Why do dreams always feel like reality, but reality never feels like a dream?

**Lydia** · 10-09-2010 09:10 PM

This is what makes things like switching the lights on and off or checking my watch or holding my nose seem silly. I know those things are supposed to "train" you to do it when you're dreaming, but it's very clear when you're not dreaming that you're not dreaming.

Right? Just a thought.

**SeeFour** · 10-09-2010 09:18 PM

nope. I've had many dreams when i think just as clearly as waking life 'I KNOW this isn't a dream, it IS real because it obviously is, so there's no point reality checking'. That's a missed lucid opportunity. DAMN. Bad mindset to get into.

**Hukif** · 10-09-2010 11:30 PM

Eh, you have never had the kind of waking up where everything is fuzzy and there is fog? Reality can feel like dreams easily! Only problem is when you think it really is and do something silly next second lol

**Lydia** · 10-10-2010 03:41 AM

Originally Posted by SeeFour

nope. I've had many dreams when i think just as clearly as waking life 'I KNOW this isn't a dream, it IS real because it obviously is, so there's no point reality checking'. That's a missed lucid opportunity. DAMN. Bad mindset to get into.

Yes, I certainly see what you mean! However that seems to fall under dreams feeling like reality, which I of course acknowledge. I don't think I've ever had a dream and thought '"oh, well this is clearly not real life" without a (usually accidental) reality check. But I feel like when I really am awake, such as now, there's really not any doubt, where as in dreams, if I think about it for .5 sec. there is some doubt. The trick is to think about it for .5 sec. while dreaming, which I rarely do. Therein lies the point of reality checking, eh?

So dreams feel like reality until you begin to question that, but reality never feels like a dream even when you do question it. Ugh, it's easy to say this while you're awake. And I know that when I'm dreaming I think it's real life just as I think it is now. I've only really been fully aware that was dreaming (and not been woken up by it) once, so maybe it would be less confusing if I had more experience finding "reality" to be a dream where as I have many instances of finding "reality" to be reality.

**Lydia** · 10-10-2010 03:44 AM

Walms--
I don't know... no... I don't think I ever feel like that! But I do understand your second point!

**Wing** · 10-10-2010 04:18 AM

When ever I go on vacation or do something exciting a few hours later, when things calm down, I feel like im dreaming.

**saltyseedog** · 10-10-2010 05:23 AM

I have had lucid dreams where i felt incredible clarity, then i woke up and my perception felt fuzzy. Also it seemed like my vision improved while in the dream.

**Emiko** · 10-10-2010 04:33 PM

Originally Posted by SeeFour

nope. I've had many dreams when i think just as clearly as waking life 'I KNOW this isn't a dream, it IS real because it obviously is, so there's no point reality checking'. That's a missed lucid opportunity. DAMN. Bad mindset to get into.

I've had a dream like that, too.

**Waterknight** · 10-29-2010 06:24 AM

I have been awake before and things just didnt seem right. I have truly questioned it in real life before. Ans also sometimes walking from one class to another I kinda blank out and when I get to the next class I dont remember how I got there because I was too deep in my own thoughts while walking. When that happens I sometimes think its a dream

**Grigorios** · 10-29-2010 05:01 PM

I have sometimes experienced moments in waking life in which reality just seems to be dreamlike and things seem to be not so "true" or "real"; it has happened to me with big changing (especially bad ones) in my life. A big loss can be an example.
I would also add that often we are on a sort of "autopilot" so we don't really pay attention to what we are doing and consequently the memory of these actions is blurry.

**Perlinfalcon** · 10-29-2010 08:07 PM

For me, the more lucid dreams I've had, the more I realize the distinction isn't as great as I thought. My first thought in every lucid dream is amazement at how real it seems.

And yes, it does feel silly to check if you are dreaming while you are awake. But the point is that most of the time when you ask yourself the same question while you are dreaming, you will be just as certain you are awake. At this point I have had quite a few dreams where I did a RC even though I thought it was silly. And I was completely surprised to find I was dreaming.

If you have never experienced this situation, it is easy to believe that simply asking if you are dreaming is enough to prove that you are. That is because the only times you are asking is when something tips you off in a dream and you already suspect you are dreaming. It is those hundreds of dreams you have where you don't even question your state that you want to catch. The only way to do that is by getting in the habit of doing reality checks even when you are sure you're not dreaming.

**Supernova** · 10-29-2010 08:26 PM

Originally Posted by SeeFour

nope. I've had many dreams when i think just as clearly as waking life 'I KNOW this isn't a dream, it IS real because it obviously is, so there's no point reality checking'. That's a missed lucid opportunity. DAMN. Bad mindset to get into.

SeeFour is absolutely right. Although you can make that distinction when you're awake, you often think that you can and are during a non-lucid dream.