Thread: Terrible nightmares after attaining lucidity.

So, I've been practicing my reality checks and I'm working on getting into recording dream journals and writing a diary to improve my recall. However, there are some nights where I attain lucidity in dreams. The only problem is that when I attain this lucidity, the dream that could have been kind and warm prior to my becoming conscious, becomes a nightmare. All of the sudden I'm scared and terrified, even though I know I'm dreaming. It's like I can't attain 100% full lucidity. When things start to get bad and frightening I jolt myself awake somehow. Along with that, I've also been having quite a lot of false awakenings. Does anyone have any advice for this? Thanks for your time.

The only solution is lots of practice to remove your irrational fear of being lucid.

Thank you very much.

False awakenings are a pain in the ass. Getting into the habit of reality checks will fix this, well it won't stop it happening, I've had 5 in a row and that is annoying, especially when I eventually have to get ready for work it's the 6th time I've done it that morning. Reality checks will let you reckognise it quicker tho so you can wake yourself up or at least realise you are lucid and do something interesting.

Some in dream tricks to try as well if you can face it (it can be pretty scary at times).

Tell the nightmare to piss off, sounds stupid, but just tell it you're not scared of it and it's just a dream.

Visualise protecting yourself with light and aim light at the thing. I used to have a lucid nightmare where this robed figure would appear and I would associate it with death, it seemed nasty, I woke myself up a few times, then faced up to it once. Well I was in a room with about 7 other Dream Character allies (figured, it's 8 on 1 here, go for it). i just fired light at it from my hand and it lost it's robe and all of a sudden became less frightening.

In saying that, the 7 others didn't do anything, they just went about their business like it was normal.

I normally only have false awakenings the nights of lucids, so if any time I wake up right after or around a lucid then I always reality check. I've had 4 false awakenings in the last 4 months, and 3 of which turned into lucid dreams.

Self-motivation is the trick to beating the fear, you should just tell yourself that your in control and your inside your own mind and instead of fearing the nightmare, make the nightmare fear you, you can do anything; like use a power

Some part of you is scared that your dream doesn't want you to take control, so your subconsciousness makes scary and weird feelings to haunt you. Try to find a figure to project this uneasiness into, like a physical adversary. It's easier to slay 1 man than a whole world. After you find this 'evil person' use the superpowers that you got when you became lucid. Light, the force, even gods angels are at your side! Just kick this guy in the ass and then summon a rock concert to celebrate your victory.
That's how I would deal with it.

I had to walk home one day, 2 miles in the dark. It was horrible. But I picked something up that night-

Now, whenever I encounter something that makes me irrationally fearful, I picture some sort of energy where ever I feel the fear in my body... like my throat being sore, or my chest tightening...
And then I picture pulling that fear down to my chest and absorbing it into my stomach. Then I just shoot the rest of the negative thoughts straight out of my feet.

I got used to doing this, so now whenever something scary happens- I kind of get pumped up- like it's only going to give me energy that I can use.
It makes me feel powerful! Now I can walk in the dark without flinching or feeling any sort of fear that shouldn't be there. I wonder if that would help with nightmares?

I get nightmares every now and then- but I wouldn't even call them nightmares because they just... don't scare me.
A clown with a sledgehammer? I'll avoid him and all- but eh. A tornado sucking everyone out of the building? I'll hold on and everything- but its more interesting than scary.

Thank you all very much for sharing your lucid experiences with me, I will try this if I'm able to attain and sustain lucidity tonight.

Through my experience, i have started having lucid dreams right after i got feed up of running away from creatures that could just be taunting or spoling great moments. I did it just by turning around confronting and said "you are not real, this is my dream, this, is my kingdom".. and it really is, however we suffer disturbances from outside energies trying to attach and feed on negative emotions, or through our own mind tricks, or both, coming across a dificulty will give you a change to exercise your lucid dreaming. Most of the times i have had great leaps, was when i came across great challenges, specially when life or love was at risk of being damaged or destroyed, and the most powerfull ones where generally selfless.. Keep up, and know that your dream is your kingdom, because it is..