Few concerns/questions about Lucid Dreaming I'm wanting to address!

Hi guys. As you can see I'm new here - meaning that I've recently been introduced into Lucid dreaming!
I found out about Lucid dreaming with somebody sharing their experience on a YouTube video, and prior to seeing the video there was also a thread on another forum I use about it. I was quite intrigued and wanted to find out what it was about, and what can I say, it sounds absolutely fascinating!
I've been researching Lucid dreaming over the last couple of days, and as many of you guys know, there are a lot of misconceptions on the internet, about anything and everything. I was getting really into it and so close to trying it before I encountered something part of the process; sleep paralysis.
I know you guys here probably get a lot of hassle about sleep paralysis and how idiotic people on the internet are using it as a weapon to scare people from trying to lucid dream, but I really am concerned. I found out that generally, with sleep paralysis, the hallucinations are the things that you are seeing just as you're going into/out of a dream. My problem is, I'm generally a very cynical person, and even though I'm scared to death of anything considering frightening, I always induce it no matter what. For example, I'm very scared of any types off horror films, yet I still watch the trailers for these films to scare myself. I don't like being scared, but in every situation my mind wants me to be scared, it's weird. My problem is that once and if I induce a lucid dream, the only thing I will get out of it is nightmares. I've had VERY few nightmares in my lifetime, and very rarely pay attention to my dreams at all to be honest. If I start doing this and I encounter sleep paralysis, I KNOW that this will happen, that's just how my mind works - and I will be absolutely terrified to death. I know that this experience is simply a figment of the mind and nothing is real, but, you know...
I've also been afraid of the dark since whenever I can remember, I'm 15 right now, nearly 16, and still use a bedside light at night. Everytime I go into a room that has a light off - I'll switch it on. For example, I go to the toilet at night, I will even switch the light on for my room when the switch is right next to the door. It's pathetic. I know that during these lucid dreams, YOU control what's going on, but no matter how much I'd want to change something that's scaring me, I won't. It's like I get some sort of thrill over scary things even though they terrify me.

Another concern of mine is that I've never really tried to remember my dreams, and I know that people have 3-7 dreams per night because of the releasing of DMT into the body but it feels like I never have dreams either. I think I'd find it hard to make a journal, like what's the best way to remember dreams?

I also have a question regarding methods to start lucid dreaming. I've heard of the WILD and the DILD methods, and in one of them you have to initiate sleep paralysis in order to become lucid? I feel that I don't really want to do that, and I'd simply rather use the method whereby you just keep a dream journal and take notes of recurring events in dreams, and doing reality checks every so often in real life in order for them to be implemented into dreams. Is it necessary to use the WILD/DILD methods in order to lucid dream?

Thankyou for responding to my concerns, and any advice given is greatly appreciated.

Hey mate!

First off, using DILD to dream is perfectly normal and it's one of those techniques that will rarely make you enter sleep paralysis as, with DILD, you become lucid WITHIN the dream.

I used to be scared of the dark when I was younger too, but I overcame it a long time ago. Every time I got scared I would say to myself: What am I scared of? Think it over a couple times. With strength of mind it's possible to convince yourself not to be scared. Lucid Dreaming is really mostly about the mentality, convincing yourself that nothing can harm you, convincing yourself that you can do anything you desire - and also, that there is nothing to be scared of.

The problem here is you seem to ACCEPT that something scary WILL happen, rather than saying "NO! I am in control", which is what you should be doing :)

Twenty years of lucid dreams and I have never intentionally induced sleep paralysis.
In fact, I have only experienced it twice. That's once every ten years. I lucid dream about once every three days. It's been more often in the past. But I figure that 100 lucid dreams a year is a safe estimate. That means that one out of every one thousand lucid dreams I've had has resulted in sleep paralysis. Plus, one of these two times that I suffered SP, I wasn't even attempting to lucid dream. That means that I've had as many bouts of SP while trying to lucid dream as I have had just trying to take a nap.
It's scary and it's uncomfortable, but I sure as hell wouldn't give up the experiences I've had just to avoid a couple of bouts of SP. Trust me, it really isn't something to worry about.

To be honest, I think that lucid dreaming can actually help you to control your thoughts. I think every regular lucid dreamer has had at least one bout where he was trying to clear his mind and BELIEVE/KNOW that he can fly, or that he can pass through walls, or whatever. Yes, you may have a nightmare or two because a part of you can't help but think about scary things, but most likely you will quickly find your place in your dreams, and will learn to control them, and in doing so, it will help to control your own thoughts.

