Vivid dream encounter (help)

[confusedaf]

Hi all, I'm new to this stuff but was hoping one of you could give me some wisdom on a dream I just had. I've never looked into lucid dreaming or even tried it myself but ever so often I get dreams where after a while (especially if they're particularly strange) I start to realize that I'm dreaming. I've never manipulated the dream I've always just gone along with it, but tonight some weird s***happened and while I don't get spooked easily this one was so strange that I felt the need to google search it. No results. So tonight I had a dream that started as me viewing as if through a camera held in place a boy being chased by a man through the streets and onto a roof, the boy was caught and thrown off and as soon as the boy hit the ground I woke up, only something was off. I immediately felt strange about the place I was in and thought that I don't remember ever living here. So I get up and walk through this apartment where I meet two 'roommates'. The entire apartment had no lights, the light switches did nothing, and I couldn't use a phone light at all. Shortly after having a strange conversation with one of the room mates I get up to go back to my room, it was at this point that it clicked that I was dreaming. I vividly remember feeling a clock in the back of the head and turning around to one of the roommates grabbing my neck with both hands, lifting me off the ground and holding me against the bedroom door strangling me. I began shouting at him and his eyes widened, then his pupils turned from circles to slits and I am not a religious person by any means but that s*** was demonic looking. I kicked the 'demon' and he scurried away. I turned and opened the door to the bedroom (keep in mind I was not manipulating the dream, I just had the sense that I was not in the 'real world'). In the room the second roommate was sitting on the bed, he said something to me before slithering under the bed, wanting answers I grabbed his arm and pulled on I couldn't stop him. So as any normal person would do I bit one of his fingers (again wtf?). I then simply told myself to wake up and I did, and here I am writing about it. The entire thing felt so real, I could feel his hands on my neck, I could feel this incredibly deep, heart dropping disturbance as his eyes turned to slits and he took on this demonic look, and I could taste the other ones finger like it was all really happening. I've never lucid dreamed, nor had sleep paralysis before. Anyone had any similar experiences or can share some possible explanation for any of the events or feelings of this dream?

[splodeymissile]

False awakening, followed by a lucid nightmare is my diagnosis. Aside from the awareness, there is no real distinction between a lucid nightmare and a regular one, so, there's nothing to fear. Lucid experiences of all kinds tend to feel more real or detailed because of the heigtened awareness, so, there's nothing to be concerned about there either. You were able to will yourself to wake up? That's quite impressive, especially seeing as this is your first time lucid. If you are able to develop your dream control (and, given that it is your mind in control of itself, you will inevitably be able to) you will find that you can manipulate the world, including those creatures should they recur. Its a matter of confidence and composure. Believe you can control the world and you will. Believe that there is nothing to fear in your mind and nothing scary will appear. As for my own experiences, nightmares have been thanfully rare, though when they do appear I tend to use them as opportunities to become lucid. After they become friendly or vanish entirely. I recall one instance where a knight chased me up some stairs. I became lucid, turned defiantly towards him and we shared a friendly, hearty laugh before he vanished. In the end, you'll be fine.

[SnowStrider]

Yeah, I would have to agree with Splodey that you probably had a false awakening into a lucid nightmare. Because of the lucidity, everything feels more real and life-like. If something like this happens to you again, you just gotta remember that its just a dream and nothing can hurt you. Honestly, you have nothing to worry about, so don't sweat it.

[confusedaf]

Interesting, thanks for the answers. I would like to look into lucid dreaming some more. If I was able to induce a lucid dream would I be able to summon this guy again? Also can one induce a false awakening?

[splodeymissile]

Question 1: Absolutely. In fact, summoning nightmares for a chat is a great way to deal with whatever is causing them, therefore making sure they don't bother you in nonlucids. Question 2: A big part of a false awakening is that we are often, but not always, unaware of them. It seems strange to want to induce one. Most lucid dreamers consider them a hindrance. If you're in the habit of doing reality checks more often when you first wake, it may be helpful. And you could always study them for its own benefit, but most would rather not have any. Still, if you're set on having them, more power to you. I imagine repeating affirmtions throughout the day could lead to it, but I'm unsure.