Scared of becoming lucid

**~~DeletePlease~~** · 08-06-2011 07:46 PM

Sorry if I end up rambling, I just woke up and I'm still kind of groggy.

So I haven't LD'ed in a while. I noticed I started having a bit of trouble waking up on command but mainly because I just lost interest. I've never really had trouble with lucids, it's usually just a matter of repeating "I'm going to become lucid tonight" before falling asleep (or "I'm about to have a lucid dream" during WBTB periods) and that's enough to do the trick. I guess if it was something I had to work at, I'd be more inclined to try it more often but that isn't really the point of this thread (although some motivation would be helpful too [mainly tasks]). Oh look, I'm rambling already.

Anyway, I decided to try and induce a lucid like two days ago because I wanted to try elemental bending like they do in that cartoon Avatar: The Last Airbender. Have you watched that show btw? I love that show. I didn't like it too much when it aired on tv but on a whim I decided to watch it online a few days ago and ended up watching all three seasons in two days. Interesting plot, dynamic and engaging characters, a nice balance of well executed comic relief even in the most intense scenes, etc. Great show. It's Awesome. I love it. So ya, now that I had a reason to become to lucid, I thought I'd give it a try. It took like three or so days to break my dry spell but I eventually became lucid today.

I attempted a WILD, entered SP, became slightly nervous, "felt" a presence in the room, and eventually felt something touch my back (I sleep face down, ass up... fellas

) and then I started rocking. I assured myself if it was just Old Hag Syndrome and tried to relax but it didn't help; I had to break SP by flexing as many muscles as I could until I eventually restored enough feeling in my legs to move them. I tried going back to sleep and I either WILDed or had a DILD in which I thought I performed a WILD... It was weird but it doesn't matter, the point is I became lucid.

I did my thing in my dreamworld - fucked bitches, got money (like a bowss, of course) - and noticed my dream start to fade. I entered that infinite black void thing and then I was back in my room. I did a reality check and realized it was a false awakening so I jumped out the window did my thing again - disregarded wenches and acquired currency. This happened a couple times, I counted around 8 false awakenings before losing track and then I got bored so I tried to wake up. No matter what I tried, I just ended up in The Void and then back in a dreamscape where I'd do an RC and realize I'm still dreaming.

I actually started to wonder if I had somehow fallen into a coma and that's why I couldn't wake up.

It got to the point that DCs were mocking me and I was at my wit's end. I just gave and started yelling "Mom, wake me up" over and over, hoping my physical body would say it out loud. My Mom eventually came in my room, shook me awake, and told me to shut up.

I skipped over a few things so it may not sound so bad but the experience was fairly frightening. I was literally stuck in my dream and I couldn't get up. I gave up by like the tenth (?) false awakening and just resorted to shocking my self awake (running into traffic, impaling myself, etc) but even that failed. Only reason I woke up when I did was because my Mom heard me talking in my sleep; otherwise I would remained asleep for a while longer.

tl;dr: I couldn't wake myself up. Everything I tried just resulted in a false awakening. Was this the result of of some sort of mental block (since I was considering the possibility of being ina coma)? How do I force myself awake if I ever find myself in a similar situation again? I'm kind of wary about attempting another LD (should I even be worried?) in case I run into the same problem but there are a couple things I really want to try during a lucid. =/

EDIT: That turned out ridiculously long (ladies...

) so I went ahead and added a tl;dr version in boldface.

**Texture** · 08-06-2011 07:55 PM

Ah, I would have loved to be in a dream that long. You have an infinite amount of possibilities!

**Burke** · 08-06-2011 07:59 PM

How do you normally wake yourself up? I just close my eyes really tight, imagine waking up in my bed, then open my eyes really quickly and aggressively. As far as the FA after FA after FA, this sounds like it is en extremly rare occurence and i would just right it off as being a bit of bad luck. No need to not do one of the greatest things ever, right!?