The best way to remember your dreams is to make a journal. I'm sorry, I can't sugar-coat that. Lucid dreaming isn't something that will necessarily come easy (though it does for some). You may have to work for it.

It's worth it.

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Originally Posted by sloth

Twenty years of lucid dreams and I have never intentionally induced sleep paralysis.
In fact, I have only experienced it twice. That's once every ten years. I lucid dream about once every three days. It's been more often in the past. But I figure that 100 lucid dreams a year is a safe estimate. That means that one out of every one thousand lucid dreams I've had has resulted in sleep paralysis. Plus, one of these two times that I suffered SP, I wasn't even attempting to lucid dream. That means that I've had as many bouts of SP while trying to lucid dream as I have had just trying to take a nap.
It's scary and it's uncomfortable, but I sure as hell wouldn't give up the experiences I've had just to avoid a couple of bouts of SP. Trust me, it really isn't something to worry about.

To be honest, I think that lucid dreaming can actually help you to control your thoughts. I think every regular lucid dreamer has had at least one bout where he was trying to clear his mind and BELIEVE/KNOW that he can fly, or that he can pass through walls, or whatever. Yes, you may have a nightmare or two because a part of you can't help but think about scary things, but most likely you will quickly find your place in your dreams, and will learn to control them, and in doing so, it will help to control your own thoughts.

The best way to remember your dreams is to make a journal. I'm sorry, I can't sugar-coat that. Lucid dreaming isn't something that will necessarily come easy (though it does for some). You may have to work for it.

It's worth it.

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Thank you for your response.

In the long run, I suppose that inducing this sense of fear that I have would eventually help me overcome the fears, although I would desperately try as hard as possible to turn the dream into something pleasurable. I don't relax often, so maybe if I can start to Lucid dream, it would be a great escape from reality and a very enjoyable way to relax. Like I said, I've had very few nightmares in my entire life even though I think like this in real life, so I suppose that would mitigate the chances of it happening within the dream.

But what if it physically feels like I haven't had a dream? I was reading somewhere that immediately as you wake up you should try to not move a muscle in your body and focus on what you've dreamt about in the night, is this the best way to go?

As I said, thanks for the help.

Here's the main problem, you NEED to face your fears or these fears will keep poking at your very subconscious because it knows you are scared. I think you need to watch scary movies and face them head on even in dreams. That's how i got over scary movies and such at your age. Just watch scary movies and tell yourself this isn't real it's only a movie, same as you do in dreams. Hope this helped.

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Originally Posted by Deehj

I would desperately try as hard as possible to turn the dream into something pleasurable.

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DO NOT DO THAT.
Do not try. That is the #1, ultimate, and only truly required concept in controlling one's dreams. People TRY to fly in their dreams because they have doubt. This means that they believe that they may not be able to fly, and that is EXACTLY what happens. There is no obstacle in your dream, outside of yourself, so flying, turning a nightmare into a fun dream, or anything else is as easy as flipping a light switch, if you know that (Not believe. KNOW.) You don't TRY to flip the light switch, do you? Chances are that you don't give it more than a second's thought when you enter the room. If done correctly, dream control works the same way. The more you think about it, the harder it's going to be for you. The more you struggle, the more you will continue to struggle.
I was passing through a solid wall, once. (just hear me out. lol) Just as I was inside the wall I thought to myself, "What if I get stuck in this wall?" And it happened. I couldn't move at all. I relaxed and thought, "Okay, you're doubting yourself. You should be able to do this." and as I said that the wall gave way, but there was still a lot of resistance. (Because I "should be able to"). Finally I said, "This is silly. You've done this a hundred times. Just go through the wall and let's get on with it" and just like that, I passed right through. I've experimented with this MANY times. I have had the best control if I EXPECT it to happen.
Don't try as hard as possible to do anything in a dream. If you're trying hard, you're doing it wrong. It will happen if you know that it will happen. Just go through the motions, expect it to happen, and then let it happen on its own.
On the bright side, I have turned many nightmares into fun dreams. Monsters are a lot of fun if you have a shotgun and a jet pack. My last nightmare ended with a dozen police officers shooting me in the street while I laughed hysterically.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Deehj

But what if it physically feels like I haven't had a dream? I was reading somewhere that immediately as you wake up you should try to not move a muscle in your body and focus on what you've dreamt about in the night, is this the best way to go?

