCakes]

Well, different things just set me off. I have no idea what "woke me up" in yesterday's lucid dream, but typically it's because I realize something is off. I try to picture something impossible in my head, look behind me, and if it's there then I'm definitely dreaming (<-- my own reality check).

[Hitokage]

I mostly just know .Doing RC just to make sure.

[Earthatic]

Weird stuff in my environment aside, my mental state is noticeably different.

[Hitokage]

my mental state is noticeably different. That's it, could you write more details? I was working on a technique to distinguish the dream naturally just by this difference in the mental state and it kind of worked in combination with other techniques. What do you feel different?

[Earthatic]

That's it, could you write more details? I was working on a technique to distinguish the dream naturally just by this difference in the mental state and it kind of worked in combination with other techniques. What do you feel different? There is an X factor (mental energy or sensation?) that I can't put into words, and that's the biggest giveaway. There are some other obvious things: - Forgetfulness - Difficulty thinking about things carefully; every response feels more instinctual than when I'm awake - Getting easily distracted and emotionally lured

[Hitokage]

There is an X factor (mental energy or sensation?) that I can't put into words, and that's the biggest giveaway. There are some other obvious things: - Forgetfulness - Difficulty thinking about things carefully; every response feels more instinctual than when I'm awake - Getting easily distracted and emotionally lured Thanks, yes that X factor. I sometimes also feel a strange pressure in the back of my head plus all the things you mentioned.

[rosetoast]

I sort of just know. It's hard to explain, once you've trained your awareness enough, you just know you're dreaming

[DreamHighlander]

Sometimes i just know, without reality checks, because the environment and ambient seems dream-like. With this, i mean that it's all too calm, i don't hear noises, i feel light, i don't feel cold or hot.

[Karlitaki]

For me its simple, i can feel the environment/atmosphere different so i know direeeectly that im not in the real world lol. also i realise it after sleep paralysis mostly.

[Eonnn]

I usually notice something about the environment that doesn't seem right, I never bother to RC because when I can tell there is something not right I just instantly know I'm dreaming 100% for sure. If I'm ever not sure I just look around to find something that confirms my suspicion. I can also feel the dream environment, like a 6th sense I can just sense a subtle difference.

[rosetoast]

Sometimes when i'm in a dream, everything has a 'fish eye' effect. That kind of triggers me, also the general atmosphere is different. Not necessarily foggy or anything, but there's just something almost eerie like when i'm in the dream state that triggers me also and I sort of just *know* i'm dreaming

[Jellyd0nut]

Not that I have much experience, but knowing my dream signs really helps. Last night, I managed to notice the big bad grizzly bear was one of my dream signs and became lucid for a few seconds. Still gotta work on the stabilization though!