**Puffin** · 08-06-2011 08:02 PM

Gavin,
False awakenings can be incredibly annoying, but seeing as you were aware enough to continuously catch them, the next time it happens, just remind yourself that you'll wake up eventually. There isn't an infinite amount of REM available for dreaming. The fact that you were becoming worried about possibly being in a coma definitely wouldn't have helped; your dream would've catered to this mindset and therefore created more FAs. But, false awakenings aren't necessarily bad - although they can be a pain in the butt sometimes, they're often the most stable way to start a dream!

As for becoming bored, try eating stuff. There's the trees, dirt on the ground, strawberries that you can summon just by turning around and expecting a store to be behind you... So, just relax and have fun (whatever "fun" might mean to you, be it flying, sex, just observing the dreamworld, etc).

**Mancon** · 08-06-2011 08:09 PM

You need to remind yourself it is YOUR dream, and if you want to wake up, you can! Also remember that lucid dreaming can't harm you, and you definitely won't fall into a coma.

If something scary comes up you can try to change the dream scene, by walking through a door and imagine a peaceful and happy scene. You can also try closing your eyes and when you open them expect something peaceful to be there!

If you really want to wake up here are some of the ways I like to do it:

1.) Tell yourself to wake up.
2.) Find a way to kill yourself in the dream.
3.) Start to blink really fast in the dream.
4.) Think about your real body in your bed.

Remember to keep telling yourself that doing the things above won't result in a false awakening, and it will most likely be true.

Anyway, hope this helped! Good luck

**~~DeletePlease~~** · 08-06-2011 08:21 PM

Originally Posted by Puffin

There isn't an infinite amount of REM available for dreaming

Ugh, forgot about REM cycles.

Originally Posted by Puffin

(whatever "fun" might mean to you, be it flying, sex, just observing the dreamworld, etc).

I ride unicorns and gallop into Equestria on my noble steed so I can party with the cast of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. I have no time to waste on silly things like sex, Puffin.

Originally Posted by Mancon

1.) Tell yourself to wake up.
2.) Find a way to kill yourself in the dream.
3.) Start to blink really fast in the dream.]
4.) Think about your real body in your bed.

Remember to keep telling yourself that doing the things above won't result in a false awakening, and it will most likely be true.

I tried the first three and they failed but the fourth would probably be effective, especially if I assure myself that i won't have a false awakening.

Originally Posted by Burke

As far as the FA after FA after FA, this sounds like it is en extremly rare occurence and i would just right it off as being a bit of bad luck. No need to not do one of the greatest things ever, right!?

I guess you're right, my good sir.

Originally Posted by Texture

Ah, I would have loved to be in a dream that long. You have an infinite amount of possibilities!

Guess I wasted a perfectly good opportunity, huh? >_<

**Burke** · 08-06-2011 08:29 PM

Guess I wasted a perfectly good opportunity, huh? >_<

Probably, though i have a feeling that since you wanted to wake up and couldn't, then not wanting to wake up and stay in the dream could've had the opposite effect, causing you to wake up.

**ludr** · 08-07-2011 06:38 PM

Just close your dream eyes and wait for 30 seconds. It'll work. However sometimes your dream just ends and you fall into the void of NREM sleep and your brain turns off, leaving you helpless.

**Puffin** · 08-07-2011 06:40 PM

Originally Posted by ludr

Just close your dream eyes and wait for 30 seconds. It'll work. However sometimes your dream just ends and you fall into the void of NREM sleep and your brain turns off, leaving you helpless.

Not true in the slightest. If you want to spread info such as this, name a source.

**opalwolf** · 08-07-2011 07:24 PM

i used to have this same sort of problem. i'd wake up and start getting ready for the day. brush my teeth, get dressed.. all that good stuff. then wake up and do it again. over and over. I started freaking out sometimes in daily life thinking i might wake up again. its like your mind really wants you to think you are awake during FA's.
It stopped happening after I had a FA where I was in my bedroom (where most of them take place) and I looked at my bed and saw myself sleeping. I just stopped and stared at myself. Thinking about how peaceful I looked. I've had plenty of FA's since then, but have never been trapped in the "can't really wake up" cycle again.