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I sleep with notepad open on my computer, and a wireless keyboard next to my bed. When I awake, I grab the keyboard and start typing with my eyes still closed.
Yes. That is the only way to go, that I know of.
When I keep a dream journal (which requires that I perform the steps that you have just listed) the amount of dreams that I remember per night jump from around .5 (a dream every other night or so) to at least five dreams per night. Near the second and third day of this my dream journal entries go from a few lines to entire paragraphs.

I really don't know the full science behind it, but it works. I speak of a dream journal, because if I'm going to go through the effort of remembering my dreams, writing them down is like adding toppings to a pizza. You've come this far, and without writing them down you're really losing out on a huge piece of it all. Without it, you're going to go through the work of recalling your dreams, and (though it's certainly not guaranteed) you could do it all in vain due to missing that one important aspect of writing it down.

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Originally Posted by sloth

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RUGJXqL2cu...is-no-try1.jpg

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Fixed. :cheeky:

LOL!
Why thank you, Darkmatters.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sloth

DO NOT DO THAT.
Do not try. That is the #1, ultimate, and only truly required concept in controlling one's dreams. People TRY to fly in their dreams because they have doubt. This means that they believe that they may not be able to fly, and that is EXACTLY what happens. There is no obstacle in your dream, outside of yourself, so flying, turning a nightmare into a fun dream, or anything else is as easy as flipping a light switch, if you know that (Not believe. KNOW.) You don't TRY to flip the light switch, do you? Chances are that you don't give it more than a second's thought when you enter the room. If done correctly, dream control works the same way. The more you think about it, the harder it's going to be for you. The more you struggle, the more you will continue to struggle.
I was passing through a solid wall, once. (just hear me out. lol) Just as I was inside the wall I thought to myself, "What if I get stuck in this wall?" And it happened. I couldn't move at all. I relaxed and thought, "Okay, you're doubting yourself. You should be able to do this." and as I said that the wall gave way, but there was still a lot of resistance. (Because I "should be able to"). Finally I said, "This is silly. You've done this a hundred times. Just go through the wall and let's get on with it" and just like that, I passed right through. I've experimented with this MANY times. I have had the best control if I EXPECT it to happen.
Don't try as hard as possible to do anything in a dream. If you're trying hard, you're doing it wrong. It will happen if you know that it will happen. Just go through the motions, expect it to happen, and then let it happen on its own.
On the bright side, I have turned many nightmares into fun dreams. Monsters are a lot of fun if you have a shotgun and a jet pack. My last nightmare ended with a dozen police officers shooting me in the street while I laughed hysterically.


I sleep with notepad open on my computer, and a wireless keyboard next to my bed. When I awake, I grab the keyboard and start typing with my eyes still closed.
Yes. That is the only way to go, that I know of.
When I keep a dream journal (which requires that I perform the steps that you have just listed) the amount of dreams that I remember per night jump from around .5 (a dream every other night or so) to at least five dreams per night. Near the second and third day of this my dream journal entries go from a few lines to entire paragraphs.

I really don't know the full science behind it, but it works. I speak of a dream journal, because if I'm going to go through the effort of remembering my dreams, writing them down is like adding toppings to a pizza. You've come this far, and without writing them down you're really losing out on a huge piece of it all. Without it, you're going to go through the work of recalling your dreams, and (though it's certainly not guaranteed) you could do it all in vain due to missing that one important aspect of writing it down.

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Hi again. I see where you're coming from with the fact that you can't simply 'try' to do things or wonder whether or not something were to happen. I realise now that you have to be determined, thus meaning that you have to actually DO these things instead of trying them. Thanks for the heads up though.

If you don't mind me asking, how on earth do you manage to remember 5 dreams? Do you just remember one, write it down, then you remember another. I feel like that I would only be able to recall a single dream per day, if that.

Thanks

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Originally Posted by Deehj

If you don't mind me asking, how on earth do you manage to remember 5 dreams? Do you just remember one, write it down, then you remember another.

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Almost. When I'm at my peak I really can frequently remember two dreams at a time. But usually I end up writing down dreams all through the night. I will have a dream, wake up, write it down, and then close my eyes again, all through the night. One might expect this to be tiring, but keep in mind that I am waking up on my own, in between sleep cycles. It is actually not very disruptive at all. It's disturbances, at the peak of a sleep cycle, that can make you drowsy all day. The part of a sleep cycle you wake up in has a profound impact on your energy level, clarity of thought, and even overall health, throughout the entire day.

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Originally Posted by Deehj

I feel like that I would only be able to recall a single dream per day, if that.

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And if you're like most of us, that would probably be an improvement.