Thread: Anyone else feel panic or fear as soon as they become Lucid?

I've only ever had a handful of Lucids, but in almost all of them, the moment I turn Lucid is coupled with this intense feeling of being terrified or scared...

I haven't ever seen this mentioned on Dreamviews, and everyone always seems so nonchalant when talking about that particular moment. Implying that they become Lucid and simply do what they want.

For me, personally, the fear is derived from the idea that I have suddenly become vulnerable to my brain/mind. It feels like my mind and myself are two separate entities and it will spawn all sorts of hellish and terrifying things. This possibility scares me, so I usually do one of two things.. Either hurriedly attempt to wake up, or just run.

I fear what my mind is capable of creating, now that it knows I'm aware.

Anyone else get this?

hi,
i had similiar experiences when i was younger, somtimes i was aware to my surrounding but without the ability to move and while
I was in this condition i could see very scary monsters, and sometimes i had horrible feeling like you have.
my advise for you is to convice yourself that nothing can hurt you, even your mind and then calm yourself by telling that it will end soon
(try not to move your dream body if you have one there), afterwards you should enter to a world which you can control.
i hope that my advise will be helfull for you...

You will be able to get over this before long. When it first happens, your brain is shocked and freaked by the concious mind suddenly being where it should not be (as far as your brain now sees it). Try using a mantra for awhile. Something like "awareness in dreams is a wonderful thing." After your brain gets comfortable with the idea, the freaked out feeling will go away.

I have felt scared, but only before the attempt for a lucid dream. I was scared by the scary possibilities. But to my big surprise, I was never scared, once I actually entered LD.

Try to mentally prepare yourself. Read as much as you can about LDing. Read peoples experiences. Make a list of fun stuff you want to do in LD. Think about your mind as your ally, because that's what it is. It's your friend. It only wants the best for you. It tries to give you what you wish for. That's why it's important you imagine/wish for pleasant and fun things to happen.

Some people, even non-religious ones, set up some kind of protection when lucid dreaming. I imagine being surrounded by white light as I prepare myself to lucid dream. White is usually synonymous with devine and with its love and protection.

I get you. Although I know it can't hurt me I sometimes think that lucid dreaming can be a little scary. I only think about it while I'm awake, though. Movies like Insidious give a bad rep to lucid dreaming, it's not like that at all. And the best way to overcome a fear is to stand against it.
I guarantee you that however bad experiences you may have, lucid dreaming is worth it

Originally Posted by TruMotion

I guarantee you that however bad experiences you may have, lucid dreaming is worth it

I very much agree with this.

Excitement is really the only thing that I feel when that lucid moment occurs because it happens so rarely. Perhaps you need a bit of confidence. After all whats the worst that can happen in a dream? Images, feelings, sounds, eh that's hardly scary. At least you know you can't die, I think that knowing this is what keeps me feeling secure.

When I had my first few LDs, yeah... But now whenever I'm in them, I'm not scared... Just fascinated.

hey i've had 9 LD so far and understand how you feel, 4 of them have been amazing.. but in the other five, once i become lucid, i'm very stressed and nervous, like i dont know what to do, they ended very abruptly after that.
I guess it all has to do with getting used to have them and incubating dreams were you see yourself relaxed once you become lucid. That's what i have been trying to do. When going to sleep i tell myself several times that when i become lucid, i become calm and relaxed. It worked last night.

When I become lucid I'm sometimes overcome with excitement, which will cause me to wake up.

More often than not though, I'll be lucid for a only few minutes, and then slip back into a normal, non-lucid dream state.

I've seen this mentioned a few times before, where people become overwhelmed by fear upon lucidity. Sadly, I don't remember how it was that they got over it. I agree with sivason though a mantra could really help, that and having more lucids. The more you're exposed to it the easier it can become.

Especially if you actually accomplish anything in the dream, and realize that it's not quite as scary as it once seemed.

Total opposit I feel overwhelmend with joy and excitment

As I'm only 16 I myself have a "run-away" imagination and can think of many horrifying dreams I've had but a way I always avert fear is to immediately turn any lucid nightmare into a thrilling adventure evn if u can't fully control your dream changing small details can help alleviate any fear u experience such as imagining more light or changing the physics of the dream... Hope I helped