The Scary Aspects of Lucid Dreaming?

Hey, guys! I was just wondering... is the path to achieving a lucid dream typically a scary one? I haven't experienced an LD, myself, so I'm not quite sure what to expect. I read a lot about sleep paralysis on here, which kind of makes me nervous, for the reason that I've accidentally awoken in a state of SP before. Even knowing what I was experiencing, I found myself extremely frightened of the paralysis and the brief auditory hallucinations I heard, and the prospect of facing that fear again makes me a bit wary of my LD efforts. It's frustrating, though, because I really want to try my best to experience one without the persistent, underlying fear of seeing something unsettling!

So, I was wondering... is it just a matter of getting used to potentially scary situations? Or is having a nasty experience with an LD rare, and I should just think positively?

You should just really think positively.
I mean nightmares aren't going to hurt you in any way. c:4
Good luck.

This is true, this is true! I just gotta power through my worries! Thanks. <3

In all my pursuits of lucid dreaming so far, I have never experienced anything more than marginally frightening. Most fears that tend to be aroused by LD-related situations seem to be unrealistic and largely self-perpetuating anyway.

Ah, yeah, that makes sense! I'll just try to chill out and avoid that nasty self-perpetuation. Thanks! (:

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Originally Posted by tushtush

is the path to achieving a lucid dream typically a scary one?

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Not really. When you have you're first LD, you'll become aware that you're dreaming and then probably wake yourself within seconds on account of being so excited. And then you'll be disappointed and frustrated for having wasted an opportunity. :P Aside from that, it's generally a great experience. Just keep in mind that your emotions have a huge influence on how dream characters behave and the overall tone of the dream. Think positively and everything should be fine.

As for hypnagogic hallucinations during sleep paralysis, try not to expect anything bad to happen. Some people make the mistake of worrying and that usually triggers a frightening hallucination. It may take some getting used to but as long as you don't worry, it generally won't be scary. Once you're able to wrap your head around that, you won't have to worry about the hallucinations any more. I hear things during SP but I usually turn it into music. So again, it all depends on your emotions and how you react to the sounds.

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Originally Posted by DawnMarie

I mean nightmares aren't going to hurt you in any way. c:4

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Technically, dream characters can leave you convulsing in pain during a dream and even for a few seconds after you wake up. But I doubt either of you wanted to hear that. :P

Oh.
Well I wouldn't know about that yet. -_-

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Originally Posted by GavinGill

Not really. When you have you're first LD, you'll become aware that you're dreaming and then probably wake yourself within seconds on account of being so excited. And then you'll be disappointed and frustrated for having wasted an opportunity. :P Aside from that, it's generally a great experience. Just keep in mind that your emotions have a huge influence on how dream characters behave and the overall tone of the dream. Think positively and everything should be fine.

As for hypnagogic hallucinations during sleep paralysis, try not to expect anything bad to happen. Some people make the mistake of worrying and that usually triggers a frightening hallucination. It may take some getting used to but as long as you don't worry, it generally won't be scary. Once you're able to wrap your head around that, you won't have to worry about the hallucinations any more. I hear things during SP but I usually turn it into music. So again, it all depends on your emotions and how you react to the sounds.

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Ah, that's good to know! I'll work on convincing myself to relax when it comes to my fears-- I'm not used to ever having dreams go my way, so I better start cracking! Thanks for the information; I already feel less worried. (:

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Originally Posted by GavinGill

Technically, dream characters can leave you convulsing in pain during a dream and even for a few seconds after you wake up. But I doubt either of you wanted to hear that. :P

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Ha, I believe it! While I've had neither a vivid or lucid dream before, I have experienced pain and discomfort. Just a month ago, I had a dream I was being hugged so hard that I couldn't breathe! The pressure was rather unpleasant. But yeah, I'll just try not to think about that!

Just wait until you have a dream where you get hit by a gun and don't wake up... that HURTS!

I also survived plane crashes, fell from great heights, and got a face full of broken windows before in dreams. However, having those experiences in dreams actually feel pretty cool.

Just wait until you have a dream where you get hit by a gun and don't wake up... that HURTS!

I also survived plane crashes, fell from great heights, and got a face full of broken windows before in dreams. However, having those experiences in dreams actually feel pretty cool.

No harm can come to u in a non physical space when u realize your dreaming you feel like the true god u are with in. It's your world at that point make it into what u want. Namaste

it will only be scary if you allow it to. You are creating the fear, the ability to fear. You don't have to experience SP to have a lucid dream either, and if you do, scary things don't happen to everyone. Just know its all in your mind. There is nothing to be afraid of :)

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Originally Posted by dreamcatcher81

No harm can come to u in a non physical space when u realize your dreaming you feel like the true god u are with in. It's your world at that point make it into what u want. Namaste

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Heh, that's rather empowering, if I look at it that way! Thanks!

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Originally Posted by erible

it will only be scary if you allow it to. You are creating the fear, the ability to fear. You don't have to experience SP to have a lucid dream either, and if you do, scary things don't happen to everyone. Just know its all in your mind. There is nothing to be afraid of :)

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Ah, cool-- that's comforting to read! I'm a bit of a squeamish person at times, but to see these encouraging words definitely boosts my confidence. Thank you! (:

You can experience Lucid Dreaming without SP...in DILD method. You start it like a normal dream then you get lucid after doing a RC right in your dream.
Or WBTB...you wake up and stay for some minutes awake (45 minutes seems to work best for me...see what works for you:)) and then go back to sleep thinking you will LD.
I'm actually telling you what I've experienced before joining the forum...I didn't even knew about this stuff. I experienced several LDs when I was young without even knowing the power and actually what it really is.
You can actually do DEILD too...you'll feel SP but only for like 10 seconds and you can actually speed up the process by visualizing your dream.
Next time you encounter SP try to ignore the hallucinations...those are just thoughts from your mind. SP is scary only if you are scared of it :)

In a dream someone stabbed me in the neck with a knife and I instantly became lucid so I was quite happy.

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Originally Posted by tushtush

Ah, cool-- that's comforting to read! I'm a bit of a squeamish person at times, but to see these encouraging words definitely boosts my confidence. Thank you! (:

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^^ no problem, just believe you have the power haha

You might be scared but it's not scary that's the only way I can put it. SP is nothing to be afraid of people make WAY to big of a deal about it, I have NEVER had a bad SP experience. Just relax and let it happen ;) Also when you are lucid you don't tend to have nightmares since you are in control you can change anything you really want.

Because I am usually quite stupid in dreams, the realization of it being a dream can be frightening.

If you read my first DJ entry, you'll see it's about a guy who chases me, and I know that he's going to harm me. Halfway through that dream, i realize it's a dream. Yet, because of my dream stupidity, I believe the guys threats, when he says that I'll be stuck in that dream forever running away from him unless I let him catch me. At that moment, the thought of being stuck in a dream forever seemed very certain. It was frigthening.

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Originally Posted by JussiKala

Because I am usually quite stupid in dreams, the realization of it being a dream can be frightening.

If you read my first DJ entry, you'll see it's about a guy who chases me, and I know that he's going to harm me. Halfway through that dream, i realize it's a dream. Yet, because of my dream stupidity, I believe the guys threats, when he says that I'll be stuck in that dream forever running away from him unless I let him catch me. At that moment, the thought of being stuck in a dream forever seemed very certain. It was frigthening.

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I've thought I was stuck in a dream forever too before but it's not possible so just get that out of your head right now. Also let that stalker catch up to you he can't do anything once you face him once you'll never have to face him again. It's not like if you die in your dreams you die in real life.

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Originally Posted by Reclypso

I've thought I was stuck in a dream forever too before but it's not possible so just get that out of your head right now. Also let that stalker catch up to you he can't do anything once you face him once you'll never have to face him again. It's not like if you die in your dreams you die in real life.

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I'm not clear headed enough to remember much from my waking life while dreaming if I even have a lucid, so I probably can't remember tasks like this though. Can always try though

How I first achieved lucidity was frightening for me, but that may be because I did it by real unconventional means (or so I think). Basically after I figured out that anything bad I thought of would happen in my dreams I decided to put this to good use. I scared the crap out of myself in order to make my mind jump into action and react in a literal "fight or flight" response. It worked but not without experiencing some frightening scenes.

Let your fear guide you to ADVENTURE!